What would you teach beginners for their wedding dance?

[KevinL]

I'm sure that everyone has been to a wedding and seen the married couple doing the "Clutch and Sway" dance. (Also known as the "Y" dance, as in "Why Bother?". I recently found a copy of my wedding video, and OhMyGod! I did everything possible wrong! If it wasn't so funny I'd be embarrassed!

Anyway, if you had friends getting married, and they didn't already know how to dance (or have a song picked out) what would you suggest that they learn for their first dance together? Would it change if they were getting married next week? Next month? Next year?

Kevin

[TemptressToo]

Most definitely either Foxtrot or Waltz especially considering the dress. I can't imagine doing anything Latin in practically a ball gown. Perhaps at least for my wedding one day...I may be able to convince my boyfriend to dance with me. By that time, I'll be so far advanced he'll have a heck of a time catching up.

[etchuck]

Lambada. Definitely lambada. 8)

[tsb]

Most definitely either Foxtrot or Waltz especially considering the dress.

on top of that i strongly advocate rehearsing in the outfit beforehand.


Would it change if they were getting married next week?


ugh! show them the basics of closed position, how to get there without fumbling around, play a slow waltz, step only on beat '1' and do baby pivot steps in place rotating clockwise & remind them to smile a lot!


Next month?


a little more attention to frame, any major deficiencies, etc. show them either box step or magic step & maybe 1 or 2 figures. spend more time reminding them to smile & and if they have to keep counting in their head, do it without moving their lips.


Next year?


praise them for thinking about this sufficiently in advance so that they can choose outfits that will facilitate the dance they choose to do. make sure that they rehearse in these outfits at least once before the wedding. get to know enough about them so as to help them pick a good song and develop a basic choreography that reflects who they are as people.

keep reminding them that this is supposed to be fun and when they argue, remind them (and yourself) that you are not a marriage counselor!

[DancePoet]

Waltz and Foxtrot for most, particularly if they are short on time. However, if they really want some variety, I'd suggest learning Rumba, Cha-Cha, Swing, Hustle, and maybe even Tango!

Of course the Bride would need to wear a dress that was capable of handling such variety or else have one for the ceremony and another for the reception. If your looking for a really good time, encourage your guests to take lessons by letting them know the dancing will feature a variety of music for different styles of dance, and list them. If money is not an issue, buy some group lessons for the whole wedding party!

If you make lot's of new friends at your local studio or even this forum, send out the invitations to people who know how to dance and you will have a blast!

[dancin_feet]

A lot of couples come to our studio for wedding lessons and usually do a rumba. Though one couple a few months ago did a Merengue. I saw their last lesson before their wedding and it looked fantastic!

Being a less traditional person, I would probably go for a Tango or Argentine Tango, or maybe a slow Salsa? Waltz is nice for a wedding, but far too traditional for my taste. :P

[ShyDancer]

Personally Id like to do a Bridal Cha Cha! Im not in any way a traditional gal :roll:

I think it depends on the personality of the couple, for instance, my best friend, a very loud and fun loving girl, did a Bridal Salsa! It was amazing to watch, and it wasnt even choreographed! They just went with it on the day, great stuff! :D :D I couldnt have imagined her doing a waltz..

For a more traditional couple other than a waltz,I would say a Carousel (NV dance) its such a pretty dance. Even a charmaine or swing waltz ...something that flows nicely.

But for the less traditional couples, ones who want something outrageous and different, Id say a Samba or Jive!

Sure the dress may pose a slight problem, but they dont need to do a really athletic routine that involes really big movements.

[KevinL]

A couple of my friends (dancers, of course) did a salsa for their first dance. They said that it got everyone up on the floor dancing, which generally doesn't happen with a waltz.

In the absence of predetermined music, I'd go with foxtrot, but then I'm fairly traditional.

Kevin

[delamusica]

Nightclub two-step or American rumba are easy to learn in terms of the basic, not the most demanding in technique as far as making it look decent (we've all seen people do totally flat waltzes and foxtrots with absolutely NO rise and fall, right?), and they allow for the easy addition of little dips and things that everyone likes to show off with.

[Pacion]

A couple of my friends (dancers, of course) did a salsa for their first dance. They said that it got everyone up on the floor dancing, which generally doesn't happen with a waltz.

In the absence of predetermined music, I'd go with foxtrot, but then I'm fairly traditional.

Kevin

I know someone who taught a couple salsa for their wedding dance and then discovered a few days later, one of my colleagues was at that wedding! Talk about small world! My colleague did not know much about salsa but knew I was a mad hatter about it. She told me that it went down very well, everyone enjoyed it AND it had inspired her to start taking lessons!

Oh, and salsa gets my vote :wink:

[Genesius Redux]

Lambada. Definitely lambada. 8)

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm definitely with you on the one, ETC--shake things up a little! :wink:

[pygmalion]

I have to vote for a slow waltz. It's really romantic, easy to feel the threes, and most people watching won't know that the rise and fall is missing. *shrug*

[Genesius Redux]

The prevalence of one particular tune almost put me off waltz permanently. And some days I think if I have to listen to the bleeding Tennessee Waltz one more time, I'm going postal! :evil: :lol: :wink:

[pygmalion]

Good point, GR. Okay, waltz except in Tennessee. LOL.

[etchuck]

Lambada. Definitely lambada. 8)

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm definitely with you on the one, ETC--shake things up a little! :wink:

Well, I have it on relatively good authority that a friend of mine who got married in Syria did that. Definitely shook a few things up. :shock:

[Pacion]

Well, I have it on relatively good authority that a friend of mine who got married in Syria did that. Definitely shook a few things up. :shock:

:shock: Did the bride change? I can't imagine the lambada being danced in a white wedding gown AND a veil :lol: