QUINCEANERA DANCE
Dances for the Quinceanera show up in venues as varied as intimate private residences, family estates, country clubs, church halls, hotels and restaurants. Above: Alex and her court show off their "Phantom of the Opera" theme with a masked ending in her beautiful backyard.
(All photos by: Lisa Renee Photography Inc. Please note: The pictures on this page are not in the public domain and can not be used for other's web sites.)
Usually three dances are needed for the Quinceanera celebration: the Group Waltz, the Father Daughter Dance and the Group “Fun” Dance. Start the dance instruction early -- six months to a year in advance is a good rule of thumb.
GROUP
WALTZ
This is the dance that most young ladies having a Quinceanera
are the most concerned about performing well. Choosing a song can be fun since
you’ll want to keep in mind the theme of your Quinceanera
and also the number of dancers in the group and their ability to attend rehearsals.
Group Waltzes usually have between eight and twenty dancers although the most common number is twenty dancers; ten gentlemen and ten ladies. This dance presents best if all the dancers involved attend at least 4-8 hours of instruction in an appropriate dance studio location with proper sound capabilities and flooring.
Since this is really the big showcase dance, most of the time and effort of the dancers is put into this dance. Costumes should allow for movement both forward and back and arms should be able to be lifted above the head. Headpieces should be secured firmly and ladies shoe heels should be low enough to accommodate the speed of the waltz being used.
A combination of ballroom dancing waltz and foxtrot moves, American civil war and contra dancing steps and Renaissance dancing figures showcase the dancers effectively in formations and elegant couples’ displays. Usually this dance is between 3-6 minutes and incorporates a feeling of being showcased for the young lady celebrating her Quinceanera at center stage.
Click on the sample song to hear a YouTube:
- La Valse de Amelie by Yann Tiersen (One of my favorites from the movie Amelie, loop it 2x)
- Sleeping Beauty Waltz by Tchaikovsky from The Sleeping Beauty (Gorgeous favorite)
- Cinderella Waltz by Prokofiev (Classic)
- Irene Castle Waltz circa 1939 (loop it)
- The Chairman's Waltz by John Williams from Memoirs of a Geisha (Moves your soul)
- Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II (Everyone knows this one)
- Tales From The Vienna Woods by Johann Strauss II (Pretty and haunting)
- Dark Waltz by Hayle Westenra
- Titantic Theme Song by Celine Dion (Sooo romantic)
- Voices Of Spring by Johann Strauss II
- Flying by Cait Agus Sean (Mesmorizing, I've danced to this many times for showcases)
- Artist’s Life by Johann Strauss II
- One Love (Spring Waltz) by Acel Bisa (English version, in Korean originally)
- Waltz of the Flowers by Tchaikovsky from The Nutcracker (I danced to this every year in The Nutcracker when I was a ballet dancer!)
- Weiner Blut by Johann Strauss II
- Princess Waltz from Disney's movie Cinderella (Every girl's dream to be Cinderella at the ball)
- Part Of Your World by Jodi Benson from The Little Mermaid
- Emperor’s Waltz by Johann Strauss II (Marvelous)
- Tiempo de Vals by Chayanne (We all know this one and love it :)
FATHER DAUGHTER
DANCE
In this dance the young lady and her father dance a waltz choreographed
to their special song.
Songs
such as the ones listed below are beautiful:
• Sunrise Sunset from Fiddler On The Roof
• Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle
• Run for the Roses by Dan Fogelberg
• Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart
• What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
• Unforgettable by Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole
• Hero by Enriche Iglesias
• Lullaby by The Cure
• Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder
• My Father's Eyes by Amy Grant
• Thank Heaven for Little Girls from Gigi Soundtrack
• Teach Your Children Well by Crosby, Stills, Nash
• Through The Years by Kenny Rogers
• You're My Hero by Teresa James
• My Girl by The Temptations
• Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Most Father Daughter dances take approximately 3 hours of rehearsal, depending on the complexity of the dance and song and the ability of the dancers. They can incorporate sweet entrances with cuddles, twirls and send-outs, 3-7 dance steps; both stationary and traveling on the floor, and a dip or twirl to lean with bow and curtsey for the end.
“FUN”
GROUP DANCE
This dance can be a sassy salsa or combination of Latin dances
like merengue, rumba, and cha cha, or an up-beat swing or even
a group tango in historical costuming with props. Many young
ladies choose to have this dance highly choreographed while
others want the dance to feel improvised and want to just “learn
the moves” so they can get out and dance! Again, the music
will dictate the type of dancing and don’t forget the
more rehearsal, the better the performance!
Whatever your Quinceanera celebration dancing needs, make it a fun and exciting experience for all involved both on and off the dance floor. Good song choices, enough rehearsal, practical choice of costumes and props and a doable time frame will help make your dancing dreams come true with beauty, elegance and excitement.
Additional Resources & Links: My 15th Birthday, What is a Quinceanera, Quinceanera Boutique, Quinceanera Gifts, Quinceanera Gowns, History of a Quinceanera and Quinceanera Music (English & Spanish songs).
Make your Quinceanera Dancing as special as everything else on your Quinceanera day!