Wedding dance Frequently Asked Questions - Answered!
There are, perhaps surprisingly, many things to take into account when planning your wedding dance. Some are obvious, and others not often thought of, but all will help you make your wedding dance one of the highlights of your special day.
Plan Ahead
Don’t leave organising your dance lessons till the last minute. In the lead-up to “the day” much needs to be done, and as the day looms nearer stress levels can increase in an effort to get everything finalised in time. Start your lessons at least about 8-10 weeks before the wedding. Give yourselves time to take at least five 1 hour lessons. Most couples take approximately 5 lessons to learn their choreography for a relatively simple routine, and then the 2-3 weeks left before your wedding can be spent fine-tuning and practising. It also leaves a couple of weeks where, if needed, you can have a couple of extra lessons if you feel you need them to feel totally confident.
Booking ahead – times of the year when teachers are busiest
Generally speaking, bridal teachers are busiest from around August through to March- April, as couples prepare for weddings held during the warmest months of the year.
When (days of the week) can you learn – is the studio open on the days you want to learn?
Most studios run group classes on set days/evenings of the week and during these times private lessons (such as bridal lessons) cannot be taught. You will need to be flexible in this regard.
Choose your song
Most couples have a favourite song – a song that means something to them. This is a good starting point when thinking about what you might dance to for your wedding. However, sometimes a favourite song is better for listening than it is for dancing, ie perhaps your song doesn’t have a particularly strong beat, or it speeds up and slows down, or changes timing and style mid-song. This can make it hard to dance to if you’re new to partner dancing (be guided in your choice of song by your teacher if you’re not sure.). A song with a discernible, consistent beat is a real plus for beginner dancers. Have a second and third choice of song as alternatives. And if you haven’t yet decided on a song, check out some of the suggestions listed on this site.
It’s also beneficial to think about the song you might have for the second dance, when friends and family will join you on the floor. Try to pick something that has a good beat – one that everyone can move to easily without training, and one to which people of all ages can relate.
The size of your dance floor, and how it affects the dance you do
Some dances require more space, to look the way they were designed to look, than others do.
If you have a particularly small dance floor (say 3m or 4m square) I would advise that you consider a song that lends itself to a dance that will fit comfortably on that size floor – such dances are rumba, cha cha, jive, mambo and salsa.
If you have a larger floor (anything from around 5m square or larger) you will then have the room to do a dance that “travels” around the floor – such as a waltz, foxtrot, slow rhythm, and Viennese waltz.
What sort of dance will you do?
In the past it was traditional for couples to waltz at their wedding. Traditions change, and these days the dances couples do are as varied as their musical tastes.
The dance you do will, of course, depend on your choice of song. You may end up doing a waltz, but it is also quite likely that you could do a rumba, cha cha, samba, jive, slow rhythm or foxtrot, for example, or a combination of dances. This is dependent on your choice of song, and the teacher’s creativity with the choreography.
A major consideration is the dress that the bride will be wearing. It will not be as easy to dance to fast music in a big, heavy dress (for example one with hoops and/or large volumes of material) as it would be in a more simple, light dress. The bride must be able to walk forward, backwards and sideways in her dress without her, or her partner, stepping on it….all dances require her ability to move forward, backwards and sideways with ease. Rather than compromise on their “dream wedding dress” some brides choose to change into a different dress for their dance.
A further point to consider is the shoes that the bride will wear – most brides choose to wear beautiful and elegant shoes, but the heels are often quite high and there is not much support in them – it’s hard to dance fast, and in a balanced fashion, in such shoes.
The soles of many shoes that men wear are synthetic, which can be slippery on dance floors. Leather soles on the man’s shoes would be a wise move.
You will also want to discuss your expectations of the dance with your teacher. If you are quiet and reserved you may well feel more comfortable doing choreography that it not too “showy” – perhaps something slow and elegant.
You may, on the other hand, want to go all out and put on a show for your guests. Tell your teacher if you have a specific goal in mind. This will help them create choreography that will fulfill your expectations.
What to wear to your lessons and what to bring to class
Dress comfortably – ease of movement is important in whatever you wear. Bring shoes that approximate what you will wear on your wedding day (or the actual shoes themselves)…..this allows you to feel confident on the day itself that you will be able to manage the dance in your bridal shoes.
Bring your choice of song/s on CD or IPod.
Bring the dimensions of your dance floor, so that your teacher ensures the choreography fits in the available space.
Length of your dance
Once again, traditions have changed in this regard. What once was the norm is no longer. In years gone by a couple danced to perhaps half a song and then had their parents, members of the bridal party and others come and join them on the dance floor for the remainder of the song. Nowadays, couples often choose to dance to the whole song themselves and have their guests join them for the song that follows. Think about your preference before you start your lessons.
Be realistic with your expectations
If you start learning your dance a couple of months before the big day you should feel reasonably confident that you will have given yourselves sufficient time, not only to learn the choreography, but to look good dancing it. If you give yourselves only 1 or 2 weeks to learn something it will, due to time and practice limitations, be a very short and simple routine. Five lessons taken over a 4-5 week period are much more beneficial than five lessons done in one week – it’s the practise time between lessons that makes the difference in the outcome.
Many people watch programs like “Dancing with the Stars”, where a “beginner” dances with a professional teacher, and “in a few short weeks” these ‘beginners’ dance for a national audience.
These celebrities train for 3-6 hours a day, 5 and 6 days a week, for weeks and months at a time before going on national television, with a studio and music to themselves – and what is often overlooked is that half of that partnership has often danced at national and/or international competition level since they were quite young, and have devoted their lives to their craft.
Practising your routine
You will be provided with written choreography after each class to assist with your practice. I can’t over-emphasise the importance that practice between lessons will make to how polished the dance will look on your wedding day, and how it will give you the confidence you will want to have when you take to the floor.
Dance to a band, or to a CD?
If you are dancing the whole song yourselves your teacher will choreograph the dance from the first note to the last. As with all creative people, bands like to have the opportunity to be spontaneous and may not always play a song the same way, or for the same length of time.
Unless you have properly briefed your band as to what length of song is required, and they can provide you a copy of their version of your song to bring to class for your lessons, it is probably safer to dance to the CD you have practised to in class.
Dance lessons for the bridal party and/or parents of the bride and groom
Unless the first dance is one where the whole bridal party is involved, I generally recommend that lessons for the bridal party and/or the parents of the bride and groom be taken separately to those of the bridal couple.
Lessons – discounts for pre-paying
Lessons can be paid for on a “pay as you go” basis (ie a single lesson at a time), but discounted prices are available if you wish to pay for packages of 3, 5 or 10 lessons in advance.
Gift Vouchers
Dance lessons are a great engagement gift! Gift vouchers are available for single lessons, or for packages of 3, 5 or 10 lessons. Gift vouchers are transferable, but not refundable. Contact me for further details.
Cancellation policy
Your lessons can be rescheduled when necessary, but 24 hours notice of rescheduling or cancellation is required, otherwise the cost of the lesson is forfeited.
There are, perhaps surprisingly, many things to take into account when planning your wedding dance. Some are obvious, and others not often thought of, but all will help you make your wedding dance one of the highlights of your special day.
Plan Ahead
Don’t leave organising your dance lessons till the last minute. In the lead-up to “the day” much needs to be done, and as the day looms nearer stress levels can increase in an effort to get everything finalised in time. Start your lessons at least about 8-10 weeks before the wedding. Give yourselves time to take at least five 1 hour lessons. Most couples take approximately 5 lessons to learn their choreography for a relatively simple routine, and then the 2-3 weeks left before your wedding can be spent fine-tuning and practising. It also leaves a couple of weeks where, if needed, you can have a couple of extra lessons if you feel you need them to feel totally confident.
Booking ahead – times of the year when teachers are busiest
Generally speaking, bridal teachers are busiest from around August through to March- April, as couples prepare for weddings held during the warmest months of the year.
When (days of the week) can you learn – is the studio open on the days you want to learn?
Most studios run group classes on set days/evenings of the week and during these times private lessons (such as bridal lessons) cannot be taught. You will need to be flexible in this regard.
Choose your song
Most couples have a favourite song – a song that means something to them. This is a good starting point when thinking about what you might dance to for your wedding. However, sometimes a favourite song is better for listening than it is for dancing, ie perhaps your song doesn’t have a particularly strong beat, or it speeds up and slows down, or changes timing and style mid-song. This can make it hard to dance to if you’re new to partner dancing (be guided in your choice of song by your teacher if you’re not sure.). A song with a discernible, consistent beat is a real plus for beginner dancers. Have a second and third choice of song as alternatives. And if you haven’t yet decided on a song, check out some of the suggestions listed on this site.
It’s also beneficial to think about the song you might have for the second dance, when friends and family will join you on the floor. Try to pick something that has a good beat – one that everyone can move to easily without training, and one to which people of all ages can relate.
The size of your dance floor, and how it affects the dance you do
Some dances require more space, to look the way they were designed to look, than others do.
If you have a particularly small dance floor (say 3m or 4m square) I would advise that you consider a song that lends itself to a dance that will fit comfortably on that size floor – such dances are rumba, cha cha, jive, mambo and salsa.
If you have a larger floor (anything from around 5m square or larger) you will then have the room to do a dance that “travels” around the floor – such as a waltz, foxtrot, slow rhythm, and Viennese waltz.
What sort of dance will you do?
In the past it was traditional for couples to waltz at their wedding. Traditions change, and these days the dances couples do are as varied as their musical tastes.
The dance you do will, of course, depend on your choice of song. You may end up doing a waltz, but it is also quite likely that you could do a rumba, cha cha, samba, jive, slow rhythm or foxtrot, for example, or a combination of dances. This is dependent on your choice of song, and the teacher’s creativity with the choreography.
A major consideration is the dress that the bride will be wearing. It will not be as easy to dance to fast music in a big, heavy dress (for example one with hoops and/or large volumes of material) as it would be in a more simple, light dress. The bride must be able to walk forward, backwards and sideways in her dress without her, or her partner, stepping on it….all dances require her ability to move forward, backwards and sideways with ease. Rather than compromise on their “dream wedding dress” some brides choose to change into a different dress for their dance.
A further point to consider is the shoes that the bride will wear – most brides choose to wear beautiful and elegant shoes, but the heels are often quite high and there is not much support in them – it’s hard to dance fast, and in a balanced fashion, in such shoes.
The soles of many shoes that men wear are synthetic, which can be slippery on dance floors. Leather soles on the man’s shoes would be a wise move.
You will also want to discuss your expectations of the dance with your teacher. If you are quiet and reserved you may well feel more comfortable doing choreography that it not too “showy” – perhaps something slow and elegant.
You may, on the other hand, want to go all out and put on a show for your guests. Tell your teacher if you have a specific goal in mind. This will help them create choreography that will fulfill your expectations.
What to wear to your lessons and what to bring to class
Dress comfortably – ease of movement is important in whatever you wear. Bring shoes that approximate what you will wear on your wedding day (or the actual shoes themselves)…..this allows you to feel confident on the day itself that you will be able to manage the dance in your bridal shoes.
Bring your choice of song/s on CD or IPod.
Bring the dimensions of your dance floor, so that your teacher ensures the choreography fits in the available space.
Length of your dance
Once again, traditions have changed in this regard. What once was the norm is no longer. In years gone by a couple danced to perhaps half a song and then had their parents, members of the bridal party and others come and join them on the dance floor for the remainder of the song. Nowadays, couples often choose to dance to the whole song themselves and have their guests join them for the song that follows. Think about your preference before you start your lessons.
Be realistic with your expectations
If you start learning your dance a couple of months before the big day you should feel reasonably confident that you will have given yourselves sufficient time, not only to learn the choreography, but to look good dancing it. If you give yourselves only 1 or 2 weeks to learn something it will, due to time and practice limitations, be a very short and simple routine. Five lessons taken over a 4-5 week period are much more beneficial than five lessons done in one week – it’s the practise time between lessons that makes the difference in the outcome.
Many people watch programs like “Dancing with the Stars”, where a “beginner” dances with a professional teacher, and “in a few short weeks” these ‘beginners’ dance for a national audience.
These celebrities train for 3-6 hours a day, 5 and 6 days a week, for weeks and months at a time before going on national television, with a studio and music to themselves – and what is often overlooked is that half of that partnership has often danced at national and/or international competition level since they were quite young, and have devoted their lives to their craft.
Practising your routine
You will be provided with written choreography after each class to assist with your practice. I can’t over-emphasise the importance that practice between lessons will make to how polished the dance will look on your wedding day, and how it will give you the confidence you will want to have when you take to the floor.
Dance to a band, or to a CD?
If you are dancing the whole song yourselves your teacher will choreograph the dance from the first note to the last. As with all creative people, bands like to have the opportunity to be spontaneous and may not always play a song the same way, or for the same length of time.
Unless you have properly briefed your band as to what length of song is required, and they can provide you a copy of their version of your song to bring to class for your lessons, it is probably safer to dance to the CD you have practised to in class.
Dance lessons for the bridal party and/or parents of the bride and groom
Unless the first dance is one where the whole bridal party is involved, I generally recommend that lessons for the bridal party and/or the parents of the bride and groom be taken separately to those of the bridal couple.
Lessons – discounts for pre-paying
Lessons can be paid for on a “pay as you go” basis (ie a single lesson at a time), but discounted prices are available if you wish to pay for packages of 3, 5 or 10 lessons in advance.
Gift Vouchers
Dance lessons are a great engagement gift! Gift vouchers are available for single lessons, or for packages of 3, 5 or 10 lessons. Gift vouchers are transferable, but not refundable. Contact me for further details.
Cancellation policy
Your lessons can be rescheduled when necessary, but 24 hours notice of rescheduling or cancellation is required, otherwise the cost of the lesson is forfeited.