If your main goal is to have a lot of audience participation at your wedding reception, then you will want to review the following list. Of course, some of the songs/dances may only fit certain themed events. Take into consideration the ages of your guests and the level of formality for the event. If you have a lot of older, married couples then certain group dances will work better than if you have a much younger singles crowd. You may be amazed though at how many different songs will attract guests of all ages to the dance floor.
Anniversary Dance—Ask all married couples to bring their spouse to the dance floor. Play a slow song (or two if the floor is packed with couples) and ask couples to go to the outside of the dance floor when their “number of years of wedded bliss” has been announced. This count is usually something like 1, 2, 5, 10, 15 years, etc until the couple longest married couple remains on the dance floor. Sometimes the bride and groom present the couple with a rose or the “throw-away” bouquet. It is nice to introduce the couple and have them share their advice on how to stay married for XX years to the newly married couple.
Snowball Dance—Start with the Wedding Party on the dance floor. Any style of song can be played as long as it is a longer song or two complimentary songs. Call out “snowball” and the dancers on the floor go out into the audience and bring a new dance partner to the floor. This goes on until you can no longer double the number of dancers on the floor. All remaining guests are asked to join the dance floor and then “change partners” is called so guests are dancing with a new dance partner.
Dance Circle—The bride and groom are in the center with their family and friends forming a human circle around them on the dance floor. It is best to use fun, upbeat, easily danceable music. The bride and groom show off their dance moves and then move to part of the circle and someone else showcases their dance talents in the middle of the circle. This can also be used with guests celebrating their birthday. The Beatles “Birthday Song” works out very well for all to share in a special birthday dance.
Dance Off—Two columns/lines of dancers form on the dance floor facing each other. It is good to use either funky or very up-beat music for a dance off (think of the Dance Off scene from “Grease”). The first two people at the head of their line dance together down the middle of the line to see who is “best”. For that 50’s feel, use the “Grease-Mega-mix” for your fast best selection.
The Stroll—Very similar to the “Dance Off” although it is slower and you should use the song “The Stroll” by The Diamonds. This works best with a group who is familiar with the song or with a 50’s theme.
A Human Arch—The first couple raises their hands to form an arch. The second couple dances under the arch and then forms an arch next to the first couple. The next couple dances under the newly formed arch and adds to it. Each couple does the same until all of the couples have formed a human arch. At that point the first couple dances under the long arch. This continues with each couple dancing under the arch through the remainder of the song(s). A human arch can wind around the dance floor many times if enough couples are available.
Macarena—“The Macarena” by Los Del Rios is a line dance that consists of eight steps. It requires very little movement on the dance floor and this line dance can be used with many other songs as well. If you want to challenge your guests, simply speed up the song at the end for some interesting results.
Y.M.C.A—This dance is for more than just the guys. Have guests form a circle and raise their hands up high. They can then spell out the letters to the “Y.M.C.A” by the Village People.
Conga Line—A conga line can be staged or spontaneous. The best songs to use are “Hot, Hot, Hot” by Buster Poindexter or “Conga” by Gloria Estafan. The dancers join the leader of the line around the room and hold on the hips of the dancer ahead of them. Use a Conga Line a while after guests have eaten because it can be a fast paced workout dancing around the room.
Party Train—This line dance is similar to a conga line although the lead person acts as the “engineer” of the train. “Com’n Ride the Train” by the Quad City DJ’s or “Locomotion” by Kylie Minogue are your best bets for a packed dance floor that moves around the room.
Bunny Hop—This old-fashioned “follow the leader” dance is made up of repeating patterns of eight beats. “The Bunny Hop” by Ray Anthony will definitely give a work out to the younger dancers.
Chicken Dance—Guests form a circle on the dance floor with this old German dance. The “Chicken Dance” song is a standard for young and old alike. It includes a lot of body shaking and acting like chickens for a lot of dance floor fun.
Hokey Pokey—Use the song “Hokey Pokey” by Ray Anthony for guests to form a circle on the dance floor. The song offers a good beat and you almost feel like you are sharing the “Twister” game with your friends.
Cotton Eyed Joe—If you want to add fast-paced square dancing to your dance floor, you will want to play “Cotton Eyed Joe” by Rednex. This version is spunkier than the original and will keep your country music fix in check.
Boot Scootin’ Boogie—A classic country tune (Boot Scootin’ Boogie by Brooks & Dunn) that turned into a fun line dance. It is very easy to pick up on for all ages.
Electric Slide—This mainstream line dance has many variations. Most use the song “Electric Boogie” by Marcia Griffiths. Guests can learn the steps by watching other dancers on the floor. A few other song versions (“Detroit Slide”) have appeared over the years and are really just variations of the slide.
Cha Cha Slide—All of the dance steps are used in the song by Casper (“Cha Cha Slide Part 2"). On the Casper CD, there are several versions. The radio edit is the 6+ minute “version” of the song and that selection is the easiest for most people. It is upbeat and also allows dancers to show off their dance moves.
The Cupid Shuffle—This is an easy to learn, upbeat (hip-hop) dance that uses the “Cupid Shuffle” by Cupid. Again, a song with the entire dance steps included in the lyrics making new-comers at ease on the dance floor.
This list is only a portion of the group-type dances out today. Many cultural dances offer the opportunity for your guests to celebrate a new marriage through dance.
Enjoy and keep on dancing!
From Erik Michaels of Megasound
Not only did Tricia and Justin (married May 10th in Fort Wayne) have beautiful wedding colors and awesome flowers and decorations, they had the neatest and most adorable table decor. They shared starts from an aloe plant with their guests. The symbolism in itself is very wedding-related as you must nurture and care for a plant as you must grow and tend to your marriage. Even seven months later, my assistants still talk about how big their aloe plant has gotten and how much Tricia and Justin cared for their guests.
Angie and Dennis' (married August 16th in Fort Wayne) wedding reception was about beauty, love, and celebration. Dennis called us about a week before their wedding to let us know that he would be “singing” right after the garter removal and toss to surprise Angie. I think that Dennis did more than surprise Angie, I think that everyone was awe-struck with his rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” This was an awesome that Dennis shared with Angie, all of their guests, and us.
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