Net Miles Of Smiles

Obamas dance to , “At Last”

President Barack Obama, left, and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the Western Ball in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo Monsavais)

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama wave at the Western Regional Inaugural Ball in Washington, January 20, 2009. Obama took power as the first black U.S. president on Tuesday and quickly turned the page on the Bush years, urging Americans to rally to end the worst economic crisis in generations and repair the U.S. image abroad. REUTERS/Mitch Dumke (UNITED STATES)

President Barak Obama kisses first lady Michelle Obama as they dance at the Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama dance at the Biden Home State Inaugural Ball in Washington January 20, 2009. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama dance during the Commander in Chief’s Ball, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama dance at the Youth Inaugural Ball at a Washington hotel Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

  President Barack Obama gives a kiss to first lady Michelle Obama as they dance together at the Obama Home States Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

U.S. President Barack Obama, the newly sworn-in 44th President of the United States, and first lady Michelle Obama dance at the Commander-in-Chief Ball in Washington January 20, 2009. Obama took power as the first black U.S. president on Tuesday and quickly turned the page on the Bush years, urging Americans to rally to end the worst economic crisis in generations and repair the U.S. image abroad. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn (UNITED STATES)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama dance at the Youth Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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By LISA TOLIN, Associated Press Writer  

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle capped their historic day with a speedy tour through 10 inaugural balls before retiring, at last, for their first night in the White House.

The Etta James classic “At Last” was the Obamas’ song of the evening, crooned by Beyonce at the Neighborhood Ball, the first of 10 inaugural celebrations they attended into the early hours of Wednesday.

The president wore white tie, while Michelle shimmered in a white, one-shouldered, floor-length gown. It was embellished from top to bottom with white floral details and made by 26-year-old New York designer Jason Wu.

“First of all, how good looking is my wife?” Obama asked the crowd of celebrities and supporters.

The president pulled his wife close for a slow, dignified two-step to the song that marked the end of a long day of formal inaugural events and the two-year campaign that put them in the White House.

Obama cut loose in a faster groove a few minutes later, as Shakira, Mary J. Blige, Faith Hill and Mariah Carey sang along with Stevie Wonder to his “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.” The song was played at nearly all of Obama’s rallies throughout the campaign.

“You could tell that’s a black president from the way he was moving,” comedian Jamie Foxx joked following the dance.

At most of the balls that followed, the Obamas spent little more than the length of the song greeting supporters and whirling for the crowd. But the two seemed to share intimate moments nonetheless, smiling and laughing as Michelle pulled her dress out of the way.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden each saluted the nation’s military men and women at the Commander in Chief Ball via satellite. Biden said he wasn’t looking forward to his moment on the dance floor — a familiar refrain throughout the night.

“The thing that frightens me the most (is) I’m going to have to stand in that circle and dance in a minute.” At that, he laughed and did a quick sign of the cross.

The Obamas were more enthusiastic, splitting up to dance with Marine Sgt. Elidio Guillen of Madera, Calif. — who was shorter than dance partner Michelle — and Army Sgt. Margaret H. Herrera of San Antonio, Texas, who cried in the president’s arms.

At the Youth Ball, Kid Rock belted out songs as well-dressed 20-somethings mingled about. One of them walked up to a bartender, gave him a high five and said, “Barack Obama is president!”

The Obamas, following Kid Rock and Kanye West, got the real rock-star reception and launched into something of an awkward dance, laughing as they swayed. When they were done, the president grabbed a mic and said, “That’s what’s called old school.”

At the Midwestern Ball, he joked that it was time to “dance with the one who brung me, who does everything that I do except backwards and in heels.”

And though the mood was celebratory, the reality that the country remains at war hung over the festivities at the Commander in Chief ball and a separate Heroes Red White & Blue Ball.

“Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers today, every day, forever,” Obama told troops at the Commander in Chief ball. “Tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow, the work begins. … Together, I am confident we will write the next great chapter in America’s story.”

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Associated Press writers Nedra Pickler, Erica Werner, Suzanne Gamboa, Laurie Kellman, Kimberly Hefling, Sam Hananel, Samantha Critchell, Ben Feller, Philip Elliott and Ann Sanner contributed to this report