Dance Party!

Dance Party!

September 17th, 2008 @ 2:41 pm by Mrs. Taffy
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Mr. Taffy and I just signed up for dance classes with the Ann Arbor community education and recreation program!

We had been talking about signing up for dance lessons in preparation for the wedding, but we weren’t sure which type of dance to try or where to take lessons. After pouring over the class options in the Ann Arbor rec mailing, we did some hilarious research on YouTube, dance by dance. I am leaning toward the cha cha, after seeing some fun vintage clips on YouTube, and after seeing an episode of Mad Men. Mr. T seemed a little overwhelmed and was quite frightened by some of the YouTube footage (namely the fox trot), but taking lessons was his idea, so he’s willing to try it all.

After much debate, we decided to sign up for the generic “Wedding Dance” class, where they will touch on a variety of dances, including:

the fox trot, rumba, swing (which I already know, and do not think I’ll be able to do in my wedding dress!) and other social dances. I kind of feel like the generic class was a bit of a cop-out, but hey, it’s better than the “Learn to Slow Dance” class, where a partner is not required, and you meet on Friday nights! Yikes.

The class starts September 21st and runs until December, so hopefully we’ll get a handle on which type of dance we will want to zero in on. Then we can take a class during the winter/spring session that focuses on one particular style of dance alone. It turns out that the class location is on the corner of our street! We are even more excited now, and maybe walking one block to class will help us warm up.

Mr. T is in charge of the song selections for the wedding, as he is more musically inclined than I. (Having Mr. T take care of the music is odd for me—I love music. But I have one crate of records, and Mr. T has 14. But, there will be more on this later…) We both are thinking that we want a fun vibe instead of something slow and sappy. We often have dance parties while brushing our teeth or in our living room, and Beck’s new song Gamma Ray is our current favorite.

Are you taking dance lessons to prep for your wedding? Are you planning on using a fast/fun song or a slow/serious one?

Tags: ann arbor, dance |

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12 Responses to “Dance Party!”

Member

Mr. Mango (message) 146 posts, Blushing bee

ah yes, the general dance class. Hope they have “Drop that Booty” as a lesson for the week

9/17/08 @ 2:56 pm (reply)

Guest

Raeann

FH and I’s first date was to swing dancing, but I too am nervous about dancing in the dress, so I think it won’t be an option. I haven’t picked out the dress yet, but still!

9/17/08 @ 3:04 pm (reply)

Guest

Linzerella

Oh, jeezz……we’re three weeks out from the wedding and still have not practiced our fox trot dance. We may have to abandon the first dance altogether - not necessarily a bad thing!!

9/17/08 @ 3:17 pm (reply)

Guest

Jenny

My fiance and I are in the middle of learning the cha cha, the tango, swing, and the waltz. We really want to play a fun fast song..and swing to it! We practice every night! Get ready to be sore every day! It’s SO much fun though!
PS: Why can’t you swing in your dress??

9/17/08 @ 3:37 pm (reply)

Guest

Starry-Eyed Barefoot Bride

We are taking classes. I despise the 8th grade sway. Our place is great. We did the intro classes which taught the most basic steps to 6 different dances, and then we signed up for the wedding package. We brought in our music and learned the dance that goes best with it, then did choreography for it (totally optional but Fiance more comfortable not thinking on his dancing feet in front of everyone) AND then brought in a cd of different songs on our playlist and learned how to dance to them. Great all around dance experience!

9/17/08 @ 3:39 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Taffy (message) 3,104 posts, Sugar bee

@Jenny: It’s long, and I’m clumsy- I’m pretty sure I will step on it! I’m also freaked out that whatever dance we choose, I probably won’t get to practice in the actual dress. I am so clumsy, who knows what will happen!

9/17/08 @ 4:13 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Taffy (message) 3,104 posts, Sugar bee

@Mr. Mango: Hmm, let me check the list…

yep, drop that booty is in the program.

9/17/08 @ 4:15 pm (reply)

Bee

frenchbulldog (message) 7,730 posts, Bee Keeper

FH and I took a Cha Cha class @ my church when we first met and it was a LOT of fun, I’m really looking forward to taking classes for our first dance
P.S. FH and I also love Mad Men.

9/17/08 @ 5:11 pm (reply)

Member

cricketpe (message) 65 posts, Worker bee

Are you taking the class taught by Dorian Deaver? We took the Latin dance with him a couple years ago and started the wedding dance class with him this summer. He is a great instructor, but we didn’t enjoy the wedding dance class because there were SO MANY people in it that there was no room to move in the room to really get any practice. We didn’t enjoy it at all. And he didn’t give nearly as much constructive criticism as he did in the Latin Dance class. But he is a great instructor…I hope your class is smaller than ours!

9/17/08 @ 9:40 pm (reply)

10.

Guest

katie

What a great idea, looking at dances on YouTube! We’ll definitely have to do that. My mom is getting us dance lessons as an engagement present

9/17/08 @ 10:52 pm (reply)

11.

Bee

Miss Taffy (message) 3,104 posts, Sugar bee

@cricketpe: Yes, I checked, and he is our instructor. We are keeping our fingers crossed for a small class! Also, we have plenty of time to take a more specific class in the spring.

9/21/08 @ 12:01 pm (reply)

12.

Member

cricketpe (message) 65 posts, Worker bee

He is a REALLY great instructor, so I’m sure it will be great. He also has his own studio in his house in A2 that he offers you to come get more individualized instruction at (you have to pay, of course), but he’s really good. Have fun!

9/21/08 @ 7:20 pm (reply)