We should not look like two awkward middle-schoolers.
August 26, 2015 9:14 AM Subscribe
Looking for suggestions in NYC: we need some dance instruction for our "first song" at our wedding.
We have a song, and would like to be able to dance like adults to it, rather than the awkward "leave room for the holy spirit", "rocking back and forth strangely" slow dance technique that we are both accustomed to.
I'm not sure we need a long-term ballroom dancing class, so I'm curious if we have options for just very focused, song-based dancing instruction. Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments? GO!
We have a song, and would like to be able to dance like adults to it, rather than the awkward "leave room for the holy spirit", "rocking back and forth strangely" slow dance technique that we are both accustomed to.
I'm not sure we need a long-term ballroom dancing class, so I'm curious if we have options for just very focused, song-based dancing instruction. Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments? GO!
Response by poster: Sorry, to clarify, it's a Sam Cooke song, slow dance for bride and groom only as first dance.
posted by undercoverhuwaaah at 9:38 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by undercoverhuwaaah at 9:38 AM on August 26, 2015
Many dance teachers will do exactly what you're looking for--several sessions for just you & the new spouse to learn how to dance to your specific song. We just did this recently & it was v effective (also pretty fun & a nice thing to do together in the wedding lead-up); we're not in NYC but I'm sure if you call a couple dance studios or teachers they'll be able to help.
Congrats!!
posted by n. moon at 9:42 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Congrats!!
posted by n. moon at 9:42 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
We did Brooklyn Swings. It's very low key and down to earth. We did their group classes but they also have individual instruction. The gave us a basic form to hold and stand together with and got us used to dancing in front of other people, even if we didn't use the specific moves from class in the song. We also found the weekly classes to be a way to de-stress during wedding prep as an added bonus. The group classes are nice they make you trade partners so pick up different thigns from different people and then there's usually 20 minutes to practice at the end. We took their classes in Gowanus but they also have them in Williamsburg. Congrats!
posted by edbles at 9:43 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by edbles at 9:43 AM on August 26, 2015
When we got married my wife and I—who had never danced, basically—were worried about this, but also very bad at following through on our plans to take some lessons. A couple days before the ceremony we watched exactly enough instructional YouTube videos to learn the box step.
We certainly didn't look like professional dancers, but we're midwesterners and constitutionally uncomfortable with those ornate, fully choreographed routines some people practice for their first dance—all we wanted was to look like we'd seen people dance before. And it turns out you don't have to learn very much to do that: it took probably half-an-hour of box-stepping around her living room to pick it up. Then it was just a matter of repeating the steps until the DJ turned the music off.
posted by Polycarp at 9:43 AM on August 26, 2015 [3 favorites]
We certainly didn't look like professional dancers, but we're midwesterners and constitutionally uncomfortable with those ornate, fully choreographed routines some people practice for their first dance—all we wanted was to look like we'd seen people dance before. And it turns out you don't have to learn very much to do that: it took probably half-an-hour of box-stepping around her living room to pick it up. Then it was just a matter of repeating the steps until the DJ turned the music off.
posted by Polycarp at 9:43 AM on August 26, 2015 [3 favorites]
Unless you think it would be fun for you and your mate to take dance lessons, this seems like something you could just practice at home (which could also be fun!) I promise, nobody has very high expectations for these things.
posted by cakelite at 9:59 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by cakelite at 9:59 AM on August 26, 2015
We took two lessons with Rohan at Doonya Dance NYC before our wedding a few years ago - then again, our first dance was a surprise (to our guests) choreographed bollywood number, and im not exactly dance-enthusiastic, so it was vital.
as others have mentioned no one will EVER tell you that you shat the bed on your first dance, but as another non-dancey type i found the whole thing to be more than a little anxiety producing. Working with someone (even only for a couple hours) was reassuring. One tip we got that i could have embraced more would be to think about the faces youre making and smile like an evil texas cheerleader no matter how unsure of your next move you are. Just keep smiling and you'll do great. . .
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:40 AM on August 26, 2015
as others have mentioned no one will EVER tell you that you shat the bed on your first dance, but as another non-dancey type i found the whole thing to be more than a little anxiety producing. Working with someone (even only for a couple hours) was reassuring. One tip we got that i could have embraced more would be to think about the faces youre making and smile like an evil texas cheerleader no matter how unsure of your next move you are. Just keep smiling and you'll do great. . .
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:40 AM on August 26, 2015
I go to a dance studio for fun and there's a constantly shifting group of couples getting married who come in to do what you want. It's super common, especially during wedding season. The instructors will be able to walk you through some options suited to what you want given your time/budget.
If you were to learn how to dance just for fun, they'd teach you a bunch of moves (of increasing complexity over time) that you'll be able to perform on a whim just by knowing that "when I do this, my partner does this" aka leading and following. It really increases the difficulty level when neither of you know what you're going to do next.
However, if you're there to learn one dance for a wedding, then they'll teach you a bunch of moves that fit what you want/your abilities that you memorize through practice. Since you both know what order things happen you can generally do more complicated stuff more quickly. There are some things that are all but impossible to do unless it's planned in advance too.
In either case, practice! The more you practice the more comfortable you'll feel when the time comes.
posted by Green With You at 3:37 PM on August 26, 2015
If you were to learn how to dance just for fun, they'd teach you a bunch of moves (of increasing complexity over time) that you'll be able to perform on a whim just by knowing that "when I do this, my partner does this" aka leading and following. It really increases the difficulty level when neither of you know what you're going to do next.
However, if you're there to learn one dance for a wedding, then they'll teach you a bunch of moves that fit what you want/your abilities that you memorize through practice. Since you both know what order things happen you can generally do more complicated stuff more quickly. There are some things that are all but impossible to do unless it's planned in advance too.
In either case, practice! The more you practice the more comfortable you'll feel when the time comes.
posted by Green With You at 3:37 PM on August 26, 2015
We took lessons with Paulo "Pasta" Lanza for our wedding dance, which we did as a combination of Peabody and Charleston that he choreographed. We had the band that plays the Jazz Age Lawn Party for our wedding— so we wanted to do something 20sish and I got to wear a very cool flapper dress.
My husband had been doing swing dancing for a couple of years and I had not done any dance other than Grateful Dead style and some ballet when I was 5 or so.
Anyway, he's really nice and it doesn't matter if you are a complete beginner— he'll work with you where you are at.
Sadly, Dance Manhattan where he used to do group classes is now closed, but he does do individual ones at You Should Be Dancing, which is on the West Side near Penn Station. And there are lots of Broadway rehearsals and auditions going on in the same building, which is interesting. You Should Be Dancing may also have group wedding classes, but I don't know.
posted by Maias at 4:15 PM on August 26, 2015
My husband had been doing swing dancing for a couple of years and I had not done any dance other than Grateful Dead style and some ballet when I was 5 or so.
Anyway, he's really nice and it doesn't matter if you are a complete beginner— he'll work with you where you are at.
Sadly, Dance Manhattan where he used to do group classes is now closed, but he does do individual ones at You Should Be Dancing, which is on the West Side near Penn Station. And there are lots of Broadway rehearsals and auditions going on in the same building, which is interesting. You Should Be Dancing may also have group wedding classes, but I don't know.
posted by Maias at 4:15 PM on August 26, 2015
You can also have the DJ or band fade the song out after 1 minute of dancing.
posted by JujuB at 9:29 PM on August 26, 2015
posted by JujuB at 9:29 PM on August 26, 2015
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posted by myselfasme at 9:22 AM on August 26, 2015