First Dance Tips from startthedance.co.uk

Which Song To Choose?

2011-07-06T01:16:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share with you the top 5 songs that people have chosen to dance to so far this year. They are (drum role please):

Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Andy Williams
L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
One Day Like This - Elbow
Love Is In The Air - John Paul Young

Nice going guys! Thanks for choosing good ones!

There's no denying that choosing the first dance song can be a tricky affair. For some it isn't as easy as having a song that is 'theirs' which has some special meaning or is reminiscent of when they got together. Some couples turn up to their first dance session with a short list and still can't agree on one. It's a great ice breaker for me as they battle it out arguing that one is too cheesy or another is too dull.

Here's a few tips to help you decide:

Choose one that has a strong beat so you can dance to it. It does also makes sense to stick to something that has the same timing signature throughout to avoid having to learn lots of different steps.

Avoid huge intros where possible. Wedding dance floors aren't usually very big so if the intros short you can walk in to it and then start dancing as the lyrics kick in - perfect!

If the song's very long just ask your choreographer to teach you to a certain point and then either have a signal to get your friends onto the floor, or edit it to a fade out. Better to keep it short and impressive than to struggle filling an 8 minute epic. Generally I think three to four minutes is perfect.

If you're from abroad and have mixed nationalities at your wedding don't be put off by choosing a song in your language. Sometimes songs in a different language are much more atmospheric, especially if it means something special to you.

Although I do love the top 5 so far this year there is a part of me that wills you to go a bit left-field! Have the confidence to dance to that song that you think is cool but you worry won't work well because lots of guests won't have heard of it. I admire the couple who go with the song despite the fact that by verse three the lyrics are talking about divorce!! I can honestly say, that unless one of your guests knows the words inside-out no one will bat an eyelid. For as long as you are dancing they are watching you, not listening to the lyrics. So long as its good music and you are dancing comfortably and naturally then you're winners.

So, I am going to rock the boat a little here. I will list my own top 5 tracks that have never been used but I think deserve to be! They break the norm but I know they would go down a storm (sorry, didn't mean for that to be a cheesy rhyme). Here goes, and as I think of or come across any others I will let you know:

Walk Between the Raindrops -Donald Fagen
Modern Love - David Bowie
You Really Got Me - The Kinks
Love Me Like You - Magic Numbers
Can You Feel It- Michael Jackson

Go on... You you know you wanna! X

The Curse of 'Strictly'

2011-05-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

I have heard from a few of my clients recently that there is an increased pressure to perform a 'Strictly Come Dancing' masterpiece - a unique show-stopper with multiple lifts and a whole medley of songs.

I understand this pressure because I've been there. Four years ago this summer I dragged my poor husband-to-be into the rehearsal rooms and cracked the whip. About ten arguments later I left with a bruised ego as he muttered something under his breath about the testimonials on my website being made up because my teaching was so bad.

For some couples the idea of having to play to the crowd on their wedding day makes them want to run away to Gretna Green. It's enough that they are on complete show to all their friends and family, and that they have to walk down an aisle with everyone staring at them, mentally scoring their dress and probably their shoes, make-up and hair too.

Don't get me wrong, I do love to watch the show-offs: where the couple start off with a slow dance and then the music breaks and they start pumping their street dance moves. I love the shimmies, the jazz hands and the robot moves. I love it all and what I love most of all are the videos I receive where you can hear the guests roaring with laughter and cheering as if England had just won the World Cup.

But despite loving to watch and teach these routines I can honestly say I didn't want to perform on my big day. I love to dance, of course I do but teaching, not performing is my passion - even during my competition days I had always been incredibly nervous about dancing in front of a large audience.

This is why I totally understand those couples who are a bit put off by the crazy routines. More often than not I can spot the 'low key couple' before they have even opened their mouth to tell me what they want. They always choose the shortest songs and are often late because they went to the pub beforehand for a bit of dutch courage.

But it needn't be anything to be scared of; first dance lessons are such a wonderful, fun and relaxing way to spend time with your partner amid the chaos that is planning a wedding and I'd say at least half of the couples I teach don't want to make a big deal of it. For them, the ideal is to finish their wedding dance lessons with the confidence to dance naturally and comfortably without it looking like they even stepped into a dance studio at all. For me it is just as rewarding to turn a couple of shy-shufflers into relaxed, confident movers as to choreograph a real-show stopper. The most important thing, is that you enjoy yourself and that's why I make this the number one aim of all my lessons.

Give it a try - you have nothing to lose.

Jess x

Death of the Waltz?

2011-05-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

Fewer Brides and Grooms are waltzing their way around the floor these days. The waltz, which was once traditional as a first dance in both Europe and America is becoming a thing of the past. The formal style is out, we have entered into a new first dance era.

So why has this happened? Previous generations knew how to dance; it's so common for my clients to say to me 'I wish I could dance like my grandparents' or, 'please could you teach me a few waltz steps so that I can dance later in the evening with my Dad'.

From the Victorian era the waltz was being danced at formal events by the elite and slowly filtered it's way down into the social lives of the masses. As it was one of the most formal, slow and elegant of ballroom dances it became a natural choice for couples on their wedding day.

But during the 20th century a big change in popular music occurred. People began to listen to new styles, such as jazz, swing and rock and roll. It became less fashionable to dance in formal partnership and more popular to dance freestyle.

Slowly but surely less people knew how to waltz and at any formal event couples would come together and dance in a way that mimicked ballroom steps without actually knowing what they were doing. And there it was, the birth of the awkward shuffle.

Today, with less formal weddings and even less formal music couples are looking to learn a more modern way to move together. The steps they learn have become as unique as the music they have chosen and with so many different tracks out there, and so few in a traditional 3/4 timing, the waltz is struggling to survive.

So has the waltz reached it's sell by date? Not quite. Shows like 'Strictly' have done much to rejuvenate ballroom dancing and the waltz with it. There is also an increasing counter-trend to try and regain the elegance of more classic and traditional fashions; while no longer the automatic choice, the timeless and romantic waltz still has some life left in it yet.

Jess Brichto x

Pros & cons of dancing to a live band.

2011-04-30T14:20:00.000-07:00

This month has seen a real increase in those choosing to dance to a track performed by their wedding band. It's such a fantastic thing to do - dance the first dance to live music on your wedding day.

You must beware though.

Bands are fabulous because they are creative, this means that they are more likely to put their own stamp on a song. They could increase the tempo for example or even slow it down. I've even known bands to add another chorus, increase an intro and skip a verse. This is all fine unless you have learnt to dance to the original track.

I always, always encourage couples who want to use live music on their wedding day to bring a sample or a demo of their band with them. That way you are dancing to exactly the same tempo from the off. Those bands who promise, promise, promise to copy the original exactly must swear that they will.

Otherwise they will have your wedding dance teacher after them!!

First Post

2011-04-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

Hi,

My name is Jess and I am a choreographer and dance teacher. In 2005 I started my own company Start the Dance (www.startthedance.co.uk) which specialises in teaching couples their first dance routine for their wedding.

Over the years I have gathered lots of hints and tips on what makes a great first dance, so I thought that rather than keeping them secret I should share them with you!

I would love to hear from you if you have any questions or tips of your own.

Jess x