First Dance

[Ange]

Hi :)

I'm new around here, and new to dancing!

My fiance and I are getting married in 18 months and we've decided to secretly learn to dance to Wow everyone by dancing properly for our first dance.

The music we want to dance to is Friday I'm in Love by The Cure. Does anyone have any ideas what kind of dance we could do? Preferably something simple and easy to learn.

Thank you :)

[waltzgirl]

That's a tough one. It's pretty fast. I'd say either single time swing or salsa (both easy to learn), but I'm interested in what other people say.

[Ange]

Thanks Waltzgirl :) I'm interested to see what others have to say too.

I actually have *some* dancing experience from doing basic ballroom dancing when I was about 8 years old. However, I was alot more co-ordinated back then!

We just want it to look more impressive than the usual awkward shuffle most first dances seem to be!

[reb]

Welcome to Dance Forums!

The good news is that you've got 18 months!

I feel so sorry for those that try to learn to dance in a rush, under the pressure of wedding plans, etc.

If your heart is not completely set on that song, maybe consider selecting one that can be danced as a waltz or a rumba?

[9dncr]

Welcome to DF and congrats on the upcoming wedding! Good idea to start sooner than later so that you can enjoy the time together. I don't know the song so I can't help you out on that one- but I say stick with what your heart wants, and a dance instructor can probably help you incorporate some simple steps w/ the beat! Have fun!

[wooh]

What a fun wedding song! I've always adored it. It would make a great swing or cha cha. I'm sure when you take it to a studio that an instructor will be able to give you a great little dance, especially with all the time you have to practice!

[Joe]

That's a tough one. It's pretty fast. I'd say either single time swing or salsa (both easy to learn), but I'm interested in what other people say.
Actually, it's not fast at all. It's a very reasonable speed for even triple-time swing, maybe even on the slow side.

[waltzgirl]

Well, I wouldn't want to do triple time swing in a wedding dress.

[Joe]

That is an issue separate from the song's tempo.

[etp777]

Heck, in 18 months you can not only be ready for your wedding, but come completely to dark side and advance to point where you're doing intermediate or advanced bronze entries in comps. ;)

[wooh]

Well, I wouldn't want to do triple time swing in a wedding dress.

Good point, make sure that the person teaching you knows what you'll be wearing! (Even if you don't tell your husband-to-be!) They can work around your dress if needed, so there's no unfortunate tripping.:)

[Ange]

Thanks for your help everyone :)

I've had a look at Youtube at a few videos of people doing Swing and it doesn't look that difficult. I suppose it's just a case of finding a decent instructor now, although I'm almost thinking of getting one of the Teach Yourself DVDs to learn the basics so we're not complete beginners when we're paying an instructor to teach us!

[Peaches]

Forget the DVD, you'll be complete beginners regardless. Just find a good isntructor.

[Call911Quick]

You have 18 months...

Well, the ideal thing to do is that you stretch until you can do the splits. It should take around a month to two if you do the right stretches. Check this link out, it's detailed and tells you exactly what to do:

http://drillobsession.com/2006/09/03/flexibility-to-the-maxstretch-your-splits-in-3-weeks/

After you and your fiance are very flexible, you should pick up swing. That is, if you really want to WOW people.

A good song choice could be Sing, swing, sing - Benny Goodman. That's a classing swing song. Also, if you have a live band, that'd be even better because they can mold the song to your liking. You have 18 months, which is more than enough time.

It should only take you a couple months, 4-5 maximum, to learn an amazing routine. You don't even need to start now, start like maybe 6 months before the wedding date.