dance

Dancing With the Spouses: What You Should Know About Reception Dancing

Many people would describe marriage as one of life’s greatest adventures, and weddings and receptions are symbolic of a great send-off. The reception in particular marks the start of this adventure with a party vibe. Usually a great party has music, and where there’s music, there’s generally dancing. Country recording artist John Michael Montgomery released his single “Life’s a Dance” in 1992, in which he remarked, “Life’s a dance, you learn as you go; sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.” Appropriately enough, a couple’s first dance is a common tradition at the reception. Here are some things you should know.

Boogie Down

As with any marriage celebration, it’s entirely up to the spouses-to-be to decide what’s on the agenda. You may just want to have an open floor where anyone can cut a rug to the music if they choose. Don’t feel pressured to have an official first dance with your new spouse, especially if dancing isn’t something either of you love to do. That said, it’s also okay to acknowledge that your union is a dance that can be symbolized with a first routine.

Put Together a Plan

You and your partner may be naturals on the floor, and if both of you are fine with rocking out to the beat, pick your favorite jam and let loose. Or you can always go for something slower and more romantic. Whatever you decide to do, having a plan can help reduce your stress on the big day. It’s important to do something that is comfortable for both of you. A first dance doesn’t have to be picture-perfect, but it shouldn’t be an embarrassment either. You want it to be a part of your celebration that you both recall fondly.

Hire a Professional

Just as you would hire experienced professionals to take care of food, attire and music, you can also hire a wedding choreographer. If you want your first dance to be choreographed according to a style, go with a pro. This choreographer can put together a special routine based on your strengths and preferences. It’s crucial that you book early. This allows time for you and your partner to practice. Remember, practice makes perfect.

 Work It Out

There are other ways to get into the groove with respect to your nuptials. The first dance isn’t the only tradition of its kind at the reception. Consider these other ideas:

  • Dance with parents or in-laws: Some couples opt to dance with their parents or in-laws, symbolic of a newlywed joining the family and getting “another” set of parents.
  • Anniversary dance: This is a special dance that acknowledges married couples who’ve been together for a certain length of time.
  • Wedding party routine: It might be fun for you and the people in your wedding party to do a specially choreographed routine.

You have many options, but you’ll need to gauge the comfort level and ability of participants. Factor in ease of movement when making choices for wedding attire, especially a bridal gown or suit. Sometimes the most fashionable clothes aren’t conducive to shaking a tail feather.

Dance the Night Away

If a party vibe is what you want for the reception, be sure to set that mood with your choices. Between your wedding planner, the venue, the décor and the music, attendees should feel encouraged to move. Make sure there’s ample space for individual and partner dancing. Line dancing can inspire the biggest wallflowers to hit the floor, so let your DJ or band know to include a couple of these songs on the playlist.

You have many options for making dance a part of your special day. From a choreographed first routine to party anthems that bring everyone to their feet, dancing is a celebration of love and the life ahead. Figure out what you and your partner want to do and plan accordingly.

Dance Away the Blues: Movement and Happiness

The next time you have the opportunity to dance, you should take it! It must might improve your mental health and physical fitness.

The next time you have the opportunity to dance, you should take it! It must might improve your mental health and physical fitness.

Have you ever met someone who absolutely hates dancing? You might even be this person, willing to spend an entire wedding in your chair rather than getting up to dance. While it takes all sorts to make the world, there are some traits that might be more damaging to the spirit than most people realize. By not engaging with the act of dancing when given the opportunity, you may very well find your emotional state in a frazzled or downright unpleasant place. Luckily, there are ways to remedy this!

There has been a lot of evidence released over recent decades to suggest that dancing does a lot for the soul. Though it might seem silly to throw your body around to music, here are a handful of reasons to change your attitude and get on the dance floor right away.

Get Physical

Right away, it can be important to focus on how dancing helps you on a physical level. According to some research, the act of dancing may be an important step toward keeping your heart healthy. Dancing often gets the heart beating a bit faster than normal, the same way that it does when you are engaged with a simple run or other exercises. Pumping your heart at this rate might be crucial for maintaining a strong and healthy cardiovascular system.

The beauty of using dance as a form of exercise is that it doesn’t feel like exercise. In fact, most people feel pretty good when they dance. The freedom of being able to move your body to the music in whatever way you wish is known to produce positive feelings. While there is scientific evidence to back this up, it often can be a bit more practical to stand up and start dancing to see the effects of this activity for yourself.

Everyone’s in the Dance

Dance is also an activity that is able to connect people. When you are on a dance floor or in a studio with a variety of people all moving their bodies in various ways, it can create a contagious feeling of excitement. There is something about dancing with others that can bond people together in an unspoken way. You stop thinking so much about what you’re doing and start reacting in an intuitive way, reading how other people’s bodies are moving and responding with your own in kind.

Whether doing it alone or with a group, remember that the act of dancing is a form of expression. This can be important to remind yourself so you do not get stuck on how you appear while grooving. In fact, it is exactly this fear of getting the dance wrong that strikes fear in many and keeps them from engaging. Remember that you can dance however you want, regardless of technique or aim. Just stay safe and mind your hands around strangers, and you’ll be good!

Don’t Slouch! 

Finally, there is a bit of evidence out there to suggest that dancing might be able to help you stand straight and tall. Some studies conducted over the years have led researchers to believe that dancing helps a person to better understand how to move his or her own body. Connecting with your body in this manner can, in turn, help you realize when you are slouching or holding your weight in a way that is doing damage. While not a cure for bad posture, the evidence suggests it definitely can help to get out there and move.

The next time you find yourself sitting on the sidelines while everyone else is engaged with getting down and having some fun to their favorite songs, try to get involved. While it may not change your life, dancing can definitely provide some needed joy.