Well, it was a crazy Halloween weekend what with my wonderful students giving a fantastic tango complete with chair and rose and fedora at their Dia de los Muertos party on Saturday and 430 trick or treaters on Sunday night!

And earlier this month I received an adorable video from Aaron and Kate who got married on October 9th and looked so pretty dancing to Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.

They took their time with their lessons and spread them out over the months before their wedding.  And Aaron even learned a night club two step to do with his Mom.  Now that’s dedication to dancing!

He said he was nervous but I think he performed quite well under pressure and Kate looked dreamy in her gorgeous gown. 

Here’s his testimonial…

Aaron

***

So grab your fiance and let’s get started on those early 2011 wedding dances!

Remember wedding dance gift certificates make great gifts for the holidays.

Click here to learn more about gift certificates.

Jillian of Our Wedding Dance

949.400.7347

Happy Thanksgiving!

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.

***

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.)

***

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

We had a fantastic wedding and were so pleased with our dance lessons.  Todd and I were actually receiving applause each time we did a twirl…. good stuff!!  We practiced everyday after we last saw you and did pretty well, except for one slip on the dress.  But I don’t think anyone really noticed.

Our photographer surprised us and one of his assistants was taking video so he put together this little montage in a link below.  The second half of the video is pretty much of us dancing.  He didn’t get all of our smooth moves but they got a good essence of the dance.  And Todd and I decided to practice before the grand entrance so they got some great shots of the dance under the sun set.

So no photos yet of the dress but I think you will get a good idea of you watch the second half (it is only 3 minutes long).

St. Regis Dana Point Wedding from Jordan Hoffmann on Vimeo.

Thanks again for all of your help and we wish you the best of luck!

Warm Regards,
Alyssa

***

Happy end of Summer, Jillian

OurWeddingDance.com

949.400.7347

Butterfly in my Garden!

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

This past weekend kicked off the Irvine Barclay Theatre sponsored Summer Festival with a wonderful swing dance party to Swingtown Friday, August 6th and an equally rousing mariachi concert to Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles Saturday, August 7th.

I must admit I raced out the door to swing it with Swingtown not wanting to be late for their 8pm start, remembering the long snake-like lines of cars from last year that kept me tapping my toes in the car and not on the dance floor.

Much to my happy surprise the Park had rethought their entrance procedures bringing in people from the other side and having four ticket lanes prepared to take your $10 parking fee (up from the $8 of last year) parking cars in a closer parking lot with other attendants guiding you into the spaces a la Disneyland.

Golf carts were again available to ferry you and your friends on up to the front gate leaving me thinking all this needed was a nice glass of chardonnay to complete the pampered arrival experience. 

The band was placed on the short side of the dance floor this year giving a delightful view behind them of the Great Park’s vibrantly lit orange balloon going up and down all night in the cool summer sky.

We were greeted by an absolutely packed and well-lit floor with people of all ages swinging up a storm.  I spotted toddlers boinging like miniature Tiggers all the way to  senior citizens lindy hopping with enthusiasm.

Saturday’s fabulous all woman professional mariachi ensemble of ten ladies in very impressive giant sombreros was equally enjoyable and well attended.

Together for more than 16 years, this group of talented musicians and singers kept the audience singing along to familiar tunes, clapping their hands and swaying back and forth in their seats.

Of course, I had to drift to the back of the seated group and enjoy a couple of rumbas and polkas with my honey to the irresistible beats.  Who says you can’t dance just about anywhere??

So if you’re asking yourself  where you can go this Summer to dance or just plain be entertained where it doesn’t cost an arm and leg for admission, you don’t have to drive in wall to wall traffic to get to and it isn’t too hot and claustrophobic once you finally get in… give the Great Park Friday Night Dance Parties and Great Park Saturday Night Concerts a try.

I’ve written out their schedules with links below and if you want to ask me in advance for a couple of steps to have fun out of the dance floor, well I wouldn’t mind one bit throwing them in with our work on your wonderful  wedding dance.

Happy Summertime,

Jillian

949.400.7347

Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com

***

Friday Night Dance Parties*

August 6:  Swingtown (Swing)

August 13:  Lucky 7 Mambo (Afro-Cuban)

August 20th:  DJ Hapa & DJ Casey Connor (NY/LA DJs spin the spectrum dance music)

August 27th:  Hector del Curto’s Eternal Tango Quintet (Argentine Tango)

September 3rd:  Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums with Miss Carmen Getit (Swing, West Coast Jump Blues and R&B)

September 10th:  Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys (R&B and Rockabily)

September 17th:  The Jerry Mandel Swinging the Standards Jazz Band (Gershwin, Porter, Sinatra, Bennett & more)

September 24th:  Waltz Me (Strauss and Ballroom)

***

Saturday Night Concerts*

August 7th:  Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles (First all-woman pro mariachi ensemble in the US)

August 14th:  Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (A favorite from last summer – swing it!)

August 21st:  Last For One (World champion b-boy dance crew from Korea)

August 28th:  Te Vaka (Music from the Polynesian Triangle, New Zealand to Tahiti)

September 4th:  ScrapArtsMusic (World-famous group will play instruments made from recycled industrial scraps!)

September 11th:  Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel, Soul, Blues & Funk)

September 18th:  Donavon Frankenreiter (OC native musician and pro surfer, hang ten!)

September 25th:  BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet with Big Chief Monk Boudreaus and the Mardi Gras Indians (Cajun band, Mardi Gras to the OC)

*Admission is free, Parking $10/car, 8pm.

Jillian at the Great Park!

When your guests watch your first dance do you think they’re looking at your feet?

Probably not.

The bride’s feet are most likely hidden by her dress and the groom’s feet may possibly be as well.

Your guests’ gazes are on your radiant faces and your dancing frame, that is your arms connected to each other hand to hand on one side and the groom’s right hand upon the back of the bride on the other.

The frame can make or break a dancing couple.

A “noodle” frame can make the dancing couple look soft and squishy and make the lead and follow very difficult to give and take.

A “rigid” frame can make the bride and groom look stiff and awkward and may even actually hurt the bride to take the lead, especially if her dashing groom is a strong armed one!

So what’s the best frame for dancing?

The leader should always frame up or down to the height of the follower.

I like to start my couples off by having the bride put her arms out to her sides, horizontally from her waist so the groom can see what looks good with her shoulders.

Especially if the groom is six feet three and bride is four feet five I want to make sure that their dancing frame is angled to her height not his.  After all she would look rather silly dancing her arms way up to him for their first dance!

Having established her correct frame height, then we move on to the bride’s three connection points and I focus on  impressing upon them the necessity for an “energy transference” toward each other at all times.  No one person should pull away or just plain “not be available” to the other in the frame.

Once we have the frame we move side to side and forward and back in it.

We walk in it.

We sway in it.

We get used to it.

People don’t really dance like this anymore so it can take a little getting used to the frame once you’re in it.

My grooms sometimes say it is hard to keep holding up their arms.  This might mean the bride is being “heavy” and using her groom’s arms as an arm “easy chair”.

My brides sometimes say that they feel like they’re “in the harness” of the frame and can’t move easily within it.  This might mean that the groom is holding her too stiffly and not letting the lead be communicated easily through his arms and his connection points.

During our first lesson we work hard to alleviate any stress in the dancing couple’s frame and make it a positive part of the dancing.  Since the frame connection is the pretty part and, I think, the romantic part it is vitally important that it work for us in the first dance.

Be it a foxtrot frame, a rumba frame or a swing frame – the couple’s dancing frame is an integral part of the mechanics and beauty of their wedding dance.

And as Audrey said, “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other” – we may as well do it right for the dance!

***

It’s wedding season so email to Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com or call Jillian at 949.400.7347 today and reserve your favorite day and time for lessons now!

Happy almost Summer!

Dance With Jillian

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.

**

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

***

Happy Almost June!

Call Jillian at 949.400.7347 for 1st Dance Lessons

Visit Our Wedding Dance for more information.

And all the little buds are getting ready to burst into bloom on the trees and flowers.

Kerchew! 

And it’s that time of year for those lovely high school debutantes to come out in their Presents!

What a beautiful tradition…

The debutantes in their gorgeous white long dresses  and their dads and escorts dressed to the nines in their pressed tails and white gloves.

The hotel ballroom busting with elegant flower centerpieces and a stage all set up for the girls to be presented for all to applaud.

These well planned and  elaborate evenings often include slide shows of the girl’s years from childhood all the way through high school spotlighting their accomplishments and adventures as well as an elaborate sit down dinner for family and friends and, you guessed it… lots of dancing!

An important part of the evening, and dear to my heart, is the father daughter group dance.

A spectacle that brings tears to everyone’s eyes as they watch the flurry of white satin and tulle and the looks on the dads faces as they waltz their lovely daughters around the floor.

This year I’ve been fortunate to teach dancing steps and choreography to two groups of debutantes and their dads.

What fun!

We’ve got some great songs and the dads are super positive about learning the steps and dancing their daughters confidently through their dance together.

I overheard one debutante say laughingly, “Dad, come on – remember the turn and make me look like I know what I’m doing!”

Her dad nodded obediently and they danced through the Ladies Under Arm Turn one more time with a flourish.  Of course just a few eyelash battings and daughters have their dads right where they want them!

Wikipedia Definition

The word debutante comes from the French word meaning “female beginner” and traditionally was a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who had reached the age of maturity.  As a new adult she was then allowed to be introduced to society in a formal manner known as her “debut”.

Originally this meant the young woman was now eligible to marry!  And part of the debut’s purpose was to “display” her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within her “class” circle.

***

Well, we’ve come a long way since those days but the quaint old custom is still a lovely one.

Of course these days debutantes also give back to their communities through extensive volunteerism and supporting philanthropies with hands on activities on a local level.

If you’d like to learn more about the Debutante Father Daughter dance visit my web page here:

http://ourweddingdance.com/debutantefatherdaughterdance.htm

Happy Spring!

Jillian

Smile and say "Debutante"!

From denim inspired wedding gowns in blues and dainty laces that lace up the back and cut up the leg to adorable table decorations with cowboy hats and boots doubling as flower containers… the big sky is the limit and the grass can be greener.

Blue and browns with touches of white and yellow seem to be the most common color schemes.  Bachelor buttons and daisies can keep the costs down and the whimsey up.  While you peruse cute cake toppers with horses and hitching posts and fun silver ring bearer horseshoes with white satin ribbons.

Accessories for a Western Wedding

Favor Ideas for a Cowboy Wedding

The bride can wear white in a western type period gown or go for something completely different with touches or whole parts of the gown in denim blue.  Why not add some fringed white cowboy boots or cream or off-white granny style boots with pretty lace inserts?  Top it off with a white or off white satin cowboy hat covered in lace, roses and tulle and you’re sure to feel romantic and country cool all at the same time!

Western Wedding Wear

Cultured Cowboy Wedding Dresses

Western Wedding Hat

White Cowboy Boots Granny Style Boots

(I love this denim halter for bridesmaids dresses in the Western themed wedding!)

Of course the variety for grooms is endless and who doesn’t enjoy duding up their best dude in the duds of a cool, clean cowboy?  There are period style vests and ties and natty jackets with and without fringe as well as boots in all sizes, shapes, colors and textures.  It’s a field day for the fellas and they’re sure to make a splash when they ride in off the range in today’s dashing designs.

Gentlemen’s Emporium

The Old Frontier Clothing Company

And last, but certainly not least, there are mother lodes of wonderful Country songs old and new from waltzes to 2-steps that will keep your first dance and your father daughter dance in the Western theme.  Below are a few of my favorites:

First Dance Country Songs:

I Love The Way You Love Me by Faith Hill

Could I Have This Dance by Anne Murray

From This Moment by Shania Twain

The Wedding Song (Girl Forever) by Marty Falle

Fishin’ In The Dark by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

(Lyrics for Fishin’ In The Dark)

Father Daughter Dance Country Songs:

I Loved Her First by Heartland

My Little Girl by Steve Kirwan

Stealing Cinderella by Chuck Wick

I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack

Daddy’s Little Girl by Kippi Brannon

Happy Trails to you Western wedding fans…

Jillian

OurWeddingDance.com

949 400 7347

* Remember I put these links to other web sites up for your reference and don’t endorse any one in particular.  I’ll let you do the research and remember always get your orders in writing and you can use my handy guideline, “If it smells fishy, it usually is”. 

Two words that conjure up images of lots of people, lots of noise and lots of choices!

Is a wedding show good for you to attend?  I believe it is but first let me qualify that.

Having been a participant at over 25 wedding shows in the Orange County area during my many years as a wedding dance instructor I can tell you from experience they are not all created equal!

There are gigantic ones at the Anaheim Convention Center all the way down to intimate ones at various wedding reception venues all over Orange and LA Counties and the Inland Empire.

In fact this Sunday, February 28th from 11am-3pm I’ll be dancing at a lovely local complementary wedding show in San Clemente, 111 Avenida Vista Montana San Clemente, Ca 92672.  Visit this link for more information.

Some are expensive to get into, others are free.  Some feel super high end, others feel home town and local.  Some are run by conglomerates who do three to six shows a year in several counties and even many states and others are offered by reception venues and cater to brides and grooms who have already decided to use their services.

Whatever the show, you’re sure to find lots of cake, food samples and vendors of every type to satisfy your wedding planning needs and maybe even a fashion show or two.

But be prepared…

Bring a large bag since the show might not provide one for you to collect paperwork and you don’t want to be balancing a lot stuff as you walk around and sample food.

Some really on-the-go brides and grooms even bring their own address labels complete with their wedding date on them so if they want to fill-out a raffle ticket or info card for a vendor they don’t have to waste time and tire themselves out writing but just stick one of their labels instead. 

Definitely wear comfortable shoes.  You will be walking and standing a lot.  Keep in mind too, if you’re bringing along your groom his comfort as well.  I see more and more grooms coming to wedding shows and I always try to make them feel especially welcome and not like they just stepped into a “girls only” sector.

If you are just getting started in this great big task of putting on a wedding (read that – you’re a year away from your big day) you might want to attend what I call the “overall picture” wedding show.

This show is usually fairly large about seven dollars or less per person for entrance and held in a local hotel.  Be sure to take a look at the vendor list in advance and see where the vendors are based out of and what kind of web sites they have.  You can tell a lot about a vendor from their web site and also the testimonials listed on it.

Often you can call a vendor listed on that particular wedding show list and they might have a few free tickets available for the show they’ll be at and they can send you some or leave them at the door.

Keep in mind, if the show has a lot of vendors based out of your area that might not be a good show for you to attend if you’re looking for local people so you don’t have to drive too far for consultations and follow-ups.

During the early planning stages you want to attend shows that will give you the maximum amount of knowledge for your time spent researching.  Other considerations include how big your wedding and reception are going to be and what your budget is for them.

If you know you’re having an intimate ceremony and reception for under a hundred you don’t need to go to a giant wedding show.  In fact you might only go to a wedding show in this case just for the fun of it.

Yes, guys – wedding shows can be fun.  Where else will everyone be really nice to you because you’re getting married and ply you with goodies and cake to eat and freebies and coupons to take home??  Just think of all the brownie points you’ll get to use when you need to have guys poker night or game practice. 

At any rate, I’ve only just touched on the giant area of wedding shows here. I’ll post more later on this year so check back often to see what’s up!

Email me at Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com if you have questions.

You can also visit my wedding show page on my web site to see more of my experiences at wedding shows.

Jillian at the Richard Nixon Library Wedding Show