How We Choreograph Your First Dance : Video
If you are taking dance lessons for your first dance, that doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be doing choreography, but if that’s something you’re interested in, you might be wondering how we approach the process. Watch our video to find out.
Our Favorite Places In Chicago
We at Ballroom Dance Chicago are dancers through-and-through, but we’re also people with varying interests and loves and we’d like to share some of those with you. While we usually choose dancing as our primary love, this great city of Chicago, IL, settled in the 1780s and burned down ninety years later only to be rebuild in greater glory, is a quick second. I mean, it’s a city named after a garlic plant (not an onion, like most people think). What’s not to love? Anyway, all jokes aside, Chicago is great for many reasons, but we’d like to share with you our favorite things (food, alcohol and dancing) and our favorite places to enjoy those things in Chicago. Think of this blog post as being a map of Ballroom Dance Chicago’s favorite places in the city.
The Drake Hotel - Chicago, IL - Our Favorite Music/Dance Venue
Ballroom Dance Chicago loves this Chicago landmark and the amazing variety of bands they host on Friday and Saturday nights. Find a table in the expansive Palm Court, grab a cocktail and enjoy the music. Or if you’re a dancer, grab your special someone and hit the dance floor (not too small, like many other venues in Chicago). This is our favorite place to dance in Chicago, mainly because of the old school charm and beauty of Palm Court.
A Great Chicago Music Venue - Old Town
Music is as important to us as movement, because without music we wouldn’t have a dance. Sure, you could wax all philosophical about the broad definitions of “dance,” but I’m talking about natural impulses that lead to moving with a partner. This is what we’re all about at Ballroom Dance Chicago, and we believe that the dance starts with music. You hear a song and it inspires you to “get up offa that thing and dance ‘til you feel better” (to paraphrase Mr. Brown).
How Many Lessons You Actually Need to Get Ready for Your First Dance
This is an abridged answer to the questions, “how many dance lessons do we need for our first dance?” If you want to read a more thorough answer, click here.
Every couple who comes to Ballroom Dance Chicago to prepare for their first dance wants to know how much time/energy they must dedicate to the learning process. As teachers, we find this to be one of the most difficult questions to answer.
The Green Mill: Jazz in Chicago
The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge is located on Broadway in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. This jazz venue hosts local, national and international bands and has a rich history with the poetry community and Al Capone’s Chicago outfit. Why is it one of Ballroom Dance Chicago's favorite live music venues?
So You Think You Want a Choreographed First Dance...or Do You?
Quite Possibly! But it’s not your only option. First off, we understand why a lot of people would want choreography for their first wedding dance. It would certainly be comforting to get up in front of all of your guests on your wedding day and know you can rely on a specific pattern of steps when you begin your first dance. If you carefully rehearse every detail of your first wedding dance, that could go a long way in helping you feel confident that you'll hit all the great moments you want to highlight in your wedding song.
The Perfect Time to Do Your First Dance During Your Wedding Reception
Honestly, you can plan your first dance at any point in the reception. Traditionally, you’d dance right after dinner to open up the dance floor for your dance party, but we all know that tradition isn’t always the way to go. There are definite pros and cons to all of your options, but it’s most important to consider how you want your first dance to affect the rest of the evening. Here are a few options to consider.
I Don't Have Any Rhythm... Should I even bother with Dance Lessons?
We’re glad you asked! First of all, everyone has rhythm. Your heart beats. Your breath can quicken or slow. There’s even a cadence in the way you walk and brush your teeth. You already have rhythm. You just have to learn to listen for it. Learning to listen for rhythm is really just learning to recognize the regular patterning of beats within music. All it takes is a little awareness, practice, and self confidence!
Read More for advice on learning Rhythm
Why Should Dance Lessons Be a Priority During Wedding Planning?
Of course at Ballroom Dance Chicago we believe that First Dance Lessons should be top priority in the months leading up to the wedding. But why, you ask? Click to find out.