How to Level Up Your First Dance - Isaiah & Hanna's Breathtaking Performance at Black Butte Ranch

 

Shoulder Lift

 

I get all kinds of couples coming to me for dance lessons. Some want a short dance with simple moves. "No one is picking me off the floor!" is something I hear from time to time. Others want to stitch multiple songs together, creating a mix with something slow and elegant at first and then something else to show off their playful side. Isaiah and Hanna fit into a third category - what I'd label the "go-getter" category. These are the couples that reach out to me and tell me they want to go all out. They're people who are willing to go the distance to ensure their first dance is unforgettable. And if I'm being completely honest, while I love the diversity and appreciate in different ways all the various kinds of projects I tackle, this is the kind of choreographed dance that gets me the most excited. Because I know that I'll get to push my couple's limits and watch them accomplish some amazing things (often things they never thought were possible) and that's an incredibly rewarding process to be a part of.

 

Over the Threshold or Cradle Lift

 

So Isaiah reaches out to me in January 2025 and he & Hanna decide to book a first dance with me. And after a little back and forth narrowing down which song would be the best choice for their first dance (they ended up landing on "Peter Pan" by Polo & Pan) Isaiah lets me know that he & Hanna have compiled some videos of some moves as dance inspiration that they'd like to send my way. And as I'm looking through the videos, inside my head I'm screaming "yes yes YES!" Cause now I know they want to go big and that they're game for trying some impressive tricks.

Front Lean Dip

I do categorize the tricks I teach (or at least in my head I do). I've got the beginner ones, intermediate and advanced tricks. But Isaiah and Hanna were the true testament to something I've learned over the years: no one trick works for all. Every couple has different skills, body types and some even have pre-existing injuries. It is all these elements, in addition to technique tips from me, that will affect whether you can successfully pull off a trick or not. Isaiah is a tall guy and Hanna is a tiny little thing, so I knew we had some factors weighing in our benefit. And while H&I pulled off some of the most challenging lifts I teach, there was one beginning level one that just didn't feel right and was uncomfortable for Isaiah...so we scrapped it. And after a lot of tinkering and months of playing with different lift options we finally landed on some sure bet showstoppers.

The Helicopter or Gravitron

 So how does one get a dance like this? Isaiah and Hanna had no previous dance experience, so you clearly don't need that to have a killer routine. Here are a few tips to set you up for stardom:

 1. START EARLY. I mean...I'll say it again: START YOUR DANCE EARLY! This is the biggest mistake a lot of couples make. I would recommend no further than 6 months out but no less than 3. Most couples are often surprised by how long it takes to learn and master moves. When you listen to a song, the seconds and minutes go by quickly, but once you put choreography to it it's a whole different ballgame. Also, you can't look polished and carefree dancing when you're learning your dance two weeks before your wedding date and you're still trying to remember which foot to step with. The magic (and fun!) in a dance performance comes once you don't have to think about what move comes next anymore or worry if it will be successful. Then you can really embody confidence, dance with your heart and make your audience feel something.  

2. BE REALISTIC. How much time can you dedicate to lessons and practicing your dance? If you think about your busy life and say" not very much" then don't try to tackle a 4 minute long song. Repetition is KEY to having an incredible dance. And having a shorter, cleaner dance is always better than a longer, sloppier one. I find in general that most couples enjoy having a dance less than 3 minutes in length. It takes approximately one hour of lesson time to learn 30 seconds to a minute's worth of choreography, so plan accordingly.

3. GET ON THE SAME PAGE AS YOUR PARTNER. Doing an all out dance number with lots of lifts and tricks isn't for everyone. You need to make sure your fiance is as dedicated to the cause (and as excited) as you. Trust is the key element in making these special moments look extra good.

4. WORK WITH AN INSTRUCTOR WHO'S STOKED ON YOUR VISION. If your dance teacher is inspired, then likely the result will be better. Find someone who believes in you and is excited to cheer you on and coach you from beginning to end. Also someone you vibe with. Dance lessons are a collaborative process and partnership and you'll most likely spend more time with your dance instructor than most of your other vendors. Choose wisely.

Final Dip/Twist Dip

Hanna & Isaiah were just a dream to work with from beginning to end. They danced hard and laughed hard too. I even had the pleasure of doing a group lesson with them and their parents to prepare them for the father/daughter and mother/son dance. It's so exciting to get pictures like these post wedding and to hear how proud my couples feel about their dance. You should feel and look like nothing less than a glamorous celebrity on your wedding day, and these two definitely achieved that. Huge congrats and much love to Mr. & Mrs. Smith!

 Vendor Team:

Venue: Black Butte Ranch 

Photo/Video: Mads Photo & Film 

Planner: The Indigo Bride 

Makeup: Faced Artistry 

Hair: April May Hair 

Florals: Lisa Wexhler

Music: Stefan Heuer Music 

Cake: Home to Home 

Signage: Tristar Vinyl 

Dance Instruction/Choreography: PNW Wedding Dance