Thread: Performance and mini-lesson for womens birthday party!

I was wondering what kinds of moves are best to teach at a womens 30th birthday. She is having thirty women or so. I am going to do a 20 min show and then follow with the lesson. I know there are a lot of you out there that offer this. This is the first one that has come to me. I was thinking definately shimmies, hip circles. maybe some traveling steps ie egyptian basic. I dont want it to be too challenging. Just fun and relaxed. Should I put together a short choreo. I am also trying to think of thirty minutes worth of upbeat, fun, music to put on a cd. Any suggestions would greatly help. It is next saturday.

Whenever I'm doing a taster session like that, I usually try to use a good mix of sharp, fluid, travelling & shimmy moves. Just one basic move in each of those families, maybe with a couple of variations or layers added within each set of moves.

So I might do side to sides which then get a forward-back step layer, horizontal figure 8s circling back then circling front, step-push (basic) with varied arms, travelling forward, retreating, cross-stepping, whatever, and then finally a plain hip shimmy.

Hi Katina.

I've had success in a situation like that with offering a "taster" of a variety of basic moves (like hip slides, circles, figure 8s, lifts, drops etc. plus a few travelling steps) that most of the ladies will be able to keep up with. Keep it fun & upbeat, and you'll rock the house! :-) Good luck.

I so snake arms, classic arms, head slides, chest lifts/drops, rib slides, shoulder shimmy, hip slides, hip drops, shimmies, and basic egyptians. I uaully start with the upper body cause the women go CRAZy when you do the hip stuff, so its like the best for last! Then I usually bring the guest of honor (bride, birthday girl, whatever, in the center and have the rest of the women dance around her in a circle using the new moves.
I have done loads of showers and all womens b-day parties! It usually goes over well!
XOXO,
-NJ

Lots of fun, these things! I do a short show (10 minutes or so) and herd cats (I mean, lead a lesson) for the balance of the time. Time usually goes by quickly, so be on top of that! If you've been hired for an hour, stick to that hour as closely as possible!

Deborah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

Lots of fun, these things! I do a short show (10 minutes or so) and herd cats (I mean, lead a lesson) for the balance of the time.
Deborah

LOL!! It IS like herding cats!! Most Especially if they've had a couple of drinks and are feeling "lubricated".

My best advice is to have a plan, like the moves mention above, but to play it by ear. If they are a bit too rowdy to learn slow moves, like snake arms - it might be best to focus on faster moves and/or show fewer moves so they have time to goof off and be silly.

Anyway, have fun! I really like these kinds of gigs.

thank you. that is so funny. they will probably have some drinks in them. the birthday girl said they are a rowdy bunch. hopefully it doesnt get too rowdy.

I agree with the 10 minute mini-performance. At a lot of these events there are short attention spans--they are there to drink and socialize, not to sit and be in an audience in someone's living room. I would keep that short.

As for the moves, doing a mix of snakey-moves and some fun, perkier snappy moves is best. I teach figure 8's and hip bumps--basic moves like that.

I often teach them to zagarheet, and if they go out to the bars afterwards, I've been told that they used it to "call" to each other throughout the evening. I've also had a bride tell me the zagarheet I taught at her bachelorette party made an appearance at her reception a couple of weeks later! ..g.:

Cute! I also like to bring a little debke! It usually brings the group together and helps them to not be self critical...just fun.