Following the champagne toast, the radiant bride and groom clasp hands and make their way to the dance floor. Friends and family look on in excited anticipation, hoping to witness an elegant waltz or foxtrot. The music starts and then, uh-oh, the groom does his best Frankenstein impersonation and the bride shuffles nervously from side to side, keeping her eyes steadily focused on the ground. After the song finally ends, the audience smiles in relief and offers a sympathetic applause.

Nuran Gokturk of Deerfield Beach, Florida, knows this is not an uncommon occurrence. That is why she started her home-based business, Your Wedding Dance (YWD) – to teach couples how to shine on the dance floor. She comments, "The real success of any event is the quality of the entertainment and a first dance by YWD is definitely the highlight of an entertaining wedding!"

A nationally respected dancer, Nuran takes a different approach to dance instruction than traditional ballroom dance teachers. "While most dance studios want to teach every dance under the sun, our primary focus is to prepare wedding couples and their wedding parties for a memorable first dance," says Nuran. After spending some time with Nuran, couples can feel confident stepping out onto the dance floor and provide family and friends with a performance they will never forget. Many couples even choose to keep their crash course in dancing a secret!

Nuran manages her business from home and offers the majority of her classes at clients' homes, reception sites, dance halls, or studios. Having previously instructed at a Fred Astaire dance studio, she comments, "Working from home affords the convenience of setting my own hours, doing administrative things like data entry or bookkeeping at 2:00 am if I want, and choreographing in my pajamas!"

Nuran is pleased at how quickly the business has grown and with the progress of her clients. Since starting the business in November of 2001, 232 have called upon the assistance of Nuran and her business partner, Alfred Friedman. In the future, the dancing duo plans to expand their operations nationally and complete a series of promotional and instructional videos to support their business.