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A Dancer’s Guide to Knowing What Dance to Do
What Dance Do I Do to This Song?
Dancers, have you ever found yourself standing on the sidelines for the first half of each song trying to figure out what dance is supposed to be done to the music? Like my students you might be wondering: How do I know what dance to do to a song?
Many events help you out by announcing each song’s dance or posting a set list for your reference. Even then, some songs work equally well for more than one dance, so being able to match dances to songs is a skill to develop. And of course, you’ll need that skill at weddings and private parties that don’t have these dance aids.
Until there’s an app for it, I want to help you develop your dance music know-how. Of course, there are lots of variables in dancing and music, exceptions to the rules, etc. But I’m going to keep this simple, so consider this a rough guide to figuring out what to dance to a song.
No Hard and Fast Rules
First of all, unless you’re at a dance competition, know that there are no hard and fast rules for which dance must be performed to a particular song. You get to choose the dance you want to do. That said, when you fit a dance well to a song, it’s easier to keep rhythm, to express the character of the dance, and overall, it tends to just feel better.
And some dances’ music is unique enough that it will hit you clearly. For example, Tangos have a distinctive staccato rhythm and dramatic. Once you’ve heard a few Tangos, without needing to think, you’ll just know it’s a Tango.
For the rest, it’s really just a process of elimination. As you become more experienced, hearing the dance in most songs will become more automatic.
5 Easy Steps to Determine What Dance to Do
1. Get a Feel for the Song’s Speed
Start by determining the song’s tempo (i.e., it’s speed.) This simply means getting a feel for whether the song is slow or fast or somewhere in between.
Sometimes the instrumentation or vocals in a song can fake you out. For example, a song may sound very upbeat but actually have a rather slow beat. Until you get good at gauging a song’s tempo, just tap your toes or fingers to the beat of the song, becoming a human metronome for its true speed.
Once you know if the song is slow or fast (or somewhere in between), you can then rule out some dances. For example, if the song is fast, then all the slower dances are out, such as Rumba, Nightclub Two Step and Slow Waltz. Or if the song is really slow, you can cross off Cha Cha, Salsa, East Coast Swing and Viennese Waltz.
Note: As a beginner, you’ll likely only be comfortable dancing in a narrow tempo range for each dance. So if you identify a song as Cha Cha but find yourself unable to keep up with the music, it doesn’t necessarily mean you made a mistake identify it as a Cha Cha—you just may not be experienced enough to dance to the full tempo range for Cha Cha.
If you’re curious, check out this list of tempo ranges for each dance (this is one person’s idea of good tempos, not an official list). In case you’re interested, here are the official tempos used at ballroom dance competitions.
2. Rule Out If It’s a Waltz
As you’re tapping out the speed of a song, count the beats. If it’s easy to count 1-2-3-4 it’s not a Waltz. However, if counting in four’s feels off, try counting in three’s: 1-2-3, 1-2-3.
Most songs are in 4/4-time, meaning there are four beats in each measure. However, Waltzes are in 3/4-time, with only three beats in each measure. (There are other time signatures, but 4/4 and 3/4 are main ones you’ll encounter.)
If 1-2-3 matches the music, you’ll know it’s a Waltz. And having already gauged the song’s speed, you can immediately determine whether it’s a Slow Waltz (slower) or Viennese Waltz (about twice as fast as Slow Waltz).
3. Listen to Its Rhythm/Feel
If the song isn’t a Waltz, your next step is to pay attention to the song’s rhythm or feel. Is it happy, romantic, dramatic, bluesy, melancholic, or funky? Does it have a Latin/Afro-Cuban beat? Does it make you want to bounce, glide, twirl or march? Listening to the songs’ rhythm and character will help you sort it into one of a few broad categories: Ballroom, Latin, Swing, or other (Hustle, Country Western, Nightclub Two Step, etc.).
For example, say the song has a Latin rhythm. The most common Latin dances in ballroom/social dancing are Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba and Salsa. Rumba is the only one of these with a slower, romantic feel. So if the song is like that, you’re ready to Rumba!
And if the song’s rhythm is upbeat, you can eliminate Rumba and then parse out which of the remaining three dances it might be. Samba has a very distinctive “boom-a-boom” percussive beat (think Brazilian Carnaval music). If you’re hearing that, it’s probably a Samba. If you’re not, congratulations, you’ve narrowed it down to a Cha Cha or Salsa.
4. When in Doubt, Step It Out
Continuing with the same example, say you’ve figured out the song is either a Cha Cha or a Salsa. Cha Chas usually have a “cha-cha-cha” in their beat, although you may not be able to hear this until you have more experience.
At this point, it’s time to experiment with the basic steps in each dance. Do this on your own in place, so small and casual people might not even notice. Try a few Cha Cha basics and see how well your feet match the music. Then try the Salsa basic. Usually one will feel like the right fit and voila, you’ve successfully determined what dance to do to this song!
5. Or “Cheat” and Steal a Peek
If you’re still stumped after you’ve “stepped it out,” have a look and see what others are dancing. As a beginner, it’s often best to look at intermediate-level dancers. Fellow novices are likely as lost as you are, and advanced dancers may be dancing fancy figures with so much styling and technique you won’t even recognize what they’re dancing as the same dance you know! Intermediate dancers, however, will know which dance to do to a song yet will still be dancing figures you can recognize.
Have Fun: Make into a Game!
I encourage you to make a game out of matching dances to songs when you’re not out dancing. Play the “What Could I Dance to This Song” game when you’re listening to music at home, in the car or when you hear a tune playing at a store or on the street.
Of course, all music isn’t made for partner dancing (e.g., classical, electronica, hip hop and even many pop tunes). So to make it easier on yourself you may want to listen to songs pre-selected for a dancing, such as those off a ballroom dance practice playlist on Spotify (or other music services) or from a recommended playlist like this.
Remember, ultimately which dance to do is your choice, so have fun and feel free to be creative. That said, be respectful of other dancers on the floor. For example, make sure you use proper floor etiquette, especially if you decide to do a dance that’s different from what the majority on the floor is doing. If doing a traveling dance, stay on the outside track, moving in the line of dance; if doing a spot (non-traveling) dance, dance in the center of the floor.
Over time the process of matching songs to dances will become faster and simpler. You may even find yourself mentoring new dancers on the subject!
what dance would you dance to Andre Boccelli’s Fall on me song. Thinking of this for my wedding song could use the help. Hoping for something other than closed position slow dancing.
For Fall on Me, I’d suggest dancing a modified version of Waltz. The song is written in 6/8 time, which gives it a Waltz-like feel. However, the tempo would be too fast to dance a regular 1-2-3 Waltz timing. Instead, you could either take one step on each heavy beat (in Waltz this is called hesitation timing) or using the rhythm Slow-Quick-Quick where the Slow is one step in one heavy beat and the Quick-Quick is two steps in one heavy beat.
If Waltz feels too formal, you could draw from Blues dancing to create a slow dance that is more interesting than just swaying in closed position.
I hope this info helps. If you live in the SF Bay Area, I’d be delighted to help you prepare for your first dance!
I think that about covers it. I would do a slowish kind of lazy waltz. You can move a lot, but keep it more shifting weight on the one and three. Trying to hit all beats would be too fast and not fit the song. Country western dancers and Mexican dancers do this well. Just think waltz, but feel the music, with a little bit of viennese posture, but not the triple tempo. hard to put into words, but feel the music on this and it will come easy and should be quite romantic and beautiful for a wedding.
Does anyone have any suggestion for The Parts by Manchester Orchestra? This is also our wedding song but I’m not comfortable taking classes with and instructor because of covid!
Hi:
The Parts by Manchester Orchestra is a fast Waltz. Instead of trying to keep up with the tempo and stepping on every beat as one generally does with Waltz, I recommend using a “hesitation” or “single” rhythm where you just step on every count 1. It will match the music without you working up a sweat!
FYI, if you’re interested, I am teaching online dance lessons via Zoom, FaceTime or Skype.
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
What dance would we use to dance to “It had to be You” by Harry Connick Jr.?
Hi Alicia:
“It Had to Be You” by Harry Connick Jr. is a classic Foxtrot. If you’re wanting your first dance to have a more casual feel, you could do East Coast Swing instead.
Have fun,
Brandee
Hello very helpful blog. We are planning are first dance on Dance with me by MAndi Mapes. Can one do a version of Latin dance on it?
Thank you!
Hi: What a great song! It’s actually a Waltz, so dancing Waltz would be the best fit. Alas, the song doesn’t lend itself to any Latin dances. If Waltz feels too formal, you could try doing a blues-y slow dance to it. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Hi, what dance would you dance to Your Man by Josh Turner. Is rumba ok?
Hi Shalini:
Yes, Rumba would be a great dance style for this song! Have fun!
–Brandee
Thanks for this – it’s very helpful. Our first dance will be “I’ll lever find another you by The Seekers”….The music sounds rather fast, the singing a little less so…. What would you recommend as a dance?
Thank you! x
Hi Isabelle: There are a few different things you could do with the song “I’ll Never Find Another You” by the Seekers, including Rumba and Foxtrot. What you do depends on a variety of factors including how big your dance floor is, how you’d like your dance to be (casual vs formal, fun/funky vs elegant, simple vs fancy, etc), as well as how many dance lessons you have time to take.
With wedding dances, I often don’t teach an official ballroom dance such as Rumba or Foxtrot, but rather make up a custom dance that fits you as a couple and works well with the song.
The good news is that your song is very dance-able and will be a good one for your wedding!
Good call. One of my favorite songs. My first thought was, as much as I have listened to this song, never thought about dancing, and my god, it is a cha cha cha. But doesn’t really have the feel for it, and doesn’t work at all dancing wise, so, go to Rhumbaish, which I think would give it just the right playful romantic vibe to match the song.
My husband and I are renewing our vows this year on our 25 th anniversary. What dance fits
Everything I do I do it for you by Brian Adams
Thank you
Congrats on your 25th anniversary!
Hm, you could do a few different dances to this song:
1) Side-Tap Basic, building turns and moves off of it (this isn’t an official dance style but works well to songs this tempo)
2) Nightclub Two Step (Perfect for this song but can be a challenging dance to do smoothly. If dance doesn’t come easily to one or both of you, I wouldn’t bother learning Nightclub Two Step unless you plan to take lessons with a professional dance instructor)
3) Rumba/Foxtrot: Both of these dances use a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm and share a few figures in common, such as a Box, Box with Underarm Turn, etc. This would be a little more formal and traditional than the other two. You’ll have lots of official figures to draw from.
Have a wonderful dance and celebration!
Best,
Brandee
Our first song is “You make it easy” by Jason Aldean and I can’t figure out what dance to do. I thought of the horshoe but the tempo doesn’t match. I think it’s the waltz but I wanted your opinion
Hi Steve:
Thanks for your question. There’s good reason you’re confused about Jason Aldean’s “You Make It Easy”—it’s written in 6/8 time (instead of the usual 4/4 time…or in the 3/4 time of Waltz). The 6/8 time has a lilting feeling very much like Waltz. So I’d recommend what you were thinking: dancing a Waltz where you’ll step on every beat (1-2-3, 4-5-6).
Hope that helps. Here’s wishing you a wonderful first dance!
Hey Steve. Very beautiful song. The 6/8 time signature and tempo of this song lends itself more to a specific type of waltz called Viennese Waltz which is much faster than just standard Waltz. Viennese Waltz can be a bit more difficult to learn but there are certain figures such as the balance step or balance and box step in Viennese Waltz which a beginner could learn quickly. You may check with your teacher.
I would love to jump in here and just tell people many songs are just NOT DANCABLE! As a dj for 20+ years, ive seen it all, people can look really bad out there. So pick a nice slow song if you are not into ballroom dancing, and go with that. Unless you KNOW some ballroom dancing, then let it go :). But in picking your song, you may want to first find out if you can really dance well to it at all. Ir pick 2 or 3, and check with an expert like here, and see which one would be the easiest.
Have fun,
Chris O’Brien
Thanks Chris for jumping in and giving us your profession DJ perspective. You’re right that some songs are not very danceable–either the beats are hard to hear, the tempo is super slow (or really fast), it’s written in an odd time signature, etc. Unless you’re an experienced musician and absolutely love the song, best to pick a song that is more danceable. Often it’s hard for people to know, so like you said, it’s a good idea to pick 2-3 songs and then ask a dance instructor (or potentially a DJ) for their opinion.
The only thing I might disagree with is the advice to pick a slow song. I’m not sure how slow you’re talking about (since “slow” is subjective). I find that songs slower than ~75-80 beats per minute are too slow for beginners, as it’s challenging to move/balance that slowly. I’ve found ~90-115 beats per minute to be the sweet spot–a pretty natural speed to move one’s body, and thus not get ahead of the beat.
Thanks again for taking the time to leave a comment!
Hello, this isn’t exactly a question about a certain dance but I wonder if you can tell me if you can learn muscle memory by using different songs to the same dance? I just started teaching country line dance at a 55+ community and didn’t want to teach incorrectly. Thank you! Janine
Hi Janine and thanks for writing!
I think you’re asking if playing different songs for the same line dance will help vs hinder your students’ learning and muscle memory. If yes, I’d say playing the same song for a line dance allows optimal learning in the beginning as the music helps cue memory of the choreography (this is especially true if the line dance matches the phrasing of the original song, although not all line dances do this).
However, once your students know the line dance pretty well, playing other songs provides a bit of a challenge—-that is, can they remember the choreography when they don’t have the original song’s cues to support their recall? Plus it can be fun to have some variety in the music!
Hope that helps. Happy line dancing to you and your students!
My son & I have a special song, “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart planned for his Groom and Mom dance at his wedding. Any suggestions on something cool? Appreciate the advice. Thanks!
Hi Andrea:
Sorry for my slow response—-I’ve been away on vacation.
This is a popular mother-son song. What to dance depends on whether you & your son plan to take a few dance lessons (or already know some ballroom dancing).
If so, I’d recommend borrowing from Rumba (use the moves but not the Latin styling). For something more dynamic and cool (yet a bit more challenging), you could do a 4-count Hustle.
However, if you don’t plan to take lessons, I’d recommend keeping it simple and not doing an “official dance”. Instead, just do a step-tap basic and then add in a few spins.
I hope you and your son have a wonderful time dancing at his wedding.
Cheers,
Brandee
Is there an app that shows the musical count as the song plays?
When my dance teacher says “5,6,7,8” I wonder how one would figure that out . Are there any self learning tools online? Thanks
Hi Dil:
Good question! I actually don’t know, but I encourage you to do some Googling because there very well might be.
I can tell you that your teacher is listening for count 1 in each measure of music. There are 4 beats in each measure of most music (with Waltz there are only 3 beats). Musicians count them simply 1, 2, 3, 4, repeat. However, dancers like to put 2 measures together, so then you get 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. When your teacher counts “5, 6, 7, 8”, they are counting the last 4 beats in a 2-measure phrase.
If you happen to live in the SF Bay Area, I’m teaching a class this month called Rhythm & Footwork where I’m teaching exactly what you want to learn: how to hear the beat, how to find count 1 in the music, etc. See the Group Class page on this website for more details.
Finally, depending on what dance you’re learning, you might be able to find practice music that has a voice-over with the count or has various tracks isolating instruments so that you can learn what to listen for. For instance, “Salsa Practice Music – Beginner” by Peter Rolls.
Good luck!
Brandee
I’ve tried hard and a slow foxtrot seems right for “I’ll Be There” by Josh Turner. Been told by one dance instructor it’s a two-step, but the time is 7/4, if I count it right.
What do you think and what would you try? Will be dancing with my youngest daughter to it, in Dec 2020 at her wedding reception…
Hi Jeff:
Thanks for your question. The song is indeed a Two Step but you could dance Foxtrot instead. Both dances share the same basic rhythm: Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick (SSQQ). Each Slow is 2 beats of music, and each Quick is 1 beat. When you add them up, it’s 6 beats of music total. Maybe this—-the music is written in 4’s but the dance figures being 6 beats–is what’s throwing you. You won’t always be starting a figure on count 1 of the music.
That said, Foxtrot is usually danced slightly slower music than this song’s temp. If you’re used to dancing to traditional Foxtrot songs, you’ll just need to dance a little faster than you are accustomed to dancing to a traditional Foxtrot song. Just take smaller steps and you should be fine. 🙂
Foxtrot also has a second rhythm: Slow-Quick-Quick (SQQ) as in a Box Step (1 Slow + 2 Quicks takes only 4 beats in the music as opposed to 6 beats). If you do a mix of rhythms, I’d recommend doing more SSQQ patterns (when the music is fast, the more “Slow” steps you have, the easier it is to keep up with the music).
Hope that helps. Have a wonderful time preparing for dancing at your daughter’s wedding!
Hi Brandee! My fiance and I will be dancing to Sea of Love by Phil Phillips – it’s a 4/4 but a doo-wop beat, making it hard for me to figure out the best dance. Probably not a waltz? It sounds like 1, 2, 3, 4-and-ah
Link to the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T8PHEAHOBs
Thanks for your help!
Hi Kelsey:
What a sweet song! I’d actually suggest doing a basic side-to-side where you just step-tap (counts 1, tap2, 3, tap4). This isn’t an “official” ballroom dance but it works great for this style and tempo. From there you can do turns and other moves—-stepping every beat tends to work best, although with some moves you might be able to continue the step-tap rhythm from your basic.
If that’s not to your liking, you could use a Box Step as your basic (as is used in Foxtrot and Waltz). In this case, you’d use the rhythm Slow-Quick-Quick, Slow-Quick-Quick.
Wishing you all the best!
Do you have a suggestion for Fade Into You by Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen? I’m a novice dancer trying to figure this out – i was thinking a waltz?!? THANKS!
Hi Jessica:
You’re right, this is indeed a Waltz. The tempo is faster than ballroom “Slow” Waltz (but slower than Viennese Waltz). So you’ll just want to take smaller steps to keep up with the faster beat.
Have fun!
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
As beginners we’ve been taking lessons for “Push Pull” & have learned 5 or 6 figures we’d like to start practicing/using in social dance settings. But we don’t find much reference to this style online, or in blogs like this one. Is it basically the same as either ECS, Hustle, or Cha-cha perhaps? We hope to be able to ID songs to dance to with Push Pull as well as venues that might play that type of music. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Hi Dac:
Sorry, I’m not familiar with “Push Pull” so can’t be of help. Hopefully you can ask the teacher who taught your lessons for recommendations on venues where you can dance it.
Best,
Brandee
Perhaps, you could describe what some of the moves are like in terms of shape and basic rhythm (slows and quicks or which counts you step on). It may be that the dance isn’t a structured dance with those kinds of rules and is simply purely lead/follow, or it may be an alternative name for hustle, west coast swing, country swing or a regional style of swing. I am fascinated to know what it is! Happy dancing!
Hi Stephanie:
I’m not sure what you’re referring to when you say “perhaps you could describe some of the moves”? Are you commenting on something I said somewhere in this blog post? Or maybe you’re referring to one of the comments? Is there a song you’re thinking about?
If you explain more about what it is you want to know, then maybe I can answer.
Best,
Brandee
Brandee,
I am trying to find a style of dance for ‘never stop’ by safetysuit – the wedding version. I saw on YouTube where people were doing a country western dance style and we like the idea of the country waltz but i’m Not totally sure it fits but we don’t want to do the formal Waltz or the “box step” I cannot seem to find what the BPM is for the song – everything is different answers. Please help.
_Michelle
Hi Michelle:
This is a beautiful song, tho’ is a little challenging due to its slow speed (~68 bpm). I agree that a Box step would be a good fit, using a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm (SQQ) as the song is in 4/4 time, *not* 3/4 Waltz time. You can borrow dance steps from Waltz (dancing them as SQQ instead of 1-2-3) or use SQQ steps from Foxtrot.
If you prefer a Country Western style dance, I’d suggest adapting Country Swing which uses a Quick-Quick-Slow rhythm. Of course, since this song is so slow, Country Swing moves will have an elegant, smooth, flowy feel rather than the usual fast-paced flurry of spins!
Hope that helps!
–Brandee
What would you suggest for Rod Stewart’s forever young?
Woods. Saw you already answered this!
Great—-glad you found my previous answer. 🙂
Hi Brandee,
Do you have a suggestion on what type of dance works with Le Festin from Ratatouille?
Many thanks!
Frances
Hi Frances:
Le Festin is a fast Waltz. The tempo is slower than standard Viennese Waltz, which will hopefully make it easier to dance to!
Have fun,
Brandee
Hi, Jessica.
What would work best for a Mother-Son dance to “Forever Young”? Thank you so much!
Hi Monica: I’m assuming you’re talking about Rod Stewart’s version of Forever Young, yes? What to dance depends on whether the Mom & Son plan to take a few dance lessons (or already know some ballroom dancing). If so, I’d recommend borrowing from Rumba (i.e. use the moves but not the Latin styling). Alternatively, they could do a 4-count Hustle.
However, if the Mom & Son don’t have dance experience and don’t plan to take lessons, I’d recommend keeping it simple and not do an “official dance”—instead, just do a step-tap basic and then add a spin or two.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi BrandeeS,
Thanks so much for this blog, it’s quite helpful. I am hoping to do our first wedding dance to “hearts don’t break around here” but Ed Sheeran. I believe it is a 6/8 tempo which, I suppose would make Waltz the most appropriate (based on your previous comments). Perhaps you could add some insight for me? Thanks so much!
Hi Tanya: You’re right that this song has a 6/8 time signature. Since the song’s rhythm is so challenging, I’d recommend keeping things simple by just stepping on each of the heavy beats. You could use a side-to-side basic and then build from there.
If you wanted to get more ambitious and do Waltz, you’d use a syncopated Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm in which you’d take 3 steps over 2 heavy beats. This will be fairly fast, so ultimately might not be what you want to do—-at least not for the whole dance. Hope that helps!
Hello! I am a begginer and i will have my wedding next year and we want to dance on Soldier by gavin degraw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfHUBcevBn0) and at first i really thought its a waltz but then someone has told me its blues. can you explain me which one is correct and why? for me it seems at counting as a waltz and im quite confused. Thank you in advance!
Hi Diana:
Thanks for your question. This is a slow pop song written in 4/4 time, not a Waltz. It has a syncopated beat which is probably what’s throwing you off. It will be a great song to dance to at your wedding. While it’s not a Blues song, you could do Blues Dancing to it if you wanted to. However, I wouldn’t limit yourself to that dance style—-your dance teacher will help you come up with a dance that fits you and the song!
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi Brandee, I have the reverse question. I am doing a cha cha with my instructor in the upcoming showcase. He keeps asking what song. I am only focusing on the dance. Any suggestion would be helpful. I have been dancing for 2 and a half years. This will be the fourth showcase. First time for cha. I want the tempo to be challenging and able to execute the steps correctly.
Love your blog! At our recent wedding, we choose “I Believe in You and Me”, originally done by the Four Tops, and later by Whitney Houston. We had a friend do a mix so it sounded like a duet, one verse by the Tops, next by Whitney, etc., combining both for the verse. Our dance instructor choreographed a very slow and sensual rumba. Turned out amazing!
Hi Kandance: Thanks so much for sharing! How cool that you did a duet-style remix of the 2 versions of the song and choreographed a great Rumba to it. Congrats on getting married *and* rocking your first dance!
Very informative blog. I was wondering what kind of dance to do to Beautiful Crazy by Luke Combs.
Hi Tara: This song is written in 6/8 time which makes it feel Waltz-like. I’d suggest doing a Waltz using Slow-Quick-Quick timing (you’ll do one Slow-Quick-Quick over 6 beats of music). Happy dancing!
We are using Trisha yearwood’s new song “For the last time” for our first dance and I am having trouble figuring out an appropriate dance style for it, do you have any suggestions?
Hi Shasta: Lovely song. The only official dance style for a song this slow would be Nightclub Two Step. I wouldn’t necessarily suggest doing Nightclub Two Step unless you particularly like that dance. Instead I’d suggest doing an “unofficial” slow dance using a side-tap basic and building turns off of that.
Alternatively, if you’d like a more formal, elegant look, you could dance Foxtrot at double it’s normal speed (your song is ~69 beats per minute; Foxtrot is normally danced to songs around 124 bpm).
Hope that helps!
Hi there. Getting married next year and neither of us can dance LOL. We want our first dance to be to “Forever Begins Tonight” by The McClymonts. I *think* its 6 beats? Dont know much about music either. What sort of dance should we do? We, *I*, really want it to be special and out of left field because everyone knows we cant dance hehehe.
Hi Carol: This is a Waltz! So you’re right that the music is going 1-2-3, 4-5-6. It’s fast, so you might want to mostly do moves where you only step on counts 1 and 4 or do a modified Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm over 6 beats (instead of stepping on every beat). Your local dance teacher can help you with this! Hope you have a great time putting together your special dance!
Hello. I’m having trouble figuring out which dance to do to “When Joanna Loved Me” by Tony Bennett and “These Arms of Mine” by Otis Redding.
Hi Tom:
It’s understandable that you’re having trouble with the Tony Bennett song—-it’s very slow (at least the version I know) and barely has a beat until almost 1 min into the song! The tempo is too slow for any “official” ballroom dance. However, you could do a lovely slow dance that uses/adapts moves from Foxtrot/Waltz, Nightclub Two Step and/or Blues dancing.
The Otis Redding song is, technically, a fast (Viennese) Waltz [1-2-3, 4-5-6]. However, you could slow it down by doing moves where you only step on counts 1 and 4 (instead of every beat) or doing a modified Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm over 6 beats. I’ve helped many students create great dances to Otis Redding’s “That’s How Strong My Love Is” — also a Waltz, just a little slower than “These Arms of Mine.”
Wishing you all the best in your wedding dance!
Hi what dance would you suggest for the Rod Stewart version of Forever Young. That’s the song we chose for the mother / son dance at my son’s wedding. Thank you!
Hi Nancy: Hm, this depends on whether you plan to take a few dance lessons (or already know some ballroom dancing). If so, I’d recommend using moves from Rumba (minus the Latin styling). Alternatively, you could do a 4-count Hustle.
However, if you don’t have dance experience and don’t plan to take lessons, I’d recommend keeping it simple and not do an “official dance”. Instead, just do a step-tap side basic and then add a spin or two.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
What dance to use for you make me so very happy I was thinking waltz and part swing back to waltz any suggestions?
Hi: So sorry for the delay in responding.
Which version of the song are you thinking: Blood, Sweat and Tears, Anton Ellis, or another?
Since the song isn’t a waltz, you couldn’t waltz to it. However, I like your idea of switching dance styles between the verses and the choruses. Assuming you plan to dance to the Blood, Sweat and Tears version, East Coast Swing would work great during the choruses. As for the verses, I would just do “unofficial” slow dance. You could also do Foxtrot which would have a similar look to Waltz if that’s what you like. The tempo isn’t ideal for Foxtrot, so you’d have to try and see if it felt comfortable for you to do.
Wishing you all the best! Let me know if you need any more help.
What’s a good dance for Danny’s Song for a first dance at a wedding. Listed 141bpm but don’t we just cut that in half for a slow dance??
Hi Ryan:
This is a great song and is quite versatile. You could do a relaxed single-step East Coast Swing at regular tempo.
But if you want a more traditional/slow first dance, Foxtrot (Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick figures) would be one option. Although the song is on the fast side for Foxtrot, so it might not feel relaxed enough for what you want.
Otherwise I’d recommend a Blues dance/slow dance using a side-tap basic. And just like you said, you’d dance it half time (taking 8 counts for one side basic). Have fun!
Good afternoon. I respect your patience in answering the same question 100x with unique responses. So number 101, I’m getting married Saturday. Two months into our relationship, I showed me cards too early and said our first dance would be “Best of Me” by Anthony Hamilton. 3 years later and here we are. Of course we are using the song, for nothing else, sentimental reasons. Although a beautiful track, at 96 BPM, the tempo seems a little quicker than traditional first dance songs. Any advice?
Hi Chris:
This song is perfect for a first dance—-it’s romantic, got a good groove and is slow when it comes to songs in general. I actually have a wedding couple right now who are dancing to it! They like Latin dances so we’re dancing Bachata (a Latin-Caribbean dance) to it.
But for you, and given that you have less than 2 days, I’d recommend a simple side basic (step-tap, step-tap). Then throw in a couple spins and you’ll be great. You got this!
Warmly,
Brandee
I have got a contemporary dance which needs a song. Do you have any suggestions because I am in panic mode thinking of one. There’s just two many.
Hi Gabriella: Yes, there are soooo many songs. Alas, without knowing a lot more about you & your fiance, what kinds of music styles you like, what your contemporary dance is, etc., it’s impossible for me to make a suggestion.
I encourage you to go with a song you both like with a tempo that feels easy with your contemporary dance. Fortunately, there are lots of recommended first dance song lists on the Internet to turn to if needed. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Best,
Brandee
What dance do you recommend for ‘I’ll Be Your Man’ by Zac Brown? My brother asked me to teach him a dance for the first dance of his daughter’s wedding. Help!
Thanks for writing! Yes, you could dance Rumba to this song-—also Swing, Foxtrot or even Country Two Step.
But I’ll let you in on a little secret: you don’t have to do an “official” ballroom dance for wedding dances. Often using a simple basic (step-step or step-tap) and adding some turns from there is not only easier but also more forgiving, and therefore can sometimes be more fun than trying to learn an specific ballroom dance style.
The other big factors to consider when choosing which dance to do depends on the experience level of the dancers and how much time they have/want to put into practicing the dance. 🙂
Best of luck to you in helping your brother get ready for his father-daughter dance!
Hi! I’m a total novice at dancing but looking to practice something to for a father daughter dance with my dad. I was thinking Petite Marie by Francis Cabrel but I’m not sure which dance styles and steps I should look to for inspiration. We’ll definitely be keeping things simple, but any suggestions would be so helpful!
Hi Mary:
Thanks for your question! I’d suggest Rumba–-steps like the Box, Box with Underarm Turn, etc. Another possibility is Nightclub Two Step, but most people find this dance too challenging for a simple father-daughter dance.
I hope you have a wonderful father-daughter dance at your wedding.
Best,
Brandee
My fiance are thinking about doing a choreographed dance to thia aong at our wedding. What style of dancing would you recomend for this? Thank you so mixh in advance. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=czkHmjrFCnM
Hi Torry:
Fun song choice! While your song is not a swing song, it has a syncopated beat that would be a good match with the “triple step” from East Coast Swing. So you’d dance the East Coast Swing “Basic Step” without the rock step, the timing being 1&2, 3&4.
Bachata (a popular dance from the Dominican Republic) would be another dance to look to for inspiration, as it’s “Side Basic” is basically a triple step with the addition of a tap step step at the end of each triple. In Bachata, the timing is 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8 (taps on 4 & 8) but for your song, I’d dance it like a Swing triple step: 1-&-2-&, 3-&-4-& (taps on the & counts after 2 & 4).
I’d love to hear what you end up doing. Please come back and let us know!
Best,
Brandee
What an awesome post! I’m more into contemporary dancing, but I’m trying to figure out some dances for my wedding at the end of August. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I’m dancing to “Postcards from Italy” by Beirut for my first dance. This is 4-4 but is bouncy and has a clear 1-2,1-2 feel to it. The other song is a cover of “your gonna make me lonesome when you go” by bob Dylan. Please let me know what you think!
Hi Chelsey:
Glad you like this post! Here’s my suggestions for your 2 song options:
Postcards from Italy by Beirut: You could go in several different directions with this song, depending on the look & feel you like best, and whether you want to keep it super simple or put a little more practice in. On the easier side, you could dance Rumba (e.g. Rumba Box step using a slow-quick-quick rhythm). If you want to do something a little more challenging and a bit showier, you could do a Cha Cha. If your dance floor is ~18ft x 18ft (or larger) and you want something more dramatic, an alternative would be Tango (ballroom style, not Argentine Tango). That said, this song is a little slow for Tango, so you’d need to take your time and not rush it.
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go, Bob Dylan cover: Darn, I wish you’d told me which cover version you’re thinking about. Covers can vary a lot in tempo and feel. For instance, the original by Bob Dylan is 110 beats per minute, yet the cover by Madeleine Peyroux is only 75 beats per minute (although it’s peppy instrumentation makes it feel double time: 150bpm).
So to make a recommendation, I’d need to hear the actual cover. But if you were dancing to Madeleine Peyroux’s version, I’d say Foxtrot or East Coast Swing would be the best match. 🙂
Hope that helps!
Best,
Brandee
Hello Brandee, my daughter and I are doing a Father-Daughter Wedding dance and we love Charlie Chaplin’s Limelight (I used to whistle it when she was a kid!) We want to do a waltz to it (’cause it’s about the only dance I can manage) but it’s the wrong tempo. Is there any suggestion you can make about how to handle this music in a dance and in a relatively simple way? Many thanks!
Hi Tony:
Ah, so sweet to have a real connection to a song for your Father-Daughter dance (rather than picking something off from a list of common songs).
This is a beautiful song, although the beat is very hard to hear and follow! If you hear music well, you could dance figures from Foxtrot that have a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm. This means you are stepping 3 times, which is the same as Waltz, so you can use pretty much any Waltz figure you know (Box step, Box with Underarm Turn, Progressive/Traveling, Whisks/5th Position Breaks, Twinkles, etc).
If you and your daughter are challenged by the song’s beat, you could keep it simple with a side-tap, side-tap, dancing it with some sway to match the music. You could then travel around the floor using that same “step-tap” rhythm, as well as adding some spins.
Hope that makes sense and gives you a good start.
Cheers,
Brandee
Fire and flood Vance joy?
Thinking Rumba, but tempo changes.
Thank you 🙂
Hi Kylie:
What a great song. The instrumentation changes but the song’s tempo actually stays at ~116 beats per minute all the way through. So while it may *sound* faster, the underlying beat remains the same, even during the upbeat-sounding choruses. You’d definitely want to do your big, fun moves during the choruses and save the quieter, simpler moves for the verses (i.e. the more mellow-sounding parts of the song).
As for the dance style that best matches Fire and the Flood, you could use Rumba moves but dance them with a more casual, pop-song groove (instead of a traditional slow, sensuous Latin styling).
However, I’d lean more toward Cha Cha, Swing or a 4-count Hustle, since the song is so peppy and dynamic. If you don’t want to learn 2 dance styles, you could use the dances I suggested through the whole song, dancing mellow vs. dynamic moves appropriate to the part of the song. Alternatively, you could start by dancing a side-tap basic and a simple spin during the very beginning of song (so some of your dance has real a romantic, intimate feel) then transition to Cha Cha, Swing or Hustle at the first chorus, using that for the remainder of the song.
I’d love to hear what you decide to do and how it goes. Please do come back and let me know!
Best,
Brandee
Hey Brandee!
Love your really thoughtful answers – thank you so much!
I absolutely love the song Northern Wind by City and Colour and want to choreograph a dance to it, but not sure what to go for. Which style of dance would you suggest?
Thanks,
Emma
Hi Emma:
Thanks for your kind words.
What a wonderful song. It’s 3/4 or 6/8 time—-meaning its beats are in sets of 3, like Waltz. It’s too fast to dance on every beat…unless you already are an experienced Viennese Waltz dancer, 😉
Instead I’d suggest dancing a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm. You’d step on count 1 (hold on counts 2, 3), then step Quick-Quick on 4, 5 and hold count 6. Then you can use any Waltz step, as well as any of Foxtrot’s Slow-Quick-Quick figures.
I think you’ll be able to choreograph a lovely, romantic first dance using this minor modification to match the song!
Best,
Brandee
Our first song is “From the Ground Up” by Dan + Shay I think the tempo is a 4/4, and I am not sure how to dance to the song properly. What are you thoughts?
Hi Patricia:
Just like Emma (the previous person who asked a question), your song is written in 6/8 time. This means it feels like a Waltz. It’s very fast to dance on every beat so I’d suggest using a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm. In this case, you’d step on count 1 (hold on counts 2, 3), then step Quick-Quick on 4, 5 and hold count 6. Then you can use any Waltz step, as well as any of Foxtrot’s Slow-Quick-Quick figures.
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi Brandee!
My fiancé and I are getting married next summer. Our song choice is outside the common and more popular songs and we plan to coordinate a dance (neither of us are much of a dancer) and would greatly appreciate your input on the song and what style of dance is most appropriate….so we can incorporate it into our dance. Our song is “Never be ready” by Mat Kearney. I don’t know where to begin!
Thanks so much!
Hi Jaime:
The song you’ve chosen is pretty versatile. While it’s not made for a particular style of dance, it’s tempo makes it easy to dance to.
You could do a “Blues dance” basic (i.e. side step, tap, side step, tap; the count being 1-2-3-4) or a triple step basic (like the triples in East Coast Swing but without the rock step, the count is 1&2, 3&4). You could build spins and fancier moves off either.
Alternatively, you could use a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm. In this case, I’d draw moves from Rumba and/or Foxtrot—-both dances that use this count and have moves that could be a good match for your song.
Hope that helps!
–Brandee
Hi Brandee
My daughter is getting married at the end of August and wants JASON BLAINE – DANCE WITH MY DAUGHTER for the Father/Daughter dance. What style of dancing would you recommend for this song?
I am a novice as far as ballroom goes but need to do it for her big day.
Great post and helpful answers to other people queries
Regards Trevor
Hi Trevor:
This song is a fast Waltz (aka Viennese Waltz). It’s too fast to comfortably dance on every beat.
Instead, I’d recommend keeping it easy by just stepping on each of the heavy beats (count 1’s in the music). This is called a Viennese Waltz Hesitation (aka a Balance Step). It can done side to side or forward & back. And if the dance floor is big enough—-and your daughter’s dress and shoes allow for it—-you could also travel using the same idea of stepping on every heavy beat (left, right, left, right) You can then add some spins.
There are other things you can do but they’re more challenging and won’t give you much more bang for your buck. 😉
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
I am getting married in 2020 and my fiancé and I are planning on having our first dance to “God Gave Me You” by Blake Shelton. Do you have any suggestions for the type of dance that would work best with that song? Thank you! -Kari
Hi Kari:
For Blake Shelton’s song “God Gave Me You”, you actually have quite a few options!
If you want a more romantic feel, you could do Nightclub Two Step. And while it’s too fast to do Rumba or Foxtrot, you could use those dances for inspiration as well. Alternatively, you could do a simple side basic–not an official dance style–(side-tap, side-tap, taking a full 8 counts) and build spins and other moves off of it.
If you’re okay with a more upbeat style, I’d recommend East Coast Swing (step, step, rock step) or Country Two Step. The latter requires a bit of space, so I’d only suggest doing Country Two Step if your dance floor is about 18 x 18 feet or larger.
Hope that helps!
Hi!
I’ve been looking everywhere – what style of dance would you choose for The Greatest Showman’s “From Now On”? It has an accelerating beat, but I can’t figure it out. You actually answered one of my other favorites above : )
Hi Michelle:
Wow, this song does present a bit of a challenge. Surprisingly, the tempo is about the same all the way through, there is just less instrumentation and his vocals hang on the beat in the beginning, making it sound slower (the “slow” part of the song may be ~5 beats per minute slower…very negligible).
Anyhoo, the feeling of the song definitely changes! To match that, I’d suggest starting with one dance style that’s slow and romantic and then busting out into a more lively, upbeat style. For the first 2 min, you might try Rumba or Foxtrot (e.g. using a Box Step as your “basic”; rhythm is Slow-Quick-Quick). That said, this song is slower than Rumba or Foxtrot are usually danced. So you may want too keep it simple and just use a side-tap, side-tap as your basic.
For the upbeat part of the song, it has such a marching beat, I’d actually recommend stepping on every beat (technically the dances that do this are Merengue and 4-count Hustle). While you can draw inspiration from Merengue and 4-count Hustle dance moves, you don’t have to limit yourself to these dances. Stepping on every beat will give you freedom to do lots of fun moves. A second choice option would be East Coast Swing (triple step, triple step, rock step).
Hope that gives you some good ideas!! Let me know what you decide to do. 🙂
The father/daughter dance at our daughter’s wedding is “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw and we can’t figure out which dance works best with it. Help!
Leslie Grafstrom
Hi Leslie:
Yes, this song is a little tricky. It sounds slow but actually is pretty up tempo.
Nightclub Two Step would be perfect, or a leisurely Country Two Step (CTS). However, these aren’t the easiest dances, so I’d only recommend ‘m if you already have some solid dance experience.
Otherwise I’d just go with a simple side-tap basic.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi, could you swing dance to the song Love you so Bad by Ezra Furman?
Totally! This would be a fun song to East Coast Swing (or Lindy Hop) to. If you want to be more relaxed, I’d use a “single” rhythm: step, step, rock step. If you want to be more lively and are up for the challenge, you could dance it with a “triple rhythm”: triple step, triple step, rock step.
Have fun!
My daughter is getting married in Oct. She and my husband will be dancing to Unforgettable, the version with Natalie Cole and her father Nat King Cole. What dance for very novice dancer (actually he doesn’t dance) would you recommend? I was looking on YouTube to help with waltz but not sure if it works with this song. Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks
Bonnie
Hi Bonnie:
This is a great song. Since it’s not a Waltz, the better way to go is with a simple 4-count side basic: step side (1), tap (2), step to the other side (3), tap (4).
From this base, he can throw in a twirl or two for your daughter. Also, as long as her dress allows it, he could also travel this step a little around the dance floor by stepping diagonally forward (instead of straight to the side)
Note: This song is slow, so the tendency will be to go faster than the music. So remind your husband to breathe and keep things slow and mellow. Pro tip: Be lazy with the taps. Keep the foot on the floor longer than you think before picking it up to tap.
Thanks
Just stumbled across this post, loving the great advice! My fiancé and I were thinking of either ‘Can’t help falling in love’ (the Elvis version) or Taylor Swift’s song ‘Lover’ which are 6/8 and 12/8 respectively. We’re totally stumped on what dance to do – we don’t mind a closed position type of dance because we both think those styles of music match the kind of romantic feel we’re going for. We just don’t want the dance to be so slow it’s boring or so quick it’s difficult since I’m in a long dress!
Hi Margaret:
Can’t Help Falling in Love is very slow but it doesn’t have to be boring. 🙂 You have a few options for a “basic” step from which you can add spins and such. The first would be just shifting weight side to side, stepping on each beat—-not super exciting but it will feel natural.
The next would be a side-tap basic–-you just have to go really slowly to match the music which may be hard to do.
The third option would be using a Box step (from Foxtrot) with the rhythm Slow-Quick-Quick, or with numbers: 1-and-2. Since you’ll be taking 3 steps in only 2 beats of music, it may feel fast—-the key is to keep your steps SMALL.
I’d pretty much recommend the same 3 options for the Taylor Swift song as it has a very similar beat.
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
Hey Brandee,
my fiancé and I are getting married on October 19th. We would like the whole party to be a very light-hearted affair and we´d love it, if people wanted to join us right after the opening dance. That´s why we chose “Come And Get Your Love” by Redbone. Sadly, we don´t really know what dance would be the right one? Would love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks & much appreciation from Germany
Annika & Mathias
Hi Annika:
What a fun song!! You have a few options for a basic step. I’d recommend one of these 3:
1. A simple side-tap (not an “official” partner dance style but it fits the song well and gives you flexibility to add various types of spins)
2. East Coast Swing (triple step, triple step, rock step)—-search YouTube for videos of how to do this dance
3. 4-count Hustle (similar to Swing but fewer steps so a bit simpler to do)—-search YouTube
Have fun!
Best,
Brandee
Hello Brandee! What dance(s) would go with the song “Calico Skies” by Paul McCartney? Thank you!
Hi Shannon:
For Paul McCartney’s song “Calico Skies”, I’d suggest one of 3 options:
1. Side-Tap Basic (plus spins and moves from it): This is an easy step and will feel relaxed with the beat of the song (you’re only taking 2 steps for every 4 beats of music)
2. Slow-Quick-Quick steps from Foxtrot (such as the Box step): you’ll be dancing double time, taking 3 steps for every 2 beats of music, so it may feel too fast
3. Triple Steps from Swing dancing: Just dance triple step, triple step without any rock steps. This is similar to option #2 in that you are taking 3 steps every 2 beats of music, the rhythm being Quick-Quick-Slow
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi
I was wondering if “the one” by kodaline would be a rumba? If not any ideas on what it would be?
Thanks
You could dance Rumba to this song, although it’s a good deal slower than a standard Rumba.
Nightclub Two Step (or a Blues/Fusion) would be the more common choice for a song of this tempo.
Hello,
We are planning on using the song: “The wonder of you” by Villagers (its a cover of Elvis’s song). But I cannot figure out what type of dance this would be. Could you point me in the right direction?
Fun song! The song is too slow to use a standard ballroom dance. However, there are several ways you could dance to this, pulling from and modifying from different dances. I’d recommend taking lessons with a professional dance teacher who could help you out.
If you’re not able to take lessons, I suggest using a simple side-tap basic. From there you can do spins and other moves.
Hope that helps!
For the Mother son dance , happening in 3 weeks, we picked “Blue Skies” by Willy Nelson. I had lessons for my daughter’s wedding 3 years ago. But haven’t danced a step since then. Can you suggest which dance style I should brush up on ( with the help of you tube videos ) for this song? My son and I are 3000 miles apart he is west coast , I am east coast. So we will have little time to practice together . He is a good dancer… it’s me I am worried about
Hi Catherine:
Since your son will be leading, I recommend asking him what he plans to dance because who knows what he’ll do!!!
However, if you want a suggestion for what dance for both of you to learn to go with this song, East Coast Swing (step-step-rock step) is a good choice as it’s a jazz/swing song. Alternatively, if you want the dance to have a mellow feel rather than an upbeat one, a side step-tap basic (slow dance style) would also work.
Wishing you all the best!
Hi there!
Wondering what dance my partner and I could do to Panic! At the Disco’s “Death of a Bachelor” it feels very waltz like.
Hi:
Hm, this song isn’t a perfect fit for any dance, mostly due to its tempo. That said, I’d recommend looking to Rumba, Foxtrot or Nightclub Two Step.
Best,
Brandee
Hi!
What is the best dance to do to the song “Favourite Ex” by Maisie Peters? The song is so beautiful that I want do dance to it, but am not quite sure what fits.
Thanks!
Tate
Hi Tate:
This song is a fast Waltz. The official ballroom dance that would be danced to it is Viennese Waltz—-it’s a challenging but beautiful dance.
All the best,
Brandee
What about “Two step around the Christmas tree”. Is it a two step. Fast fast slow slow?
Yes indeed, this is a Country Two Step with the rhythm fast, fast, slow, slow. Merry two-stepping to you!
Hi Brandee
Been reading the posts and getting some good ideas. Father daughter dance coming up and we have chosen Nat King Coles “Let there be love” it’s not too long at just over 2 minutes and a clear heat but be grateful for any suggestions on an appropriate dance style for this?
Hi Calvin:
This song is perfect for Foxtrot!
Best,
Brandee
thanks for the information
Hi I am getting ready for my wedding. The only dance we both know is the rumba which is perfect. However, we only know older songs and wondering if you know 5 current song that is a rumba. I have trouble finding songs and identifying the beat. Could you help me?
Hi Meloney:
Thanks for writing! There are several modern songs (i.e. in the last 5+ years) that work for a Rumba first dance. Here are a few songs off the top of my head below to help you get started:
All of Me by John Legend (this one might feel a bit too fast)
I Found You by Alabama Shakes
Lovesong by Adele
The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson
Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Ray
Everything by Michael Buble
Look for a song that’s approx 105-125 beats per minute—-and of course, has a beat that feels right when you dance your Rumba steps.
Let me know what song you find!
Best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee – we are looking at dancing to Simple by Florida Georgia line for our wedding… I’m thinking a Foxtrot would suit the timing but wondering what other options we could use?
Hey Gillian:
Thanks for visiting. What a fun song!
Hm, Foxtrot might be tricky. Foxtrot is usually danced to music ~125 beats per minute (bpm). This song is 200 bpm! You could dance it half time, but I think you’d find it felt too slow for the music.
Here are my suggestion for other dance options:
If you’re beginner dancers and/or want to keep it simple, I’d suggest East Coast Swing using the step-step-rock-step rhythm (not triple steps). It will fit the song and be relatively easy to keep up with its fast pace. A second option, not quite as fitting but would still work, is Cha Cha.
If you’re more experience dancers and/or are up for a challenge, I’d suggest Country Two Step. It’s not the easiest dance, especially at this tempo, but it would be fun and match the music well!
Good luck! Hope your dance goes great!
Hi Brandee –
Thanks so much for this helpful information. My fiancée and I love the song Touching Heaven by Johnnyswim. It’s quite slow but we’re having a good time swaying to it! Any suggestions for particular styles I should be looking to for inspiration? Or steps to liven it up?
Thank you so much!
Hi Molly:
If you were coming to me for dance lessons, I’d customize moves that draw from a wide range of dances but are modified to work for this song.
But since I can only give you brief advice via text, I’d say you could look at Rumba and Nightclub Two Step. Both use a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm which would work with your song. You could also look at Foxtrot steps that use Slow-Quick-Quick (such as a Box step, Twinkles, etc). 🙂
Hope that helps,
Brandee
What type of dance would you recommend for “Death of a Bachelor” by Brandon Urie ?
Hi Hannah:
This is a fun song you could do a lot with, however it’s not a perfect fit for any official dance. You could start with a simple step-tap side to side as your basic and build from there. Dance moves with a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm would work well. Dances which use that rhythm include Rumba, Salsa, Bachata, Nightclub Two Step and some Foxtrot steps. Use those as inspiration for some moves!
Best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
What are the best dances for “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne and “Beautiful Day” by Marie and the redCat”? Thanks so much!
Hi Emilie:
For “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne, I’d just use a simple side-tap basic (b/c it’s too fast for Nightclub Two Step and too slow for many other dances). An alternative that likely will feel too fast is using Slow-Quick-Quick figures from Rumba or Foxtrot (such as a Box Step). You’d dance them double time (a Slow-Quick-Quick in 2 beats instead of the usual 4 beats).
For “Beautiful Day” by Marie and the redCat, I’d recommend East Coast Swing (with a single step, not a triple step)! It would match the swing style of this song (plus there’s not many dances you can do to a song this fast). 🙂
Hope that helps!
Hi! We are planning a Valentine’s Family Dance to try to teach the kids some basic steps. What style of dance would you recommend for “Catch a Falling Star” by Perry Como, “Alright, Okay, You Win” by Peggy Lee, “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” by Ella Fitzgerald and “Danke Schon” by Wayne Newton? Thank you!
Hi:
Sounds like a fun party. Here are my recommendations:
Catch a Falling Star: Foxtrot, East Coast Swing or potentially Cha Cha
All the Others: East Coast Swing (single step)
What type of dance would one do to Cherish by Madonna. I know it’s a shuffle, but what I’m seeing as far as shuffle dances seem to fast or not quite right for this song. Thanks for your help!
Hi Kathy:
You could do a lot to this song! My first choice would be East Coast Swing—-it matches the fun, upbeat nature of this song and gives you a lot of freedom. If you want a more formal look, Foxtrot or Rumba would also work well.
While not as good a fit, if you have a particular affinity for Disco, you could do a 4-count Hustle; or for Country dancing, you could do Country Two Step.
Hope that helps!
Hi, I’m looking to do a father daughter dance to I’ll be there for you by jess glynne. We want to get some dance lessons but arnt sure what genre or type we should be looking for what type of dance would best suit this song please? Thanks for you help
Hi Josie:
This song’s tempo makes it a bit too fast for one dance, yet too slow for others. My advice is to throw out the idea of a ballroom/official dance and instead use step-tap side basic (4 beats)—from that you can do some spins and other moves. Even easier, you could just step on every beat (as is done in Merengue)—the upside is you’ll have a lot of freedom to do whatever you want; the possible downside is that it’s very casual (if you’re wanting a father-daughter dance with more gravitas).
The other option is to use a Box Step (Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm—taking 4 beats of music) as your basic, then add other moves from Foxtrot &/or Rumba (which use a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm). The song is slower than either of these are danced to, but if you and your dad can hear music and have some natural groove, you could make it work! 🙂
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee
I want our first dance to be Lover, the version by Tailor Swift and Shawn Mendez, or She, by Jen Foster. What dance style would fit best? Thanks.
Hi Karin:
For Lover by Taylor Swift, I’d recommend Waltz. The song is written in 6/8 time, which means it sounds Waltz-y even though it’s not a Waltz. You’d dance Waltz steps using a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm instead of 1-2-3 rhythm.
For She by Jen Foster, I’d recommend just doing a “made up” dance using a side-tap basic, building moves and turns off that. If you want to stick to an “official” dance style, East Coast Swing would be a good fit (if you’re okay with a more upbeat, bouncy-looking dance rather than one that looks more romantic/slow dancey). Rumba is another possibility, however the song is very slow for Rumba so might be hard to pull off.
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
Hi My name is brandon and i am currently a ballroom dancer in high school. I am fairly new but i am in charge of choreographing a dance. I chose Come and Get Your Love by redbone. I was thinking rumba but couldnt tell. The bpm is 105. What do you think?
Hi Brandon:
Congrats on learning ballroom dancing and taking on the challenge of choreographing a dance!
Yes, I think Rumba would be a good choice. However, the song is a quite slow, so the dancers will need to be mindful of not speeding up. Keeping their knees & ankles soft, remembering to breathe and really getting into the *groove* of the song should help. 🙂 You could also speed the song up by 5-10% using a free app (like AnyTune) that won’t change the sound of the singer’s voice.
Actually, a better choice might be Cha Cha! This dance matches the song well and the extra steps will fill up the time.
Hope you have a lot of fun whatever you decide!
Hi,
We are a couple of biginners and we love very much the song “a thousand years” by Christine Perri. We would love to dance this song as our wedding song…. Basically, we have started dance lessons (Waltz) lately and we are wondering if this song can be danced as a Waltz!
Hello:
Yes indeed. “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri is a fast Waltz (closer to the speed of Viennese rather than Slow Waltz). Since this faster pace can be rather challenging, I’d recommend dancing a modified Waltz. Use a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm. Instead of stepping 6 times in 6 beats, you’d step just 3 times: 1 (hold 2) &3, 4 (hold 5) &6.
Have a great time!
Best,
Brandee
What is the easiest way to show someone how to follow the beat of the music they are dancing to? When my wife and I are dancing in the “have fun with it” style… I’m not even sure if we’re dancing to the same music. I’m actually rather impressed that she can dance so totally off-beat… I can’t do it, not sure if you have ever tried to… I can last a few seconds before dropping back in sync. Do you think that structured dance lessons would help her get in sync with the music? I would really just be happy to see her actually follow the beat of what are listening to. Thanks in advance!
Hi Joseph:
You’re not alone in having a partner who cannot follow the beat. And yes, for partner’s that can hear the music, it’s incredibly hard to dance off beat. This leads to the dilemma you’re having of disjointed dancing.
Unfortunately, there’s no quick, easy way to teach being on beat. Yes, there may be a few individuals that can catch on pretty fast, but usually it’s a slow process that requires the person to practice both alone and with someone who can help them know when they’re on and off beat. Since it takes some time and effort, it’s best if the person *wants* to learn to hear and move to music.
Yes, I’d recommend doing some lessons with a qualified dance teacher. Teachers have listening practices, rhythm games and simple movement exercises and know how to pace and modify the level of challenge to make it fun, build confidence and success. Maybe even more important: a teacher is a neutral party (i.e., not a significant other with a vested interest their partner “getting” it).
I’ll just share a quick success story about a married couple I worked with recently. The wife was a natural dancer, able to move on beat with any song. The husband had no idea what a beat was, let alone where it was. Even without music, he wasn’t able to march in a continuous rhythm to my count. But by the end of our third lesson (with at-home practice in between lessons), he could find the beat of a song 95% of the time and stay dancing on that beat about 70% of the time. And he actually began to know/feel when he was off the music!
Wishing you and your wife all the best in your rhythm and dance adventures!
Hi Brandee,
My fiancé and I want to dance to Wonderful Tonight for our first dance at our wedding. What type of dance would you recommend for that?
Thanks!
Breana
Hi Breana:
I recently worked with a wedding couple dancing to your song, Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight.” The tempo of this song isn’t a perfect fit for any official dance style. That said, Rumba is one dance that could work–you will just be dancing slower than usual.
Another option would be to use “triple steps” (as done in say, East Coast Swing) using the rhythm Quick-Quick-Slow (stepping 1-2-3 and holding on count 4). Done with soft knees and ankles at this slow speed, you can make your triple steps soft and flowy to match the mood of the music. Then build turns and moves off of this basic.
Another alternative is a simple slow dance, shifting weight side to side slowly (step on beat 1, hold beat 2; shift to the other foot on beat 3, hold beat 4; repeat). Since you’re just stepping every other beat, you’ll have a lot of flexibility to do turns and other moves just maintaining this rhythm.
I recommend finding a local dance teacher to help you out. Or, given the current coronavirus shelter-in-place and social distancing, let me know if you’d like to do an online private lesson with me. I’ve been doing these with several couples the last few weeks. While it’s not as good as being in person, it works surprisingly well!
Hello,
My fiance and I want to dance to How Sweet is it (to be Loved By You) By James Taylor for our first dance. What type of dance would you recommend?
Thank you! This blog was very helpful!
Hi Emily:
So happy my blog was helpful to you!
How Sweet It Is by James Taylor lends itself to a few different dances. If you want to do an “official style”, Rumba works well (with a fun, relaxed feel rather than Latin styling!). East Coast Swing is great too. If you already know Swing, you could use a triple step. If not, I recommend keeping it easy using a single step (note: the song is fairly slow for single steps, so you need to groove it and keep your feet from speeding up).
And if you don’t care about official styles, I’d recommend a side-tap basic and building turns and moves off of that. This feels really natural for the tempo of this song and will give you a lot of freedom.
Have fun!
Hello,
My son and I have chosen Dolly Parton’s From Here to the Moon for the Mother-Son dance. What is the best dance for this song?
Thank you,
Nancy
Hi Nancy:
Thanks for writing. This song is not an easy one to dance to! Firstly, it’s unusual in that it’s written in 6/8 timing. This means it sounds Waltz-y even though it isn’t a Waltz.
If you both were experienced dancers, I’d recommend dancing Waltz to it. However, it’s faster-than-Waltz tempo makes that rather challenging for a beginner, and even intermediate dancers. Yet, it’s not so fast for you to be able to modify it into a single step (hesitation) rhythm, nor a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm.
Honestly, I’m a bit stumped on what to recommend that will actually look and feel comfortable. If you have good balance and control, as well as the ability to hear the beat well in this song, I’d suggest a simple side-tap basic (it’ll be very slow). If you are in shape, pretty coordinated and okay with the look of a faster moving dance (where you aren’t talking with your son), I’d say try doing a Country Waltz (not Ballroom Waltz)——that is, you shuffle your feet in a step-together-together pattern to the 1-2-3 rhythm.
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee!
I am not in your area of the country to take lessons directly, however, trying my best to work with the basics I know, at this time of quarantine, and put them to some different musical stylings. I would appreciate if you would be willing to offer guidance, please and thank you.
What type of dance would go to this song?
https://youtu.be/yr_OsRLDj1E
Night club 2 Step? Bachata?
Hi Leslie:
What a great song! The dance that’s perfect for it is actually West Coast Swing.
The next two dances that would work well are Blues dancing or Hustle (aka disco).
It’s too fast to work well for Nightclub Two Step and too slow for Bachata—-although you could dance Bachata at a slow pace. Likewise, you could dance a slow Cha Cha or even Rumba to it.
Hope that helps!
Hi! My mom and I love to dance in the kitchen, so We’re enjoying your site and this article, in particular, is very helpful! Thank you! But I can’t figure out two songs “Forever and ever, amen” and “Deeper than the holler” both by Randy Travis.
Can you help us with those? Thank you!
Hi Klancy:
How great that you two dance in the kitchen!
“Forever and Ever, Amen” is a classic Country Two Step. Alas, that dance travels around the room, so requires a lot of space. Instead I’d recommend a dance known as Arizona Two Step, aka Rhythm Two Step. It’s basically a modification of Country Two Step to fit into smaller spaces (so people can dance to country music in smaller bars, etc). There are some great instructional videos on YouTube by a teacher Cal Wodrowski, user name “callengw”. (You could also dance a fast East Coast/Country Swing to it (step, step, rock-step), but given how fast it is, you’d probably need to be an intermediate or advanced Swing dancer.)
“Deeper than the Holler” is slower. You could dance a leisurely Country Two Step or Arizona/Rhythm Two Step to it. East Coast/Country Swing works great as well—and the tempo works well for more beginning dancers.
Have fun!
Hey 🙂
First and foremost I want to thank you for this really helpful post ! *thumbs up*
My girlfriend and I are getting married soon and we have not yet decided to what song we want to dance to.
Could you help us by pointing out what kind of dance style would fit to the following potential candidates:
a) Everlong – Foo Fighters
b) The Fear you won´t fall – Joshua Radin
c) Sky full of Stars – Coldplay
d) You´ll never walk alone – Gary and the Pacemakers (we do not consider this as our first dance, but maybe something waaay later)
d) Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
Thank you again, this time in advance,
Hi there:
Wow, you’ve got a lot of songs to choose from! Other than Everlong, all your other song choices have that glide-across-the-floor Waltz feel, even if they aren’t Waltzes. Here are my dance suggestions for each song:
Everlong by Foo Fighters: East Coast Swing (step-step-rock step) would work well
The Fear You Won’t Fall by Joshua Radin: You’re right, this is a fast Waltz. So Viennese Waltz (or a modified version) would be perfect
Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay: This isn’t a Waltz but you could certainly make your steps feel Waltzy, either using a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm or stepping on every beat to mimic a hesitation rhythm from Viennese Waltz. And I love your idea of going into Disco Fox moves later in the song!!!
You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gary & the Pacemakers: It sounds like this is written in 6/8 timing, so it has that Waltz feel even though it isn’t a Waltz. So dancing Waltz moves using a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm would work well. Or you could just do a simple “slow dance” using a side-tap basic and then building from there.
Chasing Cars: While it’s not a Waltz, this song is so flowy that again Waltz steps danced with a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm would match the music well.
I hope that helps. I’m confident you will have a wonderful first dance. Congrats on getting married!
Best,
Brandee
Like!! Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Thanks so much. Glad you like my blog post!
Hi Brandee, just wanted to say how awesome it is that you’re so responsive to all the questions! I learned a lot about dance theory just reading through them (having never taken formal dance education, I’m kind of just figuring out the “rules” by watching). My fiancee and I just moved from SF and are bummed we can’t come check out your classes.
So I have an odd question which I can’t find answers to anywhere else so far – we are particularly fond of 6/8 time songs and we’re practicing a slow-quick-quick box step, because it seems waltzy like you have mentioned, but sometimes I’m intuitively tempted to switch to a different footwork mid-song, like SQQ to a two step. Is that heretical and ill-advised? It seems natural since we’re staying in sync with the heavy beats. Maybe it’s because 6/8 lends itself to both patterns having a bit of a hybrid time signature? I probably should just stick to one for the duration of the song but it would be fun to improvise and make it a little more spontaneous. My fiancee isn’t fond of my idea but maybe it’s because I’m not doing a great job as a lead communicating or prepping her for the intended mid-song changes. Any suggestions on how to better do that?
If my idea isn’t completely ridiculous, could you even push it further to switch from a Viennese waltz on the 123 456 123 456 to a 2 count on the 1 and 4? Apologies if my nomenclature makes little sense – my dance training naivety is to blame! Appreciate all you do for us clueless aspiring dancers out there!
Hi Dan:
Ah, thanks so much for your kind praise and appreciation. Sounds like you have more dance and music talent than you think, because the questions you asked are sophisticated and show great creative thinking!
If by “a two step” you mean stepping once on beat 1 and again on beat 2 (basically, stepping every beat which could also be thought of as the “heavy beat” in a 6/8 song), then YES, you can definitely do that! Mixing Slow-Quick-Quick (SQQ) and step-step within the same song not only works, but it also gives you freedom to flaunt your musicality—-parts of a song may feel more flowy and call for SQQ, while others may inspire the step-step.
I encourage you to improvise. That said, you probably want to start by dancing the entire song using just one rhythm, then dancing the entire song again sticking with the second rhythm. Focus on practicing your leading and following skills, and just getting more dancing under your belt. I suggest that you practice improvising on your own: dance your part of the moves you know, practicing switching rhythms. This will allow you to get better at deciding in advance that you want to switch and developing the coordination to do that. Once *your* mind and body know what they’re doing, it’ll be sooooo much easier to successfully communicate the changes to your partner.
And if switching between rhythms is still rocky when dancing with your fiancé, then you could both agree in advance when and where the rhythm changes will happen. Especially if this is for your first dance, when you’ll be in front of wedding guests and might be nervous, this will give your fiancé much more peace of mind!
Finally, yes, if the song isn’t too fast, you can mix a regular Viennese Waltz (instead of the modified SQQ) with the “two step” (stepping on the heavy beats). However, with most 6/8 songs this is difficult because the speed at which you’d need to dance Viennese Waltz is super fast—-you’d have to step 6 times in 2 beats of music, instead of only 3 times in 2 beats of music when dancing SQQ (which is why SQQ works so well).
Dan, you’re off to a great start. The way you’re thinking and how quickly you’re understanding things makes me feel confident you have the ability to become an awesome dancer and bring your fiancé along with you!
Have fun, and congrats on your upcoming wedding!
Best,
Brandee
Hello Brandee
So appreciate you taking all that time to answer the comments and many questions of wedding couples.
Got one for you too 😉
We will be dancing at our wedding to Stu Larsen “I will be happy and hopefully you will be too”.
I read your full post but somehow still have a very hard time figuring out the counts and suitable dance to the song… :/ even though I have danced a lot in my life – lately mostly swing dance (lindy hop)
could you help me out?
Thank you so so much!
Hi Andrea:
Thanks for your words of appreciation—-happy to help folks out!
If you want to do an official dance style, Foxtrot would be a great fit. Your song is the traditional tempo of and has the easygoing, swing-y feel of Foxtrot. Foxtrot is easiest to do on larger dance floors, like 18 x 18 feet (or bigger). That said, you could probably make it work on a floor as small as 14 x 14 feet, especially if you stick with the Slow-Quick-Quick figures in Foxtrot (such as the Box Step and Twinkle) that don’t travel much.
Another option would be East Coast Swing using a single-time rhythm (ie, step, step, rock step)——a dance you already know! This song is on the slow side for a single-time swing but if you danced triple steps, your movement would look too upbeat and fast for this quiet, relaxed-sounding song. But if you’re ok with a more casual-looking first dance, a leisurely swing would be sweet (and doesn’t require as much floor space——if that’s an issue).
Hope that helps!
Best,
Brandee
Thank you so much!! This really helped a lot.
We will actually be using both suggested dances now and are putting together a little choreo 🙂
Fantastic! Thanks for letting me know.
Hello,
Getting married this October. We are thinking Taylor Swift Lover or John Legend and Lindsey Stirling All of me. What dances would you suggest for those songs?
Hi Cathleen:
Thanks for writing. I’ve given recommendations for Taylor Swift’s Lover (see Sept 13, 2019).
John Legend’s All of Me (as well as the duet version) is a bit tricky because it’s actually kinda fast! I’d recommend Foxtrot or Rumba.
Have fun,
Brandee
Hi there! We will be getting married in August. We are thinking about doing an instrumental version of “Jenny of Oldstones” or any other instrumental songs from “Game of Thrones” like “Light of the Seven”. Do you have any recommendations for us? Are we right to assume that “Jenny” is a slow waltz? What about “Light of the Seven”? Thank you!
Hi Nina:
Congrats on your upcoming wedding!
What a unique *and* challenging song choice in Jenny of Oldstones. While it kind of sounds like a Waltz, it’s actually 4/4 time (or 3/8 time depending on the sheet music you look at). Either way, you can’t dance a Waltz to it (1-2-3)—-however, you can make it look like a Waltz by dancing Slow-Quick-Quick Foxtrot figures. That said, Jenny of Oldstones is slow, and *very* slow for Foxtrot. Unless you’ve really got your heart set on this song *and* plan to take dance lessons with a qualified dance teacher, I recommend choosing another more-danceable song.
Light of the Seven will definitely be easier to dance to. It too is 4/4 time but the tempo is faster, so will work nicely with Foxtrot Slow-Quick-Quick figures (as well as non-official moves and dramatic gestures).
Have fun putting together your choreography!
Best,
Brandee
Hi Natalie:
The fact that you couldn’t find your song in any of the comments is a good sign you’ve chosen something unique!
Next to Me by Emeli Sandé has a great groove. It feels uptempo but is actually on the slow side. The official dance style it matches best is West Coast Swing. But unless you’re already both experienced with that dance, I wouldn’t bother—-you’d have to put in a lot of time just to look decent (it’s such a challenging dance).
Instead, I think you’ll enjoy yourselves more and look better using a step-tap side basic (matching the song’s Soul/R&B style) and building turns and moves from there. Look at West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing and Blues dancing moves for inspiration–simplifying and modifying them to work for you.
Hope that helps! I foresee your guests will really enjoy your first dance to this fun song!
Best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
thank you for this very interesting and helpful page! I read through most of the comments but couldn’t find our song.
What can we dance to Emeli Sandé “Next to Me?“
Thank you so much for your help!
Brandee,
For a father daughter wedding dance should we do a slow two step to “Daddy dance with me” by Krystal Keith.
Thanks for your informative Site.
Hi Michael:
If you want to take lessons in an official dance style, Foxtrot could work nicely for this song. I say “could” because this song *sounds* slower than it actually is (it’s 130 beats per minute). So if you try Foxtrot and it doesn’t feel like the best match–or if you don’t care about doing a official dance style–I’d recommend a simple side basic (step-tap, step-tap) and build some underarm turns for her from that.
And if your daughter’s wedding’s dance floor is large enough (and she can walk backward in her dress and shoes), it’d be nice to travel around the dance floor. If you do Foxtrot, it’s Basic step travels. If you opt for the side basic I suggested, you can simply take walking steps–you forward and her backward–in sets of 4 (that way you’ll match the music).
Hope that helps and that you fully enjoy this special moment with your daughter.
Best,
Brandee
You have such great ideas and I wondered what you would suggest for Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together? Thanks so much.
Hi Jaime:
Sorry for the delay in responding to your question. A classic wedding song, Let’s Stay Together by Al Green lends itself to a few options depending on the look/style you want.
For a natural-looking, romantic dance (i.e. that doesn’t look like you took dance lessons), I’d just do a simple side basic (step-tap, step-tap) and build some nice turns and fun moves off of that.
For a more structured romantic dance, Rumba works nicely (Box, Box with Underarm Turn, Cross-Over Breaks, etc). Of course, instead of the traditional Latin hip movements, you’d just dance the Rumba figures with a casual groove that matches the song. Alternatively, if you have a larger dance floor and want to take up the space, you could dance Foxtrot, just the Slow-Quick-Quick figures (like Rumba, there’s the Box & Box with Underarm Turn, but also Progressive Basic/Traveling, Twinkles, Progressive Twinkles and more)
And if you want something more casual, fun, upbeat-feeling dance, consider a 4-count Hustle (rock-step, step, step).
Hope that helps. Come back and tell me what you decide to do!
Cheers,
Brandee
Hello,
What kind of dance can you dance to for Blake Shelton’s “Mine would be you”?
Thanks so much 🙂
Jolene
Hi Jolene:
You have a few options for this song depending on the look you want and whether you plan to take dance lessons.
If you’re up for investing in learning some official steps, I’d recommend either Nightclub Two Step or Foxtrot (the Slow-Quick-Quick figures).
If you want to keep it simple, you could just dance a side basic (step-tap, step-tap), taking 8 counts per side basic. This will be romantic and slow. If you find yourself speeding up or that it’s hard to go this slow, you could just shift weight from one foot to the other (2 beats per step)—-a super simple slow dance. Of course, you wouldn’t be doing this basic all the time—-you’d build spins and moves from either of these basics, just returning to the basic as your “home base”.
Have a great time putting together your dance!
Best,
Brandee
🙂 Thank you so so much 🙂
Appreciate all your advice 🙂
Hey Brandee, I’ve read so many of your dance suggestions and I think I got one that you havent touched on. I was trying to work on a dance for the song “Planetarium” from La La Land. Which for the most part is in 3/4 as their waltz dancing suggests. But I noticed in the sheet music it also goes to 5/4?? How would you dance that in waltz?
Hi Caesar:
Wow, good question! I assume you’re choreographing a routine for a performance or wedding dance? Fortunately the 5/4 bits in this song seem to be brief and happen during the long introduction when it’d be difficult to dance Waltz figures yet anyways.
I’d recommend not bothering doing official dance steps during the 5/4 parts. Instead, do “filler” choreography such as
• A moment of dramatic pause
• A dip
• Break apart (perhaps both doing solo turns or just the Follower does a free spin)
• Walk around together in a clockwise circle without any particular timing (right sides toward each other, various options for what your arms do).
If you want to stick with official figures, a fleckerl might work or perhaps a picture line (Oversway, Same Foot Lunge, etc). Alternatively, you could dance a usual figure and shorten it by one beat or hold the extra two beats—a balance step would work for either.
The more familiar you can get with the timing and hearing count 1 in the song, the easier it will be to just choreograph the piece the way you’d like, then stretch out or speed up musically to make it fit.
Here’s wishing you all the best in dancing to this beautiful but tricky song!
Hi Brandee, I found your post very interesting! I love the idea of fusion in any genre.
This may seem an odd question, but here goes! I’m writing s play where two characters from the late Victorian era dance to My Boy Lollipop (1960’s ska) I want them to dance in a style fitting to the period but have no idea (I am no dancer). It needs to be energetic but graceful (lots of twirling!) Any help would be much appreciated!
Wow, sounds like an interesting play!
I’d recommend Polka, a very popular Victorian dance. Many of the Victorian dances were done to 3/4 time Waltz music but Polka is 4/4 time like My Boy Lollipop. The tempo of the song will work well (actual Polkas are often faster but your actors will thank you for this slower pace). Polka bounds and turns around the room with exuberance, so will totally fit the bill for your scene.
Here’s wishing you all the best with choreographing a dance and producing your play!
Best,
Brandee
My fiance and I will be using Andrew Lloyd Webber’s All I Ask of You (specifically the movie version) for our first dance. If I’m doing my research right, a waltz is not the best option for this song. Various sheet music sources suggest a 4/4 time signature and the tempo as “andante”. Could a foxtrot or rumba be appropriate?
We’re unable to get classes due to COVID. I have experience with creating choreo for baton/jazz routines so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to at least try to take crack at DIYing a wedding dance using the scant amount that I already know and the resources that I have available. I’m just having trouble getting pointed in the right direction as far as picking a style is concerned.
Hi Shannon:
Way to go on jumping into choreographing your dance on your own. Yes, Foxtrot would work nicely. It’s graceful, flowy character will match your song better than Rumba. Use the Slow-Quick-Quick figures of Foxtrot, as the song is really too slow for Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick (plus the Slow-Quick-Quick figures are more Waltzy).
If you end up wanting some help, I’m available for virtual private dance lessons via Zoom, FaceTime or Skype! Otherwise, have a great time creating a lovely dance to this song!
Best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee!
Thank you for taking the time to answer so many song/dance questions over the years.
The Engelbert Humperdinck version of Release Me (https://youtu.be/gB-szamMr6s) is giving me trouble; could you help me with what dance it suits? We think it’s a rumba, but it doesn’t quite feel right.
Hi Patrick:
Fun song! It’s too slow for Rumba. It has a swing/country feel, but is also too slow for those dances.
I’m not sure when/where you’re planning to dance to this song. But assuming it’s just for fun (not for a competition or big performance), I’d recommend just doing a slow dance, using a side-tap basic. Alternatively, you could dance a “triple step” basic (like an East Coast Swing basic without the rock step).
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi there, can you tell me what dance to go with the song “Come what may” in Moulin Rough? The song’s here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YsMvzgeSuI
Hi Riley:
I’ve actually choreographed for a couple who danced to Come What May at their wedding. I had them dance Foxtrot which worked beautifully (this song is just slightly faster than standard Foxtrot tempo). I encourage you to take liberties rather than be bound by official Foxtrot steps for your entire dance.
Cheers,
Brandee
Brandee, thanks for all the info! It’s very helpful.
My fiance and I are trying to waltz to “I’m with you” by Vance joy – but I’m not sure if that’s the right timing for the song. What would you suggest for this song?
Hi Brianna: Your song is in 4/4 time, hence not being able to dance Waltz (which is 3/4 time). However, you *can* dance Foxtrot using figures with a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm (SQQ). Foxtrot looks a lot like Waltz, so you’ll be able to emulate the feel of Waltz while fitting the timing to the music. For example, a Turning Box or a Box with Underarm Turn.
Note that this song is 80 beats/minute (instead of the ~128 beats/minute of Foxtrot). So instead of taking 4 full beats for SQQ, so you’ll be dancing it “double time”, taking only 2 beats for each SQQ (i.e. each Slow is 1 beat and each Quick is half a beat).
If you are brand new to dancing, the stepping for this may be too fast for you to keep up or feel comfortable. In that case, you might try dancing triple steps (an East Coast Swing Basic without the rock step) using a 1&2, 3&4 rhythm. It’s the same number of steps as the Foxtrot but the triple steps are easier to dance at a faster pace than say a Box.
I hope that makes sense. Wishing you all the best!
Hi
Wr are wanting to dance to this at our wedding https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D8lV1To-_fU
But would like to do a proper dance… I found the sheet music and it is in 4/4 time…
Any recommendations for dances to try?
Hi Kirstan:
Wow, this song has a lot of drama and starts like a power ballad but then goes hard rock/light metal. Since it’s not a typical first dance song, I’d be curious to know about your relationship to the song and how you want your dance to be. For example, you might just want to do a straight-ahead, romantic first dance to this non-traditional song. Or maybe there’s a story–maybe the two of you jokingly did air guitar to this song all the time when first dating–so you want to do a somewhat humorous, rockin’, non-traditional dance.
I’m going to assume you are envisioning a more traditional first dance. I think your best bet is to use a simple side basic (side-tap, side-tap) as your home base (build spins and other moves off of it). This will provide you flexibility *and* the look of it will better match the song than say Foxtrot or Rumba. However, if you are okay with a more upbeat, less romantic-looking dance, the song’s tempo is perfect for East Coast Swing (step, step, rock-step).
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi Brandee
Thanks for coming back to me, we will definitely look at trying these!
I did have visions of a more traditional dance, maybe with a lift if he can do it! But mostly being able to look elegant while dancing to a mixed song.
There is an acoustic version to this song, but there is just very little movement to it… And I do love dusting off the air guitar!
Hi Kirstan:
You could definitely do an elegant, more traditional dance with a lift (then bust out into some surprise air guitar if you’re so inclined). I actually worked with a couple where we did that–their guests loved it! You can check it out on my wedding dance video page—-scroll down near the bottom to Whitney and Mark’s medley.
Happy choreographing!
Hi Brandee
I thoroughly enjoyed reading through all of your suggestions and it is very helpful. I am wondering about your recommendation for I hope you Dance by LeAnn Womack, specifically slower intro type parts.
Thanks!
Hi Abby:
Thanks for your question about dancing to “I Hope You Dance”. While there are quieter verses that contrast the more driving choruses, the tempo (i.e. speed) actually stays consistent for the whole song. This song is a little tricky because it’s rather fast (150 beats per minute) but it has a slower feel. Because of this, I’d recommend dancing it half-time (just the heavy beats, meaning your tempo will be 75 beats per minute typical of a “slow dance” song).
If you and your dance partner (your Dad?) have dance experience, you could do Nightclub Two Step (NCTS) or Country Swing—-both use a Quick-Quick-Slow rhythm.
If you don’t have dance experience, I’d just go with a slow dance. Use a side basic (side-tap, side-tap), then build moves off of it, just walking through them, stepping on the heavy beats. Look to Waltz and/or Swing for inspiration on moves.
Hope that helps!
Hi Brandee,
thanks for the very informative article.
Maybe you can help me, we can’t figure out what to dance to “Sparkle” by Radwimps. We would love to have this as a first dance for our wedding. 🙂
https://youtu.be/K_7To_y9IAM
Hi: Foxtrot would be perfect for this song, both tempo and feel. Ideally your dance floor is 15 x 18 ft or larger. If not, you can stick with the non-traveling moves of Foxtrot.
Have fun!
HI,
A dance for Frank Sinatra “come dance with me”.
Thanks for your great website for the “dancing challenged” !!!
Hi Martin:
Sinatra’s “Come Dance with Me” is a classic Foxtrot, although it’s a bit on a fast side. If you want a more casual-feeling dancing, East Coast Swing is also a perfect fit.
Have fun,
Brandee
Have they made the app yet? It’s going to be a long road to figuring the music out on top of learning how to lead, keeping my frame, understanding the footwork, keeping the timing and maneuvering on the dance floors line of dance and rotating… Multitasking is not my specialty. An app would be a lifesaver and help me learn as opposed to never asking anyone to dance until half the song is done by the time you think you know what the dance music might be.
Hi Nicolaus:
I hear you. In the beginning it’s a lot to learn and think about, but it does get easier.
That said, there are a few ways to take the “what dance do I do to this song” off your plate if you’re feeling overwhelmed, including”
* Go to dance event dedicated specifically (or mostly) to just one dance. The dances you’ll typically find this for are Salsa, Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango and Country Two Step—-that is, the non-ballroom dances.
* If Ballroom is more your thing, go to the dances at a Ballroom Dance studio. Many will have a DJ that announces each dance (eg, “next up, a Waltz”) or a monitor or projector that displays the song and style of dance.
Hope that helps! Hang in there.
–Brandee
What type of dance would work with why did it have to be me from Mamma mia?
This is a swing song. East Coast Swing would be perfect for it!
Hello – what kind of dance would you suggest for “First Try” by Johnnyswim? We are thinking of using it as our first dance song. Would doing a foxtrot in double time be appropriate, or are there other dances we should consider?
Hi Dave:
What a great song. A double time Foxtrot could work but I think you’d be moving too fast that it will seem rushed against the languid feel of this song. I’d recommend Nightclub Two Step (it’s the perfect tempo for that dance). If you are up for something more improvisational, Blues dancing would work well.
If you’re both already experienced partner dancers, West Coast Swing would be another good fit (it’s a challenging dance so I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re beginners).
Finally, if you’re okay not doing an “official” dance style, your best bet might be a simple side basic (step-tap, step-tap) or a triple step basic (side-close-side, side-close-side)–this basic particularly matches the lilting rhythm of the song. You can then build turns and moves off of your basic.
Hope that helps. All the best to you!
Hi-What would be the most fitting steps for “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran? Kind of feels like a Viennese Waltz-? Thank you
Hi CJ:
You’re right, it’s a Viennese Waltz. Assuming this is for a first dance and you don’t want to do that much cardio, dance it with “hesitation timing”—that is, only step on every count 1 (instead of on 1, 2 and 3).
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi, my partner and I have decided to dance to my escape by ravenscode at our wedding as our dance. It has a 4/4 signature and i was wondering what type of dance you recommend possibly and steps please. I’m 5ft and he’s 6,2 I’ll be in heels but it’ll only pop me to around 5,3 at most. Any advice is appreciated thankyou
Hello Kimberley:
For the song “My Escape” by Ravenscode, I’d recommend Foxtrot, and particularly the Slow-Quick-Quick figures in Foxtrot. But with your height difference, I suggest doing a lot of moves where you are just holding hands–or you even break apart entirely–rather than trying to use a traditional dance hold for all/most of the dance.
There are lots of ways to do this (twirls, traveling side by side or with cross hand hold, other opening out moves) that will match the flowiness of the song and look totally natural (not like just a height modification!). I recommend taking some dance lessons—-a professional instructor can help you put something beautiful together.
Cheers,
Brandee
Hello there. We want to dance to a very specific song that means a lot to us at our wedding. It’s not traditional and I’m thinking of doing a mix of styles if possible but i don’t know. We want the dance to be full of emotion (which I know comes down a lot to body language) but any advice would be great. I used to do ballet not wedding like dances like waltz’ Thanks heaps and hope you are well.
Nerissa
The song is Yours to Hold by Skillet sorry I didn’t include that in my first post
Hi Nerissa:
Your vision sounds lovely. Since you want it to be a mix of style and full of emotion, I say throw away any idea of picking styles. Instead, just do movements, spins and wraps that match the music.
Especially with your ballet background, you can break apart from each other, giving you a chance to do things like chaîné turns, expressive arm gestures, developpes, etc. I did a quick search on YouTube and found this as a rough example (start at ~30 sec): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9iscGYfDy4
If you want to draw from ballroom dance styles, I’d look to Foxtrot and Waltz (tho’ you song is 4/4). You might also watch Foxtrot and Waltz routines from Dancing with the Stars and similar shows/videos for ideas. When these dances are done as a performance, the couple adds a lot of flourishes and breakaways rather than just dancing regular patterns together.
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi,
My partner and I want to do our first dance to Forever Yours by Michael W. Smith and we would love to see what you recommend. I believe it is a 4/4 so I’m not too sure, I would love to include some spins and dipping action in it. Pleas let me know what you would recommend! Thanks so much.
Hi Sabrina:
This is a beautiful but challenging song to dance to (assuming you’re beginning dancers). I highly recommend you find a dance instructor and take lessons.
The beat isn’t always easy to hear but the song is 3/4 time, so you’ll want to do a Waltz. American Style Waltz has a lot of spins, and you can always draw inspiration from other dances—-or make up some spins of your own. You might watch some Waltz routines from Dancing with the Stars (or similar) for ideas. When Waltz is done as a performance, the couple adds a lot of flourishes and breakaways rather than dancing regular patterns together.
Have fun!
Hi Brandee!
You are so sweet to help all these people match the perfect dances to their songs! I was wondering if you might be able to willing to recommend a dance to match “Work Song” by Hozier. It’s my favorite love song. I’ve tried dancing a rumba to it and that feels ok, but I wasn’t sure if you might have a better suggestion! Thanks!
Hello:
What a beautiful song! Yes, it has such a distinctive rhythm that Rumba, while being a good tempo match, doesn’t quite express the music.
I’d recommend either Nightclub Two Step (NCTS). Here’s an example of NCTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwqiMVoNy74 That said, your song is on the slow side for Nightclub Two Step. So if you and your partner aren’t experienced dancers, it might be hard to stretch the movement to fill the time.
An alternative to NCTS would be Foxtrot would work well. Foxtrot shares some steps with Rumba (such as the Box, a turning Box and a Box with Underarm Turn), but unlike Rumba, Foxtrot has sway and lilt that will match this song better.
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi, love the blog! My fiancé and I are hoping to dance to Love You Like I Used to by Russell Dickerson for our first dance, and though I’ve learned the basics of a number of dances I dont know which best fits this song. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Beth:
Glad you like my blog! You could go a few directions with your song.
Rumba or Foxtrot are both good fits. They’re danced at the same tempo and have some overlap in their patterns, Rumba can be a bit more sensual (especially if you play up the Latin hip motion) while Foxtrot can be danced with glide and sway and more movement around the floor.
If you have a decent-sized dance floor, you could dance Country Two Step (CTS). This song is a nice relaxed tempo for CTS, so you won’t feel like you’re racing around. That said, if you and your partner are somewhat beginner dancers, CTS can require more practice to make look good than Rumba or Foxtrot.
And finally, you could throw out the standard partner dances and do a simple side basic (either step, step OR step-tap, step-tap) and build more free-form twirls and moves off of that.
Hope that helps you get started on creating a wonderful first dance!
Cheers,
Brandee
Thank you so much! Thats really helpful!!
You’re so very welcome!
Love this post!! Any suggestions for “You’re the one” by the Vogues:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs8sXY6iKlA
I’m assuming swing? Anything else maybe?
Hello Bianca:
You’re right, I’d suggest East Coast Swing as the best dance for “You’re the One” by the Vogues. Alternatively, you could do Rumba–the moves; not so much Latin styling.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Brandee
Hello, Brandee. Thank you for the instructive advice.
What would you suggest trying out for the song Run by Lighthouse Family?
Hi Paul:
Fun song. Hm, I can’t think of a dance that’s a perfect fit for this song. The two best ideas I think would be Nightclub Two Step or a triple step basic (East Coast Swing without the rock step), which flows well with the song’s syncopated beat. Or you could do a simple step-tap side basic. For both the triple and step-tap basics, you can build spins and moves off of them inspired by figures from Swing dancing and Nightclub Two Step (perhaps even Bachata and Salsa).
Hope that helps!
Best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee.
I am making a slow, 60bpm, cover of Somewhere Over the Rainbow which is my her favorite song. The meter is 4-4. I want to have it ready for the first dance, but I’m not sure how to make sure it’s dance-able, or even, how to dance to it.
Hi Ariel:
60bpm is indeed very slow. At that speed, I recommend stepping on every beat. Your basic will just be that of a school slow dance: shifting weight side to side. Of course, you can travel, do slow turns and other moves just stepping on every beat.
Enjoy,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
My fiance and I are planning to dance to (I’ve Got) Beginner’s Luck by Ella Fitzgerald for our first dance. What would you suggest for that song? Thank you!
Hi Ann-Marie:
You’ve given me an easy one (unlike some of the other songs people ask about). (I’ve Got) Beginner’s Luck by Ella Fitzgerald is a classic FOXTROT, straight up! You could do also do East Coast Swing, but the feel of the song is more Foxtrot!
Have fun,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
Can you recommend a song to a box step with my son for mom-son wedding dance? I’m Indian , he’s half Indian! Something with a hint of Indian beat would be nice, maybe? Not too slow. I also know cha-cha so I might mix some steps in as well. Would love your thoughts! Thank you!!
Hi Sita:
For dancing a Box step, you’ll want the song’s tempo to be approx 110-128 beats per minute (think the speed of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” or Nat King Cole’s “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You”). To determine a song’s tempo, you can count the beats per minute yourself, look them up on a site like songbpm.com or simply play the song and try dancing a Box step. Alternatively, you could dance a Box step to a slow Waltz.
Unfortunately, I don’t know any Mother-Son songs with a hint of Indian beat. But I bet they’re out there and it would be fun to dance to something more personal like that. Perhaps some Google searches on Indian wedding sites or their user forums?
In the meantime, I’ll email you a list of standard Mother-Song and Family songs I recommend.
Best,
Brandee
I need a dance for the mother/son dance at my son’s wedding. I really like the song Never Alone by Jim Brickman, performed by Lady Antebellum., but it has a different 2/4 or 2/2 time, sounds like. What dance would you recommend for this song?
Hi Denise:
You’re right, this song has an odd time signature: 6/8, which makes it feel like a Waltz even though it’s not. I’d recommend using a Box step as your basic, the rhythm being Slow-Quick-Quick. From there you could use other steps from Waltz or any of the Slow-Quick-Quick steps from Foxtrot.
If that feels too complicated, you could do a simple slow dance (i.e. step-step, shifting weight from foot to foot). You’d just step on each heavy beat and wouldn’t even realize there’s an odd time signature!
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi -me and my fiance really want to have our first dance to higher love by Steve winwood but we have no idea how to approach it. Any help?
Hi Zach:
Great song! East Coast Swing (step, step, rock-step) would work well and would be my top recommendation.
You could also do Rumba (Slow, Quick, Quick) but the song is a little slow for this, so would require more skill to pull off. Or you could just do a side-tap basic and build moves off of that.
Have fun,
Brandee
This is great! What would you recommend for JJ Heller – Hand to Hold (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n88EHf_ocoQ). As I tap it out, it seems to be a 4/4 count. Any advice would be much appreciated!
Hi Luke:
Yes, it’s a 4/4 time song. Foxtrot would work very nicely. It’s slightly faster than usual for Foxtrot, so you may want to dance more Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick figures than Slow-Quick-Quick.
If you have a small dance floor (like under 15 x 15 ft), there many things you can still do in Foxtrot. However, with a small floor, you may want to consider Nightclub Two Step, both dances that don’t travel that would work for this song.
Wishing you well with your dance!
Best,
Brandee
Thank you ! This is wonderful advice! My Mother and I found the following foxtrot routine: https://youtu.be/BXZa0SRZmp0. Is this something you would recommend to the song listed above?
Hello Luke:
This YouTube routine is actually of a dance called “Foxy”, not Foxtrot. It’s an unofficial style inspired by Foxtrot (as well as Nightclub Two Step, Swing & Hustle) that is made for slow dancing. It’s much more common in Europe than the US. I’m not so familiar with it, hence not suggesting it to you originally.
But it’s lovely and would work perfectly for the tempo of your song (Hand to Hold by JJ Heller)! I say go for it! In fact, you’re inspiring me to learn some Foxy myself as I think it may be a great go-to for songs that don’t quite fit with more typical dance styles.
Have fun,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
My fiancé and I are getting married in about a month. One song he really likes is Millionaire by Chris Stapleton. Is there any formal dance style you think could work for this song? Or an informal dance is better? Though I worry the song doesn’t give many opportunities to add in showcase moves e.g., lean / turns / spins / lifts.
Alternatively, we also like Tenerife Sea by Ed Sheeran. I think this would be a (Viennese) Waltz, but I feel like the timing changes throughout so not sure if it would be too difficult.
Thank you!
Hi Samantha:
The formal dance styles that would work with Millionaire by Chris Stapleton are Nightclub Two Step or Blues dancing but I don’t think it’s worth trying to do those (especially since you don’t have much time). I’d recommend a simple slow dance just changing weight from foot to foot. You could try doing a step-tap, step-tap as your basic but the song is pretty slow for this.
I agree with you that this song is pretty darn mellow without any places that really pick up or call for fancy moves. You can still do some relaxed turns and spins, but a lift would probably look out of place.
The Ed Sheeran song is indeed a Viennese Waltz. I’d recommend only stepping on every count 1 (the heavy beats). I didn’t listen totally thoroughly but didn’t hear any timing or tempo changes—-just some of the instruments dropping out around 2:25 min. It’s a more challenging song to dance to than Millionaire but provides a few more opportunities to showcase a few fancier moves. 🙂
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Any recommendations for “when I say I do” by Matthew West?
Hi Kim:
“When I say I do” by Matthew West has a tempo that might be a little challenging to do an “official” dance style to. I’d recommend just using an unofficial slow dance, using a side-tap, side-tap as your basic, then building turns and spins off of that (steal ideas from Swing, Foxtrot, etc).
If you want an official style, Nightclub Two Step is the best fit both speed and feel-wise.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
I know this one is left of centre but we want to do a funny bridal dance to the song Accidentally In Love by The Counting Crows – any recommendations on what dance style to use?
Thanks!
Hi Fiona:
Hm, by “bridal dance” do you mean you and your bridesmaids doing a group dance? If so, you could do any type of choreography you want, getting inspiration from jazz, hip hop and other solo dance styles.
If you’re wanting to do a couple’s dance to Accidentally in Love by the Counting Crows, I’d recommend East Coast Swing, using a single step (not a triple step). Swing matches the fun, upbeat nature of this song and would give you options for lots of cool moves!
Hope you dance shapes up to be fantastic!
Best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee
What dance could we do to Whitney’s My Love is Your Love?
Thanks so much.
Deb
Hi Deb:
Good question! The two official dances that best fit Whitney Houston’s “My Love is Your Love” are Nightclub Two Step and West Coast Swing. West Coast Swing is a challenging dance. So unless you’re experienced dancers, I’d go for Nightclub Two Step.
You could also dance Salsa to this song. Even though it’s not a “Salsa” song, it has the right tempo for the Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm of Salsa and matches it’s syncopated groove.
Finally, you could opt for a non-official dance. I’d recommend either a slow dance step-tap basic (with some groove and feeling) –from there you could do spins and other fun moves. Alternatively, you could dance a triple step basic (side-close-side, side-close-side, the rhythm being 1&2, 3&4 which matches the syncopation of the song).
Hope that all makes sense!
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
What dance could we dance to mother-son song “The Man You’ve Become” on Music Central? I’m having trouble figuring out the beat
Thanks!
Hi Ellen:
Foxtrot would work well for this song but only the Slow-Quick-Quick figures. For example, a Box Step. (The song is too slow for Foxtrot’s Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick figures).
Hope you have a wonderful Mother-Son dance!
Cheers,
Brandee
Brandee, this blog is great! What dance would you recommend to Billy Paul – Your Song?
Hi Manny:
Sorry for my slow reply. The two dances I think would work well for this song are Rumba and Bachata. You wouldn’t need to use the official styling or technique of either dance, just its rhythm and steps.
Have fun,
Brandee
Hi, we just found this Cocoon, Lola – i got you and it feels so delicate. But the rhythm is not really slow, is it? Do you have any advice?
Hi Jojo:
This is a great song to dance to. It’s 114 beats per minute, which is a medium tempo. I’d recommend dancing Rumba, both because it’s the right speed and because the song has a bit of a Latin flavor.
Alternatively, you could do a simple slow dance side basic (step-tap, step-tap) and build moves from there.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
What dance would work best with “Be My Forever” by Christina Perri and Ed Sheeran?
Hi Jules:
This song is a perfect match for East Coast Swing (step, step, rock-step).
Enjoy,
Brandee
What would you do for the song “Light of Christmas” by Owl City and TobyMac?
Hi Breanna:
Fun song. Hustle would be a great fit. If you’re a beginner dancer, I’d suggest a 4-count Hustle (ie. stepping on every beat). If you want a more Latin flavor, Merengue would work—-you also step on every beat.
If you don’t have much time to devote to your dance, go with Merengue—it’s easier.
Have fun!
Brandee
Hi! what kind of dance would you recommend for “Ellie Goulding – How long will I love you”, especially for a wedding dance?
Hi Josh:
You can go a few different directions with this song. It depends on your level of dance experience, and whether you will be taking dance lessons or trying to do it on your own.
The simplest thing is just a slow dance where you step on every beat (side, side). Of course, you can add spins and turns, so you’re not just swaying the whole time!
If you can take dance lessons, you could draw from Foxtrot. The Slow-Quick-Quick figures in Foxtrot will probably feel best. You’d just be dancing everything double-time (because this song is half the speed of a normal Foxtrot song)—that is, instead of Slow;Quick-Quick taking 4 beats of music, it will only use 2 beats of your song.
The “official” dance made for songs this slow is Nightclub Two Step. It’s a beautiful dance, but unless you already have dance experience, it generally requires more practice than the other options to make look good.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hello!
What kind of dance would you recommend for the song “Tu” by Maye (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhQ4WVJwz7w) for a bride and groom first dance?
Thanks for the help!
Hi Cece:
Sorry for the slow reply—-your comment got buried amongst spam comments.
What a great song. Rumba would be perfect. Alternatively, if you like the look of Bachata better, you could try that…tho’ Rumba fits the music much more.
Have fun,
Brandee
Hi Brandee ~
Boy Mother/Son songs are hard to figure out!
What dance do you recommend to Keith Urban’s God’s Been Good to Me.
Any help is GREATLY appreciated!
Thank you in advance.
Natalie Steele
Hi Natalie:
I hear you–there aren’t a lot of songs that work for Mother/Son dances.
This Keith Urban song would make a great Country Two Step–but it’s way too fast for beginners to do. I think Country Swing (or East Coast Swing) would be your best bet. They both go well with the song and easier to do at the uptempo pace of this song.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Thank you VERY much!
Natalie
Hi Brandee,
My fiancee and I are hoping to do our first dance to “I Don’t Mind” by Defeater, but are having trouble finding a dance that would work with it. We are definitely both beginner dancers. I appreciate any help. Thanks!
Hi Stephanie:
This song doesn’t work well with any “official” partner dances. Instead, I’d just use a side basic (side-tap, side-tap) and then build moves off of there, most of which you’d probably just take a step on each beat of music, walking through the moves rather than use any particular rhythm.
Given that you’re beginners and there aren’t any YouTube videos for how to dance to this song, I’d recommend taking a few dance lessons from a qualified teacher. 🙂
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
Love the thread. We’re going for dance lessons nearer our wedding date but wanted to dance to She by Elvis Costello and I wondered if you had a dance style you’d recommend?
Thanks
Hi Florence:
Good question. If you’re up for some practice and a little challenge, you could do Foxtrot or Rumba (however, this song is faster than a typical Foxtrot or Rumba, so you’d need to be quicker on your feet). Alternatively, you could dance Nightclub Two Step (note: this isn’t the easiest dance to do smoothly if you’re a beginner).
If you want something easier, I’d recommend an unofficial slow dance in which you’d use a side basic (side-tap, side-tap) and then build moves and spins off of it.
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
What Dance would you recommend for Fix You by Coldplay. It starts melancholic but is actually an uplifting song about comfort and love. 4/4 time and I am stumped. My partner has a knee replacement so he has to careful in that respect. I was thinking adding some turns when it picks up to add drama. Thoughts?
Hi Lesli:
I would just do a simple slow dance (i.e., not an official ballroom/partner dance). Your basic would just be side-tap, side-tap, then add some turns as you said. This not only fits the song but will also be easier on your partner’s knee than other types of dances. If you have a large dance floor and want to use up more space, you could just travel, taking a step every other beat (same timing as the side basic)—-or for a little more structure, dance the Foxtrot Basic step (Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick).
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
Looking for some idea as to what type of dance for father-daughter dance to “I’ll Be Your Man” by Zac Brown Band. My daughter is a decent dancer but not me.
Hi Paul:
What a lovely song. If you want more of a casual feel, I’d recommend East Coast Swing (step, step, rock-step). If you want something a little more formal, I’d suggest taking figures/moves from Rumba (box step, box with underarm turn, crossover breaks, etc), but without the Latin styling.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi, first of all thank you for the time and great advice you’re sharing with us. Please, what would you suggest for the first dance for “Love my like you do” by Ellie Goulding and “Heaven” by Bryan Adams? We’re not such a good dancers so something simple would be helpful. Thank you a lot!
Hi Fani:
So glad to hear you appreciate my efforts. And thanks for writing.
For Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do”, I’d recommend using side-tap, side-tap as your Basic step, then building turns and moves off of that, either keeping the step-tap rhythm or stepping every beat.
Bryan Adam’s “Heaven” is pretty slow. I’d recommend stepping every beat—-just a simple slow dance shifting weight side to side–for your basic. Then build spins and moves off of that—-depending on the move, a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm would work nicely and provide a nice contrast from the step-step basic.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi,
I can’t for the life of me figure out what to dance to Such great heights (Iron & Wine) specifically the Loop cover by Richard Arnold.
Thanks for any input
Link to the Song on Youtube if this is allowed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE5RZccDX1Y
Hi Matthias:
What a beautiful song! I’d recommend either Foxtrot (particularly the Slow-Quick-Quick figures) or Rumba (which has a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm for almost all figures). If you dance Rumba, you don’t need to use Latin hip action—-just move how this song inspires you to.
I think both these dances will match the romantic feel of your song.
Enjoy,
Brandee
Thank you very much!
It’s interesting to know that knowing if the song is slow or fast will help you rule out what types of dances are a fit and not a fit to the song. I wanted to learn that as well even just for a new hobby to learn, so I plan to join a dance class every weekend. It would be helpful for my body as well to have more physical activities which I haven’t had for the past two years now.
Glad you enjoyed the post. Have fun in dance class!
Hello,
My fiancé and I would like tom dance to the very non-traditional song Send Me An Angel, by Real Life, but have no idea what dance to do. We are not experienced dancers, though we will take lessons, but would need to keep things pretty basic. Would you have any suggestions?
Hi Juliann:
What a fun, retro song! I think a 4-count Hustle would be the best dance for Send Me an Angel. That said, the speed of this song might make it a bit challenging as a beginner, so you may want to slow the song down by 5-10% (an amount that’s hard for most guests to even notice).
Alternatively, you could just start with a simple side basic (step-tap, step-tap) and then build moves off of that.
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Brandee
Hello, I hope this feed is still active! I am a beginning dancer with a wedding reception in a few days. I am trying to figure out what to dance for our first songs. We are doing “Come to Me” by Goo Goo Dolls, which I am pretty sure is written in 2/4, but you could get away with a slow 4/4. There are so many dances in 4/4 though, and I’m not sure which one fits! Our other song is a Brazilian one called “Coisa Linda” by Tiago Iorc. I know it’s Brazilian, but I don’t necessarily think it’s the right beat for Samba? Would love some help!
Hello Mariah:
Thanks for writing. “Come to Me” by Goo Goo Dolls is in 4/4 time but the instrumentation gives is an unusual feel. For me, it inspires East Coast Swing (single time) and Country Two Step the most. Alternatively you could just start with a simple side basic (step-tap, step-tap) and then build moves off of that.
As for “Coisa Linda” by Tiago Iorc, you’re right that it is not a Samba. It’s actually the same tempo as “Come to Me” and has a similar feel. So East Coast Swing (single time) would work nicely or the simple side basic. (This tempo is too slow for Foxtrot or Rumba and too fast for Nightclub Two Step).
Assuming you’re going to dance them as a medley with Goo Goo Dolls first then Tiago Iorc, you could do the side basic plus turns & spins for the first (making it a little more traditional and romantic) then bust out into the fun and casualness of Swing for Tiago.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi, what kind of dance would you suggest for “Kiss Goodnight” by I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME? Thank you!
Hi Noah:
Fun song! I’d suggest either East Coast Swing (single time) or a simple side basic (step-tap, step-tap) and then build moves off of that.
Have a great time dancing,
Brandee
Hello!
(I tried to check and make sure this wasn’t answered already somewhere else) Thank you so much for all of these tips and suggestions!
I have been a dancer my whole life but I am new to ballroom. Getting married in November and my fiancé is not a dancer but he’s willing to try.
I’d love to try and choreograph our dance but I’m struggling. We’re planning to use The Best Things Happen While Youre Dancing from White Christmas. I believe that could maybe be a Foxtrot but I wasn’t sure. I have a poofier dress so I still want this to look elegant and smooth and I wasn’t sure how to make that work.
(He really likes that song because it’s meaningful to both of us but my backup plan if I can’t figure this one out is either Thinking out Loud by Ed Sheeran or 1000 years. Which I believe are both fast waltz’s…I think)
I am also hoping to work on a dance with my dad to Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman which I believe is maybe a Viennese waltz?
Thank you so much for your thoughts and help!!
Hi Allie:
You’ve got a host of fun song possibilities.
The song “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing” is faster than a typical Foxtrot (but slower than a typical Quickstep, which is a challenging dance that I wouldn’t suggest for your wedding). You can Foxtrot to it and keep it smooth—it will just require more practice and skill than to a slower tempo song. Alternatively, you could dance East Coast Swing (step, step, rock-step) which works great with the tempo of the song but doesn’t have the elegant, smoothness that you’re looking for.
“A Thousand Years” is a Viennese (fast) Waltz. I’ve had couples do beautiful dances to it. It’s too fast (for a first dance for beginners) to step on every beat. I suggest using a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm” where you step on count 1 of the first measure and then counts 1-2 of the third measure (so you step 3 times for every 6 beats). You can use Waltz or Foxtrot figures.
“Thinking Out Loud” is a 4/4 time song. But maybe you meant Perfect by Ed Sheeran which IS a Viennese (fast) Waltz. You can do the same thing as I suggested for “A Thousand Years”.
Finally, “Cinderella” is indeed a fast Waltz. For a Father-Daughter dance, I’d suggest keeping it simple by using a “hesitation” rhythm. This means you only step on count 1 of each measure, which makes it easier and more relaxing.
Hope you have a wonderful time choreographing your dances!
Best,
Brandee
My fiance have more of a rock song as our first dance and so do him and his mom. Love of a Lifetime by Firehouse and Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd. What type of dance do we even try to do with these? Neither of us have formal dance experience.
Thank you!!
Hi Tina:
Both songs are very danceable! For Love of a Lifetime by Firehouse, I’d recommend Rumba. For Simple Man by Lynnyrd Skynyrd, you could also do Rumba. However, unless your fiance is planning to spend a lot of time practicing with his mom, I’d recommend doing a simple slow dance basic (step-step) then adding a few turns, as well as moving around the dance floor a little.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Can you (or would you) dance to Return to Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins?
Hi Anne:
This is such a sweet song. It’s totally danceable. Both Rumba and Foxtrot would work nicely (note: Foxtrot requires a bigger space/floor than Rumba).
have fun,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
My fiance and I wanted to dance to Jason Aldean’s “Got What I Got” for our first dance and I was thinking it was 3/4 timing so a waltz would be appropriate? Do I have that right? Thanks for your help!
Indeed, this is a Waltz. However, it’s pretty darn fast (160 bpm—that is, you’d be taking 160 steps per minute if you danced a regular Waltz). So I’d recommend doing a modified Waltz. Option 1 is to only step on every count 1 and hold for beats 2 & 3. Option 2 is to use a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm where you steps on count 1 of the first measure (hold 2, 3) and on counts 1, 2 of the second measure (hold count 3).
Not the easiest song to dance to but definitely doable. Hope the suggestions I’ve given help you along!
Hi Brandee,
My Fiance and I finally chose a song to dance to for our first dance in late May. We are both inexperienced dancers and I am having a hard time determining what type of dance to attempt. We are dancing to “I Do” by The Hound + The Fox it is in 4/4 time. I would love any help and direction you can give!
Julie
Hi Julie:
If you want to do an “official” style of dance, there are two that could work for your song “I Do” by The Hound & The Fox. The first is Foxtrot and the other is Rumba. I’d recommend Foxtrot as it matches your song better.
Congrats on your wedding. Wishing you well on your dance.
Best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee
I’m so pleased I’ve stumbled across your website especially to know I’m not alone in wedding dance dilemmas.
I’d love to dance to “the way you make me feel” by Michael Jackson for our wedding dance but we are both beginners so I’m not sure if there is a ballroom dance that we could do or if it’s just too ambitious.
Thank you from South Africa!
Hello to Sarah in South Africa!
There are several styles you could dance to The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson. Officially, West Coast Swing (WCS), Cha Cha and Hustle are the best fits.
I think WCS and regular Hustle (3-count) are too challenging for beginners at their wedding—so nix those. That leaves Cha Cha…or 4-count Hustle (slower and easier than 3-count version). Hustle has more of a disco/swing dance feel; Cha Cha of course is Latin, but you can dance it casually without all the Latin technique.
If either of those feels like too fast/too much stepping (Hustle is 8 steps every 8 beats; Cha Cha is 10), you could dance Rumba. Traditional Rumba is a slower Latin dance, but it works great for pop songs just danced casually without all the Latin technique.
If you want to keep it easy and fun, I’d go with Rumba. If you want to up the challenge and entertainment value, I’d go with Cha Cha. Hustle would be my a third choice.
Hope that helps. Have a wonderful time creating your dance and workin’ your moves at your wedding!
Best,
Brandee
Hello and thank you for your really helpful post!
I was wondering what would be best to dance on Christina Aguilera – Bound to you?
Inexperienced is an understatement for myself and my future husband but we still wanted to have it as our first dance – really hope we can as the song is very special to us.
Thank you,
Alina
Hi Alina:
This is a beautiful song, tho’ not the easiest to dance to. It’s in 6/8 time which gives it a Waltzy feel even though it’s not a Waltz.
There are two ways you could go with this:
Easier: Simple side basic, stepping on each heavy beat in the music (sway a little to one side and step on that foot, then sway to the other side and step on the 2nd foot, continue shifting weight with a Waltzy feel). From there you can do other turns and moves, continuing the same rhythm and just walking or stepping through moves. It’s hard to explain in words but it’s very easy but looks good and matches the music.
More Challenging: Foxtrot, using the Slow-Quick-Quick figures (such as a Box step)
Hope this helps.
Best,
Brandee
My daughter is getting married and wants to dance a waltz for “their dance”. She’s been looking at a few songs with Nat King Cole (mostly, when i fall in love) and Englebert Humperdink “If you love me”. However, dancers we are not, and they will be taking lessons. Any suggestions for these songs?
Hi Myrlann:
Thanks for writing in and apologies for my slow reply.
Neither of these songs are Waltzes but both are lovely and romantic. Of the two, I think Englebert Humperdink will be much easier to dance to simply because the beat is much easier to hear.
Both songs are pretty much the exact same tempo, so the same dance could be done to either. I’d suggest a simple slow dance basic (side-tap, side-tap), adding turns and spins from there. If they plan to take dance lessons, the dance Nightclub Two Step is another option (it was designed specifically for slow 4/4-time songs like this one).
Hope this helps,
Brandee
For Nat King Cole’s “When I Fall in Love”
I got inspired to write a dance scene in a story by “Gerudo Valley” from Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, and I was just wondering. What dance would fit the song?
Hi Duncan:
Sounds like a cool project. This is a flamenco song, so flamenco would be the best fit. If you wanted to do a ballroom dance to it, Tango would be the one—-either Ballroom Tango or Argentine Tango.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hello Brandee,
Thank you so much for your article.
We‘ve just discovered the song: “Banks” by Needtobreath but I find it quite difficult to figure out which dance is the right fit for it. Could you point me in the right direction, please?
Thank you so much.
Hello Alina:
Thanks for writing. There are actually several dances that would work well for “Banks” by Needtobreath:
1. Rumba (you can dance this casually or with a traditional Latin dance style)
2. Foxtrot (good if you want to travel—it’s the only dance in this list that travels around the floor. You can dance it casually or with a traditional Ballroom feel)
3. Nightclub Two Step (designed for slow songs. It can be hard to do smoothly unless you have previous dance experience)
4. Swing (good if you want a relaxed, fun feel. It’s on the slow side for Swing but still works. Use a step, step, rock-step rhythm)
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hello Brandee,
Thank you so much for your article.
My fiancé and I have picked we have all the time in the world (the James Bond theme song) and we are struggling to figure out what would be the best dance for it.
Would have any advice for us ?
Thanks a lot
Alice
Hi Alina:
This is a great song. Its feel most matches Rumba, however, its speed is much slower than Rumba is typically danced.
So unless you and your fiance as experienced dancers who can stretch movements out to fill the time in the music (or you’re willing to speed the song up ~10-15%), I’d recommend just doing a slow dance basic (side-tap, side-tap). This will give you a lot of flexibility to build turns and moves off of it. I suggest looking to Rumba, Foxtrot and Swing for moves and inspiration.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi,
I´m looking for songs by Imagine Dragons or One Republic for Waltz or Quickstep. Do you think there is a chance I will find any? Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you so much for your help.
Karolina
Hi Karolina:
Thanks for writing. The few songs I know from these bands unfortunately are not Waltzes or Quicksteps.
Assuming these are bands you like and listen to a lot, I’d recommend going through your playlists and see if you can find any with…
1. Waltz timing (1-2-3)
If you’re not sure what Waltzes sound like, here are a few pop songs that are written in 3/4 (aka Waltz) time, listed from slower to faster.
If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys
I’ll Be by Edwin McCain
A Thousand Years by Chritina Perri
That’s How Strong My Love Is by Otis Redding
2. Quickstep: You’ll want a 4/4-time song that is fast, at least 165 beats per minute. Here are some pop and swing songs that could work for Quickstep:
Dance with Me Tonight by Olly Murs
It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett
Shut Up and Dance with Me by Walk the Moon
Honey I’m Good by Andy Grammer
Hope that helps. If you find songs that fit the bill, I’d love for you to come back and post them!
Best,
Brandee
How would you dance ‘Endlessly’ by Amaranthe?
Hello Erin:
Endlessly by Amaranthe is a Viennese Waltz (aka a fast Waltz). Given that Viennese Waltz is a very challenging dance, I’d recommend modifying it in one of the following ways:
1) Use a “hesitation” rhythm where you only step on every count 1 (i.e. the first beat of every measure). This way, instead of stepping 3 times every measure, you’re only stepping once—-much more manageable!
2) Use a “Slow-Quick-Quick” rhythm where you step on count 1 of the first measure, then counts 1 and 2 of the second measure. In this case, you’re stepping 3 times over 2 measures.
I recommend finding a dance teacher near you, as trying to learn and do this on your own would be difficult.
Cheers,
Brandee
Hello! What dance would go well with “From This Moment On” by Shania Twain? My fiance and I would love to do a Rumba for our first dance, but I’m not sure if it matches the music! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Lp2uC_1lg
Hello Caryn:
“From This Moment On” by Shania Twain is a good song for Rumba. That said, it’s faster than a typical Rumba. My recommendation is to slow it down 10-12% using an app such as AnyTune or Audacity. This will not effect the vocals and most people won’t even notice you’ve slowed it down–but doing so will make it much easier to dance to!
I hope that helps.
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi Brandee, I love dancing and want to learn with my husband. I have a couple of songs that I can’t seem to figure out the dance styles to. One is an oldies called “Dancing On the Moon,” the other is newer and it is “Behind the Clouds” by Brad Paisley. Could you give me some hints?
Thank you!
Hi Kaeley:
Thanks for writing! I’ll start with “Behind the Clouds” by Brad Paisley first. If you have a large-ish dance floor (at least 18×18 ft), you could do a relaxed Country Two Step (Quick-Quick-Slow-Slow rhythm). Alternatively, you could dance a mellow East Coast or Country Swing. In this case, you may want to speed the song up by 5-10%. This won’t change the song enough for your guests to even know, but it will make it a more natural rhythm for Swing. For East Coast Swing, I’d suggest the step-step-rock step rhythm (unless you want to do triple steps, in which case, keep the song the original tempo).
Unfortunately, despite many searches, I can’t find any oldies song called “Dancing on the Moon”. If you tell me the artist, I’d be happy to have a listen and recommend a dance to do to it.
Best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee, thank you for your response! I am looking forward to dancing to it!
The song “Dancing on the Moon” is a sound track for an old cartoon that I found on YouTube. It changes tempo part way through and possibly again towards the end.
It’s the 1935 color classic cartoon.
Thanks for the tips—-I found it. What a fun song! You’re right that it changes tempo and has little interludes to match the cartoon.
The beginning is perfect for Foxtrot, the uptempo part in the second half would be great for East Coast Swing (step, step, rock-step). The song is much longer than you’d want to dance to. Since you’d need to edit it down anyways, I’d suggest cutting out the hard to dance to parts (aka the rocket ship part and the slow interlude in the middle).
If you can do a little medley of the beginning and end, you’d have yourself a nice Foxtrot into Swing routine.
Have fun,
Brandee
Thank you so much Brandee! I appreciate your help and expert advice!
You’re so welcome!
This article was great and helpful thank you. I am trying to figure out what is the best type of dance for Christina Perri- Arms. Any suggestions?
Hi Sandra:
“Arms” by Christina Perri is pretty fast. Styles danced at this tempo are East Coast Swing (or Country Swing), Country Two Step, Salsa and Merengue. Since the song is clearly not Latin-inspired, I’d nix the Salsa & Merengue.
Depending on the look and feel you want, I’d recommend:
* East Coast Swing (step, step, rock-step): for a fun & upbeat, pretty easy to learn dance. You don’t need a big dance floor.
* Country Two Step: for a country feel, dynamic dance. This is a much more challenging dance and requires a lot of space (*at least* 18 x 18ft).
* Foxtrot (the Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick figures): It’s very fast for Foxtrot, but the elegance of this dance might match the music and look you want more. Best if your floor is 18x18ft or larger.
It’s not the easiest song to match a partner dance to, especially if you’re a beginner. But I’m confident you’ll be able to do something lovely. Don’t get too caught up in sticking to an “official” dance style.
Hope this helps,
Brandee
Hello, my wife and I were trying to figure out what dance to do to Panalangin by the APO Hiking Society for our wedding. She is Filipino and the song means a lot to her. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks so much!
Hello Aaron:
What a fun song! It’s quite slow. The dance style that fits its tempo is Nightclub Two Step. While that dance is usually done to more romantic, mellow ballads, it could easily be done to this song.
If you aren’t interested in that dance, I’d just do an unofficial dance using step-tap side to side as your basic, then build fun moves off of that.
The other option (not really recommended) is Rumba. Normally Rumba is danced to songs around 130 beats per minute. Your song is only 75 beats per minute (ie much, much slower), so you’d need to dance Rumba double time. For an experienced dancer, this might work well. But for beginners, it will likely feel fast and challenging to do.
I hope one of these options works for you and your wife!!
Cheers,
Brandee
My son and I are dancing to Never Alone by Lady A at his wedding. What step would you recommend?
Thank you!
Hi Lisa:
This song has an odd time signature: 6/8, which makes it feel like a Waltz even though it’s not. I’d recommend using a Box step as your basic, the rhythm being Slow-Quick-Quick. From there you could use other steps from Waltz or any of the Slow-Quick-Quick steps from Foxtrot.
If that feels too complicated, I suggest doing a simple “slow dance” (i.e. step-step, shifting weight from foot to foot). You’d step on each heavy beat. Then you could do a couple turns, continuing that same rhythm—-basically just “walking” through steps.
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
Hi brandee, how nice of you to answer all these questions of what dance to try! I am wondering if any latin dances could go with “Stay just a little bit longer” from Drity Dancing. thank you!
Sure thing. Cha Cha is a perfect fit with “Stay just a little bit longer” from Dirty Dancing. Alternatively, if you want a dance that’s a bit easier, you could do Rumba.
Have fun,
Brandee
Hi Brandee-
Would the Cha-Cha work for Cuando, Cuando, Cuando- Nelly Furtada and Michael Buble??
Hi Becky: This song is a classic Rumba. While there are some Rumbas you could dance Cha Cha to, the beat of this one would make it very challenging. If your heart is set on Cha Cha, I’d find another song.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi Brandee, After a scary medical episode, my son and I decided on Bing Crosby’s “I’ve Got Plenty to be Thankful For” as our mother son dance. Do you have any recommendations for a dance? Not too challenging as my knees aren’t what they used to be. I appreciate you answering and advising couples for so long! Thanks!
I’m glad to hear you’ve recovered from your medical issue. This is such a sweet song. It’s a classic East Coast Swing (ECS) dance song (step, step, rock step). You can do this in a very relaxed, easy way—-it doesn’t have to be wild and Lindy Hop-like.
If you need it to be simpler, you could just do the side to side steps of the ECS basic, cutting out the rock step. Each step is 2 beats of music, so it will still be on the faster side.
There are lots of videos online that teach the basics of East Coast Swing—-or maybe there’s a dance studio near you where you can take a lesson or two.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Any advice on what dance would go to Ella Henderson – Empire please. It has such meaning to my partner and I that after a tough few years we are using it as our first dance but neither are very fluid.
Hi Jay:
You have a lot of options with Empire by Ella Henderson:
1. For a simpler romantic feel: a side-tap, side-tap slow dance basic, building turns off of that
2. For a more upbeat, dynamic feel: 4-count Hustle (similar to swing dancing but a steady 1-2-3-4 rhythm instead of swing’s slow-slow-quick-quick)
3. For a more flowy, travel-around-the-floor feel: Foxtrot, using only the slow-quick-quick figures (slow-slow-quick-quick figures will be too draggy given the slow speed of the song)
4. For a sensual, possibly Latin feel: Rumba (you can dance it casually without all the Latin technique).
5. A combination of two of these. One example would be to do #1, then bust into #2 for the choruses and other high points in the song
Have a wonderful time putting together your dance.
Cheers,
Brandee
My son and I are dancing to “The Wonder of You” by Elvis at his wedding on New Year’s Eve. What is a good dance choice for this song? Thanks so much.
Hi Donna:
This Elvis song is too slow for any of the official partner dances (like Foxtrot, Rumba, Swing, etc). I’d recommend doing a basic “slow dance”, a side-tap, side-tap. Then you can build a few turns off of that. And if the dance floor is large (like more than 18 or 20 ft), you might want to move around the floor a bit. You can do this using the basic step, stepping diagonally instead of straight to the side (traditionally, your son would step diagonally forward while you go diagonally backward).
Hope that helps,
Brandee
What dance would you suggest for “Be my baby” by the Ronnettes (first dance wedding song)
Hi Matthew:
You have quite a few options for dancing to “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes, depending on the look you’re going for, as well as the level of your dance skills/how much time you’re willing to put into preparing your dance.
Easiest: simple side-tap basic and build moves off that; the look of this can either be like a romantic slow dance or a more casual, slightly upbeat feel.
Latin Feel: Rumba
Swing/Upbeat Feel: East Coast Swing with a single time rhythm (i.e. step, step, rock-step). The rhythm is Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick, so 1 basic step takes 6 beats of music. The song is a tad slow for this, so you have to relax into it. If you find you keep going faster than the beat of the song, try a 4-count Hustle. This means doing the same steps and moves of East Coast Swing but stepping on every beat: 1-2-3-4 instead of Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick. Alas, the song is a bit fast for doing this comfortably as a beginner dancer, so chances are East Coast Swing with a relaxed, casual feel will be best.
Good luck,
Brandee
Me and my boyfriend are trying to plan a performance for next year to the song Nuestra Canción by Monsieur Periné, what dances would you recommend for this? I wanted a faster dance but my boyfriend thinks double-time for this song is ambitious lol, I’d love to hear some options! Thank you
Hi Vanessa:
What a fun song! It’s a classic swing song. It is on the fast side but even as beginners, using an East Coast Swing single-time rhythm (step, step, rock-step) should be quite doable. If after some practice it’s hard to keep up, I’d recommend using an audio app to slow it down by 5-10%. This is a small enough tweak that it won’t change the sound of the song much but will give you a little more space to breathe!
Have a great time prepping for and performing to this tune!
Cheers,
Brandee
I’m dancing a mother son wedding dance to my wish sang by rascal Flatt. Can you recommend a simple dance?
Hi Jen:
My Wish by Rascal Flatt is a wonderful song for a mother-son dance. It’s pretty fast, so the simplest thing to do would be to just shift weight side to side (i.e. step on the right foot, then shift to the left foot). This is like what you would do in a basic “slow dance”, but it will be faster. You can then do turns and moves, continuing to take a step on each beat–basically “walking through” whatever you’re doing.
An alternative, if you want to spend more time learning and practicing, would be to dance a single-time East Coast Swing: step, step, rock-step.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi Brandee! I will be dancing to Augustana’s Sweet and Low for my wedding. What kind of dance would that be? We are planning to take 4-6 dance lessons between now and the wedding (not for another 9 months!).
Hi there:
This song is a little too fast for some dances and a little slow for others. If you wanted to do an official dance style, you could do Foxtrot patterns that use a Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm. As a beginner, you will need a good-sized dance floor to do this with ease (minimum ~14 x 16).
A second possibility would be a slow, relaxed East Coast Coast Swing: step, step, rock-step.
But you might be better off not doing an official dance style. Instead, just use a side-tap basic and from there you can build some turns and fun moves.
I’m sure your dance teacher will help you through creating a beautiful dance.
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
I’ve been reading up on your blog and it has been SO helpful! Thank you for your amazing tips.
My fiance and I are looking to use “6s to 9s” by Big Wild for our first dance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUzWOuXUpyk). We have a good baseline of experience and we’re planning to take ~4 dance lessons between now and the big day, incorporating basic lifts. It’s a bit non-traditional and I’m having trouble figuring out what kind of dance would go best with this song, what would you suggest?
Hi Nicole:
Fun song. The only official dances this song really seems fitting for are West Coast Swing (WCS) or Hustle (&123 rhythm). But neither of these are dances you can learn in 4 lessons, so I don’t suggest them for your first dance.
You could do Rumba or Cha Cha but that would be shoehorning this song into a dance.
I think your best bet is what I’ve recommended to a majority of people: a made up dance using a side-tap basic and then building turns and moves off of it. Depending on what kind of feel you want—-romantic, slower vs upbeat, casual and fun–you could draw inspiration from Foxtrot/Waltz/Rumba for the former and East Coast Swing, Salsa, etc for the latter.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi Brandee, Fantastic post.
One question: What dance(s) fits “Sixteen going on seventeen” from The Sound of Music?
This is one of my favourite routines!
Thanks, Julie.
Hi Julie:
Foxtrot would be a great fit for “Sixteen going on Seventeen” from Sound of Music.
Best,
Brandee
That is very helpful, thank you Brandee!
What dance style should my husband and I dance to the song
“When The Girl In Your Arms Is The Girl In Your Heart” by Cliff Richard
Hi Laura:
“When The Girl In Your Arms Is The Girl In Your Heart” is a Waltz. It’s slow for a Waltz: typical dance tempo is 30-32 measures per minute and your song is ~27 measures. That’s probably still danceable but may be a bit challenging, assuming you are beginner dancers. If you find that to be the case, I recommend using audio software to speed it up without distorting the vocals—-about 10% faster should do the trick.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi BrandeeS! This article is super helpful, thank you!
My fiancee and I really want to do our first dance to SIA and Labyrinth- Genius , but both of us are really struggling to think of a dance style that will go with it! Starting to think there isn’t anything. What is your professional opinion?
Hi Andreya:
Fun song. Yes, it certainly isn’t made for any of the official ballroom/latin/swing dances. That said, given the song’s tempo (160 beats per minute), I think your two best bets would be either Salsa or East Coast Swing (step, step, rock step rhythm).
Have fun,
Brandee
Hey Brandee!
Just found your blog and it’s so helpful! Which dance would you recommend for “I Wanna Remember” by NEEDTOBREATHE (feat. Carrie Underwood). We’d like the dance to be interesting and fun! It’s going to be for our reception. Thanks so much!!
Hi Mike:
“I Wanna Remember” is perfect for West Coast Swing. However, that’s a challenging dance that I wouldn’t recommend doing for your first dance. Instead I’d recommend a side-tap basic (not an official dance) and building moves off of that. Alternatively, you could do a 4-count Hustle which would be really fun!
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi Brandee!
Thanks for this article! Which dance would you recommend for Pierre by Ryn Weaver? I was thinking Blues swing or Rumba but wasn’t too sure. Thanks!
Hi Emma:
This song is too slow for Rumba, plus it’s driving, upbeat feel doesn’t match the smooth, romantic character of Rumba. While you *can* dance Blues to just about anything, this song doesn’t say Blues dancing to me.
Instead, this song would be perfect for West Coast Swing, or even Hustle (3-count version: &-1-2-3). While the tempo is on the slow side for Cha Cha, it’s staccato upbeat-ness goes with the character of Cha Cha, so that could work.
Or just do a simple side-tap basic and build moves off of that (i.e. not an official dance style).
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi Brandee!
Thanks for your detailed step-by-step tutorial, however my betrothed and I are both pretty much beginners, besides club dancing (so we got that confidence at least 🙂 ).
We would like to have our first dance to “You Are Gold” by The National Parks, I think it’s a 2/2 so it should fit Rumba/Foxtrot(Slowfox?), what would you say?
Since this is kinda our song we would love to dance to it, but we’re not sure where to put our effort yet, so it would be amazing to have your advice on that!
Thanks in advance!
This is a lovely song that’s very danceable. I wouldn’t limit yourself to an official dance style. The feeling of it does match Rumba or Foxtrot, however, it’s quite slow for both those dances (it’s 108 beats per min; Foxtrot is usually ~125bpm & Rumba ~130bpm.) You might be able to speed the song up by 10% (with audio software that doesnt distort the vocals) to bring it up enough that you could do one of these dances to it.
Alternatively, a simple side-tap basic would work great. Then build moves off of that (i.e. not an official dance style, just pulling inspiration from other dances making it fit the speed & feel of this song).
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
What type of dance would go with “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” from the movie Toy Story? Thinking of doing this for a Mother Son dance, as it has a lot of sentimental significance
You gotta love this song! What a great one for a Mother-Son dance. It would work well with Foxtrot’s Slow-Quick-Quick figures such as a Box Step and Box with Underarm Turn. Rumba uses the same rhythm, so you could pull moves from that dance as well.
But if you don’t have much time to practice together, you can always keep it simple side-tap basic would work great and doing a couple spins from there.
Cheers,
Brandee
Hello Brandee,
What a great article! My fiance and I took a few lessons but are very new to dance. We’ve chosen “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” by Elvis as our first dance and I’m having a really hard time with hearing the beat. I looked up the sheet music and it is in cut-time and the tempo says “Moderately slow”.
Any suggestions for what kind of dance to do to this song?
Kimberly
Hi Kimberly:
What a classic song! Of the “official” dance styles, Nightclub Two Step is the one that fits the song’s slow tempo. But NC Two Step isn’t the easiest dance to do smoothly if you’re a beginner.
So instead I would recommend one of the following instead:
1. Foxtrot, Modified to dance double time. Slows would be 1 beat (instead of 2 beats) and Quicks half a beat (instead of 1 beat)
2. Do a basic slow dance: side-tap, side-tap and then build moves off of that, drawing from dances like Foxtrot, Swing and anything else you like!
Hope that helps.
Best,
Brandee
Brandee,
This is great thank you! We’ve been experimenting and I think with our song at 79 bpm I think NC2S might be too fast for us to do to that song. We had fun learning the basic step though!
If we are modifying the foxtrot for a slow step to be one beat and a quick step a half, would there be two slow steps and then 4? quick steps per measure? I’ve seen some places call this Castle Foxtrot online.
Any suggestions for where to find easy online tutorial videos with this tempo instead of the usual foxtrot tempo? I’m confusing myself a little trying to translate.
Thank you again for being so responsive!! I feel like you’ve saved me a lot of stress over figuring this out with your first response. Thank you!
Hi Kimberly:
Good questions. You don’t need to do anything special or modify the steps. You simply use the same rhythm as normal Foxtrot steps (Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick which normally takes 6 beats of music, or Slow-Quick-Quick which normally spans 4 beats). You will actually be moving *faster* when dancing to your song than you would for a normal Foxtrot. That’s because Foxtrot is normally danced at ~130 bpm and your song at “double time” is ~158 bpm.
I’m not very familiar with Castle Foxtrot but has it’s own basic step that’s different from Foxtrot. I believe it also changes the rhythm from Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick to an even 1-2-3-4. This is another possibility for your song which will give you a full beat for each “Quick” step, instead of only getting half a beat. In this way, it won’t feel so fast.
If you decide to dance the steps evenly (1-2-3-4), you don’t need to do any special Castle Foxtrot steps—you can just use regular Foxtrot steps (the Basic, Left Rock Turn, Promenade, etc). You just have to take your time with the “3-4”, since they are usually the side-together steps that don’t take much time to dance (hence usually being “quicks”) but now you need to take as much time with them as the “slows”. So you need be mindful not to rush. I think this is why Castle Foxtrot does rocking steps–it makes it easier to keep the flow.
I hope that helps. I encourage you to find a dance teacher and take at least one lesson. They will be able to help you a lot. It’s really worth it!
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi Brandee!
Thanks for the article! What suggestions would you have for the songs Calm Down by Rema, Bittersweet symphony by the Verve, and Mr. Brightside by the Killers?
Hi Allison:
Here are my suggestions
• Calm Down by Rema: I believe this song is perfect for Kizomba.
• Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve: It depends on where/why you’re dancing to this. If it’s just for fun, you could make East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Nightclub Two Step or even Salsa work (even though this pop song isn’t readily suited to any official style of dance). However, if you’re considering this as a first dance song at your wedding, I’d use a step-tap basic and build moves off of that.
• Mr. Brightside by the Killers: East Coast Swing
Hi Brandee!
I love the blog! My husband and I want to do a dance to Grace Kelly by Mika. What dance style would you recommend for this song?
Hi Stacy:
I’d recommend either 1) East Coast Swing (using triple step, triple step, rock step rhythm), 2) 4-count Hustle (which basically is a lot like East Coast Swing but without the triple steps) or 3) Cha Cha. All 3 of these dances would be a good fit with both the tempo and the upbeat, rock feel of this song.
Have fun with it!
You are such a wonderful resource!
I’ve done quite a bit of dancing but haven’t determined the dance for the lovely “Stand by Me” by Ben E King?
Hi there:
There are a lot of possibilities when it comes to dancing to “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King: Foxtrot, Rumba, East Coast Swing (triple step rhythm) or even Cha Cha (tho’ the instrumental part in the middle doesn’t feel very Cha Cha like). So depending on the occasion and look & feel you’re going for, you can choose from those.
Have fun,
Brandee
Looking for a dance for “Storybook Love” from the Princess Bride, it’s been stumping me for a while. Any thoughts?
Hi Katie:
Sorry for the delayed response (I’ve been away on vacation).
Sweet song choice. There’s good reason you’ve been stumped about it: the tempo is too slow for most dance styles yet too fast for the dance designed for slow songs, Nightclub Two Step.
I recommend creating your own dance. You can use a side to side step-tap as your basic, then build turns and moves off of it. This song really lends itself to “acting out” parts of it, telling the story. If you’re going for a more serious, romantic feel for your dance, this could be done very subtly here and there. If you’re into being more whimsical/fun/campy, you could take it as far as you want.
I suggest you take a few lessons with a professional dance instructor. They will help you put together a wonderful dance.
Best,
Brandee
Thank you so much, that makes me feel so much better! I did ballroom dance through my teen years, and I thought I was loosing my mind not being able to fit it to anything.
You’re so welcome.
Hi there 🙂 thank you for this very informative article.
I have a song which really confuses me – it has a very particular feel to it but I am just not sure which dance would be appropriate for the temp.
Which dance style would fit “Strangers” by “Roosevelt”? Another example of this style is “Passion” by “Roosevelt and Nile Rodgers”
‘
I am indeed excited to get some suggestions.
Hi Sarah:
Sorry for the delayed response (I’ve been away on vacation).
Fun songs! Cha Cha would work well for “Strangers” by Roosevelt. Normally Cha Cha is faster which makes it challenging for beginners. But the speed of this song would make it very easy. Another good option is Hustle, either the tradition (but harder) &1-2-3 rhythm or a 4-count Hustle (1-2-3-4). If you are willing to devote significant time in dance lessons and practicing, West Coast Swing is another great match for this song.
“Passion” by Roosevelt ft Nile Rodgers is slightly faster than “Strangers”. Cha Cha and 4-count Hustle both still work for this song as well.
Have fun!
–Brandee
Hello, my future husband would like to dance “Lego house” by Ed Sheeran for our first dance. Can you please suggest me a dance style for this song? We are almost complete beginners. Thank you so much
Hi Nicole:
This is a nice classic Ed Sheeran for a first dance. The “official” dance style this song works well with is Nightclub Two Step, however, this isn’t the easiest dance to do smoothly if you’re a beginner.
So I recommend creating your own dance using a side tap basic step. You can then build spins, twirls and other moves off of the basic. For most/all of these other moves, you can just step on every beat.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Brandee, just stumbled across your blog and I am in awe. The thought and time you have put into all your answers here, across the years, is simply amazing. And so, now, I’m going to jump into the mix with my own question. At our son’s wedding in October, my husband and I would like to dance to “our” wedding song, “You are so Beautiful” by Joe Cocker. We were thinking the Rumba. Does that sound right to you? Thanks in advance for any guidance!
Hi Stacy:
Thanks so much for your kind compliments. And apologies for my delayed response (I’ve been away on vacation).
Yes, you nailed it. Rumba is a perfect choice for “You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker.
Enjoy,
Brandee
What type dance would go with “can’t help falling in love with you “ by Elvis Presley?
Hi Abi:
You have a few options for dancing to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis. The easiest is just shifting weight side to side, stepping on each beat—-not super exciting but it will feel natural.
The other options are Rumba and Foxtrot (use Slow-Quick-Quick figures). Both dances use a Box Step as their basic. Since you’ll be taking 3 steps in only 2 beats of music, it may feel a bit fast at first. The key is to keep your steps SMALL so it feels comfortable, not rushed.
Wishing you all the best,
Brandee
What to dance to please release me let me go. Is it a waltz or rumba? What about, Can’t help falling in love?
Hi Erma:
I’m assuming you’re talking about “Please Release Me” by Engelbert Humberdinck. This song is kind of an in-between tempo, a bit too fast for Nightclub Two Step (a dance designed for slow songs), but too fast for other official dance styles. So I recommend doing a non-official dance, just using a side-tap basic and building twirls and moves off of that. You can look to dances like Rumba and Foxtrot for inspiration, modifying to fit the slower tempo.
As for “Can’t Help Falling in Love” please see my response to Abi immediately below.
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
We want “Garden Song” by Caamp to be our first dance but we aren’t good with time signatures. Which dance would you recommend for this song?
Hi Phillip:
What a sweet song for a first dance. “Garden Song” by Caamp lends itself well to both Rumba and Foxtrot.
That said, you don’t need to keep to an official dance style. So if you prefer, you can simply shift weight side to side, stepping every other beat (so one “basic” will take 4 beats of music). Then you can add turns and moves from there.
Have fun creating your dance!
Best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
I just came across your blog in a Google search, what a great idea this is.
I thought I saw my song in the description but after scrolling all the comments I can’t seem to find it. So I’m wondering if you could help me with what the timing/tempo is for “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey, specifically the DH orchestral version. I’m getting married and wanting to do a waltz inspired first dance with some spins, dips etc and would love any help or suggestions. Thank you so much.
Hi Kaylin:
“Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey is 4/4 time. Foxtrot steps with a “Slow, Quick, Quick” rhythm work well (such as a Box Step, Box with Underarm Turn, Twinkles, etc). Foxtrot looks a lot like Waltz (the two dances even shares many of the same steps), so I think it’d be the way to go given you want a waltz-inspired dance.
Have a great time. It’s such a dramatic and beautiful song to dance to!
Best,
Brandee
Thank you so much! I’ve been taking lessons but I’m frustrated to the point of wanting to quit because I haven’t learned this and it has stopped me from getting out social dancing. Your article is really helpful, exactly what I was looking for. I’m interested in the linked recommended playlist so I can practice “hearing it” but it won’t open for me. Are you able to email it?
Hi Corrie:
I’m so glad you found my post helpful! Yes, it can be so bewildering and frustrating not knowing what dance goes with the song that’s playing.
And thank you for letting me know that link no longer works. Here’s an even better one: https://www.ballroomdancechicago.com/music-playlists
Another great option is using Spotify (or a similar service). Simply search for a “Ballroom Dance” playlist—-or for individual dances, such as “Salsa dance” or Nightclub Two Step dance”. There are many free, public playlists that people have curated.
Thanks for the helpful article! What dance would you recommend for “Lucky” by Jason Mraz feat. Colbie Caillat?
It’s not a waltz, right? Someone told me it was, but I think it has a four-beat rhythm?
Hi Irene:
You’re right, Lucky by Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat is written in 4/4 time (it is NOT a Waltz).
You have several options, depending on the look you’re going for:
1. Side-Tap Basic: This is the easiest and most flexible. Not an official dance style, just a made-up simple foundation from which to build turns and moves.
2. Rumba: The song’s speed fits for Rumba. Using the Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm, start with a Box Step and add other Rumba figures from there. And don’t feel limited to Rumba steps—-you can find inspiration from other dances. Rumba will give your dance a romantic, sensual and, depending on how much technique you use or don’t, a Latin feel.
3. East Coast Swing: This song is an appropriate tempo for a triple-step East Coast Swing. This would give your dance a relaxed, upbeat feel.
3. Bachata: The tempo of this song is perfect for Bachata. Even though this song isn’t technically a Bachata, it would be a fun, sexy dance that would work well.
Boy, that’s a lot of choices. Look at videos of each dance and see which appeals to you.
Have fun,
Brandee
Thanks so much, Brandee! So many options 😀 So sorry for the late reply, I missed your post.
You’re welcome! Here’s wishing you ease in choosing which direction to go in.
Hi, Brandee! My son and I are putting the finishing touches on our Mother/Son mashup for our dance at his wedding at the end of the month. It’s parts of three Beatles tunes: From Me to You | I’m Happy Just to Dance With You | I’ll Follow the Sun. We’ve each taken ballroom lessons in the past, but not with each other. Would love your thoughts on how to dance each one. We’re hoping to switch up the dance each time the song changes. Thanks!
Hi Sandy:
What a fun medley of songs for a Mother-Son dance! All three are basically the same tempo (136, 132 & 134 beats per minute to be exact). I assume the order you listed is the order you’re dancing them in. However, I think it might work better to change it to the following, as From Me to You lends itself to the most interesting and peppy dance moves. Ideally you’d start with the simplest dance and gradually build to most visually interesting.
If you’re open to an order change, here’s what I’d suggest.
1. I’m Happy Just to Dance with You: Start off simple with a side-tap, side-tap basic. Throw in a turn or two.
2. I’ll Follow the Sun: Use a Box step as your “basic”, then add other moves from Rumba or Foxtrot
3. From Me to You: East Coast Swing (i.e. step, step, rock-step). This song (as well as the others) are a little on the slow side for single-swing but will work if you keep it casual and relaxed.
If not, you could keep the original order and still use the dance I suggested for each song. Or, since they are all the same tempo, you could dance side-tap for From Me to You, Box/Rumba/Foxtrot for I’m Happy Just to Dance with You, and Swing to I’ll Follow the Sun.
Hope that helps. Have a great time!
Best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee-
Looking for some advice about the song “who knows where the time goes” by sandy denny. My dad requested it and I’m not sure what the best dance strategy would be. Thanks!
Hi Jojo:
Your question took a bit of research. There seem to be multiple versions of this song, at least one of which has a very hard to hear beat! This is the best version for dancing that I found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkOB57UcYk8
Despite it’s mellow feel, the song is actually pretty fast: 142 beats per minute (although it sounds like 71 beats per minute). I think the best thing to do is a basic “slow” dance where you shift weight from one foot to the other, using 2 beats for each step. This will be a comfortable pace and look like it goes with the music. Then just add turns and moves, continuing to step in the same rhythm, basically just “walking” through your turns.
If you want something a little fancier and have time to take some lessons with your dad, Nightclub Two Step would be perfect! It’s designed for slow songs ~70-75 beats per minute, so you’d just dance your song half time.
I hope this helps,
Brandee
Thank you!
You’re very welcome!
Hello! Any dance style recommendations for “Don’t Fade” by Vance Joy? (134 BPM) It’s a song that means so much to us, but we’re a little unsure the best way to dance to it.
Hi Jen:
Great song. There are several options for Don’t Fade by Vance Joy.
The Easiest: Simply shift weight from foot to foot every 2 beats (step, step) for your basic. This isn’t an official dance. You can then build turns and moves off of that, walking through them.
OR pick of these official dance styles which use a Slow-Quick-Quick (or Quick-Quick-Slow) rhythm:
Rumba: Uses a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm; figures like a Box, Box with Underarm Turn, etc. Your song is on the faster side for Rumba, so you’d need to keep your steps small and be light on your feet. You don’t have to use Latin hip motion or other Rumba dance technique; just use the moves. You can also draw inspiration from Foxtrot’s Slow-Quick-Quick figures, some of which are the same as Rumba.
Bachata: Uses a Quick-Quick-Slow rhythm, usually counted as 1-2-3-tap 4. Lots of figures and possibilities. Again, your song is on the faster side for Bachata, especially as a beginner, so you’d have to see how it feels. Again, you don’t have to do all the hip motion you’d use if you were out dancing Bachata to Bachata music.
Nightclub Two Step (NCTS): Uses a Quick-Quick-Slow rhythm. Your song is about twice the speed of normal NCTS tempo, so it maps perfectly. This can be a beautiful dance, however, it’s not the easiest for beginners to make look good.
I hope that helps. Have a great time creating a dance to this meaningful song for you and your sweetie!
Best,
Brandee
Hi Brandee!
Thank you so much for all of your tips! Super helpful! I looked through many of them and didn’t see the song my fiance and I plan to dance to for our first dance – “Sweet Tides” by Thievery Corporation. As a (non-professional) dancer myself, I’m having a really tough time figuring out a simple dance to the tempo. Would love any suggestions you have! Thanks so much!
Hi Anjuli:
Thanks for writing (and for looking through the other comments to see if I’d already given recommendations on this song!).
Tempo-wise (158 beats per min) the dance styles that match best are Salsa and East Coast Swing. But the feel of your song doesn’t lend itself to either of these dances. So I’d recommend doing a side-tap, side-tap basic (take 4 beats for each side tap). Then build turns and moves off of that. You might pull moves from Swing, Waltz, Foxtrot and Rumba that have a flowy feeling that matches your song.
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi! We’re looking to wrap our wedding dances up with “All You Need is Love” by the Beatles, and can’t decide on wha type of dance step would be best. We are VERY beginners! Thanks!
Hi Joan:
All You Need is Love by the Beatles is a great song for a family wedding dance. Given the speed of the song and that you’re beginners, I recommend doing a side-tap, side-tap basic step (not an official dance style). This takes 4 beats of music.
Then you can do a simple underarm turn for the women/followers from that basic. Turn clockwise (i.e. to the right) over 4 beats of music.
I hope that helps. Wishing you and your family a wonderful time.
Best,
Brandee
Hello!
Me an my finace are getting married next week and our first dance song is “everything has its place” by young mister. we’ve been told to try to do a foxy but it doesn’t feel quite right. is there anything else that we could try?
Hi Anya:
Yes, Foxy doesn’t fit because this song is a Waltz. However, it’s quite a bit faster than a regular Waltz yet slower than Viennese Waltz. Given this, dancing regular Waltz will feel very fast and be a bit challenging. Instead, I’d recommend using a side to side (&/or forward and back) basic where you step on every count 1 (hold on 2-3). This is called “hesitation” timing in Ballroom Waltz (not to be confused with the vintage dance called “Hesitation Waltz”).
Here’s a YouTube video of what I’m talking about. Next, look for moves that use partial hesitation timing (so you only need to step every beat for a short bit). Two possibilities are Hesitation to Box (aka a Left Hesitation Turn) and Promenade Hesitation.
Then you can spice it up with some turns and more complex moves where you might do different things with your feet. But for your basic moves, you can keep it romantic and simple, matching the feel of the song using hesitation timing.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
Best,
Brandee
Any suggestions on how my son and I can practice our mother/groom dance since we live 3000 miles apart? We will be dancing to Rod Stewart’s Forever Young. Thanks.
Hi Patricia:
“How to practice a dance when the two people live far apart?” That is a good question!
My first recommendation is to keep the dance simple. For “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart, a side-tap, side-tap basic will work well (this isn’t an official dance). This can be done plain, slowly rotating on the spot, and, if the wedding dance floor is large, you can travel the basic by your son stepping diagonally forward instead of straight side. Hopefully you’ll have a chance a day or two before the wedding to be together and practice this, then add a simple turn (clockwise is easiest) to spice it up.
Alternatively, if your son was willing to take a private dance lesson, the instructor could teach him two or three simple moves. They could then take a video for you to watch and learn, then practice on your own. Even better: if you have a spouse or friend who’d be willing to learn your son’s part of these moves and practice with you, then you’d get a chance to experience them with a partner in addition to just doing them solo.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi! I was wondering what type of dance my fiance and I could do for “I Will Wait” by Mumford and Sons (the normal version, not a slowed one). The song is meaningful to us so I want to make it work but I am worried it would be too difficult or advanced for us. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Hello Taylor:
This is a great song but it is challenging to dance to. I think it’s partly because it’s written in 4/2 time—-an unusual time signature which gives it that driving feel. But in trying to dance to it, I also found myself getting off the count. I think some sections don’t phrase in sets of 4. This means you’ll be dancing on count 1 (which is what you want to do), then all of a sudden you’re no longer on count 1 (which is disorienting).
But if you’re up for the challenge, I’d highly recommend finding a dance teacher–ideally one who is a musician or knows music well enough to help you navigate the peculiarities of how this song is written.
As for what to dance, I see 3 options:
1. A simple shift of weight side to side, from foot to foot. Mostly I think you’ll want to step every other beat, although in parts of the song it might feel better to step every beat. You can then build moves off of this easy basic, continuing to step in the same rhythm as you walk/turn/spin through the moves.
2. A Box Step (from Rumba or Foxtrot) could work nicely. The rhythm is Slow-Quick-Quick. You can then use other moves from Rumba or Foxtrot (like a Box with Slow Underarm Turn) that fit the vibe of the song.
3. 4-count East Coast Swing: Basically take East Coast Swing moves but use an rhythm of 1-2-3-4 instead of the usual Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick. Given the fast-pace of stepping every beat and the dynamic nature of the swing moves, I’d recommend starting your dance with Option 1 or 2, then if you wanted to spice things up toward the end of your dance, you could bust out into this modified East Coast Swing.
Here’s wishing you the best of luck!
Hi!
My SO and I are dancing to Jason Mraz Let’s See What the Night Can Do. What dance would you recommend? I feel the tempo calls for a waltz.
Thank you – and great article!
Jaci
Hi Jaci:
I agree that a Waltz-like dance would fit the feel of “Let’s See What the Night Can Do” by Jason Mraz well. It’s written in 4/4 time so isn’t officially a Waltz. However you could dance Waltz figures, just changing them to Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm (instead of 1-2-3).
Have a wonderful first dance!
Best,
Brandee
Great article! My wife and I chose to dance to “I Found You” by Alabama Shakes. Our good friend suggested East Coast Swing might be a good fit, though the tempo really varies throughout the song. Any tips for how to deal with the fluctuating tempo?
I’ll admit I’m not much of a dancer, but I think I have the main steps down, so any advice is appreciated 🙂
Thanks much!
Hi Jamison:
Good questions! While you could dance East Coast Swing (triple step rhythm) to “I Found You” by Alabama Shakes, it wouldn’t be my go-to recommendation for a first dance unless you were already a somewhat experienced Swing dancer. Most new dancers look a little awkward doing triple steps, the song has a very strong even beat that makes it easier to dance figures that are in 4-count increments (instead of 6-count swing), plus, it’s a lot of steps to have to do for a first dance (8 steps every 6 beats).
Instead, I’d recommend dancing Rumba, which use a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm (e.g. Box Step, Crossover Breaks, Follower’s Right Spot Turn, etc), which means it’s in 4-count increments and you’re only taking 3 steps in 4 beats of music. You can omit Latin hips & styling–just dance it casually with a little groove to fit the music.
As for the changes in the song, the tempo actually stays the same throughout (approx 114 beats per minute); it’s just that the instrumentation changes, making it sound as if it’s double time. During these parts in the song, I’d throw out official figures and rhythm–instead, modify to match the music. For example, you could do a circular move that you extend for awhile and move quickly in such as being in a “Cuddle position” and rotating around an axis that’s between you or do the famous disco style “hands over the heads and slide down each other’s right arms” move (sometimes called an “Armslide” or “Bow Tie”) walking quickly in a circle…or other similar type moves that can be easily changed to fit the driving quality of the music.
I hope what I’ve written makes sense to you. I think you can do a lot and have a great time dancing to this song at your wedding.
Cheers,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
My fiancé and I want to dance to Yukihiro Takahashi’s “Present” at our wedding next year. It seems to be around 75 or 150 bpm but it may shift throughout so we are struggling to find a dance to match. I was thinking maybe East Coast Swing but neither I nor my fiancé have any experience dancing. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks so much!
Hi Kat:
What a fun and unique song. You could dance East Coast Swing but that wouldn’t be my first suggestion since your song is so mellow feeling.
Instead, I would try Rumba or Foxtrot. Rumba uses a Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm, with a Box step being the “basic”. You would need to take small steps as your song is definitely on the fast side for Rumba. If your dance floor is ~18×18 ft or larger, Foxtrot might be a bit better, using figures with a Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick rhythm, which will be a bit easier to match to the tempo.
Nightclub Two Step would be another option. The tempo of your song is perfect for this dance, however, Nightclub Two Step can be tricky to dance smoothly if you’re a beginner. You could give it a try and see if you can get a flow going.
If Rumba, Foxtrot and Nightclub Two Step don’t work for you, then go for East Coast Swing—-just dance it in a super relaxed fashion that matches the music.
Hope this helps,
Brandee
Thanks so much Brandee! That’s such a huge help.
Yay, I’m so glad
What about the best dance for Marillion No one can?
Hi Stewat:
For Marillion’s “No One Can”, you could dance Rumba—-or Foxtrot (only the Slow-Quick-Quick figures). But honestly, I would just do a simple side step-tap basic and then build turns off of that.
Have fun,
Brandee
Hi Brandee, this is such a good source of info! What would you suggest for “Halo” by Beyonce?
Hi Miles:
Sorry for the slow response…I’ve been out of town for Thanksgiving.
You have a few options for Halo by Beyonce:
1. Side-Tap Basic that you build moves off of. This is not an “official” style of partner dancing, just something that works well.
2. Salsa: this song is about half the speed of a normal Salsa, making it easy to dance each 8-count Salsa step in 4 counts instead (aka double time)
3. Nightclub Two Step (NCTS): This song is a pretty good tempo for NCTS, tho’ is slightly fast for it. Alas, it’s not the easiest dance for a beginner to look good doing but it can be done!
Hope that helps,
Brandee
Hi Brandee,
What type of dance do you recommend for Go Gentle by Robbie Williams. It is for a father daughter dance.
Hi Karla:
What a great Father-Daughter dance song. It’s perfect for East Coast Swing (triple step rhythm) or Rumba (danced casually without the Latin hips, etc). Rumba is the easier of the two for beginners.
Have a great time,
Brandee