A Must-Read for Dance Beginners! Essential Tips to Know Before Dancing at a Wedding*
2020.03.02 published
Want to Showcase a Dance at the Reception ♡
One of the classic surprises that newlyweds offer to their guests at weddings is dancing ♩
They can make their grand entrance by dancing together during the outfit change, or they can surprise everyone by joining in at the end of the guests' entertainment...
Guests will be surprised and delighted to see the couple suddenly break into dance, exclaiming, "How cute!" and "How cool!" ♡
Many brides want to try dancing at their wedding reception, but they haven't done dance in clubs or circles, nor have they ever attended dance classes.
But don't worry! There are actually many brides who danced for the first time in front of an audience at their wedding reception ♡
There are choreography videos uploaded by dancers on YouTube, and it seems that many people learn by watching those videos on their own.
Points to Note for Newlywed Dances at Weddings ② Small Movements
In daily life, we don’t usually spread our arms wide or take big steps.
However, in dance, it’s crucial that the choreography communicates to people far away.
A common mistake for beginners is making small movements by bending their elbows, knees, and wrists.
When practicing indoors, you tend to make smaller movements to avoid bumping into surroundings, but that habit can carry over to the performance.
With small gestures, guests may wonder, "...? What are they doing? It looks like they're just flailing around."
◆◆ Improvement Strategy ◆◆
During the performance, it’s perfectly okay to exaggerate your movements to the point of feeling awkward!
Many popular dance hand gestures or steps seen in drama theme songs or PVs are originally choreographed with big movements, so overdoing it is usually just right.
Once you memorize the choreography, record a video of yourself dancing with your phone and review it. This will allow you to see your movement size objectively.
The key is to practice with the mindset of being in the performance! (It’s impossible to suddenly move larger on the day if you haven’t practiced doing so!)
Points to Note for Newlywed Dances at Weddings ③ Maintain a Smile and Keep Eye Levels High
Equally as important as the choreography is the height of your facial expression and gaze while dancing.
Even if you perform the same steps, the mood can change entirely depending on your expression and gaze. In musicals and dance performances, dancers often wear heavy stage makeup to convey emotions to the audience.
The worst thing is to be so nervous that your expression becomes awkward (with a serious face from the groom) and your gaze lowers.
A couple dancing with half-hearted smiles and not making eye contact with the guests can make everyone feel uncomfortable…
◆◆ Improvement Strategy ◆◆
When dancing,
☑ Smile widely with your mouth open and lift the corners of your mouth!
☑ Keep your gaze at around head level of the guests.
Focusing on this will help you dance with a bigger smile, even if you can't do flashy stage makeup!
Aligning your gaze with the guests is ideal, but in reality, keeping your eyes up at the guests’ heads can be an effective strategy for good visibility.
This will naturally lift your face, enhancing your expression.
Points to Note for Newlywed Dances at Weddings ④ Wobbling... Lacking Structure…
The difference between dance beginners and experienced dancers is instantly apparent in their core engagement.
The core refers to the torso, specifically the chest, back, waist, abdominal muscles, and buttocks.
It may appear as if someone is wobbling due to large gestures when they are actually supposed to be dancing crisply; this happens when they are not engaging their core well.
Nowadays, many dances don’t require much core engagement (most popular dances on TikTok, for example, can be executed well by beginners), but caution is needed for those that do.
◆◆ Improvement Strategy ◆◆
If you want to challenge yourself with complex choreography or want to be told that you're not just cute but cool, how about starting with core training? ♡
Try searching "core training dance" on YouTube!
Additionally, training in isolation, which involves moving different parts of the body independently, is recommended for improving your dance skills!
Let’s Make Your Wedding Dance Performance a Success ♡
We introduced important points and improvement strategies for newlywed couples who are dance beginners.
To avoid a "black history" of a sudden dance performance, practice together while being mindful of the points mentioned.
Make sure to surprise your guests with your dance at the wedding, reception, or after-party ♡