Learn a First Dance « OUR WEDDING DANCE BLOG

August 26, 2010

Lovey Testimonial!

Hi Jill!

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).

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

Warm Regards,
Alyssa

Video of Alyssa and Todd from HoffmannPhotographer.com

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Happy end of Summer, Jillian

OurWeddingDance.com

949.400.7347

Butterfly in my Garden!

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June 16, 2010

“The Best Thing To Hold Onto In Life Is Each Other” – Audrey Hepburn

Well, I got my daughter graduated from UCLA – go Bruins! and I thought I’d share with you a little shop talk about the frame of the dancing couple since I get a lot of questions about that during my lessons.

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!

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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

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May 18, 2010

You’re Timeless To Me

Every now and then I get a couple who really wants to do something different!

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 Christoper 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. I can’t wait for a video of their dance from their wedding so I can post it for you here.

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 lovely picture of them 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.

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April 22, 2010

First Dance A Last Thought?

Ok, so you’ve been totally swamped and now it’s just weeks or days away from your wedding and oh-my-gosh that’s right you have to do a first dance!

Never fear… you can do something simple and pretty even if you just plain have no time left.

In fact, I probably get at least five phone calls a week from brides or grooms getting married in under two weeks.

Of course, it would be preferable to have a month or two before the big day to get the first dance in your muscle memory, but what if you just want to have a bit of help with some turns and simply keep off of each others feet while dancing!

I’ve worked with students right before the big day very successfully and given them something quick and easy to work with for their big moment all alone on the dance floor.

One of my recent couples said they certainly felt better after their time with me than before and although they wished they’d had more time to work on their dance they felt a glow of confidence that would take them through it with flair and fun.

So if you’re debating about whether to go ahead and do just one lesson for your first dance even though you’re in the eleventh hour of preparations why not go for it?

I think you’ll be glad you did and who knows maybe you’ll take a few lessons after the honeymoon to wow your friends at their weddings with your lead and follow and fancy footwork.

Remember dancing lasts your whole life long… burns calories… and let’s face it guys, is a real pleaser for most of the gals out there!

Call Jillian at 949.400.7347 or email her at Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com and squeeze a first dance lesson into that to-do list today!

Jillian of Our Wedding Dance!

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March 18, 2010

Western Weddings… Yee Haw!

Want a fresh idea that’s actually old as the hills? Try a Western themed wedding for something crazy and fun and sure to leave an impression on your wedding guests. Who knows you may want to bring in a mechanical bull and let them ride ‘em cowboy or cowgirl all night or day long.

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”.

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December 4, 2009

Grooms Get Points With First Dance!

A little while ago I wrote this article for a publication and I’d like to share it with you since I think a lot of grooms deserve to be praised for even attempting a first dance in the first place!

Dancing.

The very word can bring fear into a perfectly normal groom’s life.

Guys know that girls like to dance and, let’s face it, most guys learn to dance to attract a girl. So what’s the point in learning to dance once you’ve got the girl? Answer: The First Dance at your wedding reception.

Probably, given a choice, most grooms would opt out of the first dance and move right on through the reception. But the first dance can be a great opportunity for grooms to get those extra “love bank” points that they can use as collateral later on!

Grooms come through the door of a dance studio with two very real fears: 1) They will not be able to do a partnered dance and 2) They will look very silly trying.

But, the whole experience can be a very “liberating” one for them since they will be in-charge of the dance. Because the man leads and the lady follows, grooms find out they can dance with a partner and they don’t look silly because the couple then moves as one across the floor.

During private classes, instruction should be kept in every-day language with work on the dance frame, the couple’s posture, simple walking steps to their song and basic dance patterns. This way a three-way “creation process” can start that will eventually produce choreography that the groom can remember and the bride can look beautiful dancing.

Brides and grooms need to start their first dance as soon as they can spare the time.

Couples can master simple routines in foxtrot, waltz, rumba, tango, and night club two-step in about five to fifteen lessons.

More elaborate first dances with props and costume changes and first dances that combine two or more dance types may take a little longer to feel second nature.

Personalization is the underlying theme with today’s weddings and the first dance can be as personal as the bride and groom want it to be.

No matter what you think you might like to do or even if you have no ideas whatsoever and just want some help “not looking stupid”, a professional dance instructor who specializes in bride and groom first dances can work with you to create your dream first dance.

With time and patience you can have a dance to remember and even keep dancing for other special occasions all your married life.

Happy Holiday Shopping and don’t forget to include a few dance lessons on your New Year’s Resolutions list!

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November 21, 2009

Dare to Dance

I think we’ve all experienced the feeling at one time or know someone who has the feeling a lot of the time of being afraid to dance. Sure, we laugh it off and say that it was just that particular circumstance or there weren’t enough people on the floor or the music didn’t move us etc. etc.

But the fact is a lot of times dancing doesn’t seem like that great an idea.

I’ve got students who take lessons every week to learn whole foxtrot, swing, Argentine tango, salsa, samba and hustle syllabi and still if there aren’t a few people on the floor or if they’re tired or if the music isn’t just right it is hard for them to get out there and just do it.

I’ve had students tell me that they feel like they’re “performing” for others when they get on a less crowded dance floor and that feels like pressure and heaven knows we’ve all got enough of that in our lives!

I’ve had students tell me that they’ll get out there when they “get better”.

I’ve had students tell me that there’s no place to go dancing anyway so they’ll just dance at their lesson and call it a day.

All perfectly acceptable excuses… but do they work in the long run??

Ultimately I believe that the more you dance, the more you start to understand it and feel comfortable within your body doing it.

In this technological day and age we’re up in our heads a lot of the time. Getting into your body and doing something that uses your body is not exactly second nature for us.

Sure, it is scary getting out there with just a few steps and techniques under your belt and you need to accept that you will have a few scary feelings and work through them or the next time it will be even harder!

Give yourself permission to feel a bit awkward during your dance lesson… on when you go out social dancing… or even practicing on your own.

It’s not going to feel “perfect” right away and that’s ok!

Dare to Dance and see what happens… you never know… you might be the a secret swinger or a fabulous foxtrotter in the making, but you won’t know until you at least give it some time.

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October 30, 2009

Trick or Treat? The DIY Bride

Filed under: Types of Wedding Dances — Tags: Association of Bridal Consultants, Ballroom Dancing, Choreography for our song, Clutch and Sway, Dance Lessons Orange County, Dancing at the Wedding, DIY Bride, First Dance, Fun, Learn a First Dance, Love Bank, Orange County Wedding Dancing Lessons, Our Wedding Dance, Teach me to ballroom dance for my wedding, Trick or Treat?, Wedding Dance, Wedding Dance Teacher Orange County — admin @ 2:08 pm

Let’s face it the recession isn’t fun, it’s hitting hard and long and we don’t like it!

Ok, I got that out there.

And because of the recession there has been an increase in DIY (“do it yourself”) brides.

Brides are tackling everything from their own flower designs to their own dresses to their own day of wedding coordination.

Whew, I’m exhausted just thinking about it!

But what about the first dance?

Can a bride DIY the first dance and would she even want to?

Well, first off dance lessons are not in the same price bracket as flowers and dresses. Even some of the pros I’ve coached with over the years and others I’ve only heard whispers about topped out at about $185 for forty-five minutes, a far cry from the thousands you might spend on flowers or a gown for your wedding.

But still brides say every little bit counts.

In fact a recent Association of Bridal Consultants survey sited brides cutting back on almost every major category of wedding services with the most drastically hit category being personal, such as spa days.

But should you cut out those dance lessons?

And what are your choices if you still want to have a dance and not a clutch and sway fest?

You could try a DVD but do you have the time to sit there and dissect it and work with it a hundred times with your fiance who may or may not be up for it – let alone up for you telling him yet another thing he has to do!

I say look at the dance lessons as:

1) entertainment and fun during a super stressful time for both of you and

2) something you can learn to do together that you can keep on doing together long after the cake you’ve saved for your first anniversary is rock solid in your freezer!

So be kind to yourselves and give each other just an hour a week to hold each other and laugh together at a dance lesson where the most pressing question is which foot you’re going to stand on!

Consider it an investment in future “getting along together” points and bank a few love dollars in the love bank with your best friend and the love of your life.

Happy almost Halloween and enjoy the treats!

batwings

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