Wedding Blog
So, in the spirit of my “I’ve gotta be me” recent post, it’s time to address a very serious issue that’s been on my mind for the past several weeks. That’s right, my friends … we need to discuss …
The Chicken Dance!
(Image from www.starstore.com)
In reading about wedding music and people’s Must Play and Do Not Play lists, I inevitably see The Chicken Dance as one of the titles on the Do Not Play list. (Never done the dance? You can find directions here.) Traditionally I’ve always sort of mumbled along, “oh, yeah, ChickenDance DoNotPlay mumblemumble….” Well, I’m coming clean, boys and girls: Truth is, I cannot wait to dance the Chicken Dance at my wedding! Just thinking about it has had me walking around humming the tune for days. I haven’t gotten to flap my wings in public in maybe 15 years, and this is probably the only socially acceptable (OK, so I use the term loosely…) chance I’ll have for years to come.
(Doing the Chicken Dance (making hand beaks) in front of roughly 20,000 people at a UW Varsity Band concert, circa 1992. I was the one with bubbles.)
I grew up in Wisconsin, you see, and the polka holds a special place in Badger society. In junior high, we danced the polka as an official unit in gym class. At University of Wisconsin football games, drunken students dance the Chicken Dance by the thousands, week after week. As a member of the marching band, I must have played it hundreds of times. (It’s actually called “Dance Little Bird,” by the way. You can read all about the history right here. No mention of how it got started as the bane of wedding reception dances, though.)
Sure, we’re having an iPod reception, but is that a problem? Nope. I already own a copy! In fact, I helped record this CD, which proudly (again, using terms loosely here) bears “Dance Little Bird” as Track #7. Oh yeah, I cut an album, baby! In the UW’s old dairy barn. Because (1) yeah, we had dairy barns; and (2) the barn had bizarrely excellent acoustics. (Can’t you just picture the cows? “Hey, Bessie, do I sound really good when I moo? Seriously, check this out. Moo moo moo mooooooo…”)
Am I completely alone in my love for the Chicken, or will anyone else join me on this limb? Anything else that’s cheesy or embarrassing that you’re looking forward to incorporating into your wedding reception?
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i was just at a wedding yesterday and we broke out the electric slide AND the soul train line, because amazingly, it isn’t a church function unless we do that. lol. as much as i talk it down, i’m always one of the first to jump in. since i’m planning on inviting a lot of the church members, i’m really hoping this is done too…i can already imagine the pictures of me and my mom going down the soul train line together [like we did at my graduation party!]
my uncle has a bizarre theory about organized dancing (such as the chicken dance and the electric slide) being some sort of gateway drug to communism. but i think some of them can be fun for people like myself that utterly lack dancing ability. we pretend that you have to drag us into it… but secretly, we like the fact there are only 4 motions and you can just copy everyone else.
My dad and I do a rousing rendition of “Proud Mary” a la Tina Turner. I think will skip the karaoke part and just do our “dance moves” to the Tina recording. It seems to embarass everyone but me and my dad when they witness our “performance”. I can’t wait!
They did the chicken dance at a wedding I went to recently. It was the groom’s request, and the bride spent most of the song mouthing ‘I hate you’ but I think she thought it was pretty hilarious - and it was the only song all night that got most of the guests on the dance floor at the same time.
i love the chicken dance. i also asked our dj to play the electric slide (both versions) multiple times. i just can’t get enough of those dances. part of me wishes i had roller skates to put on for the chicken dance. that was my favorite, i loved watching people fall.
At my wedding in June, we did the chicken dance and cha cha slide. A TON of people did both and they all loved it! Even my bridesmaids who I commanded to do the dance (heehee).
I specifically requested YMCA and Stayin’ Alive to be played at my reception (I think the Electric Slide came on too), and will gladly join in the Chicken Dance any time it comes on. As much as I hear brides complain that these songs make their guests get up and act like fools, guess what? They make your guests get up and DANCE! What fun is it when everyone is just sitting around, staring at the walls? You want people to paaaaaaarty! (Like its 1999, even!)
Two thumbs up for the dances that get the party rockin’!
We are having the Chicken Dance. I can’t imagine my wedding without it. Some of the DJs I interviewed said don’t worry we will not do the Chicken Dance but I told them I had to have it.
finally, other brides who love the chicken dance as much as I do! yay! Dunno if we’ll do it because FI hates it, but I really don’t care if he joins in.
Christine…. it ain’t a party without the BeeGees 
I would not do it at my wedding, but I would def. participate! I want to do the Cha-Cha Slide at my wedding and maybe the YMCA. They are easy to do and well… fun!
I think it will make for awesome pictures!
I love the chicken dance too. I don’t care if everyone else hates it…I know people will dance with me. The only exception is if, like at the last wedding I was at, the DJ feels the need to interject words. There are no words to sing along. It is enough that I am doing the chicken motions. (in case you’ve been lucky enough never to be subjected to the words, it’s “I don’t wanna be a chick, I don’t wanna be a duck so I shake my butt” clap clap clap clap)
We are doing it at our wedding too. I don’t love it, but I don’t really have a hate-fest going on for any of the choreographed dances like these either (Macarena, YMCA, etc). My fiance’s grandmother is unable to come to our wedding due to her poor health and travel expenses, but she loooooves the Chicken Dance, so we’re going to play it in her honour and dance like fools!!
GO BADGERS!!!
I was born and raised in wisconsin too, and also a uw alum. My caterer was very confused when I asked her to change the cheese tray to all wisconsin cheeses 
gotta go with the homestate pride! Good for you!
As a college freshman in marching band I was introduced to the song Vehicle and a very simple dance called the Yugo that incorporated pelvic thrusts and the hand jive. It was a standard dance at football games, parties, and dances for anyone that knew it. It was very high on the must play list for our wedding. But we’re all getting older and I think one of the guys that taught me the dance so long ago threw his back out while doing a particularly enthusiatic thrust. I think my family was a little embarrassed and the bartender was very suprised the reception went that far. I swear it was just a little innocent dancing.
i’m going to get my guests up and ready to play musical chairs. i hope they’ll be up for it. =)
Yay, another badger!
Haha. Peter isn’t dancing with that chicken… he’s fighting to the DEATH. Because of a coupon. Family Guy, anyone?
I’m anti-chicken dance, anti-YMCA, and anti-hokey pokey. Just because, well, I personally never want to hear any of those songs again. They remind me of gradeschool. But, to each their own.
I had the Chicken Dance on my “Do Not Play” list, but the kids at the wedding–of which there were many–*desperately* wanted to dance it. They requested it, the DJ said, “I can’t, ask the bride” so they came to me and begged. It didn’t occur to me that the kids would be sad if it wasn’t played, so I said “Go ahead.” The kids had a great time, and some of our best pictures of them were taken during the Chicken Dance.
So…all of you who have long Do Not Play lists, you might want to rethink it a bit. The reason why those songs are popular at weddings is they’re FUN for a lot of people. And although you and your friends may only want to dance to hip hop or whatever, most weddings include kids and parents and aunts and uncles, and they should get some fun dancing time themselves. The most fun I had while dancing at my wedding was during the Hora. You might be surprised how much fun you have, after a few drinks, while doing the YMCA or the Macarena. They’re silly, but fun, and the best weddings aren’t about how much money was spent, how beautiful the bride was, or how good the food–the best weddings are FUN.
I love the chicken dance, it is one of the only group dance songs I like and it WILL be played at my wedding! Hooray for the chicken dance. I am from PR and somehow words have been developed for the chorus of this song and a variation on the dance moves, it is a must play for any wedding reception.
I agree with some previous comments - I think people should lighten up a bit with their “Do not play” lists. It’s not about being hip, it’s about getting butts on the dance floor! The silly dances are the ones that tend to get the biggest cross-section of guests out there having fun. Isn’t that the whole point?
i was never a fan of the chicken dance. but. for my own wedding i decided to have the chicken dance at my wedding due to the volume of children that would be attending and because, upon further thought, i thought it would be fun for everyone else too.
in the end, i’m really glad i did it because everyone had a blast and got really into it. (it could have also been because it was in the middle of the dancing and by then a lot of people were relatively drunk)
but it was one dance everyone could do. and it was hilarious watching everyone who decided to get up and dance. and everyone was laughing and having a great time.
and the next day, my niece was still doing the chicken dance, she loved it so much. so to me, it was worth it.
Go Badgers!
I don’t mind the chicken dance, however it will not be played at my wedding. I may have a polka (my wedding is in milwaukee).
To me, there is a huge difference between doing the chicken dance to the UW Marching Band during 5th quarter or the concert and doing it at a wedding. I will do it everytime at a game, no problem. I will probably wrinkle my nose at a wedding.
Oh wow.. I had no idea there were actual Chicken Dance fans. The Chicken Dance is actually something somewhat contentious between my fiance’ and I. He insists on having it, and I insist on not. I have been lucky enough to never have witnessed it at a wedding and I don’t want to start now! I guess I’m dull and boring - absolutely NO organized dances for me!
Hooray for the other (not so) closet Chicken Dance fans!!
Though I hadn’t thought it through that far, I totally agree with all who have said that the stupid dances are all about getting everybody out on the dance floor and having fun…. And I hadn’t even thought of the kids, who may be overrunning our wedding!
Charcoaleyes, you’re right that there’s a difference between Chicken Dance-ing at the 5th Quarter and at a wedding (and how DID it get started at weddings?)…. But when you and your friends haven’t done it in a decade … we’ll take it where we can!
P.S. to twelvetigers …. Yes, you’re right, Peter and the Chicken are fighting to the death! But it was the first chicken picture I could think of!!! 
Scandinavian heritage, raised in Illinois — Chicken Dance is on the MUST PLAY LIST. Serious fun. I’ve always been more into having fun than “looking cool.” So bring on the chicken dance. It especially appeals to the young, the old, the drunk, and the Scandinavians! The next most fun dance is the Hokey-Pokey.
Ha, ha, Moi, I can’t stop laughing about “… the young, the old, the drunk, and the Scandinavians.” It’s my entire wedding demographic, in one phrase!!!!
We did the electric slide at our reception and as always, it was a hit. It’s the dance that gets everyone out on the dance floor. We didn’t even play “the electric slide song”. People just broke out in the dance and everyone started running to the dance floor. Fun stuff.
Brides on the Knot especially turn their noses up at organized/instructional dances but I think they rock.
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Mrs. Tulip, DC
Age and Occupation: 36, Retired
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Counsel/DOO for Small Gov't Contractor
Engagement Date: August 8, 2007
Wedding Date: March, 2008
Venue: Still Looking!
About Me: In all my dreams of the man I'd someday marry, I never pictured anyone as perfect for me as Mr. Tulip. So now we just have to make it through the craziness of the wedding and the moving in together! I love crafts, sewing, jewelry making, and photography, so am looking forward to this chance for DIY fun. When not wedding planning, I'm playing with our dog and 4 cats, Ebay shopping, or watching too much TV (often simultaneously!).
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