Dance Tip: The Dance Floor

‘Traveling’ dances such as Foxtrot, Tango and Waltz require a larger floor, whereas ‘spot’ dances like Rumba and Swing can be danced comfortably in a very small space. Arrange for the MC or DJ to announce that guests should remain along the perimeter to respect your dancing space, maximize everyone’s visibility and allow the photographer and videographer adequate angles for good footage. Below are some dance floor tips:

1. If the site has a wooden or marble floor, make sure to leave a minimum of 10x10 section for dancing. If the reception site is carpeted, usually a portable floor is available for rent.

2. Avoid encouraging guests to toss petals, rice, bird seed or confetti on the dance floor as they can make the floor slippery when dancing. If you want to include this for dramatic effect, orchestrate it as a grand finale gesture and then have the floor swept before further dancing occurs.

3. Make sure that the dance surface is swept and completely dry.

4. Ensure that you have adequate space to dance before approaching the floor for your first dance. Request that the DJ or band director announce, “Please gather along the edge of the dance floor for the couple’s first dance.” Another solution is to pre-arrange for the entire wedding party to subtly hint to your guests where to stand by positioning themselves along each side of the perimeter of the dance floor outlining where the guests should fill in the space. Since many people do not really dance, the assumption is that you don't need any room and the well wishing guests will sometimes crowd around you. Aside from feeling a bit claustraphobic, not enough dancing space can also compromise the quality of your video and photography footage.

Dance Style: Mambo/Salsa

Perez Prado is thought to have introduced the Mambo at La Tropicana nightclub in Havana in 1943. Mambo Mania hit when Prado recorded the song, "Mambo Jambo". The dance appeared in the United States in New York's Park Plaza Ballroom, a favorite hangout of dance enthusiasts from Harlem. The Mambo gained in popularity and in the 1950s was taught in dance studios, resorts, and nightclubs in New York and Miami. In more recent times Mambo has also evolved into Salsa. Salsa is a street version of Mambo. Musically the main difference is that Mambo music holds on the one beat and Salsa music hits on one beat. The steps are pretty much the same. Mambo tends to be sharper in the footwork more time is spent in closed hold and the man breaks on 2. Salsa tends to be sexier, characteristically it has little kick like embellishments, more time is spent in a two handed or apart position and the man breaks on 1. Whether you call it Mambo or Salsa, the small steps are taken ball of foot first with the knees flexible to allow for the hip action known as cuban motion. Mambo is the forefather of Cha Cha. It also shares many patterns in common with the other Latin dances Rumba and Bolero. Mambo/Salsa is fun and flirty and socially is a great dance to learn if you like Latino music.

Contact The Wedding Dance Specialists at (703) 626 - 7016 to learn this fun and exciting dance style!

First Dance Perfect for a Winter Wedding

Check out this video of a first dance we recently spotted on YouTube.  We think it's a fun idea for a winter or Christmas wedding.

Date Night: Circo Aereo- Espresso

When: November 8, 2009 at 4:00 pm

Where: Concert Hall

Gerge Mason University Center for the Arts

4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Va 22030

“A sparkling tribute to the circus.” (Le Figaro) This enchanting “theater without words” from Finland is widely recognized throughout Europe as a pioneer of the New Circus, and makes its American debut this season. Smart, imaginative, and inventive, Circo Aereo mixes time-honored circus arts, such as juggling and aerial work, with innovative cabaret theater, masterful movement, and charming humor. The company’s latest and most famous work, Espresso, has mesmerized audiences and critics alike with its combination of traditional and contemporary circus arts with sidewalk performance. Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat called the work “a treasure chest filled with beautiful sights, meticulous efforts and inventive surprises.”

Pre-Performance Discussion at 3:15pm ; Guest Speaker (Nov 8, 2009)

http://www.gmu.edu/cfa/calendar/170/

$44, $36, $22. Student Tickets Available

If this imaginative show inspires you to dance, contact us for lessons!

(703)626 - 7016

Dance Style: The Fox Trot

Although often associated with the style of Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers, the Foxtrot was actually introduced into the mainstream by Harry Fox in 1913. Foxtrot is a "Ballroom" or Smooth dance, traveling around the line of dance (the perimeter of the room in a counterclockwise direction). Foxtrot is a lot like walking or strolling . Musically it is very easy to hear the Foxtrot rhythm. Foxtrot is an extremely useful dance socially and can be danced to a variety of jazzy musical styles. American Style Foxtrot has a fun "theatrical" quality because the couples can open up to allow for spinning the women. Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly both used the long, smooth m ovements of Foxtrot to cover a lot of ground gracefully in their routines. The basic beginner rhythm of Foxtrot is Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick. Higher level is often danced Slow-Quick-Quick.

Foxtrots:

"A Wink and a Smile" by Harry Connick, Jr.
"L.O.V.E." by Nat King Cole
"Fly me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra
"You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" by Dean Martin
"Something's Gotta Give" by Sammy Davis Jr.
"World On A String" by Peggy Lee.

The Honors Dance

You can assist your parent in selecting a song by providing him/her with our list of Honors Dance song suggestions. However, remember that your parent might already have a song in mind. Since it is their big moment at the wedding, you should let your parent have a say. He/She will move better to familiar music and be much less nervous about dancing in front of the crowd. Even one hour of preparation will make a huge impact on the way The Honors Dance looks and feels. These are special moments for Mom and Dad and they may be even more enjoyable with a little preparation.

If your parent lives out of town, a creative solution is to schedule a lesson for the week he/she is in town for the wedding. The hour spent together preparing for this dance will last a lifetime in your memory as a special moment shared between the two of you.The Honors Dance is traditionally reserved for the Mother/Son and Father/Daughter although other combinations and other relatives are also incorporated in some weddings and for certain circumstances where parents are deceased or not in attendance. Anyone who is honored by a spotlight dance will always feel more comfortable if they feel prepared.

Still haven't picked a special song for the Honors Dances? Here are some ideas!

Dance Style: The Hustle

Most Disco dances have strong roots in Swing. The Hustle is believed to have originated in New York in 1970. It went through many incarnations in the seventies, with line dances for groups of people, solo movements that came and went, and partnership dances. These partnership dances included The Basic Hustle, Latin, Spanish, Tango Hustle and the most popular version -- Street Hustle, a three-count or Swing Hustle that originated in California by skaters in Venice and Malibu. John Travolta and "Saturday Night Fever" gave the dance its place in American pop culture. Hustle is danced to contemporary pop, Hip Hop, or "House" dance music over the last 20 years. Most people dance New York style or Swing Hustle. It is a fast and reactive dance with an emphasis on armstyling and numerous hand holding positions. The lady spins almost continuously, while her partner leads her back and forth in a "slotted" linear formation. The hustle is what kept kept partner dancing alive during the lean '70s and early '80s.

Hustles:
"Material Girl" by Madonna
"Last Dance" by Donna Summer
Be With You” Enrique Iglesias
"Ready For The Good Times” by Shakira
"White Wedding" by Billy Idol