Nicole Beckey first met her dance partner, Simon Rich, at a jive night in Hampshire in 2003. “I saw this guy dancing in the corner and was like, ‘Wow!’,” Nicole recalls. “Before I could actually approach him, he asked me to dance, but I was very nervous, shaking like a leaf, thinking, ‘Oh my God, you’re dancing with a total beginner!’”

In reality, though, she had all the right moves. Just seven years on, the couple have won 10 Modern Jive championships together and are engaged to be married in July 2011. They’ve also released their first how-to DVD, Modern Jive: Learn to Dance With the Masters (click here to enter to win your own copy!). We got in touch to learn Nicole’s insider secrets…

Q: What is Modern Jive, exactly, and what makes it a good choice for a first dance?

A: Modern jive is a mixture of salsa movements without the salsa footwork, so it’s a really free style of dance that works with any kind of music. Because you can choose an upbeat, modern track, jive makes it easy to get your guests in the mood to dance. I love that you can adapt the moves and really put your own mark on your first dance, so it’s kind of like doing your own invitations or having a lot of great DIY details on your wedding day.

Q: Can fast, high-energy songs work for a first dance?

A: This really depends on you and whether you want something fun or something romantic. A trend we’ve noticed is to start with a traditional, nice and slow song to enjoy the moment, then transition into a track that’s remixed into something upbeat to really get the party started and encourage guests to join you on the dancefloor.

Q: How many moves do you recommend for a killer routine?

A: You want to be relaxed for your dance so it is better to dance a simple routine really well and comfortably than take on more moves than you can easily remember. With modern jive, once you know several moves, you can either dance them in a set order, or simply go freestyle and dance them in any order you like as long as they link together well.

Q: How long will it take a couple to master a routine for their wedding?

I’d recommend starting as soon as you can and dedicating one night every week to practice. The best place to rehearse is in a dance studio with mirrors, and you can find these at your local gym. Alternatively, video yourselves and watch it back.

Q: Best way to beat nerves just before your dance on the big day?

A: Reverse those feelings from nerves to excitement and absorb that into your performance. I take lots of deep breaths and really focus on Simon – I’m with him, I’m holding his hand and we’re doing this together.

Get your toes tapping ready for your big day with our Modern Jive: Learn to Dance with the Masters DVD competition, here...