Tanz-Zentrum St. Gallen

A St. Gallen dance school with three wedding services

Tanz-Zentrum St. Gallen is a dance school in St. Gallen with a broad course program, from Salsa and Latin-Fit to Hiphop-Breakdance, classical ballet for children and adults, tap, Irish Dance, Line Dance, Zumba, Capoeira, Twerkzone, Krav Maga and majorette baton acrobatics with jazz dance. For weddings it offers three things: private lessons for the wedding waltz, a dance animation that entertains the whole wedding party, and the rental of its own halls for a wedding, with party service and drinks organized by the school. That combination means the same school can teach the first dance, get the guests moving and host the party.

The site is written entirely in German and says nothing about teaching or animating in English. A couple with guests from abroad should ask how an animation would work for a mixed-language crowd.

The wedding waltz

The wedding waltz page starts from tradition: the waltz is still the bridal dance, and it is still part of every wedding that the evening opens with it. The school writes that it has many couples who make an effort to present "eine schönes Bild" (a lovely picture) on the day.

The teaching is by private lesson, adapted to the couple's level. Beginners learn the first and only the most necessary steps, and more advanced dancers get further tips and tricks. The page asks couples to call early to arrange a first appointment.

Beyond the steps, the school offers further advice for the wedding day and evening, and addresses of recommended companies for wedding cakes, flowers, coaches, vintage cars, music and jewelry. Its wedding tips page also lists pages on wedding music and a wedding photographer, and links to further tips under the title "Heiraten mit Stil".

Why private lessons

The homepage makes a long case for private lessons, calling them "das absolut Beste" (the absolute best), and several of its reasons apply directly to a wedding couple:

• No need to find time for a regular evening course, which suits irregular working hours.
• No audience: the page notes that men in particular are often shy of stepping onto the floor for the first time.
• Age: the page says couples from about 40 upward often feel out of place in courses with younger dancers.
• A learning and practice pace matched to the couple, without stress or time pressure.
• Lessons at agreed times, which the site says can be arranged at any time, in the afternoon, late in the evening and especially on Saturday and Sunday, and which it describes as ideal around shift work, seasonal work, holidays or babysitting.
• Closer attention from the teacher, including refining posture and technique.
• Value for money: although private lessons have a higher hourly rate, the page argues they can end up costing less than a course because the pace is individual.

It also notes that most private lessons are booked by people aged 50 and over, and that the lessons suit wedding or ball preparation especially well. The page's own line on this is "Tanzen(lernen) ist eine Lebensbereicherung, solang die Beine tragen!" (learning to dance enriches your life for as long as your legs will carry you). It adds that you are never too old to learn, that dancing can become one of the finest and healthiest hobbies a couple can share after retirement, and, most importantly, that learning to dance is fun. For parents of the couple who want to join the first dance later in the evening, that tone is reassuring.

Dance animation for the guests

The wedding animation page is headed "Der Hochzeits-Renner!", the wedding hit. The school promises fun and action: it gets the guests moving and entertains them with fun dance animations, "Vom volkstümlichen Gumper bis zum erotischen Latino-Tanz" (from folksy hopping dances to sultry Latin dancing).

There are two ways to book it. The school can come to the wedding in the evening, or the couple can bring all their guests to the Tanz-Zentrum, for instance in the afternoon after the ceremony. The wedding waltz page adds that the school is increasingly invited to wedding evenings and above all to wedding afternoons, where the whole wedding party is entertained for an hour with an apéritif, snacks and fun dance animations. The page ends with "Ist doch mal was ganz Aussergewöhnliches, oder?!" (something really out of the ordinary, isn't it?).

For a couple with a gap between ceremony and dinner, or guests who do not know each other, an hour of guided dancing is a practical way to fill the time.

Renting the halls

The same page says the school also rents its rooms for weddings, with a full package, meaning party service and drinks organized by the school, and invites couples to ask. The menu has a separate page for hall rental ("Mieten Sie unsere Sääle"). The pages on weddings give no capacity, room sizes or prices.

Other offers

The menu lists dance afternoons, dance evenings, a membercard, gift vouchers and a page for people without a dance partner. Vouchers can be for 1 hour or a pack of 5 lessons, which the homepage suggests as a personal present that fits at any time of year. The homepage names partner dance schools in Langenthal, Bern, Murten and Zurich, and notes that Swica supports dancing ("Swica untersützt das Tanzen!"); anyone insured there should check the details with Swica.

What the site leaves open

None of the wedding pages publishes a price: not for private lessons, the animation or the hall rental with catering. The pages on weddings give no address, although the menu has a directions page ("So finden Sie uns"). There is no statement of teaching language, no capacity for the halls, and no detail on who leads the animations or how long an evening booking lasts. All of that needs a phone call, which is the route the site itself recommends.

Who it suits

Tanz-Zentrum St. Gallen suits couples marrying in or around St. Gallen who want a classic opening waltz without a group course, and who like the idea of an hour of dancing for all their guests, at the venue or at the school. The school can also host the celebration itself in its own halls. The caveats are a German-only site and no published prices, so expect to settle everything by phone.