5 Survival Dances for Parents of the Bride or Groom
We get it. You're probably paying for this wedding, but there's no reason you should be paying any tax on the dance floor.
Learning to dance doesn't mean you need to swing from the chandelier, or wear clothing that would make a Dancing with the Stars teacher blush.
It means that you can walk out there, move to the music, and hold your own at a once in a lifetime party.
Why You Should Be Dancing
1. No Regrets
You may have heard the quote, but the pain of hard work will never hurt as much as the pain of regret. With some lessons, you won't regret anything you will do on the dance floor at the wedding. The hard work only seems difficult until you've walked into an Arthur Murray Dance Studio.
2. It's Expected
There's the father/daughter dance, the mother/son dance, and the money dance. These days, the wedding crowd understands that dancing will liven up a reception much more than appetizers or a chocolate fountain. So why should you be excluded from that?
3. You Really Can Do It
Get over the Two Left Feet Myth, the Born With No Rhythm Myth, or the People May Die If They See Me Dance Myth. They aren't true, and dancing is no different than golf. People who take lessons do far better than people who try to fake their way through it.
5 Survival Dances To Learn
1. Foxtrot
You can safely categorize this one as "Most Likely To Be Used" when it comes to any of the officially sanctioned wedding dances.
Swing Characteristics: Easy to learn, fits Sinatra, Buble, and all the old standards, and moves around the room as smooth as a guy with a fedora and a martini.
Added Bonus: Foxtrot is typically the first dance where students can talk and dance simultaneously. Which is, you know, a pretty important skill.
2. Rumba
This will be your new go-to Slow Dance. No more awkward swaying side to side, uncertain of hand placement - especially when you dance with anyone you're not married to.
Rumba Characteristics: Rumba has easy movements, fits all the popular slow music, and is built for compact dance floors. Whether it's on a dance floor, or on a sandy beach with no shoes - make some room for Rumba in your dance program.
Added Bonus: It's romantic. Rumba is a dance that doesn't require a lot of space so we encourage couples to try it spontaneously in places like their kitchen, the grocery store, or maybe next to that chocolate fountain at the reception.
3. Swing
Some people refer to this as Jitterbug, others refer to it as East Coast, or West Coast Swing. We call it your wedding reception "Get out of Jail Free" card. They say that cockroaches could survive a nuclear explosion, and students who learn swing can survive any wedding.
Swing Characteristics: There's a version of swing built for slow, medium, or fast tempos of music. It's considered the All American Fun Dance, and it's tough to dance without a smile on your face.
Added Bonus: We refer toSwing, and it's distant relative the Cha-Cha, as Wedding Crashers! They both have the same dance DNA, so learning both simultaneously isn't a problem, and will supply more variety.
4. Merengue
We're sure you've accidentally listened to some of your kids music, only to wish later that you could have "un-listened to" it. Yes, your kids may not understand your taste in music, but Merengue is an all access pass of a dance to make even the "music" your kids like danceable.
Merengue Characteristics: Merengue is a high energy dance with very basic footwork. Because of this, you are able to learn a wide variety of turns very quickly and comfortably.
Added Bonus: The Merengue is a great foundation dance for otherdances like Salsa, Hustle, and Cha-Cha.
5. Waltz
If dances were fancy outfits, the Waltz would be a gown or tuxedo. Now, what event would prompt you to wear an outfit like that other than a wedding of someone you brought into the world?
Waltz Characteristics: Waltz is the most elegant of all of the ballroom dances. It's built to naturally enhance your posture, and even the most basic Waltz can create a powerful moment.
Added Bonus: If you wanted to knock everyone's socks off on the Father/Daughter or Mother/Son dance, this would be a great choice.
Final Thought
At some point, you've used your kids as an excuse to go on roller coasters, blow your budget on Holiday shopping, or get out of work. So why not use your kid's engagement as an excuse to learn how to dance? You don't need to do the splits, or the funky chicken, and your kids probably wouldn't want to see that anyways. Mom and Dad, consider this your dance invitation.
