waltz

Hola chicas,

One of my favorite parts of quinceañera is the father/daughter dance. I love the tradition of having the proud papa take his hija's hand and inviting her to share a waltz, symbolizing his recognition that she is now a lady. This could bring some happy tears to your guests--I know my mom cried during mine! So take the time to plan out this dance in great detail. You'll remember it forever. Here are some tips for making it memorable:

• Make sure you rehearse. I would recommend between three and six hours. This dance won't be as complicated as your court waltz, so you won't need to stress about it, but if don't rehearse at all, you might be nervous!
• Incorporate sweet touches with cuddles, twirls, and send-outs. Everyone will be watching you, so make it fun to watch!
• Mix it up with stationary and traveling moves. Don't be afraid to use the floor space you have.
• Have a dip or twirl to lean into a bow and curtsey in the end. Putting a nice final touch on the dance will leave the lasting impression. Maybe even give your papa a kiss on the cheek. (Just make sure your lipstick doesn't stain!)

What might even be more important than your dance steps, chicas, is the song you choose. Make sure to pick one that you love! Some good ones are "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle, "Have I Told You Lately" by Rod Stewart, "My Father's Eyes" by Amy Grant, and "You're My Hero" by Teresa James. Check out other songs on our playlist here.

I love this video on YouTube, below. The birthday girl chose "When You Look Me in the Eyes" by the Jonas Brothers, and says the song choice is what really made such a special moment even better. She and her father look well-rehearsed and are entertaining. Most importantly, they look like they are enjoying themselves. It's a big night for both of you.

A traditional waltz may be what everyone expects at your quinceañera, but I found this YouTube video where birthday girl Moriah shakes things up. Using a mix including Bubba Sparxx's "Miss New Booty," Chris Brown's "Run It," Fergie's "My Humps," Nelly's "Grillz," and Dem Franzhize's "Lean with It, Rock with It," Moriah choreographed a dance that was meant to be different and fun for her friends to do together.

At my quinceañera, I chose a traditional waltz, but it's fun to see how creative some girls get. I love that the girls are barefoot -- very fun and relaxed. I also like that the boys are wearing white hats and the girls are wearing black, except for Moriah who is in white, so it's obvious who the main attraction is.

For your quinceañera, you should do whatever makes you happy. You are, after all, the birthday girl, and if a traditional dance isn't what you envision, you can create something else memorable and fun. It's like that show "Rock the Reception" on TLC. Have you heard of it? The bride and groom do a first dance -- to the tunes of "Thriller" and "Baby Got Back," for example -- and shock their guests!

What do you think? Would you try something crazy for your quinceañera, or would you prefer keeping things more traditional? You could even start with a waltz and change the music to your favorite modern song halfway through, and go into a more upbeat dance. That will surprise your friends and family and definitely leave an unforgettable impression.

Besos,
Alicia

¿Qué tal? How many of you are planning on doing a traditional waltz? Are you totally stressed on how to do it perfectly? Check out this video, where the entire court and the quinceañera are introduced during the dance. We messaged the choreographer, Linda, on YouTube. She replied with some great tips for you! And have no fear -- Linda said the court learned this waltz in one day!

TIPS:

• Make sure to include the bow and curtsy.
  
• Recognize each chambelan by dancing with him as his name is announced. The chambelán de honor should go last.
• Add flowers to the routine to make it extra fancy. A simple twirling in and out while holding roses will do the trick.
  
• Present the damas by having them curtsy alongside their chambelán, who escorts them toward the quince girl. Each dama gives her rose to you as she leaves the floor.
  
• The main attraction is YOU, the birthday girl, so keep yourself at the center of attention throughout the dance for both the waltz and the surprise dance.

I like how the damas and chambelanes were introduced separately, don't you? At my quince, we introduced them in pairs, but since they're not actually couples in real life, I think the individual attention is nice. How 'bout you?