Posts Tagged ‘first dance lessons’

Choosing your First Wedding Dance song

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

There are different aspects you should consider when deciding on your first wedding dance song. Of course you want it to be a song that you and your partner like but do bear in mind that you will need to be able to dance to it as well and then the tempo (not too slow, not too fast – have a look on Wedding dance -page for examples) and clear beat will carry more importance than you might have thought before.

You might be one of those couples who think that it’s their day and they get to enjoy it to the full. You might also consider the guests and whether the song would be something that everyone knows and can join in during the chorus, tap their feet and feel a warm glow while watching you dance.

One more thing to ponder about is the length of the song – will you dance the whole song through or have your relatives or all your guests join you after a while? 1 min 30 secs or so is a good time on the floor by yourselves.  Then you can invite the relatives / guests (as per your choice) to join you to finish off the song. Alternatively you can either fade out the song after the big finish (round that 1,5 min point) or if you have a band, have them wrap up the song from there – your guests will join in for the second song instead.

Happy listening while choosing your tune!

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What to wear for a first wedding dance lesson

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

The most important factor when considering the clothing for your wedding dance lesson, is that you need to be comfortable. For some this means smart casual (dress, heels, shirt, tie etc) and for others jeans & T-shirt. As a teacher I don’t mind. It is a dance lesson so as long as you can move around, that’s fine.

Shoes are a bit different as the soles should be a little bit slippery so that you can swivel on the ball of the foot – very grippy / sticky trainers won’t work. The height of the heel for the ladies should be about the same as you will have on the wedding day; if you do this on one lesson then you’ll know what it feels like to dance in heels and if you should practice a bit more or if you are fine and can do the rest in flat shoes. Some dance studios have very nice wooden floors and they won’t allow you to wear spiky stiletto heels which might dig holes on the floor.

Enjoy your lessons!

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First Wedding Dance -tips

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

The two of you dancing together for the first time as a married couple – what kind of an image do you have of that moment?

The choices couples make nowadays are more and more varied. Some people have the approach of dancing a Waltz and then asking the parents to join them on the floor. But there are plenty of first dance Cha cha’s, Foxtrots and combinations of different dances being done – even a first tap dance. And not everybody asks the parents to join them, instead they get all the guests on the floor.

Choreography or lead & follow
I would recommend considering what the guests would enjoy as well as what the two of you really want and are comfortable doing. A ‘three and a half minute’ set choreography might be the right option if you are good at remembering routines and have the time to put the practice in. On the other hand a more loosely structured dance is easier and takes the extra pressure away.

Song options
Discuss the different options with your dance teacher and get her/his feedback on songs before making your mind up. The teacher will be able to tell you about the tempos and what dance style or styles will fit the songs on your shortlist and how easy it will be to learn to dance to each song. Consider the lyrics of the songs as well – plenty of beautiful songs are about break-up instead of lifelong commitment.

Band vs recording
If you have a band playing in your wedding, check if they can learn the same arrangement as you will be practicing to. If possible, have a run through with the band on the day to check the tempo, intros and endings, and to give yourself a chance to dance through once more before the actual thing.

When the music is pre-recorded, make sure that the volume levels are high enough so that you can hear the first notes.

The announcement
Making sure that the MC gets the guests up and around the dance floor does create a lovely atmosphere for the wedding dance and you’ll have great pictures where your friends and family are gathered in the background.

And…
Learning to dance for your wedding is something you two will have to work on together, as a team. Some areas are your strong points, others will be your partner’s – respect and patience and a lot of practice go a long way. You will want the first dance and all the preparation to be a happy memory!

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