First Dance Routine to “A Thousand Years”

Now, let’s put all of the steps you’ve learned together into this lovely routine! To learn the routine, we suggest you learn it in sections. Practice each section without music first and then with music. Also, watch the demo video and use the written instruction listed below for musical cues. Have fun!

If you need additional help with your dancing, feel free to schedule a virtual livestream lesson with us. And if you’d like to make changes to the dance or spice it up more, you can hire us to choreograph something special for you. Get started here.

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Dance Demo - Full Body

Intro (2 sets of 8)

Standing back to back (follower faces front) (hold for 1st 4 counts)

Rotating in place (5, 6, 7, 8)

Butterfly (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Follower’s Double Inside Turn to Dance Position (7, 8)

Dance Pattern 1

Box

UAT

Inside Turn to Side by Side Position (without finishing the box)

In and Out and Switch Places (1,2, 3,4 )

In and Out roll into lean on “doubt (1)” (5, 6 ,7 8)

Rotate follower into dip on “somehow (5)”

Bring follower up to standing and step into  to side by side position

Roll into lean (facing partner) (music cue: “...one step closer”)

Dance Pattern 2 (Chorus)

Smooth Swing Basic 

Outside Turn

Inside Turn

Waist Roll

Basic (Switch hand)

Basic (switch hand)

Inside Turn to Faceloop

Sways x2, Outside Turn to Shadow Position

Dance Pattern 3 (4 sets of 8)

Swing Basic to the left and right

Outside Partner Breaks (1)

Follower bring arm up on count 5

5th Position Breaks with UAT (8) 

Dip on “me (3)”

Outside Turn to Rotation in Outside Partner Position (3 rotations) (music cue: start on “breath (4)”) (5, 6, 7, 8, 1, 2)

End in side by side position (3, 4), Roll into lean (7, 8) (facing partner) (music cue: “...one step closer”)

Repeat Dance Pattern 2 (Chorus)

Skip Sways

Ending Pattern

Bottle Rocket Lift (8) and rotate around (1, 2, 3, 4)

Box (Music cue: “Time has brought your heart to me…”) (5, 6, 7, 8)

UAT

Inside Turn to side by side 

Run into spinning lift (1, 2, 3, 4)

Put follower down and get into back to back position (5, 6, 7, 8)

Butterfly (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Follower’s Double Inside Turn to Cradle End Pose (7, 8)