Choreographing Your Wedding Dance To "Can't Help Falling In Love

Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley is a popular choice for wedding dance choreography. The song is considered one of the most romantic first dance songs, and its timelessness makes it a classic choice for couples. Many online tutorials offer step-by-step instructions for beginners, making it easy for couples to learn a choreographed routine for their special day. These tutorials promise to teach couples how to execute each move with grace and confidence, ensuring they look natural and comfortable on the dance floor. With options for different versions of the song, couples can access these tutorials from anywhere and learn at their own pace, creating an unforgettable first dance experience.

Step-by-step choreography tutorials

Step 1: Simple Introduction

A simple yet elegant wedding dance introduction will set the tone of your first dance. It will help you look poised and confident before you begin dancing. It is also a great way to "fill time" if you have a longer first dance song. Use the intro shown in the video below or use it as inspiration.

Step 2: Basic Step

This basic wedding dance step is perfect for beginners. It is easy to learn and perform, and it doesn't take up a lot of space. You can use it on any size dance floor.

Step 3: Simple Right Turn

Once you feel comfortable with the basic step, it's time to add some flair to your first dance! This simple right turn can be easily mastered. For the leaders, the key is to keep doing the basic step while signalling the turn at the correct time. For the followers, ensure you turn in a straight line and take small steps. Spotting your partner (looking at your partner while you turn) will also help you maintain good posture and balance.

Step 4: The Dip

One of the best ways to finish your first dance is with a dip. You've probably seen it on TV or at social events, and now it's your turn to try it! In this video, you will learn the correct posture and body positions required to execute the dip safely and gracefully.

Step 5: Practice and Customisation

The entire tutorial takes two to three hours to complete, including practice time between steps. If you have the time, focus on one step per practice session. It will take you a little less than a week to complete if you break it apart into one or two sections per day. If you are a marathon learner, you might set aside several hours to learn each step before putting it all together. You’ll still need to practice the dance leading up to your wedding to build muscle memory!

Step 6: Final Rehearsal

We strongly encourage you to conduct a final rehearsal at your wedding reception location. Doing so will make you less stressed and help you become familiar with the dance directions, available space, and the floor's slipperiness.

Viennese waltz dance style

The Viennese Waltz is a beautiful and historic dance, perfect for a wedding. It is a type of ballroom dance, and the original form of the waltz, with a rich history dating back to the second half of the 18th century. It is a romantic and classy choice for a wedding dance, with graceful and elegant movements.

The Viennese Waltz is a fast-paced dance, with music played at about 180 beats per minute, so it is important for the couple to move together as one unit with good posture. The dance consists of three steps: right turns, or natural turns; left turns, or reverse turns; and change steps, which switch the direction of rotation. The dancers are constantly turning either towards the leader's right (clockwise) or left (counter-clockwise). The dance is linear, with the couple making a full turn for every bar of music. The person moving backward takes small steps, while the person moving forward takes big steps.

The dance begins with the couple in a closed hold, also known as the "waltz" position, with the man's right arm around the woman's back and her arm on his shoulder. The couple's heads, shoulders, rib cage, and hips should be in an upright, lined-up position, with palms connected and a slight upward pressure in the palm. The dance involves lots of twirls and dips, with smooth and graceful gliding movements.

With its elegant and romantic style, the Viennese Waltz is an excellent choice for a wedding dance. It may take some practice to perfect the technique, but it will be a memorable and special performance for the couple's first dance.

Leading and following dance rules

"Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley is a popular choice for wedding dances. Choreographing a dance to this song is a great way to make your wedding memorable and special. To pull off a successful performance, it's important to understand the leading and following dance rules. These roles are crucial in ballroom dancing and will ensure that you and your partner move together gracefully. Here are some essential guidelines for leading and following during your wedding dance:

Leading:

• Communication through Movement: As the leader, you need to communicate the patterns and movements of the dance through decisive and clear actions. Avoid relying on verbal communication; instead, use your body to signal the next steps to your partner.
• Maintain Rhythm and Timing: The leader is responsible for keeping the rhythm and suggesting the dance figures to be executed. Ensure that you maintain a steady tempo that your partner can follow.
• Initiate Movements from the Torso: A common misconception is that leading is done with the hands and arms. However, true leading comes from the torso or core, with the arms acting as extensions to connect with your partner.
• Build a Strong Connection: Focus on maintaining a strong frame and a good connection with your partner. This will help them sense your movements more easily and quickly.
• Be Decisive: Your partner will respond to your signals, so be clear and decisive in your movements. Avoid hesitation, as this can cause confusion for your partner.

Following:

• Sensitivity to Signals: As the follower, you should be sensitive to the leader's signals and respond accordingly. Pay close attention to their body movements and be prepared to execute the suggested dance figures.
• Timing and Rhythm: It is crucial for followers to develop a strong understanding of the rhythm. Focus on the bass of the music and ensure that your timing matches that of the leader.
• Avoid Anticipating Moves: A good follower waits for signals from their partner before executing the next move. Avoid anticipating or predicting the next step; instead, stay receptive to the leader's cues.
• Maintain Good Posture: Posture is essential for both leaders and followers. Keep your shoulders relaxed, your spine upright, and stand with a committed tone to ensure you are in the best position to receive signals from your partner.
• Practice and Communication: Following is a skill that requires practice and communication. The more you practice, the better you will become at understanding your partner's signals and responding accordingly.

Remember, leading and following is a collaborative effort. Both roles are equally important, and effective communication between the two will ensure a graceful and memorable wedding dance performance.

Dance posture tips

Dancing to "Can't Help Falling in Love" at your wedding is a great choice, and you can make your dance even more special by focusing on your dance posture. Here are some tips to help you and your partner improve your posture and look more elegant on the dance floor:

Keep Your Head Up

Enter the dance floor with confidence and remember to keep your head up. Look at your partner and maintain eye contact as you dance. This will help you establish a strong connection and create a seamless and elegant look.

Back Straight and Shoulders Relaxed

Focus on keeping your back straight and your shoulders relaxed. This will improve your balance and make you look more graceful and elegant.

Avoid "Spaghetti Arms"

Keep your arms firm and maintain a proper distance from your partner. Avoid "spaghetti arms," as Patrick Swayze would say. This will help you maintain a strong and gentle frame, creating a polished and connected look.

Warm Up

Before you start dancing, do some simple stretches and warm up together. This will help loosen up your body and improve your overall posture.

Practice Regularly

Mastering good posture takes time and practice. Practice your posture outside of dance lessons, such as when you're sitting or walking. Developing good posture habits will make it easier to maintain proper posture while dancing.

Seek Professional Guidance

Consider enrolling in dance lessons or seeking guidance from a professional instructor. They can provide personalized feedback and help you refine your posture and technique.

By following these tips and practicing regularly, you and your partner will be able to improve your dance posture and gracefulness, creating a memorable and elegant performance on your wedding day.

Beginner-friendly dance moves

Dancing to 'Can't Help Falling in Love' at your wedding is a great choice, and there are plenty of beginner-friendly dance moves to try out. Here are some simple steps that will have you dancing with confidence:

Basic Movements with a Partner

If you're dancing with a partner, a simple position is to embrace each other. One person can have their hands around the other's neck, while the other has their hands around their partner's back. From this position, you can sway to the beat, moving your body slowly back and forth.

The Traditional Dancing Hold

For a bit of elegance, try the traditional dancing hold. If you're the leader, face your partner and place your right arm on their back, just behind their left shoulder. As the follower, place your left arm on the leader's right arm and grab their upper arm. Then, extend your other arms out to the side and clasp hands. From this position, you can guide your partner around the dance floor by applying light pressure with both hands.

Twirls and Turns

If you want to add a little flair, try a twirl! Step back slightly, lift your partner's arm above their head, and let them turn under it while still holding on. You can also try a simple right turn if you're the follower. This is an extension of the side basic step, where you signal your partner at the right time and lead with confidence.

The Box Step

The Waltz Box Step is a simple and versatile move that you may already know from school ballroom dance classes. It's one of the most commonly taught basic dance steps in partner dancing. This step can be danced slowly or sped up to match the tempo of the song.

The Underarm Turn

The Underarm Turn is an exciting extension of the Waltz Box. It's a graceful turn that will impress your partner and onlookers alike!

The Dip

No dance is complete without a fancy dip! This move can be done safely if you understand the correct posture and body positions. It's a great way to add a romantic and photo-worthy moment to your dance.

Step-Touch

The step-touch is a simple move that can be done with a partner or on your own. Step out with your right foot on the beat, then bring your left foot over and tap it next to your right foot on the upbeat. Repeat this movement, alternating between your right and left feet. This move can also be adapted to move around the dance floor or create different shapes, like a box.

Remember, even if you're a beginner, you can still look and feel confident on the dance floor. Choose moves that feel natural and comfortable, and don't be afraid to add your own flair!

Frequently asked questions