I'm going to go to my fist ever Senior prom but the problem is, I don't know how to "prom dance" I mean I've been to parties and danced then but not for this occation. I'm bring my girlfriend and she does not know how either. I don't want me/us to look like idiots. We are going to practice way before that night. Any tips for newbees? ********************************************************** 02-15-05, 08:08 AM Georgia85 Are you referring to slow dancing? Unless things have changed greatly since I was in high-school I don't recall anyone doing any sort of formal ball-room dancing to slow songs. Basically it was a chance to "enjoy the other's company" by pretty much just hugging each other and swaying to the music.
If you want to dazzle your friends with a more formal dancing, look into taking a ball-room dancing course if you have time. If you don't have time, rent old movies like "The King and I" or any Gene Kelley movie and study them to learn the proper dance pose. And as a suggestion, the fox trot and the waltz are 2 of the easiest dances to learn and will make you 2 look like pros out on the dance floor.
Have fun!
02-15-05, 08:31 AM Doug Yea slow dancing. How do you go about it?
02-15-05, 03:50 PM gerry Oh,yahh..the slow dance, how well I remember. Easy to fall in love that way, so be careful. No fancy steps required, no quick moves or shakes or twists. Georgia is so right...you domn't want to tango or waltz or anything...just slooowwwwwwwwww dance. Just hug your girlfriend above her left shoulder with your right arm, placing your right hand on her upper back. She hugs you with her left arm, placing it under your right armpit,and placing her left hand on your lower back or waist. Your head should rest on her right shoulder, and her head should rest on your right shoulder. Then you squeeze her right hand with your left hand as she squeezes your left hand with her right in one swift step. That's it! Then as the music plays , just gently rock and step back and forth in a 2-step motion (1,2....1,2....1,2...), that is to say, step gently with your left foot, then right foot,, left foot, right foot, left foot right foot)...you don't have to move too much, just rock back and forth, maybe turn slowly to complete a full revolution after a dozen steps or so, mostly just rock back and forth just a bit,slowly, gently, and enjoy. After awhile, you might take a step forward while she steps backward, or vice versa, akways keeping that slow 1,2 beat with the music, never a fast step, the 1 and the 2 should normally be about a second apart. And Enjoy. Now if you really want to make others think you're great at this and deeply in love, hug her with both arms around her and your hands on her back waist, as she hugs you with both arms and her hands around your waist, and just move back and forth slowly, slightly, or not at all, stepping all the tome 1.2 1,2...1,2...oh Doug, take me back, take me back! I think i'm falling in love again, thank you! Smile
02-15-05, 04:19 PM Doug Sounds like fun. I'll have to ask her if we can practice together. Now how about the prep work that needs to be done before hand?
02-15-05, 06:41 PM Georgia85 Not much prep work needs to be done for that sort of "dancing" other than taking a shower and using breath mints Wink
02-16-05, 12:06 AM SeattleRon hold her real close and just step around like what Georgia said. Make sure to look into her eyes with a stupid look on your face. Smell real nice too. You'll do ok....
02-16-05, 08:16 AM gerry Perhaps the Master of Music can download us a couple of slow ones so you can practice. I particularly like Elvis' "Can't Help Falling In Love", and, of course, the song by the great Louis ("Satchmo") Armstrong, "What A Wonderful World". Jusork, you in there?
You don't have to download them. Just stream it by clicking it.
02-16-05, 06:01 PM Doug Thanks. How about the ride? Limo or get my car nice and clean a day before hand? I have a mini-van. I'm not sure how many guys get a limo for their girls. That would be a good poll to ask.
02-16-05, 07:40 PM jusork I recommend the mini-van. A limo just seems too much to me. But you know her best, what do you think she'd like better or worse?
02-17-05, 08:11 AM gerry Jusork.....You da Man! I'll be listening to Satchmo all day today (the boss is out). Thanks a bunch.
On a personal note, I've never met a woman who, given a choice, would choose a van over a limo!
02-17-05, 08:18 AM Georgia85 Speaking from a girl's point of view, she is not going to want to arrive in a mini-van and I'll tell you why. She's probably going to be dressed up in heels and a nice glamorous gown and the last thing she wants to worry about is climbing into a van! Some women have difficulty stepping up into one, especially if they are in a skirt. I'm not saying you have to go the expense of renting a limo but perhaps there is another family car you could borrow? If you do want to do the limo thing, see if you can get a bunch of your friends to chip in. A stretch limo can accomodate 4-6 couples easily.
02-17-05, 12:27 PM DvdGStwrt Slow dance is basically shuffling and rocking in a pattern and speed that matches the music. Unlike the Waltz, Trot, Tango etc where there are specific movements; the slow dance is a form of "free movement" dance where the couple determine what and where they are going.
There is a Leader and a follower. The leader is usually the man. Usually you have your right hand on her hip/waist and your left hand snuggly holds her right hand at shoulder length. These are in essence your “reigns” you are guiding her through signals, slight pressures of usually the right hand, a slight pull when you want her to come forward while you move back, a push backward on her while you step forward. Usually you start with your right foot and she follows with her left foot.
Alternately, depending on how close you both are, you can have both of your hands on her hip/waist, and use both to steer. The hand at shoulder level is usually more formal, something you would do if you were dancing with Mom or Grandma.
You guide with both hands when you are moving to the left or the right. If moving to the right (YOUR RIGHT) then you lead with your right foot, she leads with her left. If you are moving to the left (YOUR LEFT) then you lead with the left foot She her right – the opposite hand presses slightly to indicate the next move. Each step is measured ideally to her comfort level, since the male partner is usually larger than the female and is not as bound by dress and heels, the steps are smaller than you would usually make – a general rule of thumb is half step for you, full step for her.
EXAMPLE: You pull her toward you, you put your right foot back, she steps forward with her left foot as a couple you both move smoothly backward (Forward for her, backward for you) one step (Which is her distance not yours), you press with your left hand toward your right, your right foot steps to the right, her left foot steps to her left.
To spin: depending on the direction of rotation, say clockwise (to you) you would pull slightly with your right hand while pushing with your left, thus signaling her that you desire to rotate in a clockwise (to you) movement.
Usually the slow dance is kept in one spot, your toes do not leave the floor, and instead you rock back and forth lifting the heel, holding her snugly saying sweet nothings, or just smiling at her. Which ever suits the mood.
These are agreed upon movements prior to the dance, some couples have developed a “dance language” between them which is not the standard language of the dance floor. In this case I would suggest that you too develop your own dance language and forget about formal standard learning. Agree upon some basic movements, i.e. you lead with your right foot she leads with her left, say a smile or a wink to indicate a spin – clues that are easy to remember for the two of you.
As for form of transportation: In an ideal world you would have the limo in the garage waiting for the prom, in the practical world you would either use Mom and Dad’s conventional sedan (4 door conservative car). However in the real world the parents either have a commute car (usually 2 door, small and compact good on gas, horrible for formal occasions) or an SUV, lots of leg room horrible on gas.
In this case you have your own form of transportation, a mini-van. Which I assume is not raised 4 feet off the ground and is not used for say hauling manure – this is a good vehicle to use for the prom if it is clean and does require a ladder to get into it.
Now the chipping in for a limo with friends is an ideal situation if you are planning on a group schedule of events – My understanding of proms is that there are several after parties which you may or may not be attending. If there is a deadline (curfew) that she or you needs to follow a limo may be the wrong way to go about it. Trust me groups of people usually end up wanting to do their own thing and usually have different plans for after the prom.
Using your own vehicle may be better in her mind if she wants the freedom of knowing that you both can leave the prom when you want to instead of agreeing with X number of others its time to go. I would suggest talking with her about it and see what she would like to do.
Look at it this way, you could own a motorcycle and desire for her to ride the back in that prom gown – that she defiantly wouldn’t like at all Wink
02-17-05, 05:37 PM Doug Wow, thanks for the info. I will have to talk to her to see when we can practice dancing with each other. My van is about 2-4 feet of the ground. I'll get it washed good before the prom. But I'll still ask her if she would like a limo or not. Our prom is not until May or late spring I belive so I have time. If I want our prom picture taken together, how should I go about that? There is a photo studio that comes and I guess you get your photo taken for a price. I'm not sure how that works with us. Thanks again. Wink
02-18-05, 12:49 PM Georgia85 Usually the school hires a photographer for the evening of the dance. There should be an area off to side with a backdrop set up. There is usually an arch to stand under and sky background. You pay the photographer up front - he'll take a posed picture - then mail or deliver to the school the finished photos. At least that is how it was done when I went to school.
You'll want to make sure you bring extra cash or a debit card when you arrive at the dance to cover this expense.
02-19-05, 08:28 AM Doug How about a 1 night stay at a hotel room? I know kids like to do that after prom. What do you think?
02-19-05, 11:59 PM gerry
quote: Originally posted by Doug: How about a 1 night stay at a hotel room? I know kids like to do that after prom. What do you think?
I think that's a bad idea. Hook up with 2 or 3 other couples and find yourself a nice Chinese restaurant after the prom. Then have the young woman home by 2 AM. You'll be so glad you did; a great ending to an enjoyable night.
02-22-05, 12:29 PM Georgia85 I agree with Gerry - definately a bad idea! That's how rumors get started and you are opening the door for trouble if you plan an over-night stay in a hotel.
Some people like to hit a breakfast joint after prom. But whatever you decide to do, ask her parents what her curfew is and then stick to it.
03-10-05, 11:55 PM SeattleRon rent a towncar with a driver buddy. before the dance take her alone to a restaraunt. some Thai food or something like that.after the dance show her off at some parties a lil bit. The hotel is very forward. Unless she wants to. make sure ahead of time that you think she wants to head to a hotel. If the hotel is something you might be doing, don't skimp out. Motel 6 is out of the question. Spend some dough. I don't know what kind of money you're working with so I"ll give you some sugestions. $150.00 gets a damn good hotel, probably a jacuzzi suite with a mini fridge. Set up the room before hand with some jazz music on the radio and have them setup some scented candles. Take her to dinner before the dance, but keep it light. When you get to the hotel have some cheesecake ready. A medium sized bowl of large strawberries and some melted chocolate are a plus. You must have a jacuzzi suite with a bubble bath already drawn and champagne. Lay it on her thick.
Thats my advice....Goodluck Doug!!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,
Posts: 258 | Location: Cleveland,OH USA | Registered: 06-04-02
but the problem is, I don't know how to "prom dance" I mean I've been to parties and danced then but not for this occation. I'm bring my girlfriend and she does not know how either. I don't want me/us to look like idiots. We are going to practice way before that night. Any tips for newbees?
