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!

***

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)

***

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

***

EMAIL:  Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com

And I can tell you, as a ballroom dance instructor, I’ve gotten my share of emails full of  DWTS YouTubes and their fantastic choreography and wow moves.

My couples have been wanting to dance like DWTS for years now and every time I listen to them and watch what they like, I “make it happen” for them in just the best and most doable way.

After all if it’s your wedding day you get exactly what you want, right?

However, nothing prepared me for how exciting it would be to see DWTS in person.

And, I had no idea I’d ever even see one…  Suffice it to say it took a pretty special occasion to get me there.

My mom turned 75 this year, and I don’t know about you – but I think that’s pretty darn special.

About four months before the big day my sis and I decided to put our heads together and come up with something fabulous to do to celebrate the big day.

Right away we both thought and said… Dancing With The Stars live taping!

My mom had watched every single episode of all 12 DWTS seasons with so much excitement and dedication we just knew that was the very thing she’d love to do on her 75th!

But… how to get her there (she’s still walking but with assistance) and most importantly how to get her in!

A wonderful dancer friend of mine, quite connected in Hollywood, came through with friends of friends that thought we might just have a chance to get my mom her dream of a lifetime.

I didn’t dare tell her until it was a “sure thing” but I was bursting at the seams to let her know about my big surprise!

And then two days before the May 9th Monday night taping, word came through.

“My mom was ‘In’ and we were going!!!”

I called her and told her, first saying, “Mom are you sitting down?”.

She couldn’t believe it and said immediately, “What am are going to wear?”

Ha, ha – some girly things never change, do they?

We jetted up there in my sis’s big, comfy truck and had lunch at Johnny Rockets right round the corner from the studios and then were able to park right in the studio lot (another wonderful help from my friend) and drop my mom off at the entrance for a minimum of walking time.

My mom quickly made friends with everyone waiting and regaled them all with her favorites and the dancers of her choice to win!

Then we escorted her carefully ahead of the big group for the floor seats and as we rounded the corner she saw a gold chair with a red cushion and a full-sized piece of white paper with her name neatly typed in large letters on it.

What a thrill!  I saw an even bigger smile spread across her face!

The rest is a whir of color, costumes, music, fantastic dancing, celebrities and judges but the whole evening will not be soon forgotten by any of us.

And best of all my mom said afterwards, holding her Dancing With The Stars mug close to her heart, that this was the best birthday gift ever!

Now that’s just perfect in my book. 

**

Now’s the time to make all your dancing dreams come true with first dance lessons for that big day coming up this Summer and Fall.

Call Jillian at 949 400 7347 and start learning your special dance today.

Or email me with your dream dance thoughts at Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com

**

Ok, I couldn’t resist – here I am in front of the studios in my 5″ platform shoes bought to sparkle at DWTS!

DWTS Fun!

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.

***

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

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"!

What’s up with that…

Well, just in case you’re wondering the Father/Daughter dance is a hot topic these days.

Should it be short?

Should it be done after the Bride and Groom’s 1st Dance?

Should it be choreographed?

Should Dad be allowed to wing it or will he look silly and do that flapping chicken move he loves so well?

Well I don’t know about the chicken thing but I do know that I’ve noticed a few commonalities emerging  with the Father/Daughter dance.

Dads are choosing their own songs.  Songs that were popular the year their lovely daughter was born.  Songs that they used to love to dance to in their youth and songs that just make them want to get up and dance!

Just recently I had a fantastic Father/Daughter song, “Isn’t She Lovely” and my bride floated along in Dad’s arms looking just that.

Her Dad had some disco moves but he hadn’t really done the foxtrot in years so we set about getting him up to speed.

He learned some fun underarm turns from the box step and the promenade to show off his daughter and her amazing gown.

We put a cuddle on the end and a twirl with him doing a quick sleight of hand switching trick that ended with him pointing out a la John Travolta.

“That’s so Dad”, my bride exclaimed and I think Dad got a hundred brownie points right there on the spot!

He said now that was a dance when he could incorporate some of his moves from his days of “doin the hustle”.

Of course after the wedding Dad now has some fancy footwork for Mom and can wow her on their night out on the town.

Ah, two gals happy with one dance lesson… too bad everything can’t be this easy. 

Call me at 949.400.7347 and I’ll see that you’re not only the “founder of the feast” but also can turn in a Father/Daughter dance to be proud of!

In the meantime look up some of those favorite songs of yours and visit my Father/Daughter dance page at:

http://ourweddingdance.com/fatherdaughterdance.htm and let’s get started today. 

It’s going to blue, blue and blue!

Any shade of blue… from the lightest, palest blue to the hottest tourquoise blue to the deepest azure ocean blue.

Brides are choosing blues for their colors.

You’ll see it on the bridesmaids, on the bride’s feet, on the table decorations, on the cake, on the mother of the bride, on the bridal bouquet and… on the groom!

With that in mind how can you keep your color in your first dance?

Here are a few song choices to get you thinking.  (Click on the links to see lyrics and hear YouTubes.)

“Blue Suede Shoes” by Elvis Presley (YouTube)

“Blue Moon” by The Marcels (YouTube)

“Blue Hawaii” by Elvis Presley/Frank Sinatra (YouTube – Elvis)

“Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65

The Blue Danube Waltz by Johann Strauss Jr.

Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin

True Blue by Madonna

Blue Eyes by Cary Brothers (YouTube)

Crystal Blue Persuasion by Tommy James and The Shondells (YouTube)

Mr. Blue Sky by E.L.O. (YouTube)

and for you retro eccentrics out there…

“Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire for the Roses” by Joni Mitchell

**

And don’t forget you can always shine a beautiful blue gobo on the floor with your initials intertwined in it to dance on or how about giving the groom a pocketful of blue confetti he can throw up in the air to start your magical first dance?

Whatever your choices I know that you’ll have good luck with blue since we all know the charming old Victorian saying…

Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue…

Happy Wedding and let me know if I can help you with your “blue-tiful” first dance. 

OurWeddingDance.com

949.400.7347

The internet is a great way to find what you want, need or have to have… in a hurry!

Today I thought I’d pass along some interesting stats to let you know just how big this thing called the web has become.  These figures certainly took my breath away and I bet they will yours too. 

**

234 million – the number of web sites as of December 2009 (from Netcraft)

90 trillion – the number of emails sent on the internet in 2009 (from Radicati Group)

47 million – added web sites in 2009 (from Netcraft)

252,908,000 – internet users in North America (from Internet World Stats)

126 million – blogs on the internet (as tracked by BlogPulse)

350 million – people on FaceBook (as tracked by FaceBook)

62.7% – use Internet Explorer (from Net Applications)

2.6 million – amount of malicious code threats at the start of 2009; viruses, trojans, etc. (from Symantec & McAfee)

**

So next time you turn on that favorite piece of electronics that connects you to the web remember you’re not alone. When you send an email remember there is a real person on the other end who is excited to hear from you.

Happy Surfing and don’t forget to surf on over and inquire about a few dance lessons for that big day!

Email Jillian at Our Wedding Dance