Dancers, please help

[TooPatient]

Okay, so FI and I are getting married next summer/fall (still picking final date) and I found some great dance lessons for us to take between now and then so we can really look good (and relax) dancing at our wedding.

Plenty of time except....

We got an invitation to a bat mitzvah (invitation came yesterday) that will be taking place the end of next month. The celebration will be "an evening of food & dancing"

The problem --- I have never danced before. Ever. (okay, except maybe as a two year old)


Does anyone have any place they would suggest for lessons (Bellevue, Issaquah, Seattle area) that aren''t terribly expensive and allow us to stay together for the class (I''ve seen a lot of places say that they pair you up with another person in the class with like skills).

Do any of the "learn to dance ___" videos help at all?


Any helpful tips as I try to learn?

 

[LadyJane83]

First, if you are really uncomfortable dancing (either before you get the lessons, or even after), just don''t do it. No one says you have to.

If you don''t have time for a lesson before the bat mitzvah but would like to dance there, I''d probably start by checking out youtube. I think a lot of "slow dances" have steps that should be sort of easy to learn (?)

I love dancing (to pop and rap songs lol), but I''ve never learned how to slow dance. I can follow someone if they are a very good dancer, but that''s it. FI is rhythmically-challenged. Everytime we try to slow dance together, it is a mess. I doubt we''ll have a "first dance" at our wedding.

 

[elrohwen]

There's nothing wrong with swaying to a slow dance like you're at the senior prom. Nobody will notice or care if you don't actually know "steps". Now if it's about dancing to faster songs like pop, just throw on some music, grab a glass of wine, and get relaxed with it in your living room on your own - I don't know if dance lessons will help with that, you just need to do it until you relax a bit. Alcohol helps.

 

[sunnyd]

TP, there''s a school on Redmond Way (I think? It''s on the main drag past the Dairy Queen.). No idea how much it is, but my ex-BF''s sister took class there.

But I really don''t think you need a school. Swaying is fine, and if you don''t want to dance, that''s fine too! No one will force you out there. Agree with Elro, just get a little tipsy, put on some tunes and start moving! That''s the best way to "learn".

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

TP, throw on some jazz or other slow music, grab a hold of Bruce like you''re loosely hugging him and just sway to the music. Move naturally, however the beat or mood of the song tells you to move. Close your eyes and embrace the closeness and romance of the moment.

 

[TooPatient]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Looks like the thing to do is just relax and give it a try.

I''ve got a couple of e-mails out to instructors from small studios to see when they have group classes starting and what kind of arrangements for private lessons we can make. (we were going to do this anyway to get ready for the wedding)

Sunny -- Dance Works is on Redmond Way. I''m going to call them too and see what kind of arrangements we can make. Since we only have 6 weeks, I''d rather we get comfortable dancing together rather than "switching partners frequently" like they advertise. If they''d be willing to let us stay together, they might be the best option for lessons on this short of notice.

 

[elrohwen]

Just remember that you probably won''t have a chance to use any of these steps at your wedding unless you specifically bring in your first dance song and ask them to help you choreograph it a bit. It''s not like the standard slow dance songs are waltzes and foxtrots unless you specifically pick out "ballroom" music to be played at the reception. If you''re worried about your first dance song, I would find a place that will give you private lessons for just that song. The tips you pick up will help your dancing confidence in general and you''ll also learn specific skills for the only time you''ll be out on the dance floor with everyone looking at you.