A "Help Me!" thread

[TheEarl]

Does anyone here know anything about ballroom dancing?

I'm currently trying to organise the first dance for my wedding and have settled on "Perhaps Love" as the song (for sentimental reasons). We were just planning on doing a gentle rocking dance around the floor, as neither of us are particularly capable and my unrestrained dancing style could result in spectactors losing eyes.

However, we were watching the film Enchanted and I suddenly remembered that I know how to waltz. Granted, I don't waltz very well, but it's a simple dance in the basics and with a little practise, we could probably put something together that would look rather more impressive than the traditional 'slow-dance-of-people-who-don't-know-how-to-dance.'

The problem is that I'm fair certain that a waltz is a three beat dance, while I think Perhaps Love is a four beat song. Can anyone confirm/refute that? If Perhaps Love is a four beat song, is there a four beat dance that we could learn? Is there any hope?

The Earl

 

[fieryjen]

Does anyone here know anything about ballroom dancing?

I'm currently trying to organise the first dance for my wedding and have settled on "Perhaps Love" as the song (for sentimental reasons). We were just planning on doing a gentle rocking dance around the floor, as neither of us are particularly capable and my unrestrained dancing style could result in spectactors losing eyes.

However, we were watching the film Enchanted and I suddenly remembered that I know how to waltz. Granted, I don't waltz very well, but it's a simple dance in the basics and with a little practise, we could probably put something together that would look rather more impressive than the traditional 'slow-dance-of-people-who-don't-know-how-to-dance.'

The problem is that I'm fair certain that a waltz is a three beat dance, while I think Perhaps Love is a four beat song. Can anyone confirm/refute that? If Perhaps Love is a four beat song, is there a four beat dance that we could learn? Is there any hope?

The Earl

I'm an uncertified hobby ballroom instructor, but I don't know the song you're talking about. Let me see if I can find it on youtube or something.

A four beat dance you might want to try is Rumba... not much like Waltz, though.

 

[fieryjen]

Ok, yes, it's definitely a four-beat song, and on top of that it's too slow for a decent Rumba.

You might consider just cheating. Dance a waltz, and just start the next series of three steps on beat 4. You'll end up being off 2 out of every 3 steps, but the song isn't really too heavy on the beat, so you might be able to get away with it.

You should try doing that and see whether or not you can live with it.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I don't know "Perhaps Love" at all. The classic four-beat medium-tempo dance is the fox trot. Slower than that you just kind of lean and sway.

 

[TheEarl]

You might consider just cheating. Dance a waltz, and just start the next series of three steps on beat 4. You'll end up being off 2 out of every 3 steps, but the song isn't really too heavy on the beat, so you might be able to get away with it.

Cheating was something that I had considered. I know that the waltz is fairly malleable and can be crowbarred into lots of things that it's not meant to.

Do you think it'd work?

The Earl

 

[TheEarl]

For those not familiar with it, this is the song in question. I'm hoping to get a friend of ours to record a version, so it won't be exactly the same, but this is the gist of it.

The Earl

 

[oggbashan]

...

Do you think it'd work?

The Earl

Probably. No one really notices anything except how beautiful the bride is.

And if there has been enough alcohol?

Anything goes.

Og

 

[fieryjen]

Cheating was something that I had considered. I know that the waltz is fairly malleable and can be crowbarred into lots of things that it's not meant to.

Do you think it'd work?

The Earl

I just danced around the room for a minute here, and I found that it fit very well, actually. The song isn't as heavy on the first beat than most, which is why it's not as noticeable that your steps keep switching on it. I could easily dance to it and it felt right - and I'm usually a fingernails-on-the-chalkboard- type person if dancing and beat don't match.

So I'd say go for it.

 

[fieryjen]

For those not familiar with it, this is the song in question. I'm hoping to get a friend of ours to record a version, so it won't be exactly the same, but this is the gist of it.

The Earl

If you do record a new version, be sure that your friend stays easy on the first beat, and test the speed by dancing to it - you'll want to be completely comfortable with the speed. Because it's not heavy on the beat, depending on how good your feeling for rhythm is, you might end up going too fast. If that's the case, your friend might fix that by making the song just a tiny bit faster.

 

[Ǽltya]

Does anyone here know anything about ballroom dancing?

Just Dancing with the Stars. This is one of my favorite John Denver songs. Never heard it as a duet with Pacido Domingo, though. Great choice and congratulations.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

In Classic Ballroom Dance Compation, there are several different dances that have to be done: Waltz, Rhumba, Mambo, etc.

But the general usage of Ballroom Dancing is the typical 4/4 time dance.

************
Off topic - This thread is like a cheap hotel. No Ball Room

 

[fieryjen]

In Classic Ballroom Dance Compation, there are several different dances that have to be done: Waltz, Rhumba, Mambo, etc.

But the general usage of Ballroom Dancing is the typical 4/4 time dance.

************
Off topic - This thread is like a cheap hotel. No Ball Room

Depends on whether you're doing standard or latin, really.

I don't think he was planning on hosting a competition at the wedding though. Then again, that might be fun.

 

[TheEarl]

I don't think he was planning on hosting a competition at the wedding though. Then again, that might be fun.

Oh good god. That's a chilling thought.

Found a worse one in a wedding magazine today though; apparently quite a lot of people are now having 'marryoke' instead of a DJ. Now, I love singing as much as the next guy, but doesn't that strike anyone else as being a teensy bit tacky for a wedding?

The Earl

 

[cloudy]

You could always dance like this couple.

 

[jomar]

Darn. I had a great answer for the wrong question.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

What they said about Ginger Rogers: She could do everything Fred Astaire could do, except backwards, and in heels.

 

[fieryjen]

That reminds me... whatever you do, HOLD HER CLOSE while you waltz. I don't know how well you can dance, so I figured I'd mention it (sorry if you're already much too good a dancer for this).

 

[tickledkitty]

Earl, just practice it several times before the wedding. That's what my husband and I did, and people were charmed. It started with a big "Awwwww" when the music started, and they laughed and cheered when we did our own little goofball improvisational stuff during the middle drum solo part (or whatever it was ). People asked us if we'd taken lessons afterward. We hadn't and really didn't know what we were doing, but it worked. It'll be fun. Don't worry.

 

[SensualCealy]

You could always dance like this couple.

OMG too funny!
My son suggested:

Youtube- OK Go wedding dance or just wedding dance.
Says its funny as hell!

(he was peaking out the window praying for a snow day when he saw me watching the video)

C

 

[SensualCealy]

Suggestion, if in your area they have dances put on by different social groups where they would actually play a waltz, go, spend the few bucks and have fun.

Its not like your friends will be there to make fun of you and the older dancers will be impressed that you are trying your best. Heck they may even give you pointers.

My daughter use to go with her grandparents to the Country Jamboree, she loves dancing with Grandpa, Grandma has Alzheimers so she watches and then takes turns with Grandpa. My daughter has decided that when she turns 16 she is taking ballroom dancing night classes that are offered by the local community college. (they have to be 16 to take them)

Good luck, and most of all HAVE FUN!
C
btw congratulations- didnt know you were getting married- or didnt remember!