As wedding season approaches and in-person celebrations of marriage return, it’s time to brush up on some of the popular dance staples to be ready when it’s time to hit the dance floor this summer.
Now that states are reducing bans on large gatherings, COVID-19 numbers continue to fall, and the vaccine becomes readily available, many couples are gaining the confidence to reschedule their wedding and plan traditional celebrations. Following the outbreak of the pandemic, many people had to cancel their wedding receptions or find alternative ways to celebrate. Young love continued to be celebrated as couples got married via Zoom, hosted drive-thru receptions, and moved their ceremonies outdoors. Approximately 45 percent of couples had to change their wedding venue location last year, according to a survey of more than 7,000 couples conducted by WeddingWire, a global marketplace for wedding services. In 2020, nearly 60 percent of receptions were either fully or partially outside, compared to 43 percent in 2019, and at least 33 percent of couples offered personalized face coverings for guests.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios predicts dance floors will be packed at receptions across the country this wedding season. Scheduling a dance lesson to get back in shape for summer celebrations will help give you the confidence you need to dance the night away at your next event. Fred Astaire offers group and private dance lessons at its local studios, as well as streaming lessons through its Online Lesson Platform. Trained instructors can teach you the time-honored tradition of ballroom dancing, including wedding favorites like the waltz, as well as more upbeat options, like swing or salsa.
If you are still on the fence about scheduling a lesson, National Dance Like a Chicken Day might make you reconsider. National Dance Like A Chicken Day is held annually on May 14 and is a time to turn up the music, forget about your troubles, and bust a move to this popular wedding tune. While group dancing might make you cringe, cast your inhibitions aside and remember how dancing like a chicken at celebrations in the past helped create fun memories you cherish.
A young Swiss accordionist debuted the popular wedding dance tune in the late 1950s. Dubbed “The Duck Dance,” dancers to the song mimicked the movement of birds. As the song evolved, it became known as “The Chicken Dance” and is typically performed during parties and on social occasions. Dancers in North Dakota broke the world recording by forming a 1.6-mile-long line to perform “The Chicken Dance” in 2010. Even if “The Chicken Dance” isn’t your dance of choice, most wedding receptions wouldn’t be complete without the Electric Slide, Cotton-Eyed Joe, or Cupid Shuffle.
Check out how these couples celebrated their marriage and got the party started with unique first dances at their receptions.
This couple starts out dancing to a traditional wedding staple, “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers, but, quickly, the dance turns into a mashup of different dances from popular movies and television shows.
Check out this pair getting the party started at their outdoor wedding reception by dancing to a variety of different songs to appeal to all of their guests.
While unique moves are always fun, sometimes picking a traditional option can wow the crowd. This couple has a great time performing an energetic Lindy Hop for their first dance. The pair even get their wedding party involved in the dance to energize the crowd.
If you need to learn some new moves before the wedding season rolls around or need a professional to help you choreograph the first dance at your wedding, contact your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios location to schedule a lesson.
