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Frequently
Asked Questions
Q. We have two left feet! Can we
really expect to learn to dance comfortably
at our wedding after only ONE DAY?
A. Every couple learns to dance at a different
pace. However, you’d be surprised
what the right instruction, a little patience,
and a unique learning environment will give
you. After just one day, you’ll have
a completely different perspective on dancing
and on relating to your partner. Dancing
is as easy and natural as walking once you
are taught by a seasoned professional. Our
instructors have successfully trained thousands
of people over the years. You give it your
best shot for a day and we’ll make
sure you’re dancing comfortably at
your wedding.
Q. My fiancé is a nervous
wreck about dancing at our wedding. Are
all grooms nervous?
A. Almost all grooms are nervous about
dancing. This is our specialty. Our seminars
bring in a number of Sports-Related Teaching
Tools to help folks (especially grooms and
groomsmen) associate and quickly learn concepts,
helping them to overcome their fears. Our
approach is to systematically build confidence
in both the leader and the follower and
ensure that both parties understand fully
what the rules are and how to “play
the game.” This makes dancing with
your partner both enjoyable and stress-free!
Q. How do we start and end our
dance without feeling awkward?
A. If your dance has an introduction (an
opening section without a vocal), you can
use that time to walk onto the floor. If
there is no introduction, you will feel
more comfortable if you agree on a point
in the music where you will begin, and practice
that so you look and feel smooth.
A good way to end your dance is to do a
dip, or an "over-sway." These
are taught in all of our seminars and are
easy to incorporate once you know the basics.
Once you’ve gone through your final
move, it’s always classy to end up
in an embrace and a nice romantic kiss (provided
it was the partner you came with).
Finally, if you plan to have members of
your wedding party join you on the floor,
you don't really need to worry about ending
your dance in a formal way; just stop, give
each other a small bow or curtsey (or a
kiss!), and resume with the new partner.
Q. What is the easiest dance style
to learn?
A. The Slow Dance is by far the easiest
dance to learn because it is basically just
walking in time to music. It comes highly
recommended, as it is something everyone
can use, no matter what type of music you
listen to. The two social dances that we
recommend are the East Coast Swing (think
big band) and Salsa. Which you select depends
on your music preferences. Each dance offers
a variety of beginner-friendly moves and
are very popular social dances. Also, both
Salsa and Swing both provide great foundations
for learning other dance styles.
Q. What is the proper format for
guests to join the bride and groom on the
dance floor?
A. Make sure everyone involved knows what
is expected and when. As such, there are
several ways you can invite guests to join
you on the floor. If you wish to have only
parents or wedding party members, arrange
it ahead of time, and then invite them out;
it is recommended that you do a dry run
at the rehearsal dinner if all the participants
are present. If you want to include all
of your guests, have your DJ, the bandleader,
the best man, or the maid of honor announce
the invitation at the appropriate time.
Finally, you might want to ask a few good
friends prior to the event to be "ringers"
in the crowd -- friends who are prepared
to leap to their feet at the big moment,
so that there's no awkward pause!
Q. How long should our first dance
be?
A. We suggest the first dance last no more
than 2 minutes. A typical ballad is between
2_ and 3_ minutes, so it would be best to
leave instructions for a “planned
fade” at a certain point in the music.
Neither you, nor your guests, are going
to want the song to drag on forever. There
CAN BE too much of a good thing.
Q. What are the most popular first
dance songs?
A. Several of these are listed on our "Top
Wedding Songs" page. Also, we have
a comprehensive database of songs (over
750) from which all our students can go
through. We’d be happy to consult
with you before, during, or after one of
the seminars if you have any questions.
Q. What’s the best way to
relax while dancing in front of ALL of our
guests?
A. Some people resort to alcohol at times
like these. We’re not recommending
it; it’s just a fact. If you really
want to be relaxed, it will come through
being confident and prepared. You’ll
go through dozens of reinforcing exercises
and drills throughout any one of the seminars
that specifically target areas of learning
to help get you there. Start your lessons
as early as you can so you can have more
time to practice as your event gets closer.
You’ll also want to practice in clothes
that are similar to what you'll be wearing
and on a space that is the same size as
your dance floor. Of course, if you can,
practice to your actual song, but don’t
be afraid to dance to others just to keep
up your confidence. Dance as much as you
can.
Q: Are dance shoes necessary to
take one of your seminars?
A: No, they’re not, though they’re
often better for control and sometimes they’re
more comfortable. We recommend learning
with your most comfortable pair of shoes
(make sure they’re not open-heel like
flip-flops or mules) and then practicing
in the shoes that you’re going to
be dancing in on the night of the event.
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