Sooo what are your New Year’s resolutions?

… Maybe get married?

… Maybe get some dance lessons?

… Maybe have a fun and romantic first dance?

Thought so

Happy 2012!

Trends for 2012 include keeping that guest list small, going “green” and having the wedding that says “you” all over it…

What better way to say “you” than having a first dance that showcases you and your new spouse dancing to the song that is totally “you”?

Well, if you’ve got that resolution then the time to start is NOW!

A couple of dance lessons getting you both into the lead and follow of it will go a long way toward helping you to feel “oh-so-comfortable” on the dance floor in front of all your nearest and dearest.

Remember first dances can be anything you like them to be… from a friendly twirl and sway combo to a romantic dip and cuddle medley with a sweet kiss here and there.

You can make the dancing go to the song or make the song go to your dancing!

You can showcase the extrovert of the two of you or you can “just dance” and let everyone watch how you smile and have fun with each other.

Whatever you like is whatever we can do.

“Just dance!”

Contact me today to find out more about dance lessons and what you can learn to your special song.  I’ve got lots of song suggestions on my website and in my iPod so don’t hesitate to tell me what you’re imagining and we’ll make it happen.

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2012!

Fondly, Jillian

Visit my FaceBook for some fun 2012 trends… “nude” shoes and bouquets are in and of course vintage weddings and “good night stations”…

Happy New Year from Jillian!

If your wedding is coming up in October, November or December now is the time to consider your first dance!

Will it be slow and romantic or upbeat and swingy?  Will your dance have  lots of movement  to show off a big dance floor or are you working with a small square or runway floor and need something compact?

Don’t have a song yet?

Well, let me tell you what some of my couples are using right now so you can get those creative juices flowing!

Click on the (Lyrics) link to see the wonderful words to these great first dance songs and see if they don’t just describe your relationship perfectly!

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First Dance Songs!

“Wrapped Up In You” by Garth Brooks (Lyrics)

“Someone Like You” by Van Morrison (Lyrics)

“Yellow” by Coldplay (Lyrics)

“Better Together” by Jack Johnson (Lyrics)

“When The Stars Go Blue” by Tim McGraw (Lyrics)

“I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You” by Savage Garden (Lyrics)

“These Are The Days” by Van Morrison (Lyrics)

“L-O-V-E” by Frank Sinatra (Lyrics)

“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by Michael Buble (Lyrics)

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Whatever song you choose you’ll want to get started soon on learning how to lead (gentlemen) and how to follow (ladies).

I write everything down at the end of each lesson so you have something to practice with at home and you’re always welcome to bring your phone or camera and we can video some steps too!

Remember the further away from the big day you start the more the dancing steps and technique have a chance to get into your muscle memory.

After all don’t you want to be gazing into each others eyes rather than trying to remember what comes next in your dance

For more song suggestions visit my Music page at:

http://www.OurWeddingDance.com/wedding-music.htm

And… you can always text me at 949.400.7347 and ask me what type of dance would go well with the song or songs you’re thinking of using!

Happy September,

Jillian

OurWeddingDance.com

BallroomDanceWithJillian.com

ArgentineTangoWeddingDance.com

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EMAIL:  Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com

Sure – you’ve got to concentrate on your first dance…

But while you’re at it why not throw in a little time with your dad to get him up and going?

Some dads aren’t so sure about that Father Daughter dance in the first place so why not be the first to mention the topic and suggest some real one-on-one time to get him good and ready?

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Is he a romantic and will shed more than a tear or two on your big day as he gives you away?

Is your dad a real ham – a performer with a capital “P”, ready to do it up big?

Or is he scared to death and would prefer to hire a Hollywood look-alike to dance his part?

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Whatever your dad is like there is a song and a dance out there that’s just right for your relationship.

I’ve had dads use popular songs, country songs, old favorites from their youth and one dad even used a song his daughter had recorded that she sang for him.  (Now that’s just adorable!)

I can keep it simple with some lead and follow techniques and just a few twirls and moves around the dance floor.

Or we can go for it and do a whole routine where dad shines at his best moves; with or without that famous chicken footwork he’s known for!

Whatever your dad wants, and you agree he can have (ha, ha), we’ll do and have a good time in the process.

Don’t be afraid to get out there with your dad…

Give dad a chance on his dance and you may just think that part of your reception video was one of the best!

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Have fun listening to these Father Daughter Dance song ideas:

1. All My Days, Alexi Murdoch
2. Father & Daughter, Paul Simon
3. Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong
4. Unforgettable, Natalie Cole
5. The Way You Look Tonight, Frank Sinatra
6. My Girl, The Temptations
7. Daughter, Loudon Wainwright III
8. Through The Years, Kenny Rogers
9. You Got A Friend, James Taylor
10. You Are So Beautiful, Joe Cocker
11. Gracie, Ben Folds
12. Kind & Generous, Natalie Merchant
13. When You Come Back Down, Nickel Creek
14. All You Need Is Love, The Beatles
15. God Only Knows, The Beach Boys
16. Take Good Care Of My Baby, Bobby Vee
17. You Got It, Ray Orbison
18. I Loved Her First, Heartland
19. My Little Girl, Tim McGraw
20. That’s How Strong My Love Is, Otis Redding

Call Jillian at 949.400.7347 or Email today to get a start on that Father Daughter Dance and Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there!!!

Father Daughter Dance!

According to UrbanDicitonary.com this is “a bride that remains, calm, cool and collected during her entire wedding experience”.

Wow, what a concept!

So how can a bride possibly hope to do this?

Well, a step in the right direction could be to take that first dance off your “stress list” and put it on your “chill list”!

If you can take a few lessons in first dance technique and figures you’re well on your way to feeling super chill during that could be stressful two and a half to three or so minutes of solo time on the dance floor.

A little planning beforehand and some practice with the love of your life could make the wedding dance one of your happiest moments remembered from your reception.

Just learning a few proper leading and following techniques could mean the difference between a bridechilla and well whatever…

Even two or three steps nestled in both your heads can do a lot to eliminate that, “Wow, everyone’s watching and what are we doing here!” feeling that can creep into even the most romantic unpracticed first dances.

Call me today at 949.400.7347 or email me at Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com to start moving toward a more relaxed and comfortable feeling on the dance floor.

As well as being a ballroom dance instructor and choreographer, I’ve taught acting and directed numerous plays and will make sure you have lots of fun with each other during your first dance no matter if your song is sentimental, romantic, flirty, sexy or just plain good times!

OurWeddingDance

ArgentineTangoWeddingDance

BallroomDanceWithJillian

Be A "Bridechilla"!

Well, I’m knee deep in corned beef and cabbage, homemade sweet potato biscuits and pistachio mini chocolate chip cupcakes but I just had to wish you a wonderful Wearin ‘o the Green day and also let you in on a great first dance song!

It’s called “Running” by No Doubt and here’s the video of it if you haven’t seen and heard it already.

YouTube Video

The lyrics go like this:

“Run
Running all the time
Running to the future
With you right by my side

Me
I’m the one you chose
Out of all the people
You wanted me the most
I’m so sorry that I’m falling
Help me up lets keep on running
Don’t let me fall out of love

Chorus:
Running, running
As fast as we can
I really hope you make it
(Do you think we’ll make it?)
We’re running
Keep holding my hand
It’s so we don’t get separated

Be
Be the one I need
Be the one I trust most
Don’t stop inspiring me
Sometimes it’s hard to keep on running
We work so much to keep it going
Don’t make me want to give up

Repeat chorus twice

(The future­)

Repeat chorus”

***

So if you’re stumped for a fun song check this one out. 

Its romantic lyrics and catchy beat make it a lively, now tune for the wedding of your dreams.

Toast to the Irish and to all the upcoming weddings in March and April.

Make Sure You Wear Green!

Find out what brides are saying about Our Wedding Dance…

Visit the Our Wedding Dance FaceBook page for some great testimonials.

Jillian O’Forbath

949.400.7347

OurWeddingDance.com

I can’t tell you how much I look forward to hearing news about “the big day”.  I get so excited being included in all the wedding plans that when it comes time to say good bye and send my incredible couples on to wedding bliss I do feel a bit misty eyed. 

Hearing the stories and seeing their smiling and happy faces is just a perfect end to a great time spent teaching dance to my wonderful wedding couples.

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Hi Jillian,

I know it has been a very long time since we last saw you, and even some time since our wedding, but I have been meaning to write you and send pictures. . .  and I am just now getting around to doing it!

Thank you so much for all your help, it was really so fun working with you and it was perfect to have a simple (yet choreographed) dance to do at our wedding despite our nerves!

Beautiful Cuddle

Actually, Chris did great and didn’t seem nervous at all, but I was – thank goodness he was leading!!

The dance went so well, although it did fly by!

I don’t think we missed a step.

The day was beautiful and our dance must have inspired all our guests because the DJ later told us that our guests did the most dancing he has ever seen at an afternoon (lunch) reception!

We all had a wonderful time and got some great pictures of the dancing.

Check out Mom of the Bride - so excited!

Thank you again for making it all so easy and just being a fun person to hang out with/learn from.

We wish you the best and will contact you if we ever need a brush up lesson!

Sincerely, Caitlin and Chris

(Photographs by Josh Aull.)

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Remember call now or email Jillian for Fall and Winter weddings!

Reserve your favorite day and time today to look great on the day of your dreams…

Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com

949.400.7347

OurWeddingDance.com

ArgentineTangoWeddingDance.com

BallroomDanceWithJillian.com

Jillian & apples at Riley's Farm

Pictures* hot off the press from Lindsey and Scott’s romantic Summer wedding.

Lindsey & Scott Dance!

Oh my, oh my – I couldn’t wait to post these gorgeous pictures from Lindsey & Scott’s wedding reception July 24th at the Huntington Beach Hyatt.

They danced an adorable foxtrot to “So Beautiful” by Darin Hayes.

The bride was a tad on the shy side so we kept the moves intimate, fun and flirty and all angled toward the groom to keep the couple using the floor lots and showing off Lindsey’s amazing gown.

Lindsey sent me an email on July 26th just two days after the big day saying,

Hi, I just wanted to let you know everyone liked our dance.  We messed up a little but it was ok everyone thought it was cute and really enjoyed it!  So we wanted to thank you so much!!  Lindsey and Scott

And…

Their outstanding and charming wedding planner, Christine Baumgartner of The Perfect Day sent me an email as well!

Hi Jillian,

I wanted to let you know that Lindsey and Scott did a wonderful first dance at their reception.  They looked lovely and happy.  They both told me how much they enjoyed working with you.

Thanks again for helping them, Christine

In Love!

I just love to hear back from everyone about their big day and see all the pictures.

Call me with any questions about your special first dance.

I can’t wait to get started, Jillian

OurWeddingDance.com

ArgentineTangoWeddingDance.com

949.400.7347

Just Dreamy!

*Photography by Priscila Valentina Photography

Visit her web site at PriscilaValentina.com

Lisa & Ryan Dancing!

Hot off the press!

Lisa and Ryan – just married Saturday June 26th – sent me an email to let me know how their big day went and included this adorable picture.

Lisa looks oh-so-sexy in her gorgeous gown with the perfect flower in her long flowing curls and Ryan is the quintessential adoring husband in his dashing white suit.

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Hi Jillian!

We wanted to send you a quick pic of us dancing as a sneak peak before we get the video back.

Our wedding was simply magical.

And SO many people complimented us on our first dance.

It went beautifully and we greatly appreciate your support and guidance with our fun, fun lessons.  We will send you a video clip as soon as we receive it.

Cheers, Lisa & Ryan

***

Lisa and Ryan danced on their big day to “L-O-V-E” and also learned dance routines of five to eight figures in merengue, cha cha, swing and more foxtrot to their second fav song “Feeling Good” to wow their guests all through their reception with their fun and kicky couple dancing.

I can’t wait to see their video and hear more about their fabulous wedding and reception.  They were such a wonderful couple to work with and I shall think of them often, especially when I’m teaching dance in the early morning!

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Here’s their sweet thank you note and a picture of their gifts to me.  I got a bottle of  Old Moon zin that they served their guests and a large plant of what they did smaller for guest favors. 

Jillian,

Thank you for being the most patient, persistent, OUTRAGEOUS dance teacher ever!

Your guidance the past few months has meant more to us than you know.  We feel so much more prepared for our big day.

We’re going to blow them away!!

Many thanks, Lisa & Ryan

Lovey Gifts

Happy honeymooning in St. Lucia Lisa and Ryan!

And may you dance up a storm with your merengue and cha cha in the romantic tropical evenings…

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Visit the Our Wedding Dance Testimonials page at http://ourweddingdance.com/testimonials.htm for more sparkling testimonials from my couples.

Happy Summer, Jillian

Tel: 949.400.7347 or Email: Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com

Sandra and Mike were just such a couple.

Read on to find out about their dream first dance.

They loved the song You’re Timeless to Me from the musical Hairspray and decided to adapt the lyrics of it to their relationship and the year 2010, record themselves singing it and come to me to choreograph and block moves and dancing to this almost five minute ditty.

Click here to see this fabulously funny rendition of it on YouTube from the movie with Christopher Walken and John Travolta.

Well, needless to say, after about ten or so rehearsals and a heap of practicing they were absolutely show-stopping!

They mimed movement to the lyrics of their song and in the middle of it danced a full foxtrot, tango AND waltz with zesty abandon.

They said they nailed it and I believe it from all the fun and hard work we put into the practicing.

Here’s their testimonial and a partial video of their amazing 2nd first dance! on their happiest day ever.

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Jillian!

We had to get back to you to tell you how our dances [they also did a regular first dance to At Last - can you believe it?] went on Saturday!

WE NAILED IT!

We did not mess up at all!  They were beautiful!  What a surprise the second dance was to our guests!  They were in awe!  We can’t wait to see it on video!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

It was all because of you we did so well to entertain our guests.  I wish you could have been there!  Rose was great getting that chair on the dance floor for Mike and then removing it.

People were in shock that the CD was us singing!  Once we find out how to send you some pics our friends took of us dancing we will send them!  The nun surprise was fantastic!

It was the perfect wedding!

It was a dream wedding.

Thank you so very much!  Hope to see you soon!

Sandra and Mike

Sandra & Mike

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Happy Almost June!

Call Jillian at 949.400.7347 for 1st Dance Lessons

Visit Our Wedding Dance for more information.

Well, here’s a partial list of some of the standouts I’ve had to get you thinking what you might like to use for your first dance song:

“Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” by Frankie Valli (YouTube)

This is such a fun song since you can do a combination of slow moves and fast moves to it and plus it’s an all time favorite among just about all ages.    This couple did some sways and cuddles and swing moves with lots of turns and then learned a little swing with switching places and outside and inside turns to really kick up their heels!

“Sway” by Dean Martin (YouTube)

Wow, I’d forgotten about this great rendition of “Sway” by one of the all time masters until my couple came in with it and I fell in love with Dean Martin’s sexy voice and this rumba all over again.  We did some great moves like the chasse and some cross overs and walk around turns to this romantic favorite and really let the lady show off her undulating hips to her adoring gentleman as they “swayed” around the floor.  They had a very small dance floor and this song worked in the space and yet let them have fun too.

“Everything” by Michael Buble (YouTube)

Yep, “Everything” is still hot – so to speak and this couple loved the lyrics and the speed of the music and pronounced it totally perfect and totally them!  They had a 15′ x 15′ dance floor so the movement worked for them that we did with paddycakes and changing places borrowed from the foxtrot and the Viennese waltz respectively.  You could also work with a smaller dance floor with this song if you didn’t mind keeping your steps petite. 

“Amazed” by Lonestar (YouTube)

Who can deny that a song that starts out “Every time our eyes meet this feeling inside me is almost more than I can take…” isn’t the most romantic song you’ve heard in a long time??!  Couple that with a great beat and country feel and you’ve got a recipe for one treat of a first dance.  Yes, it’s a common song but sometimes it’s just better not to fool with success, no??   My couple liked the easy going nature of this song since they admitted they’re not that into choreographed dancing but didn’t want to just “high school prom dance it”.  We kept it simple and elegant and everything went very well.  In fact everything went so well we put a lean, dip and jump on the end because the dance itself wasn’t too much.  Now that’s success!

“It Had To Be You” by Bobby Darin (Where to get it)

Hard to find but well worth the time… Couldn’t find this song on YouTube but the link above gives you some options for purchase.  We all know the Harry Connick Jr. rendition of this song and love it but one by Bobby Darin; now that’s a find!  My couple used this song because they loved Bobby Darin’s cool voice and wanted an up beat foxtrot that would get the reception guests up and dancing right after wards.  They didn’t have a lot of time to learn a dance and this song fit right into their schedule since it is 2 minutes and 12 seconds. 

“I Have Dreamed” from the soundtrack of the movie “The American President” (YouTube)

Talk about old world charm and beauty – you can’t go wrong with this incredible piece.  My father/daughter couple said it had special meaning to them and I believe it!  Dad floated along like he was on ice and his daughter glowed like gold in his arms to this fluid song.  A gorgeous change from the usual father/daughter dance numbers!

“Just Like Heaven” by Katie Melua (YouTube)

Mmmm… this song is soooo romantic, sexy and now all at the same time.  You will feel just like heaven as you dance to this song for your first dance.  My couple oozed around the floor staring dreamily into each others eyes and we used the lyrics “spinning” to do some pretty twirls.  A great different type of first dance song to highlight your love!

“In My Life” by the Beatles (YouTube)

An all time favorite that is poignant, meaningful, easy-going and fun – How did the Beatles do it? – at the same time.  This couple put an especially personal touch on their first dance by dancing to this entire song and then bringing up a fabulous Arabic song for just a few minutes.   The bride added a red gold coin skirt to her gown, the groom sat in an offered chair and she did a short and PG rated belly dance for him!

Now that’s a first dance and that’s entertainment!  The crowd got foxtrot and hip undulations all in one package.  Hats off to the groom as well, who lead an excellent first dance and then was a great “prop” for the belly dancing and even rose up from his chair at the end to dance to the beat and get down on one knee so the bride could back bend a dip with him!

“Leather and Lace” by Stevie Nicks & Don Henley (YouTube)

This song takes me back and it was fun to watch my couple dance to it.  Kudos to them -  they’d known each other since the sixth grade!  Their reception was at 741 in Laguna Beach and we didn’t have much space so we kept it easy going with small sways and send outs and pretty walking steps to take them around the floor.  We kept the body language nice and close and romantic and put a twirly end on the piece for big end applause.

“Lucky” by Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat (YouTube)

Fun and flirty with good lyrics, this first dance song is an easy dance and can really showcase a couple’s feelings for each other.  We had a small dance floor (10′ x 10′) and literally only one lesson to make this something special.  They worked hard on some cute swing moves and some perky promenades and we came up with three pretty pieces of choreography that they could repeat and a fun dip for the end.  It didn’t hurt that they were both swing dancers from their UCLA undergraduate days. 

“The Story” by Brandi Carlile (YouTube)

Beautiful.  The lyrics are wonderful and the tune is catchy and unusual.  This couple only had one lesson but they had so much fun they promised to send their parents in for dance lessons!  We had to keep it simple due to time considerations but just a few moves made this first dance a real winner.  Also, they had already decided to just do 2:13 of the song.  If you listen to it on YouTube you’ll hear a natural break there.  They had their DJ fade it out and start the general dancing at that point.

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Happy listening as you decide on the song that says, “Us!”

Jillian of OurWeddingDance.com

Jillian feeding the lorikeets!