Register or log in —

Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Perfume
more by Mrs. Perfume (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Perfume
Mrs. Perfume's Picture
Mrs. Perfume, DC Age and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor) Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, Consultant Engagement Date: May 13, 2008 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia About Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
About Mrs. Perfume

What a ridiculously hectic weekend!!! I baked the last batch of macarons, my sister flew in for my (last minute) bachelorette party, and we organized and assembled all the paper goods and items to take down to our venue. Oh yeah, we also squeezed in a dance lesson!

So, after reading Miss Yorkie’s post on her dance lessons, I panicked and realized that I had forgotten to schedule lessons. Well, at this stage in the game, that means one (singular) lesson. Ha!!

I pick up choreography and dance very quickly, because, well, I spent the better part of my life in ballet and jazz classes. The problem is, when Mr. P and I dance together, I usually lead… for example, I dip myself:



This is not a good thing for your wedding dance, as you may confuse your partner. We needed a lesson to teach Mr. P to lead and definitely a lesson for me to learn to follow. So on Thursday, I found a couple on Craigslist to teach us. However sketchy that may sound, they were the only ones who could get us in last minute.

Turns out they were a nice retired couple, who teach ballroom dance at a local community dance center. They also give private lessons in their basement in McLean, Va. Bonnie and Art are the cutest, most patient and thoughtful teachers! We did a quick hour and a half fox-trot lesson to our song (it’s not really “our song”, it’s more the theme song of the wedding), Nina Simone’s “My Baby Just Cares for Me” (the soft version).

Their dog, Red, wasn’t really impressed (by our skillz).

We looked a little (read: a lot) awkward together, and it made me giggle. The lesson was definitely geared towards the male partner, as he will be doing all the leading (and all the work). I was so proud of Mr. P, he picked up a lot—-a real lot—in the 90 minutes.

So, I feel okay about it, because Art and Bonnie said that as long as I follow Mr. P closely, but help him smooth it out, then we’ll be fine. If anything, it’ll be amusing!!! Here’s a couple who does it right:

Next up, the macarons!!!

Tags: |   Link for this post | Share this post: Busy Weekend Part 1: Emergency Dance Lesson!      
Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Perfume
more by Mrs. Perfume (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Perfume
advertisement below

28 Responses to “Busy Weekend Part 1: Emergency Dance Lesson!”

1.
Member Icon
Member
2009cndbride (message)  54 posts, Worker bee

Nice dip!

Waiting not so patiently to hear about the macaroons!

 
2.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Yorkie (message)  1,013 posts, Bumble bee

Someday, I’ll dip like that! You and Mr. P are going to look great on the dance floor! :o)

 
3.
Vic004
Member
Vic004 (message)  784 posts, Busy bee

That is so cool that you found them on craigslist! I think your dip is fabulous too!

 
4.
JennyBryde
Member
JennyBryde (message)  1,148 posts, Bumble bee

I like to dip myself also. You just have to make sure that you’re dancing partner is up for surprise weight supports, but hey, it’s nice to keep them on their toes, right??

 
5.
LatteLove
Hostess
LatteLove (message)  4,094 posts, Honey bee

that dip is SEXY!

 
6.
Guest Icon
Guest
sally

I love that song.

 
7.
FlipFlopBride
Member
FlipFlopBride (message)  1,305 posts, Bumble bee

I am no longer embarassed to say that I also dip myself! Awesome that you were able to find someone at such short notice!

 
8.
GwenMarieDC
Member
GwenMarieDC (message)  65 posts, Worker bee

Miss Perfume! I have the SAME problem -I am forever leading when we dance. And I have to agree with LatteLove - that dip is totally hot! You and the Mr. are going to be so stunning at your wedding!

 
9.
Miss Bear Cub
Bee
Miss Bear Cub (message)  1,347 posts, Bumble bee

Thanks for including the youtube video - that dance is so fun to watch!!
Now I need to send it to Mr. Cubbie for persuasion ;)

 
10.
lreighard1
Member
lreighard1 (message)  643 posts, Busy bee

We’ve been thinking about going to Art and Bonnie for months! Was it affordable to go last minute?

 
11.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Perfume (message)  1,630 posts, Bumble bee

Thanks guys!!!!

@lreighard1: They charged the same as any private lesson: $70 per hour. That’s pretty reasonable since others were at the $90 per hour point. I think you’ll like them–they’re really nice! Small world, huh???

 
12.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Duckling (message)  1,349 posts, Bumble bee

It looks like fun!

 
13.
ke3
Member
ke3 (message)  247 posts, Helper bee

I need to convince my Mr to go to some lessons too! I’m sure you and Mr P will be amazing!

 
14.
chelseamorning
Hostess
chelseamorning (message)  1,482 posts, Bumble bee

Ooh, if you think that dancing is good, then you guys ain’t seen nothing yet.
Check out this youtube clip of a range of the best swing dancers in the world. They are all social dancing (no choreography): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdgaVz56hlA

 
15.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Piglet (message)  629 posts, Busy bee

Look at your posture, Miss P! Now that’s impressive. :)

 
16.
Miss French Bulldog
Bee
Miss French Bulldog (message)  6,063 posts, Bee Keeper

Check out that dip!
I also have a leading problem… any tips on how not to be a leader?

 
17.
jmc
Member
jmc (message)  467 posts, Helper bee

@LatteLove: That dip IS sexy! And looks hilarious in the kitchen.

 
18.
jmc
Member
jmc (message)  467 posts, Helper bee

Is it me, or does it kind of look like the woman is leading in the video? :)

 
19.
honeymyheart
Member
honeymyheart (message)  763 posts, Busy bee

dance lessons look like so much fun, although i’m afraid of the dip

 
20.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Perfume (message)  1,630 posts, Bumble bee

@Miss French Bulldog: I have no tips other than just relax and trust him!

@jmc: hahaha! kitchen dip! You are really perceptive about the woman leading…their dance is totally impromptu and they switch leads.

@honeymyheart: i hope the snaps on my dress come undone…so i’m afraid too!

 
21.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Perfume (message)  1,630 posts, Bumble bee

@Miss Perfume: that’s DON’t come undone…

 
22.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Quiche (message)  2,175 posts, Buzzing bee

Woo! Rock that dip, Perf! I have the SAME problem - I always lead :) It isn’t easy to un-learn that, either.

eee! Can’t wait to hear about the macaroons!!

 
23.
Member Icon
Member
doublemint921 (message)  489 posts, Helper bee

We just had our first and only dance lesson too. Some where along the way in the planning it got forgotten. Lucky for me he picked up the steps really quick too! :)

 
24.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Onion (message)  657 posts, Busy bee

man I wish I could dance like that couple! you guys will be great. just have fun. we didn’t take any lessons we just practiced a few basic steps to the (short) song we’d picked. we didn’t have much space or a band, so we kept it simple. just enjoy yourselves!

 
25.
mrspaetz
Member
mrspaetz (message)  1,707 posts, Bumble bee

you. are. too. HOT.

totally diptastic, Ms P!!! ;)

 
26.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Glitter (message)  880 posts, Busy bee

You guys are too cute!! That youtube video was awesome! Now I want to go sign Mr. G and I up for a lesson…FUN! :)

 
27.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Labrador (message)  1,324 posts, Bumble bee

Haha, you look like a gymnast in your dip pic! So flexible! Hope you guys perfect the dance in time or at least have fun with it!

 
28.
Guest Icon
Guest
anon

@jmc: At least parts of it look kinda like lindy hop to me, or another swing dance…if that’s the case then it isn’t that unusual for the woman to lead in some kinds of swing. (according to the wikipedia article on swing there are even some competitions where the lead -must- be female and the follower must be male).

 


You can also just...

Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Perfume
more by Mrs. Perfume (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Perfume
Visit our sister sites Project Wedding
Wedding Songs
eHarmony Advice
Dating Advice
JustMommies
Pregnancy Calendar
Fertile Thoughts
Infertility Support
Copyright 2004-2009, eHarmony, Inc., Advertise
 


Sponsors
Mrs. Perfume
Mrs. Perfume Mrs. Perfume, DC Age and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor) Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, Consultant Engagement Date: May 13, 2008 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia About Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
Weddingbee PRO
 
Boards
 
Classifieds
 

Blog Calendar
November 2009
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930

Weddingbee Bios
Wiki
More