Ballroom First Dance Songs

You are probably choosing ballroom first dance songs because you have decided to take some classes and learn a specific dance for your first dance.

Be it a rumba, foxtrot, waltz or a mamba you have decided upon, choosing the songs can be quite tricky.


There are essentially two elements involved. The first element involved in choosing your ballroom dancing first dance song is the meaning the song has to you. The words and the melody must be meaningful to you and your fiance.

The second element is the dance-ability of the song.

ballroom first dance songs

You are probably choosing ballroom first dance songs because you have decided to take some classes and learn a specific dance for your first dance. Be it a rumba, foxtrot, waltz or a mamba you have decided upon, choosing the songs can be quite tricky.

There are essentially two elements involved. The first element involved in choosing your ballroom dancing first dance song is the meaning the song has to you. The words and the melody must be meaningful to you and your fiance. The second element is the dance-ability of the song.

The dance-ability of any song is dependent on the rhythm or tempo of the given song. This is measured by bars per minute (BPM). Every dance has certain unique characteristics that is tied to the tempo and rhythm of the music. The Waltz and the Foxtrot for example will fall in the range between 28 and 32 BPM.

The best advice is to consult your instructor as to what dance would be best for you to learn, and then to choose the song that would add meaning to your dance. The other option you have if you already have a great first dance song to dance to is to ask your instructor which dance would best suit your chosen song.

Below are a few first dance ballroom songs to suit certain dance styles best:

Rumba First Dance Songs:

Rumba is a perfect choice for a first dance. Rumba music is infused with love and sensuality. Many artists like Stevie Wonder, The Drifters and Michael Jackson have made some of their most popular songs to this rhythm.

Many dancers consider rumba one of the most erotic and sensual of the Latin dances, as it incorporates a relatively slow rhythm and sensual hip movement. If you have chosen to do your first dance as a rumba then choose one of the Rumba first dance songs below:

A Whole New World - Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle

Beginnings - Chicago

Caught Up In The Rapture - Anita Baker

Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

Falling Into You - Celine Dion

Fields of Gold - Sting

For The First Time - Kenny Loggins

Friends - Elton John

God Causes All Things To Grow - Steve Green

I Don't Want To Live Without You - Foreigner

I Swear - John Michael Montgomery

If - Bread

I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Michael Jackson

I Was Made To Love Her - Stevie Wonder

In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel

Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel

Love Will Keep Us Alive - Eagles

More - Andy Williams

My Girl - Temptations

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship

True Companion - Marc Cohn

Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner

Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder

Breathe - Faith Hill

I Cross My Heart - George Strait

In The Misty Moonlight - Dean Martin

Let's Stay Together - Al Green

Longer - Dan Fogelberg

Making Memories Of Us - Keith Urban

Your Song - Elton John

The Look Of Love - Diana Krall

Power of Two - Indigo Girls

Stickwitu - Pussycat Dolls

Because You Loved Me Celine Dion

Paradise - Styx

Save The Last Dance For Me - Michael Buble

Some Kind Of Wonderful - The Drifters

Have a look in the video below how lovely a Rumba can be as a first dance:



Waltz First Dance Songs:

The waltz is a very romantic and smooth dance and a perfect choice for a ballroom first dance. Most waltz songs invoke dreamy feelings and stirs the imagination... Choose from one of the following first dance waltz songs:

Only One Road - Celine Dion

Open Arms - Journey

Play Me - Neil Diamond

When I Said I Do - Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black

You Light Up My Life - Debbie Boone

You and Me - Lifehouse

Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers

Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley

Could I Have This Dance - Ann Murray

Annie's Song - John Denver

That's Amore - Dean Martin

I'll Be - Edwin McCain

Come Away With Me - Norah Jones

Have a look at how lovely this couple danced a waltz at their wedding to You and Me by Lifehouse.



Foxtrot First Dance Songs:

The foxtrot is a fun and fast-paced dance for those of you who want something a little less traditional and soppy. Choose from the foxtrot first dance songs below:

I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra

It Had to Be You - Harry Connick, Jr

Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra

Crazy Love - Van Morrison

Cheek To Cheek - Fred Astaire

L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole

Our Love Is Here To Stay - Ella Fitzgerald

The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra

I've Got The World On A String - Frank Sinatra

Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison

Forever And Ever, Amen - Randy Travis

A Kiss Build A Dream On - Louis Armstrong

As Time Goes By - Jimmy Durante

The couple below chose Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra to do a foxtrot to for their first dance - very classy!



Tango First Dance Songs:

The Tango has a unique flavor unlike any other ballroom dance. The Tango is a very showy dance, but at the same time it is very intimate and as Al Pacino says in Scent of a Woman: "There are no mistakes in Tango. It's like life, if you get all tangled up, you tango on." Make your first dance a Tango with one of the following songs:

Por Una Cabeza (From Scent Of A Woman)

Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre) - Gotan Project (From the movie Shall We Dance)

Tango D'Amor -Tango Jointz

Asi Se Baila El Tango - From Take The Lead

Watch this wedding couple sizzle on the dance floor doing the tango:



Swing First Dance Songs:

Swing dancing is very versatile and the rhythms are very infectious. Choose from the following Swing Dance first dance songs:

Can't Help Falling In Love - UB40

Come Go With Me - The Dell-Vikings

Even If I Tried - Emilio

How Sweet It Is ( To Be Loved By You ) - Marvin Gaye

I Hear a Symphony - The Supremes

I Love You - Martina McBride

I'm A Believer - Smash Mouth

This Kiss - Faith Hill

This couple below are great dancers and watching them just makes you smile:



Salsa & Mambo First Dance Ideas:

Mambo and salsa are both really sexy and work wonders as a first dance. Both of them can be danced on a small to medium dance floor. It is gripping and sexy.

Dance The Night Away - Lionel Richie

One In A Million - NeYo

Real Love - Lee Ryan

Mambo Italiano – Rosemary Clooney

Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye

We’ve Only Just Begun – Carpenters

Pehli Nazar Mein - Atif Aslam

Time Of My Life - Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley

Do You Only Wanna Dance - Mya

You Sang To Me - Marc Anthony

Satellite - Santana & Jorge Morano (from Dirty Dancing Havana Nights)

The couple below do a lovely mambo to Dirty Dancing's Time Of My Life:



Slow First Dance Songs:

At Last - Etta James

Amazed - Lonestar

Come Rain Or Come Shine - Ray Charles

Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love) - Pat Boone

From This Moment On - Shania Twain

Grow Old With Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter

I Finally Found Someone - Barbra Streisand & Bryan Adams

If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful - Whitney Houston

I Love You Because - Al Martino

I Only Have Eyes For You - The Flamingos

It's Your Love - Tim McGraw / Faith Hill

Cha Cha Songs For First Dance:

Sway - Michael Buble

Breathless - The Corrs

Amor - Ricky Martin

Kiss Me Honey Honey, Kiss Me - Shirley Bassy

If none of the above are what you are looking for, then also have a look at our 100 top first dance songs list.

Still need some help to choose the correct style of dance? Have a look here.

Share this page:

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below - any song suggestions are welcome.
› Ballroom First Dance Songs
site search by freefind


Celebrity Wedding Music:

Celebrity Wedding songs

Have you ever wondered what songs the rich and famous used for their million dollar weddings? What wedding music played when Demi Moore walked down the isle to marry sexy Ashton Kutcher? Or what did Eva Longoria and Tony Parker use as their first dance song? Click Here to take inspiration from your favorite celebrities and find out what songs played a part in their special day.

Create the Reception WOW Factor:

Wedding Songs 2013

Wondering what the most popular wedding songs of 2013 were? Check out our top 10!

Instructional DVD's

First Dance Tips:

First dance tips

Choosing your first dance wedding music? Whether you want something low key and simple or an elaborately choreographed first dance, Click Here for some tips on how to make the most out of this special moment!



Reception CD's:

Wedding Music CD's:

Amazon A Day to Remember

A Day To Remember - Instrumental Wedding Music

Amazon Steel Drum Wedding Music

Steel Drum Wedding Music - Perfect for beach weddings!