This lovely week here at your favorite wedding blog, we are graced with the skilled and wise Audra Billet from New Mexico’s very own Avant Garden Ballroom Academy and Creative Learning. And thank goodness, because we know getting ready for your wedding dance can be intimidating. In this guest post, Audra shares 6 absolutely necessary tips for having a magical wedding dance! And as the owner of Avant Garden, Audra comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience, having taught thousands of students in Pennsylvania and New Mexico over the last 29 years.
So, without further adieu, let’s hear from Audra Billet!
From the venue, to the food, to the cake…to the infinite list of things you need to do to create your perfect wedding…how can you even think about learning (and paying for) a complicated wedding dance? Well, if you utilize these six tips, I promise it will not be complicated, you will save money, it will be fun, and you will walk away with a useful and wonderful skill that you can enjoy with your new life-long dance partner!
1. Start Early
Even as a professional dancer, my first thought after getting engaged was to find a dress, then the venue and food. The wedding dance is something that I started thinking about later. But for those of you without dance experience, just remember that it takes a little time to learn a new skill. If you start early, you will have time to explore music, the types of dances that you would like to do, learn the all-important basics, and make changes if necessary.
No matter if you choose the easiest or most complicated dance, is so much better to learn in the beginning of your wedding planning, than at the end, when you feel stressed and crunched for time. Learning to dance is a creative and joyful experience that you will remember for the rest of your lives. If you start early, it will be fun and care free! Furthermore, the earlier you start, you can always plan on something simple, but still have time to add on if you want to…if you start late, you will be limited in what you can do.
2. Estimate How Much Time It Will Take
Wedding dances can be as simple as learning an entrance, a basic step, maybe one move, and an ending, like a dip. Many couples can learn this in only about three to five lessons. But even for this most basic option, you should start at least three months in advance, so you can practice sufficiently, and have the option to take a few more lessons if necessary.
The next level would be to add a few more moves, and to improve the styling. This will generally take about five to ten lessons, and is the most popular choice. For this option, starting five to six months in advance is best.
The highest level would be to learn an entire dance style from the bottom up, with several moves and advanced styling, or to learn a fully choreographed routine. This option can take up to a year, or more, so you would definitely need to start as early as possible.
3. Choose a Trained Teacher Who is Proficient in All (or Most) Partner Dances
The very first thing you need to do when you are considering your wedding dance is to think about some songs that represent you both, as a couple, in your first dance together. This can be almost anything depending on your taste and unique personalities; and it is one of the first things that you should discuss with your teacher. The song that you choose will determine the types of dances that fit the tempo, the beat, and the feeling of the song. Of course, you can also come in with a style of dance that you like, and then get some help with choosing an appropriate song.
A teacher who is trained in all of the major Latin, Ballroom, Swing, and Country dances, will be able to tell you which dances work for specific songs, and will then be able to teach you that dance. If you go to someone who only teaches Swing, or Salsa, or Country, for example, they will not be able to advise you on the best dance for you overall. In this case, you may be persuaded into doing a dance, or using a song, that does not fit your style.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask your prospective teachers about their own training and dance background. There are a lot of people who call themselves dance teachers, who only learned by dancing socially, in group lessons, or from YouTube videos. Truly qualified teachers have hundreds of hours of one-on-one training with other top dancers, and should be experts in the physics and idiosyncrasies of partner dancing.
4. Avoid Doing a Routine
Wait, what? I thought that’s what we were doing?! Well, not necessarily. I actually advise all of my wedding students against learning a routine. Learning a dance routine can be stressful, time consuming, expensive, and enjoyment of the dance is very short lived. It can also lead to awkward moments if there are timing or other mistakes that lead to the entire dance being off.
So what do we do instead? …actually learn to dance! Ask your teacher to teach you your dance, so that you can lead and follow each other, and have a general understanding of styling. At such a basic level, this is not very hard to do. You will learn the basic step of the dance that you choose, a move or two, fundamental skills like tension, grounding, leading and following, and some basic styling that goes with your particular dance. What is awesome about this method, is that you will not only look amazing at your wedding, but you will also be able to go out together, and use your dancing skills for the rest of your lives!
One caveat…if you are committed to taking lessons for a long time leading up to your wedding and want it to be a fully choreographed, knock their socks off show, then go for it, and I bow down to you, you baddie!
5. Come to Your First Lesson Prepared
Don’t worry, this is an easy one. First, just come in with an idea of at least 3 to 4 songs that you love. Keep in mind that some songs may be a little too fast or too slow to work well, and some songs may not be compatible with the style of dance that you envision. If you are considering doing a classic wedding Waltz, for instance, this dance requires music in a specific ¾ time signature, and only certain songs will work. Again, any teacher trained in all the major partner dances will be able to guide you through this whole process, and suggest new music if necessary.
Next, wear comfortable and supportive footwear. It is not necessary to have professional dance shoes, but you do need to wear shoes that are secure on your feet, and have some flexibility, e.g. no sandals, clogs, or rigid platform shoes. Simple dress shoes, with ties or straps, or even a pair of sneakers will generally work for the first lesson. After that, your teacher can advise you if you need something that works a little better.
6. Consider Your Venue and Your Wedding Attire
What type of floor will you be dancing on? Is it outside in the grass or sand? Will you have a dance floor? What are its dimensions? Will you be wearing a heavy dress with a train? Super high Stilettos? Cowboy boots?
All of these things can drastically affect the dance that you choose. Many of these things can be accommodated, but be sure to inform your teacher about all of the possibilities. Another thing that you will want to plan on, is to practice your dance in your wedding shoes and in clothing that approximates the scale and restrictions of your wedding day attire. You don’t want to find out, for instance, that your shoes are too slippery to dance in in the middle of your big moment!
In conclusion, start early, with enough time to meet your specific goals; choose a qualified and well-rounded teacher; don’t worry about doing a routine unless you really want to; start thinking about music; and consider about anything that may affect your dance. Lastly, and most importantly, have fun! For many people, dancing becomes a life-long source of joy, connection, exercise, enrichment, and stress reduction. Enjoy it!
