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Dance Lessons in Orange County |
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Barb & Scott
"Europa" by Alturas Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort Huntington Beach, Orange County
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Brides And Grooms Turn To Joseph And Sara Swallow A wedding can be a frightening experience. Not because of the ceremony. But because of that first dance. Many people heading for the altar have been traumatized by programs like "Dancing With The Stars" that demonstrate the elegance, the footwork and the beauty of a couple dancing together. The TV show's dancers may make it look easy, but for many viewers who complain of two left feet, those images are daunting - especially if they're facing a wedding reception. Sara and Joseph Swallow experienced the fear first-hand. Even though they were a professsional dance couple who competed in national and international dance championships, they too felt the pressure of their first dance as man and wife. When they married ten years ago, these professional dancers needed their wedding dance to be blemish-free. For Sara and Joseph, it turned out to be just as big a trauma as for people who did little or no dancing at all. Looking back on that emotional moment, noting the apprehension they felt, the couple wondered if there might not be a way they could make it easier for brides, grooms and fathers of the bride to glide through a reception hall and come away with slaps on the back and warm, honest compliments. That's when their Orange County Wedding Dance studio was born. "We remember how exciting it was to dance at our own wedding and committed ourselves to helping others to make that first dance not only comfortable, but also the most enjoyable part of the wedding reception," says Joseph. The Swallows opened a studio near the Orange County Airport business area and packed it with a library of 450 songs they thought would be perfect for that first dance. "Choosing the right song is important," explains Joseph. Next, they built another library of some 100 recordings they called "Father/Daughter Songs" to make it easy for dads to decide which melody best suits them when twirling their daughters around the floor. Next came 100 recordings of "Grand Entrance Songs" usually selected by the bride for that important moment of entering the reception. With their music selections in place, the couple began to build routines. They knew there would be some folks who wouldn't want anything fancy. They also knew there were others who'd want drops and even lifts to sensationalize their moments of fame on the dance floor. "We knew there would be some people who'd never been on a dance floor before. And there'd be others who had considerable experience, but their partner didn't," Joseph explains. "We had to be able to work things out and put them through routines they could master. Our goal is to help them feel comfortable and look natural." Men are the most reluctant when it comes to learning a new dance - or any dance at all. The Swallows not only live with that reality, but must constantly take that into consideration. "If the fiance is less than enthusiastic about that first dance, we suggest that brides let the groom pick their own entrance song," says Sara. She says that usually warms things up and captures everybody's attention for the first dance. What are the most popular songs selected by Swallows' students for that first dance? It's often the old standards by Frank Sinatra. However, an increasing number want to mix it up by selecting songs from artists ranging from Willie Nelson to Michael Buble and even Rascal Flatts. Their studio takes pride in the fact that every dance choreographed for the bride and groom is original, exciting and romantic. "We deliberately try to have originality be an important part of each couple's performance at the reception," Joseph says. "We spend considerable time reading the couple before we work up the routine. It makes a big difference to not only them, but to the audience before who they perform." Wary dancers take note: the Swallows' studio has a flat fee for every couple or father of the bride who comes to them. So regardless of the time it takes to get the dance right, the price tag won't compare to the applause after the dance is over. Although many in the dance industry thought the Swallows' business idea was too narrow to build upon, word spread about the couples unique services, as wedding planners, bakers and wedding dress designers began recommending their services. Soon people from all over Southern California began trekking to the Swallows' Orange Count studio. When they went into business, the Swallows maintained usual business hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Today, because of demand, they're teaching until 10:00 p.m. The Swallows are celebrating their ten years together as man and wife, and their ten-year anniverarsy as business partners. "We've experienced the benefits of partner dancing and have dedicated our lives to spreading the joy and happiness found through dancing together." Following that philosophy, the Swallows feel they've not only made that first dance a less-frightening experience for hundreds of brides and grooms but they've taught a lot of them they can dance like a star, too. IM
By Pat Michaels | ||||||
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