What bride doesn't imagine herself floating over the dance floor for the first dance with her Prince Charming? The reality is usually quite different. Very few know how to dance romantically, cheek-to-cheek. In the age of the perfect wedding, the first dance should look perfect, too.

You can achieve this dream with Cynthia Glinka, a professional dance coach and choreographer. Her entertaining and engaging style of instruction successfully helps brides and grooms, and their families, and friends learn how to elegantly perform slow wedding dances. Depending on the time available, Cynthia can teach basic dance moves in a short amount of time. Her class begins with the groom smartly accompanying the bride to the dance floor. She demonstrates proper dance posture and how to hold each other. Then she encourages the couple to dance to the beat of the music and have fun with spinning and dipping. Her tips and tricks help to transform the basic steps, to build confidence, and to make the couple look professional. "I don't know how she does it, but after the couple takes one of her classes, you can see a vast difference," my coordinator friend told me.

Dancing is Cynthia's life. Starting with ballet classes in childhood, she grew up to be a professional stage and tap dancer and is now a dance coach and entertainer. She coached actors Charlize Theron and Keanu Reeves for Sweet November, choreographed the feature film, Swing, and has been a featured guest on The Wedding Show. Cynthia teaches couples either in her studio in Marin or at clients' homes. We hired Cynthia to brush up our skills for our son's wedding.

"Lately, clients ask me to give the gift of dance to their bridal party at the rehearsal dinner or at the reception to encourage guests to come to the dance floor," Cynthia told me. Depending on the talent and the couple's request, additional sessions may be recommended.