Tips | Ballroom Dance Lessons Chicago | Wedding Dance Lessons Chicago

Start Early
Starting early will give you enough time to build dance skills and confidence. Try to start at least three months before your wedding day. If you have a hectic schedule or are looking for a more choreographed first dance, start six months before your wedding day; besides learning dance steps, it takes time for couples to feel comfortable moving together on the dance floor.

Share Your Vision For Your First Dance
What are you imagining your first dance to look like? Traditional and classy? Creative and fun? Simple and elegant? Elaborate and showy? Share your vision with your teacher so that he/she can better fulfill your desire. And make sure to actively participate in choreographing the dance; if you want to incorporate a specific “move,” ask your teacher to fit it into the choreography. And If you do not like something, say so. This is your wedding and your dance and you should be confident with the results.

Practice In Shoes That Are Similar To The Ones You Will Be Wearing For Your Wedding
For brides, bring to lessons a pair of heels that are similar to your wedding shoes as well as a pair of comfortable flats. In this way, you can first learn the steps in flats and then practice in heels. Flips-flops and sandals are not recommended. The groom should also wear shoes similar to the tux shoes he plans to wear. Both bride and groom might also consider buying dance shoes specifically for the first dance (or to be worn throughout the ceremony and celebration). Many of these shoes are designed for professional dance competitions, so they look formal and are quite comfortable. Search for a local retailer or buy them on-line (prices range from $80 - $300).

Take Lessons Consistently
Learning to dance takes an investment of time and money. And in order to make the best out of your investment, scheduling at least one lesson a week is imperative; attending lessons consistently will help you remember the dance steps you learned in the previous lesson. In this way, you can save time reviewing what you learned last time and get the most out of your lessons.

Find Out The Measurement Of The Dance Floor
It’s important to let your teacher know the dimensions of the dance floor so that he / she can choose appropriate steps and choreograph the dance accordingly. Traveling dances such as Foxtrot, Waltz and Tango generally require more space than stationary dances such as Rumba, Swing and Salsa.

Consider The Structure Of Your Wedding Gown
Some wedding gowns, such as the strapless ones, restrict the bride from lifting her arms over head. Make sure you let your teacher know the design of the dress ahead of time, so that he / she can modify certain steps of the dance accordingly. It is a good idea to have a dress rehearsal a few lessons before your wedding to avoid surprises and unexpected restrictions.

Practice
Practice makes perfect. By practicing, not only do you familiarize yourself with the dance steps and patterns you have learned, but you also gain confidence dancing together and feel more comfortable on the dance floor. Keep in mind that practice sessions are not “critiquing session,” especially when away from your instructor. Use these times to allow your partner to explore what he / she has learned. If any issues come up, inform your instructor at your next scheduled lesson.

Go Out Dancing
Going out dancing is a fun and effective way to practice, especially in front of people. Once you are accustomed to dancing in front of other people, you will be more confident during your wedding dance, in front of your friends and family. Also, check out any practice parties offered at your studio. These are often free events that seek to replicate a “club” atmosphere, but in the comfortable learning environment of a studio.

Encourage And Be Patient With Each Other
Learning to dance is similar to learning a new language. It takes time and patience. From learning the alphabets and words to making sentences and conversations is a process. In order for you two to communicate well on the dance floor, you must constantly encourage and be patient with each other.

Don’t Judge Each Other
Don’t judge or try to teach your fiancé / fiancée. Take it easy on each other and let the teacher do his / her job.

Have Fun
Most of all, learning to dance should be fun. Enjoy the time you spend together in the dance lesson. While this can be difficult at times, especially when one or both partners is struggling to learn a new step, keep in mind the end result: you are learning a skill that you will share with your partner for the rest of your lives - a skill that will create a stronger bond between the two of you, and a skill that will express to others your unique partnership.

Wedding Dance Songs

How to pick a song for the first dance?
A good wedding dance song should be easy to dance to with a clear, steady beat. The tempo of the song should not be too slow. Many couples find it harder to dance to songs with slower tempo because it requires more muscular control.

There are two ways to go about it: First, you could pick a song that both of you like, such as a song with lyrics and melody that touch both of you or a song with lyrics that you think are suitable for your wedding. And then, you can have your teacher find a perfect dance for it. Second, you can choose the dance you like and find a song that will be suitable for the dance. If time allows, you can begin by learning the basics of a few dances and to get a feel for them. Then you can choose the dance you like and find a song that would work for that particular dance. In this way, not only will you learn your first dance, but also other dances you can use at the reception, during the honeymoon, anniversaries, cruises, and so on.

How long should the first dance be?
The perfect length of the first dance should be between 2 to 3 minutes. Shorter than 2 minutes wouldn’t be satisfying enough for the guests and longer than 3 minutes could become boring. Think about the typical length of a dance on Dancing with the Stars...it is usually less than one minute.

Practice to more than one song
You can get tired of your first song no matter how beautiful it is. It is great to practice to different songs with different tempos to keep your dancing fresh and to develop keen ears to music and rhythm.

Non-traditional first dance song
It is a fantastic idea to incorporate current songs to make the dance more fun and suitable to your taste, but it is also important to consider the “danceability” of these songs. Make sure you have your teacher listen to the song and select dance(s) that work for the song.

Creative choreography with Two songs
In recent trends, many couples have combined two songs in one. Preferably a traditional wedding dance song with a popular song. I like the idea of picking two songs that have different tempos and feels to them, so that the dance can be more dynamic, fun and full of surprises. However, dancing to two different songs means learning two different dances, as well as the transition between those two dances. Make sure you start at least six months in advance to allow ample time for learning the choreography and practicing. Also, if you are having a DJ for your wedding, it is good to have him/her mix the two songs and make a copy for your teacher so that he/she can choreograph a better transition for the dance.

DJs or Live Band
If you hire a DJ for your wedding, be sure to have a CD edited to the length you want. If you hire a live band, be sure to let them know about the length of your dance, when to begin and when to end the song.

Wedding Dance Song Suggestions:

Foxtrot:
Better Together, Jack Jackson (Foxtrot/Swing)
Chances Are, Johnny Mathis
Cheek to Cheek, Frank Sinatra (Foxtrot/Swing)
Fly Me to the Moon, Frank Sinatra (Foxtrot/Swing)
Give Me Your Kisses, Louis Armstrong (Foxtrot/Swing)
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) James Taylor, (Foxtrot/Swing)
I'm in the Mood for Love, Ella Fitzgerald
It Had to Be You, Frank Sinatra (Foxtrot/Swing)
Little Trip to Heaven, Tom Waits (Slow Foxtrot)
The Way You Look Tonight, Frank Sinatra (Foxtrot/Swing)
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Stevie Wonder
Your Smiling Face, James Taylor (Foxy/Swing)
Johnny and June, Heidi Newfield, (Foxtrot/Swing)

Waltz:
Anniversary Waltz, Eddy Howard
Fascination, Jane Morgan
Moon River, Andy Williams
When I Said I Do, Clint Black & Lisa Hartman

Rumba:
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Frankie Valli
Change the World, Eric Clapton
Crazy Love, Van Morrison
Fields of Gold, Sting
First Day of My Life, Bright Eyes
Forever, Ben Harper
I Do, 98 Degrees (Slow Rumba)
If, Bread
I Was Made to Love Her, Stevie Wonder
Just the Way You Are, Billy Joel
Let’s Stay Together, Al Green
When You Say Nothing At All, Alison Krausse (Rumba/Foxy)
Wonderful Tonight, Eric Clapton

Tango:
Verano Porteno, Astor Piazzolla
Buen Amigo, Tango No. 9
Que Noche, Osvaldo Pugliese
Libertango, Astor Piazzolla

Salsa:
I'll Always Love You, Tito Nieves
Such Great Heights, The Postal Service (Salsa/ Fast Rumba)

Foxy (Slow Dance):
Only You, The Platters
At Last, Etta James
By Your Side, Sade
Come What May, Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman
Crazy Love, Van Morrison
Everything I Do, Bryan Adams
Just the Way You Are, Billy Joel
Nobody Does It Better, Carly Simon
Someone Like You, Van Morrison
The Luckiest, Ben Folds
Unforgettable, Nat King Cole
What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong
When You Say Nothing At All, Alison Krausse (Rumba/Foxy)

Tips

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Chicago’s Premier Ballroom, Latin and Wedding Dance Studio

At Ballroom Dance Chicago, we dedicate our energy to personalizing dance lessons that meet each student’s needs. We teach a variety of ballroom and Latin dances, which include Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Salsa, Cha Cha, Merengue, Swing and Hustle. We are also the top rated Wedding Dance Studio in Chicago. If you are getting ready for a first dance, we are the experts! Depending on the song you choose for your first dance, your taste and your vision for your first dance, we will teach you the appropriate dance(s) for your wedding. Most importantly, we will teach you how to lead and follow so that you will feel confident and comfortable dancing at your wedding and beyond.