You don’t have to be in love with a health-nut to realize that giving chocolates is the Holiday Gift card of Valentine’s Day.   

Borrrring.

For a holiday that celebrates all the new and exciting things in the upcoming season of your relationship, why go with something so expected?

So if you want to save the day and win big on Valentine’s Day, check out the ideas listed below.  

Step 1:  Get Over It

We get it.  You're cool.  But even cool guys, if they want to ascend to the far reaches of "Man-Points" space need to understand one thing very cleary:  Women Love To Dance.  So if you want to do this the right way, the first time, follow these steps:

1. Take a deep breath
2. Fill out the web form
3. You are now a dance student
4. Celebrate with the beverage of your choice... you're going to win V-Day

Step 2: Location, Location, Location... Make it a Hotel

What we need first is music.  Live music.  The professionals at your local Arthur Murray will take care of the dance-related stuff.  Having a venue isn't mandatory, but it shows great planning. Remember you want to win this, and win big.  Here are some perks to choosing a hotel as the venue for your Valentine's Dance Date.  

1. Going dancing at a Hotel Bar will ensure a wide assortment of music.  This is crucial.  It’s like a buffet for dance options, rather than a menu centered around a single dish.  You’re new, you need options.   

2. Most nice Hotels will feature a live band event for Valentine’s Day.

3. Nightclubs may be nice in the future, but a hotel bar offers something else that nightclubs can’t… a hotel.  

Step 3: Suprise Her With Your First Appointment... Make it a Date

You can take a super-creative, sneaky, double agent approach to this, or just stay up front.  Here is a step by step to the first lesson at Arthur Murray. 

1. Confirm your appointment time

2. Ask the studio for nearby restaurant recommendations (if you haven't already scouted it out)

3. Arrive to your dance lesson early - Your goal is to be the best dance student possible

4. Stay positive, and let the professionals take care of everything - You don't need to teach the lesson, you just get the points for setting it up and listening.  Your teacher can be the best teacher possible, if you are a great student.  

5. Sign up for a program without hesitation - This is big.  If you have a history of being indecisive, your big Knight-In-Shining-Armor move could get flushed down the drain if you try to haggle, think it over, or "come back later".   The worst thing about this is you will probably learn ballroom dancing, salsa, tango, swing, and all the popular latin dances.  Horrible. 

6. Take her out for a great meal - Keep in mind this is all BEFORE Valentine's Day. You are setting a world class precedent my friend.  

7. Bask in the glow of knowing that you are already earning major points

Step 4:  Align the Plan

If you're the comic book hero in this story, then your Arthur Murray instructor is your mad scientist ally that makes all of your cool gadgets.  Bat-Dance Frame anyone?  The more you share, the better equipment they can cook up for you.  

1. Let your teacher know where you will be dancing, and what you want to look like.  The time necessary to stand out or blend in will vary.  The splits, or movie re-enactments may require that you live at the studio for a week.  
2. Ask, Ask, Ask!  Your partner may be waiting, expectantly, for you to go "all-macho" and try to take control of everything.  Asking your teacher "what dances would you recommend for us?" shows everyone that you are open to learning. 
3. Strategy Going Forward - The following questions will cause your date to faint, gawk, heart-skip-a-beat, and then brag about you to anyone who will listen.  
   1. "What kind of plan can we pursue to make sure we can keep dancing after Valentine's?"
   2. "Where can couples find good dance shoes these days?"
   3. "Can you give us a dance homework assignment for our Valentine's dance?

"Not one of those ladies is all aglow over the tired

chocolates or the free-with-purchase Teddy Bear."

- Chris Lynam

Wrapping Up

Out of all the couples you know, how many of them are just hitting the repeat button on Valentine’s Day?   Not you.  The day after Valentine’s, you know when all the ladies call each other and talk about the gifts they received, you will be a beacon of light.  Not one of those ladies is all aglow over the tired old chocolates or the free-with-purchase Teddy Bear they got.  

Especially not when they find out about your night of dancing… and many more to come.  

Congratulations champ. You just won Valentine’s Day.

The Dance Partner Poem	Dance Escape Plans For Busy Parents
5 Ways To Convince Your Man To Dance	7 Things Your Dance Partner Needs