Wedding dance: give free rein to your feelings!

One of the most touching moments of a wedding celebration is the first dance of the newlyweds, filled with love and tenderness. That’s why I want it to be special and unique. To do this, many newlyweds turn to a professional choreographer who choreographs their wedding dance. But before you go to a choreographic school, you should learn all the subtleties and nuances of the first wedding dance, so that even before meeting the choreographer you can decide which dance direction appeals to you, how you would like to decorate the dance, etc. We will talk about this in the article!

Beautiful wedding dance

Waltz

Waltz is the most popular type of wedding dance. It is ideal for almost all weddings, especially classic celebrations. Smooth movements and graceful supports are the main features of the wedding waltz.

It is very easy to learn, the main thing is to remember the waltz step, which you can learn both at a dance school and at home using online lessons. It all depends on the level of your dance training.

There are two varieties of waltz:

Slow, characterized by certain movements, the trajectory of which can be any (in a circle, diagonally, etc.). All movements are performed smoothly and softly.
The Viennese (fast) waltz is more energetic, it is characterized by a change in tempo and rhythm, alternating left and right turns. It is performed strictly in a circle.

Wedding Waltz

Duration

It is very important to understand that the first dance is more of a show, because... Dozens of eyes will be looking at you, and the show should not be too long so as not to tire yourself and tire the audience. That is why cut the music for the dance so that its duration is no more than 3 minutes. It should be bright, beautiful and enchanting.

It is important that the dance is within your capabilities. If you decide to stage an original dance, then without special training it will be difficult for you to remember it and perform it without mistakes. Therefore, either take a few lessons from a professional choreographer, or reduce the time as much as possible and abandon very complex movements in order to feel free and calm during the performance.

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Tango

Tango is characterized by decisiveness and clarity of movements, sudden stops, changes in direction and accentuated turns of the heads. Passion, emotionality and sensuality are what distinguishes wedding tango from other dances.

Not many newlyweds choose the dance of passion. Because tango requires performers to have special skills and appropriate clothing, which rarely resembles wedding clothing. If you have a high level of dance training and have chosen a tight dress with a deep slit on the leg for your wedding, tango will be the ideal option for you!

Tango

Why is preparation necessary?

Even if you both consider yourself excellent dancers, you still have to prepare for your wedding performance . Why?

There is a special atmosphere at a wedding, so the staging style should match it. It is likely that you are not familiar with all dance styles, so the recommendations of an experienced teacher will be very helpful.
The choreographer will suggest movements, focusing directly on you: your preferences and skills.
Preliminary training as a couple will help you feel the rhythm of the music and your partner’s movements.
Having clearly rehearsed the movements, you can focus on the emotional side: giving your guests true emotions, evoking touching feelings.
Speaking at the festival itself, you will feel confident and will be able to shine in front of all those gathered.
A perfectly performed dance can be captured on video and you can remember wonderful moments.

Latina

Cha-cha-cha, salsa, rumba and bachata - it’s impossible to sit still to these fiery rhythms! However, they impose some restrictions on the image of the newlyweds: a fluffy dress would not be appropriate; a bright short dress would be the ideal option. To look truly impressive, you can even change your clothes before the dance. In addition, keep in mind that for these dances it is important that the wedding venue is spacious enough.

Remember that some Latin American dances require strong expression of feelings and emotions. Therefore, if you are sanguine, then it is better not to choose salsa or bachata as a dance; perhaps rumba with its smooth movements will suit you. But for choleric people it will not be difficult to beautifully “beat” any Latin American dance.

Wedding salsa dance

What if we don't have time?

There are often situations when newlyweds simply do not have enough time to engage in staging . Then the option of a regular slow dance to your favorite song is suitable.

Advice! Try to choose a beautiful sensual composition to which you will simply enjoy each other.

And in this video, the couple is simply slowly dancing to a beautiful song (it is worth noting that the dance is not varied in movements, but thanks to the interaction of the young people with each other, their smiles, hugs, the dance looks surprisingly alive and beautiful ):

“Stylish” dances: boogie-woogie, rock and roll, swing

Boogie-woogie, rock and roll, swing – bright and lively dances that will appeal to active and unconventional newlyweds. They are ideal for stylish weddings. And we are talking not only about celebrations based on the film “Hipsters,” but also about weddings organized in the style of America from the 50s to the 70s. or pulp fiction from the 1930s.

Which of these dances to choose is up to you to decide, depending on your temperament: for some, a flexible swing accompanied by languid blues will suit you, while others will choose incendiary rock and roll or a driving boogie-woogie dance.

"Stylish" wedding dance

Matching the style of the celebration

It is desirable that the first dance of the bride and groom fits into the overall style of the wedding celebration. A traditional wedding will be decorated with a classic waltz or an expressive foxtrot.

Have you chosen a wedding in retro style? Then the dance of the young people can be “greetings from the past” - it would be nice for a couple to perform the Charleston, twist, boogie-woogie.

A wedding celebration in the disco style gives room for imagination - you can prepare a whole composition, a mix of popular melodies with dance moves from youth discos.

Mix

The mix is a selection of several melodies that differ in style and rhythm. Each melody has its own special dance with a set of movements and supports. For example, you can start with a slow waltz, which smoothly turns into fiery rock and roll or passionate tango. You can choose only those movements that are best studied than others and create a mix of them. This wedding dance will surprise your guests - they will applaud you non-stop!

Wedding dance in the style of “Mix” (transition – 1:15)

Staging a wedding dance with a choreographer: a necessity or a modern trend?

Nowadays, when staging a wedding dance, it is possible to use the services of a professional choreographer. He will be happy to help you choose music and create a dance, or choose a dance to the music that you have already chosen in advance.

Yes, on the one hand, you will have to spend a little more time and money paying for his services. But on the other hand, it is the choreographer who will be able to give valuable tips, notice shortcomings and eliminate shortcomings, so that the young people at the wedding from the “center of attention” do not inadvertently become the object of ridicule and jokes.
If you are not professional dancers, then it is better to opt for a dance with simple, uncomplicated movements and a couple of simple lifts.
The choice of a choreographer and its necessity is more of a modern trend that expresses our desire to do everything thoroughly. But, if neither of the partners knows how to dance (and from a professional point of view), then the help of an understanding person is definitely needed.

Important: There is no need to spend six months rehearsing with a professional. In any case, start preparing at least 1.5-2 months in advance. Just let the choreographer come up with a production, and then you can rehearse yourself at home.

The choreographer will help polish every detail of the dance to the highest level

If you refuse his services, then arm yourself with a little advice. Record your dances on video. Of course, the ideal solution would be a dance studio with lots of huge mirrors. After all, “looking at yourself from the outside” will help you understand mistakes and eliminate them.
Also, don’t rush to grab difficult supports. If you don't know how to dance, then you should start with the basics. They can be repeated several times or alternated with each other. And just dilute the dance a little with some complicated movements.
By the way, usually at the chorus the music sounds louder, brighter and there is a build-up effect. It is during this period that you need to enhance the music with your movements. The simplest option is to have the husband spin his wife around in his arms. Or better yet, he would catch her and pick her up.
It doesn't hurt to end the dance with a kiss. This is already considered a classic of the mating dance. If you want to stand out, do it at the very beginning or switch places.

On the chorus, use more complex lifts and movements.

Medley

A potpourri is somewhat similar to a wedding mix, only here your imagination is no longer limited. You can choose any melodies and dance moves that you will “bring together” together. You can use the sounds of breaking dishes, explosions, etc. as transitions between tracks.

Essentially, a medley is a stage performance through which you express your feelings for each other.

The advantage of a medley is that this dance can be performed even in very limited time, because for it you can choose those movements that you get just perfectly.

Dance of the newlyweds in the style of “Medley” (transition – 1:05)

What to take to classes?

In addition to a training partner, you will need some things:

Comfortable replacement shoes for the very first lessons.
Comfortable clothing that does not restrict movement.
Dress in which the bride will dance at the wedding (if it is not a wedding dress).
If a fluffy wedding dress is expected, then it is better for the bride to try out dance moves while wearing a crinoline .
The shoes in which the bride will dance at the celebration will come in handy at the final rehearsals, when the production has already been well learned.
Water (optional).

Daughter and father dance

The dance of the bride with her father evokes the most touching emotions and tears of joy from all guests present. And many dads, touched to the depths of their souls, shed a stingy male tear. So why not decorate your wedding evening with a beautiful dance with your father. Most often, slow compositions with an appropriate theme are chosen for him, but you can give preference to a cheerful and playful melody that connects you with your father.

This dance usually ends with a touching moment - the father passes his daughter into the hands of the groom, uttering parting words.

A dance with dad is not considered a mandatory element of the wedding program, so it’s up to you to decide whether to leave it or remove it from the festive evening scenario.

Gentle dance of daughter and father

Music

It is important to remember that the music for the first dance should match the moment. Not only popular melodies, but also movie soundtracks, instrumental compositions and even live accompaniment can suit the mood. Classic violin or saxophone, gentle vocals or fiery rhythms of a cover band - feel free to choose what you both like. It's great if you have “your” songs that are associated with important stages in a relationship.

Avoid combining 2 or 3 melodies - this style of musical accompaniment was popular several years ago, and has already become obsolete. In addition, it is very difficult to truly harmoniously and beautifully transition from a slow waltz to a fiery rumba. And the style of clothing in both cases should be different.

Wedding 2012 VS wedding 2022: what has changed?

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Rehearsals

To stage a special stylized dance, it is advisable to contact a professional: dancer and choreographer. Then you will be provided with a good rehearsal base, mirrors, parquet flooring, the opportunity to make a high-quality video and analyze mistakes.

A professional dancer will tell you the correct position of your arms and legs, make your dance effortless and beautiful, see your strengths and highlight them so that your guests will be delighted! You should start rehearsing in advance - first you need to learn the basics of the chosen style, and only then choreograph the dance itself.

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Types of wedding dances

Now that we have figured out the timing of preparation, let's talk about what the dance can be like. To be honest, in a variety of ways, because this is your story. And therefore you shouldn’t try to copy someone else’s dance: it’s better to create your own. Let's start with the classic version.

So, waltz . Like any classic, this is a win-win option. Sensual, gentle, elegant and at the same time majestic and aristocratic. This dance has its roots in the era of balls. If the bride wants to be a real princess at her wedding, then this dance is ideal for your couple.

The waltz is not the only dance that carries tenderness and touching. There are a lot of other directions, it’s probably impossible to list them all.

You can choose any melody you like and bring it to the choreographer: rest assured, he will make a wonderful dance out of it that is right for you.

What other areas would you like to highlight separately? Perhaps tango . It will be ideal for your couple if passion plays the leading role in your love. This is a dance-fight of characters. It is imbued with inner sexuality and passion between a man and a woman, but at the same time does not contain a hint of vulgarity. This is pure fire that burns in the hearts of lovers.

Do you want to really surprise your guests not only with the beauty of the production? Then you should pay attention to the fashion that came to us from America, probably 5 years ago. This is several dances in one . Your dance will begin tenderly and touchingly, but at some point the slow rhythms change to something fiery and cheerful. If you wish, you can invite guests to join you in the second part. The only thing worth remembering when choosing this option: do not get carried away by changing the music . If you make more than two changes of tunes, and also after a short interval of time, it can become tiring and, instead of an unexpected surprise, you will simply end up with an overloaded production.