Whether your style is to party like a rock star or rumba á la Dancing with the Stars, WHIRL has sought out expert advice from the area’s best bands and DJs to keep your dance floor full.
Smooth Moves
Take the guesswork out of your first dance as husband and wife by having it choreographed.
“If a couple has their first dance choreographed by a dance teacher, they can have confidence in the steps,” says Kent Berkey, certified ballroom dance instructor. “If they choose to freestyle and too much is left to chance, it is possible that they could become very nervous. Having the steps memorized will give the couple confidence and take away any potential anxiety.”
When it comes to timing of the process, the earlier the better. He advises couples to start the process about six months prior to the wedding date by picking the song and meeting with the instructor. “The key is starting early,” he says.
And, novice dancers need not worry — no background is necessary. While a trained ballerina might pick up moves more quickly than the average person, Berkey says that ballroom dancing requires different skills than ballet or club dancing.
“It’s very common that if a couple goes through the process of bridal dance lessons, they’ll remember and cherish the beautiful experience of learning to dance together when they’re 80,” Berkey says. — J.C.
Dance, dance, dance … all night long with advice from the pros.
It starts with the performer. “The DJ or bandleader interacting with the guests and making the guests feel comfortable is essential,” says Bonnie Tambellini, owner of Entertainment Unlimited. “Song selection is a key element in getting different age groups out on the dance floor. But, it’s really up to the expertise of the performer, whether it’s a DJ or bandleader, to get both young and older people on the dance floor. Their sense of choosing the right material is what makes people get up and have a good time.”
Rotation, Rotation, Rotation. “Getting people to dance depends on the vibe of the group,” says DJ Kelli Burns. “I program the music for different age groups. I rotate different genres of music to keep as many different people on the dance floor as possible.”
Timing is everything. “I recommend doing the bridal party dance right after the couple’s first dance, and then opening up the dance floor. Not everyone does their first dance after dinner,” says Big Day Entertainment’s DJ Jason Hitt. He says that when the dance floor is full of people in the bridal party, guests are more likely to join in. “Sometimes, provided the bride and groom haven’t outlawed it, to get people out on the dance floor, I play cheesy stuff such as the ‘Electric Slide.’ There’s a reason they’re always played at weddings — because they get most people out on the dance floor,” he says.
Choose upbeat songs. “I Got a Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas, “Single Ladies” by Beyoncé, and “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey will get people dancing, says Party Time Productions’ Steve Lebo. He also cites “Shout” by Otis Day and “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC as great songs to get everyone on the dance floor. “It’s important to use a wide variety of music. The golden rule is to keep your guests in mind when picking songs,” Lebo says.
Variety is the spice of the reception. “We really get to know our clients and give them an engaging performance,” says Kim Racan, owner of studio e entertainment. “We run a great schedule that rocks from beginning to end. Energy creates energy! I tell our clients: ‘Our band is like the bar at your party — you serve a variety of drinks for all different tastes, you don’t just serve drinks that you like. It’s just like your music should be.’ Our bands are like a human jukebox.”
Remember: This is a wedding reception, not a night out at a club. “Playing only Top 40 songs won’t get the response that a mix of classics and newer songs will receive,” says John Parker, owner of John Parker Bands. “Experienced entertainers are more intuitive and have a sort of sixth sense when it comes to interpreting a crowd. It’s walking a tightrope — you want to choose songs that please the most people and offend the least.” He points out that while you can get a lot of people on the floor with “Low” by Flo Rida, certain older guests might not know or appreciate that song. Parker suggests incorporating “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, which has a universal popularity, as do songs by artists such as Michael Jackson.
Gary Racan and the studio-e band perform at a wedding in Washington, D.C.
