Fun music and lighting aren't the only ingredients we employ to cook up a fun party. We can also lead dances and simple games to coax your guests out onto the dance floor to make a party they will remember. As a Madison Grapevine customer, you tell us what activities you like, which ones you don't like, or what to leave up to the DJ's discretion. Some activities are only appropriate for wedding receptions, while others work well for any occasion. And some activities like the easy dances require little to no leading, while the more complicated dances may require 5-15 minutes of short instruction.
Dance Lessons
You and your guests certainly don't need to know any formal dances to boogie on the dance floor. However, some may feel more comfortable learning some basic dance steps before dinner. If dance floor space is available at the start of an event, we can teach some basic dance steps for Swing, Waltz, Foxtrot, Rumba, and Salsa. We know lots of other dance types, but these are the most useful at a party.
Hokey Pokey
What if the hokey pokey really IS what it's all about? :) For weddings, this can be fun right after dinner, but before dancing begins if there are young children there between the ages of 4-8 years old eager for something to do. Even some adults like to join in to make it more fun for the kids.
Chicken Dance
Just about everyone knows how to dance the chicken dance. For weddings, this works best about 2-3 songs into the start of general dancing to bring everyone onto the dance floor while the younger kids are still there. We prefer the style where everyone randomly switches partners just because it's more fun than dancing in a circle.
Dollar Dance
For weddings, the bride and groom dance with guests who have paid a dollar to dance with them for about a minute. The Maid/Matron of Honor and Best Man collect the money for each. Approximately 2-3 songs are played depending on the number of guests waiting to dance. Songs that might be played are any easy going big band, or vocal tunes, along with themematic songs like Cabaret - "Money Makes the World Go Round" or Barenaked Ladies - "If I Had A Million Dollars". However, we only lead this dance if the Bride and Groom specifically request it.
Anniversary Dance
And finally for weddings only, there is the "Anniversary Dance". For this dance, the DJ will ask all married couples to start dancing at the beginning of a song. After a short time, those married less than a year are excused from the dance floor. Then those married less than 2 years are excused. This continues gradually until only the couple married the longest are left dancing on the floor. The DJ will then ask them for advice for the newlyweds on how to have a lasting marriage.
Macarena Dance
A popular dance fad from the 1990's involving various arm positions danced to Los Del Rio's "Macarena". No instruction time necessary.
Electric Slide
Another line dance fad from the 1990's using simple walking steps and a grapevine step. Usually danced to Marcia Griffith's "Electric Boogie", but other songs of similar tempo will work too. No instruction time necessary.
Cha Cha Slide
Popular line dance to Casper's "Cha Cha Slide". The singer calls out simple to follow foot patterns. No instruction time necessary.
Time Warp Dance
From the Rocky Horror Picture Show. In between the standard chorus part of the dance, we lead some fun improvisations like swimming, for instance. It's silly, but hey, that's the point. ;)
Mambo #5 Line Dance
A sequence of 6 dance moves including elements from Mambo and Cha Cha danced to Lou Bega's Mambo #5". The dance is a bit more complicated than other line dances, so it takes about 5-10 minutes to teach before starting the song.
"The Hustle" Line Dance
A light and fluffy line dance to Van McCoy's 70's classic "The Hustle". The dance is taught while the music plays.
Samba Line Dance
Group dance incorporating 3 elements of samba. Danced to many different songs such as Las Ketchups's "The Ketchup Song", Stella Solei's "Kiss, Kiss", Jennifer Lopez's "Ain't It Funny", or even Jimmy Buffet's "Volcano" to name a few.
Virgina Reel
In the tradition of a good old fashioned barn dance this dance "called" by the DJ starts with the gentlemen and ladies in two long lines. The dance requires about 10 minutes to be taught and 6-7 couples dance in each group. The number of groups is only limited by the size of the dance floor. The gentlemen and ladies dance certain patterns in long lines with their partner, and then the lead couple "reel-the-set" alternatively hooking arms with each other and the next couple down the line. Eventually, the lead couple form and arch with their arms and all the other couples pass through the arch and the next couple in line becomes the lead couple. Two songs are played for the virginia reel with the second one being a more upbeat song like the Beer Barrel Polka or Cotton Eyed Joe.
Contra Circle Dance
This is another fun barn dance to folk music. 16 or more guests stand in a circle alternating by lady and gentleman. The fixed step patterns require about 15 minutes to teach and the music played is similar folk music to the Virginia Reel. After every 36 measures of music, the last pattern rotates the ladies clockwise around the circle and the patterns repeat until the end of the song.
Salsa Circle Dance
16 or more guests stand in a circle alternating by lady and gentleman. Approximately 4-5 salsa steps are taught for about 15-20 minutes. As the music is played, the DJ calls out which salsa step to do next. Every 2-3 patterns that are called out, one of the patterns rotates the ladies to the next partner in the circle.
Big Foot Game
Played 1-on-1 or as a relay of two 3-person teams. The participants strap small plastic pads on the bottom of their shoes and a collection of colored concentric rings are scattered randomly across the dance floor. When the race starts, each participant must find their colored rings on the floor to click-n-lock each concentric ring around the pads on their feet. The 4th "ring" is shaped like a big foot complete with toes. The first person or team to finish making their big feet wins. A more challenging variation is to collect one of each color according to a playing card.
Legs Guessing Game
For weddings, the groom is blindfolded and the bride, along with other guests, sit in a row of about 10 chairs. Then groom must then determine whose legs are those of his lovely bride. :-)