It is one of the biggest moments of the most eventful day in life: the first wedding dance.

Dance instructor Valerie Williams taught a group of couples, friends and parents Tuesday night how to look their best for that monumental dance, while still enjoying the moment.

At the Your Wedding Dance class, Williams taught the basics of social dancing including how to communicate without words, how to pay attention to a partner, and how to dance with the music.

“When you see people dancing to specific choreography, that is not dancing,” she said. “It’s a performance.”

Instead of teaching performance, Williams focused on the basics of dance and taught students to communicate with their bodies enough to enjoy dancing effortlessly.

Williams began by teaching the Merengue, which she said is the easiest dance to learn.

“The steps in the Merengue are approximately 90 to 130 beats per minute, which is about how fast we walk,” she said. “That is what makes this dance come so naturally.”

The Merengue can be danced to with almost any style of music, Williams said. During the class, couples danced the Merengue to “Bust a Move” by Young MC; “Kiss” by Prince; and “Island in the Sun” by Weezer.

Williams taught couples the Waltz next. She said the Waltz used to be considered a naughty dance when it was first introduced because dancers were required to hold their partner closely and to spin around.

Not all of the couples attending the event were preparing for their own wedding.

Corey O’Bannon, sophomore in English, came to the workshop with a friend to sharpen up his dancing skills for an upcoming wedding he had been invited to.

“We thought it would be fun to come and learn new kinds of dances,” he said.

Ames resident Sue Benson came to the workshop with her husband to practice for her daughter’s upcoming wedding.

Williams said she loves working with people preparing for a celebration of any kind.

“I am inspired by people who care enough for their family and friends that they want to dance well at their weddings,” she said.

Williams is currently teaching the Argentine tango at 4 p.m. Sundays in the Memorial Union. For additional dancing experience, Williams recommends free Friday night ballroom dancing in Forker Hall.