DANCING TO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER: THE NEW FIRST DANCE
Gone are the days of rocking back and forth for wedding dances. Perhaps inspired by “Dancing with the Stars,” couples today are learning more intricate routines for first dances to wow guests and express themselves.
The first dance is important because it kicks off the second part of the wedding, explained Hayes Kolb, owner of the San Jose-based Sugar Rhythm Dance, who teaches couples in their homes throughout the Bay Area. Couples can use their song and dance to set the tone of the reception, as well as to show off for friends and family.
“I truly believe that if the couple takes the time to learn a dance … it’s a gift back to the guests,” Kolb said.
Typically, couples choose a song a few months before the wedding and bring it to a dance instructor who choreographs steps for them. They practice several times before the wedding to make sure the details are flawless from the walk-on to the dramatic conclusion.
Most first dances are waltzes, fox-trots or rumbas because those are the dances that suit popular love songs, according to Kolb.
“People enjoy dancing to the standard dances because they want to dance to a song that will be around for years,” he said.
Such songs include Big Band classics, jazz numbers and soul music.
The waltz, fox-trot and rumba are also easy to learn. All three have simple basic steps plus many variations that can give the dance a special flair, such as twirls, spins and dips.
Some couples decide to buck the trend, however, and opt for an upbeat cha-cha or a dramatic Argentine Tango. Kolb currently is teaching one couple a complete Paso Doble, or Spanish bullfighters’ routine, for their wedding in Spain. Another couple wanted to learn an Argentine Tango with an extreme death-drop dip at the end.
“It brought the crowd to its feet,” Kolb said.
Couples in recent years have attempted to fool their guests into thinking they were doing just another slow dance, then break dramatically into a waltz or cha-cha, he added.
Some couples may worry that a choreographed dance routine might look stilted, said Christine Blanton, owner of Renaissance Ballroom in San Francisco.
“Couples don’t want to look too stiff and choreographed and ballroomy,” Blanton said. “They want to be more relaxed and have fun.”
One way to prevent stiffness is to focus on style rather than memorizing footwork, said Frank DeFelice of Crystal Ballroom in San Jose.
“We put a lot of emphasis on appearance and style, not just steps. People should be able to express their personalities, not just rock back and forth,” he said.
Ideally, couples begin lessons three months prior to their wedding date, DeFelice said. Kolb said he’s worked with couples who started a week before their wedding, but agrees that more time is better.
“It is an art, and art takes a little bit of time to do well,” he said.
Blanton suggested that couples choose an easy dance like a fox-trot unless they have plenty of time to practice or previous dance experience.
Kolb and Blanton warned against brides putting too much pressure on their fiances.
“Girls can dance, and they want to show off at their wedding, but their grooms (might) never have danced,” Blanton said. “Remember, you can dance, but you’re asking your poor fiance to dance something he’s never danced before.”
Kolb added that keeping it simple is key to relieving stress before the wedding.
“You could take some of the most basic patterns, but if you’re smiling and your feet are in the right place, you’re looking good,” he said.
Written by Megan Rowe- Special to the Town Crier
4/8/2009
Photo: G.E. Massana
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) – AP