How I Choreograph A Wedding Dance

 How I Choreograph A Wedding Dance

                                                                                                        Author : Peta-Jane Dougall

Before I start to choreo a wedding dance routine, I ask the Bride-To-Be for the exact song that they are going to play on their wedding day - preferably a direct link to YouTube. I then download it and put it on a stick to play on my speaker. The reason I am so particular is that there can be be quite a few versions of the same song and the construction can be different. Find out if she wants to dance the whole song or a portion. My recommendation is 2 1/2 minutes. 

I sit quietly in a chair with my eyes closed and play the song over and over to become familiar with it. I start jotting down what steps I see in my head when I listen to the song - pieces of a routine that could be used.

 I take a piece of paper and write down how many beats each paragraph has - 4x eight beats, 8x eight beats and so forth. I make a note of where the chorus is. I sometimes download the words of the song to help me see where the singer repeats the same words. What I am looking at is the structure of the song. If I wish, I can use the same choreo each time the singer repeats the same words again. This links the dance to the music.

 I go back to my paper with the beats on it and, with the song playing, I listen to the pitch (loudness & softness) of the music.- a long soft paragraph, an upbeat louder part, a pause in the music. I make a note at the exact spot.

I have talked to the Bride-To-Be about their level of dance expertise, usually there is very little to none, so it is important not to overwhelm them with a lot of steps. It is the Man that must lead the dance so the choreo has to be comfortable for him. If she has some experience in dancing, then you can add some more twirls and patterns for her. But on that note, I must say that generally the men have risen to the occasion and have done a splendid job. It is important for me to know how many lessons they will be taking, as that has a direct bearing on how involved to make the choreography. If they can only take 4 one hour lessons then you need to do a fair amount of repetitive steps so the man can be confident he can remember the routine on the dance floor. Its fun for me when 6 to 8 lessons are taken as I can create a more intricate routine.

 

So now I have the various step patterns jotted down. It is time to start writing my routine. In the song introduction I would have the couple walk on the floor and perhaps do a twirl. I could have them standing in front of each other or side by side or even opposite sides. Then the lyrics begin. I like to start gently then build it up into turns, which is a beautiful way of showing off a flowing dress. When the song quietens down, bring them together to dance arm in arm. A pause in the music is a lovely spot to put in a dip or a romantic kiss. When the song builds up to a crescendo (climax), that is the point to put in your lift or some special focal point. If you are shortening the song, that is a good place to start winding down the routine I like to see my couple slow dance after a lift and then twirl the lady and take her into a slow romantic dip. 

It is a good idea, at the end, for the couple to acknowledge their guests for watching, before they walk off the floor.

It is important for a choreographer to know what the wedding dress looks like. 

If the dress has a train (the skirt sweeps along the floor, generally at the back of the dress) then you must keep the dress turning, away from the legs. No backwards steps are to be included for the lady in the routine. If the dress is a mermaid (tight fitting around the legs then flaring out), then no lifting of the leg can be done. This dress also often has a small train. If it is off the shoulder then the bride must test how far she can lift up her arms. This is quite restricting when doing turns. 

All my choreography is done before I take the couple for their first lesson. This ensures that the lesson time is spent wholly on learning the routine. 

I enjoy the challange of creating a wedding dance. Each person is unique, their choice of music is quite varied. I have choreographed from classic Waltz to Gothic to smouldering Tango. I am honoured to be part of their most special day.