How to country line dance for beginners
20 Beginner Line Dances You Need to Know! – Country Dancing Tonight
The Slappin' Leather Line Dance
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The Slappin' Leather Line Dance
Since becoming introduced to the country dance scene a couple of years ago I have found much happiness in learning to dance and over time becoming a better dancer. If you are new to the country bar dance scene, I know how you feel! At first, it is equal parts intrigue and intimidation, exciting and terrifying! But don’t worry it will all work out!
You can divide all the dancing into 2 groups: partner and line dancing, and what follows here is a good round-up of the most popular and easiest beginner line dances out there.
Learn some of these and you’ll be set to get out on the dance floor every time you go out! Starting with the most common and easiest and working down… But all these are very beginner line dances.
Here’s my list of 20 beginner & popular line dances you will encounter: (click on them to pop down to each one).
1. Cupid Shuffle
2. Wobble
3. Electric Slide
4. Power Jam
5. Cowboy Hustle
6. House Party
7. Watermelon Crawl
8. Black Velvet
9. Boot Scootin’ Boogie
10. Two-Step (the line dance-not the partner dance!)
11. Good Time
12. Linda Lu
13. My Maria
14. Rock Me
15. A Little Bit Lit
16. Slapping Leather
17. Outlaw
18. Tush Push
19. Country Girl Shake
20. Ten Step (this is actually not done in lines!)
1.
Cupid Shuffle| Count: 32 | Wall: 4 | Level: Very Beginner |
Choreography: Bernard Bryson (Cupid)
Music: Cupid Shuffle by Cupid
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Cupid Shuffle was choreographed by the singer Cupid and created simultaneously with his song The Cupid Shuffle that was recorded in 2006. When he set out to create it, it was with the exact intention of creating a line dance classic without genre, that everyone could dance to. He came up with the dance in the studio while making up the song.
That is all history! While the song isn’t a country song, this line dance has to be my lead off, since its arguably the most popular and one everyone has danced to (at bars, weddings, schools). It is particularly easy since the lyrics tell you what to do next! “To the right, to the right, to the right, to the right… To the left, to the left, to the left, to the left… Now kick…” so, no excuses, you can do this! But download the step sheet if you are worried!
https://youtu.
be/iJH6Ce588McVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: How to Do the Cupid Shuffle | Line Dancing (https://youtu.be/iJH6Ce588Mc)
2. Wobble
| Count: 32 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner |
Choreography: V.I.C. Brentnell
Music: Wobble by V.I.C.
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
The Wobble is another non-country line dance that is about as popular as the Cupid Shuffle. And another line dance created by the musical artist! Its very fun and always a crowd-pleaser. It is very common to see people doing the Wobble at weddings and parties as well as a local country bar where it is sure to get everyone out on the dance floor. The Wobble can get a little long though with the song lasting over 5 minutes.
A lot of jumping!
https://youtu.be/oeS1usUnkxkVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: How to Do the Wobble | Line Dancing (https://youtu.be/oeS1usUnkxk)
Demo & Teach Video
3. Electric Slide
| Count: 18 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner |
Choreography: Ric Silver (1976)
Music: Electric Boogie by Marcia Griffiths (with scores of alternates, including Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus and Fast As You by Dwight Yoakam)
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
While the Electric Slide was originally choreographed in 1976, it was Marcia Griffiths song Electric Boogie that gave it popularity. It was in 1989 when it really took off and for ten years was listed as the number one dance in the world! Today there are many songs used to dance the Electric Slide to.
Achy Breaky Heart is a popular go-to at a country bar, but so many others work great. It is simple enough here’s the steps:
1. Grapevine right. Take one step right with your right foot.
2. Grapevine left. Take one step left with your left foot.
3. Rock forward and back with a toe-touch. Step back with your right foot, then bring your left foot to meet it.
4. Quarter-turn left and begin again…
It’s pretty easy (once you know it!). I’ve only known the Electric Slide for a couple of years and I did need a video to get that rock, toe touch, and quarter-turn all timed right. Another great thing about line dancing, especially with an easy one like the Electric Slide is that, as you get good, you can “play” adding in turns, etc. to have fun, make it your own and show-off a little on the dance floor.
https://youtu.be/WwFFfWxAWlEVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Electric Slide (Line Dance) – Demo & Teach (https://youtu.
be/WwFFfWxAWlE)
4. Power Jam (San Diego Version)
| Count: 24 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner |
Choreographer: Lynn Bryant
Music: American Muscle by Canaan Smith (and countless others!)
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Power Jam is a pretty common call-out and is aptly named. It’s pretty fast-paced and the slides and heal taps and then the hop at the end that most people do is all great fun. This is a good one to get under your belt and a live band is for sure going to have some songs for it.
There are a couple of slight variations I’ve noticed with Power Jam. Firstly, for the first two heel-taps to the front and toe-taps to the back, most people just do one tap and hold it for the extra beat.
Secondly, at the end of the dance instead of the little hop, you can also just stomp the left foot.
https://youtu.be/JoN8oqFSDzEVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Power Jam (Line Dance) – Demo & Teach (https://youtu.be/JoN8oqFSDzE)
Demo & Teach Video
5. Cowboy Hustle
| Count: 32 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner |
Choreographer: Unknown
Music: What the Cowgirls Do by Vince Gill
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Cowboy Hustle is another great fun, fast and easy line dance not too unlike the Power Jam. In fact, I’ve been confused and switched these for each other at times. They both tap out the right heel forward and behind, so watch out for that! Like the Power Jam, Cowboy Hustle can go with many songs and will get called out commonly.
https://youtu.be/RbfH7vjwQ_IVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Cowboy Hustle (Line Dance) – Demo & Teach (https://youtu.be/RbfH7vjwQ_I)
Demo & Teach Video
6. House Party
| Count: 24 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner |
Choreographer: Jessica Short and Kerry Kick (2014)
Music: House Party by Sam Hunt
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
House Party is a favorite one at The Ranch in Anaheim and after all, it is co-choreographed by Kerry Kick one of the weekly instructors there. It has a very current feel, danced to Sam Hunt’s song House Party. It feels like a lot of spinning to me since besides two step-turns there are 4 turns and shuffles (to make the four walls of the house!) But its always a fun one with a full floor.
During those 4 turns and shuffles people hold up and touch their hands to look like a house, kind of reminds me of YMCA!
https://youtu.be/dNduEuIMcScVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: "House Party" Dance Lesson (https://youtu.be/dNduEuIMcSc)
Demo & Teach Video
7. Watermelon Crawl
| Count: 40 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner / Intermediate |
Choreographer: Sue Lipscomb
Music: Watermelon Crawl by Tracy Byrd
Step Sheet: Click here to download
Watermelon Crawl is a beginner/intermediate, but is also super common and popular and a lot of fun. One small tip to learning this one that helped me was to just ignore the two 1/2 turns at the end of the dance just wait for everyone to stop turning and you’ll be a little more ready to start the beginning of the dance again with everyone.
The fun part of this dance, of course, is the stepping out to the right and then sliding back. I think that part is supposed to be the “watermelon crawl.” And the song, of course, has a good message: “If you drink, don’t drive…do the watermelon crawl.” Click on the video below to see Ranch dance instructor Shelly Graham demo the dance!
https://youtu.be/qW8Yh0WKvDQVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Watermelon Crawl – Line Dance (Demo) (https://youtu.be/qW8Yh0WKvDQ)
Demo Video
8. Black Velvet
| Count: 40 | Wall: 1 | Level: Beginner |
Choreographer: Linda De Ford
Music: Black Velvet by Robin Lee
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Black Velvet is also a very common line dance and while a beginner line dance, this one was pretty intimidating to me at first.
This line dance was my first exposure to “contra” line dances. Contra line dances are dances where every other line of dancers is facing the opposite direction, or the lines start facing each other and then move past each other.
It can be a lot of fun since typically there’s a lot of high-fives happening as you glide past your friends. But for the beginner, it looks pretty messed up.
Who do you follow? The people to your left and right are faced opposite you! So, just look to the next row at the person going in your direction and follow them! This ends up being really fun and it actually is pretty easy! Check out the video or download the step sheet to give it a try.
https://youtu.be/j_PELRa0cFwVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Black Velvet Line Dance (https://youtu.be/j_PELRa0cFw)
Demo & Teach Video
9. Boot Scootin’ Boogie
| Count: 32 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner |
Choreographer: Tom Mattox & Skippy Blair
Music: Boot Scootin’ Boogie by Brooks & Dunn
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Boot Scootin’ Boogie is actually a line dance not often seen in So. Cal. but is one I wish was. While I’m a recent convert to the country dance scene, I’m a long-time country music fan and I had wondered, “Hey, what about Brooks & Dunn’s Boot Scootin’ Boogie?” I wondered if there was a line dance for a great classic that talks about line dancing! Well, sure enough, there is! In fact on the Copperknob website, there are 3 pages of step sheets to different versions of dances to the song!
If you love Brooks & Dunn as much as me and you want to have this one under your belt. On YouTube Bill Bader’s version is pretty common but in So. Cal. I’ve only seen people dance the Tom Mattox & Skippy Blair version. They both are 32 counts, but this one’s more of a beginner line dance.
https://youtu.be/Z9AXp61DNxQVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Boot Scootin Boogie (https://youtu.be/Z9AXp61DNxQ)
Demo & Teach Video
10.
Two-Step (line dance)| Count: 16 | Wall: 4 | Level: Very Beginner |
Choreographer: Robert Royston – Dance Y’All Crew (2013)
Music: Two-Step by Laura Bell Bundy featuring Colt Ford
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
The Two-Step line dance is not to be confused with the Two-Step partner dance! As explained in the video below from “Dancin’ with Patti” this is from the music video by Laura Bell Bundy found on YouTube. With only 16 counts this is a very beginner line dance. Reminds me a little of the Cupid Shuffle.
Fun fact: Robert Royston also more recently choreographed the line dance seen in Midland’s Mr. Lonely music video. So, another music video that people have now learned a line dance from.
https://youtu.be/xPL9kb0espsVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Two Step Teach and Demo (https://youtu.
be/xPL9kb0esps)
11. Good Time
| Count: 48 | Wall: 4 | Level: Improver |
Choreographer: Jenny Cain
Music: Good Time by Alan Jackson
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Good Time, you’ll notice is actually not considered a beginner line dance! But it is very common and if you stick with it I think you’ll get it down pretty quick. The highlight to me is the toe-taps & rolling grapevines, first to right and then repeated (mirrored to the left).
Fun fact: In Alan Jackson’s music video of Good Time it shows him singing out on the road and trying to set the record for the longest line dance. 22 miles long it says at one point! There are different opinions about whether it’s true or not, some say it was a real honest attempt, but falls short of the actual record set in China.
Please leave a comment if you know the real facts!
https://youtu.be/SyjibcFZlQIVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Good Time line dance (https://youtu.be/SyjibcFZlQI)
Demo & Teach Video
12. Linda Lu
| Count: 48 | Wall: 4 | Level: Improver |
Choreographer: Neil Hale
Music: Linda Lu by Ricky Van Shelton
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Linda Lu is also another super common line dance called out and at 48 counts is aptly called by Copperknob an upper-beginner/intermediate line dance. This isn’t a favorite of mine w/ the “out-outs,” “in-ins.” Maybe it’s just me!
https://youtu.be/Fh9ICn_wgkMVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Linda Lu line dance (walk-through) (https://youtu.be/Fh9ICn_wgkM)
Teach Videohttps://youtu.
be/hp0PLikxAE0Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Linda Lu line dance (demo) to Delbert McClinton's Linda Lu (https://youtu.be/hp0PLikxAE0)
13. My Maria
| Count: 32 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner / Intermediate |
Choreographer: Mike Camara & Dan Albro (1996)
Music: My Maria by Brooks & Dunn (a Cha-Cha at 136BPM)
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
My Maria is another beginner / intermediate, but at 32 counts not too hard. This is a great line dance to another great classic Brooks & Dunn song. The unique thing is that it is a Cha-Cha line dance. The Shuffles between alot of the steps are 3 steps: Cha-Cha-Cha. The pivot-hooks are a lot of fun too.
https://youtu.be/Ggb4b9m7owIVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: My Maria Line Dance Instruction (https://youtu.
be/Ggb4b9m7owI)
https://youtu.be/TwsoB_UamOcVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: My Maria (https://youtu.be/TwsoB_UamOc)
Demo & Teach Video
14. Rock Me
| Count: 32 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner / Intermediate |
Choreographer: Donna Manning & LeAnne Lesmeister (Mar 2013)
Music: Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Rock Me is my favorite line dance! I am a big Darius Rucker fan and his song Wagon Wheel is a great song. The rocking steps choreographed to “Rock Me” throughout the dance is pretty cool. I don’t see it called every night but it should be! So good!
https://youtu.be/j_P9IosMvSkVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Rock Me Teach and Demo (https://youtu.
be/j_P9IosMvSk)
15. A Little Bit Lit
| Count: 32 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner + |
Choreographer: Rob Fowler (2017)
Music: Lit by Trace Adkins
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
A Little Bit Lit is a dance that is taught a lot on the weekends at the Ranch Saloon. A good one for beginners. And like some other line dances on this list just a really great country song to dance to. Lyrically the song Lit is amazing. A fast and fun song. Included below is the lyric video!
https://youtu.be/mOJNH_8ojHYVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: A Little Bit Lit – Line Dance (Dance & Teach in English & 中文) (https://youtu.be/mOJNH_8ojHY)
Demo & Teach Videohttps://youtu.be/mAJTe-6fVaYVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Trace Adkins – Lit (Lyric Video) (https://youtu.
be/mAJTe-6fVaY)
16. Slappin’ Leather
| Count: 40 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner |
Choreographer: Gayle Brandon (California modified version, 2016)
Music: Footloose by Kenny Loggins and Blake Shelton (alt: T.R.O.U.B.L.E. by Travis Tritt)
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Slappin’ Leather is a very famous line dance that is considered a beginner dance. You can dance this to the Footloose song from the movies, but the movies actually didn’t have Slappin’ Leather as part of their choreography. The Footloose movie features the more advanced line dance Fake ID. Click here to go to my post that talks all about that.
Slappin’ Leather has a part in it (the Slappin’ Leather part!) that seems pretty intermediate and takes some coordination! But the dance is just too fun and famous not to include it here.
This dance is going to pretty much get called almost every night depending on the club your at. There are many variations of it throughout the world, but the step sheet and the video here are the So. Cal. version.
Fun Fact: Slappin’ Leather was used in an episode of the TV Show Pretty Little Liars.
https://youtu.be/aFyOaX5Pr4gVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Slapping Leather (Line Dance) – Demo & Teach (https://youtu.be/aFyOaX5Pr4g)
Demo & Teach Video
17. Outlaw
| Count: 32 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner |
Choreographer: Suzanne Wilson (Norco, CA Style)
Music: Whiskey Drinkin’ S.O.B. by Mikel Knight
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Outlaw is a pretty popular dance but is one of the line dances out there that isn’t to a country song.
Country rapper Mikel Knight doesn’t really fit at all in my opinion of what country music and country dancing is about, but people love the dance!
https://youtu.be/jsUIUT7GY8sVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: The Outlaw (Line Dance) – Demo & Teach (https://youtu.be/jsUIUT7GY8s)
Demo & Teach Video
18. Tush Push
| Count: 40 | Wall: 4 | Level: Beginner / Intermediate |
Choreographer: Jim Ferrazzano (1979)
Music: Chattahoochee by Alan Jackson
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Tush Push has been called the most popular line dance in the United States for the last 20 years! There’s a great story about how Jim Ferrazzano came up with the dance over a period of time, to check it out click here.
One thing interesting is that it’s kind of 2 dances in one. This is because it was only 1/2 written for months. When completed, the final steps were cha-cha steps setting them apart from the first part of the dance.
Note: When you download the Step Sheet you’ll notice there are 6 options included on the 2nd page!
https://youtu.be/VRbR1VRRfE8Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Tush Push (Line Dance ) Walkthrough ( All Classes Through City Of Clovis ) (https://youtu.be/VRbR1VRRfE8)
Teach Video
19. Country Girl Shake
| Count: 32 | Wall: 4 | Level: Improver |
Choreographer: Michele Adlam & Maria Hennings Hunt (2011)
Music: Country Girl (Shake it for Me) by Luke Bryan
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
Country Girl Shake is another really popular line dance. There are a few variations out there, but I think this demo and Teach video along with the step sheet will get you really close to whatever you might see.
https://youtu.be/SuXbB_Lm4zMVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Country Girl Shake (Line Dance) – Demo & Teach (https://youtu.be/SuXbB_Lm4zM)
Demo & Teach Video
20. Ten-Step
| Count: 18 | Wall: 0 | Level: Beginner | Line / Partner |
Choreographer: Unknown
Music: Devil Went Down to Georgia by the Charlie Daniels Band
Step Sheet: Click here to download.
The Ten-Step is actually not a line dance! The Ten-Step would really be considered a partner dance.
As such, you can dance it with a partner, but it is commonly danced individually and so much fun that I wanted to include it. It is also easy! Like most partner dances it is danced in a circle (counter-clockwise) on the dance floor.
One common song to hear when it is called is Devil Went Down to Georgia. The beat is fast and its a lot of fun when the band speeds up the tempo toward the end to challenge both the fiddle player and the dancers to keep up, ’til, of course, they can’t!
So, if dancing with a partner, you do so in the sweetheart position or just holding hands. But, if individually you get the fun option to spin during the shuffle steps that occur between the “10-step” part. (altogether it is an 18 count dance).
And if by chance you watch the video below taken at the Cowboy Palace in Chatsworth and struck by the particular magic and charm of this scene click here to read the recounting of my experience there. It truly is an awesome country dance bar.
https://youtu.be/RBA2apxSMo8Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Ten Step – Danse country partner (https://youtu.be/RBA2apxSMo8)
Demo Videohttps://youtu.be/0dhY6g4kACIVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Devil Went Down to Georgia (https://youtu.be/0dhY6g4kACI)
Demo of the Ten-Step at the Cowboy Palace in Chatsworth
Some Beginning Line Dancing Basics
So there it is! My list of what I think are 20 of the easiest and also popular line dances out there right now. In addition to the dances themselves here’s a little more information about line dancing if you’re new to all this and a little confused about what is happening out there on the floor–I know I was!
A couple of things to know about if you’re new! Line dances are typically 16, 32, 40 or 48 steps (based on the level of difficulty) You may have noticed these numbers are all divisible by 8! Most popular music has a 4/4 time signature, but dancers count beats in sets of 8, hence line dance choreography is grouped and taught in sets of 8 or with “8-count.
”
Next (and the other major thing), line dances are known for having one, two or four walls. A one-wall dance means everyone will face in the same direction when all steps are performed. A two-wall line dance is when at the end of each sequence of steps everyone has turned 180º and you begin again facing the back — for these dances, you will always just face the “front” and “back” walls. Then, with a four-wall line dance (the most difficult), at the end of the steps, everyone has turned 90º and “begins the dance” again facing one of the “side” walls. As the dance progresses you will keep finishing and starting again facing a new wall.
| TIP: When first learning and taking a class it is tempting to hide in the last row! But as you may have already guessed, that’s a bad idea! As soon as the dance has moved on to the back wall, if you were in the back, you are now in the front! You can’t see anyone and everyone is looking at you! So, find a good spot somewhere in the middle and you’ll be able to always watch someone who knows what they are doing! |
With 20 line dances to learn and a couple of basics, you are ready to get involved in this fun activity.
Like anything else in life, it takes some just plain jumping headlong in and learning as you go!
Learn How To Line Dance for Beginners
by Line Dance Crazy | How To Line Dance
You’ve seen it or you’ve heard about it and now you can read about learn how to line dance for beginners. First of all you SHOULD – mainly because it is so much fun and great exercise. If you are not sure how to get involved, let me give you some starting suggestions.
Line Dancing DVDs
If you are a little shy or lack confidence to attend classes or you simply don’t have a class in your area, you will get a great deal of fun learning from a good set of DVDs for beginners.
They will propel your skills and knowledge while teaching you the most popular terms and steps. If you do attend a class, using line dancing instruction DVDs will give you a huge leg up.
STEP SHEETS
Although the hardest way to learn, and probably not for absolute beginners, once you get a little understanding of how line dances are structured as well as some terms you will find it quite easy to learn from linedance step sheets.
Basically they are a written form of the choreography showing you how to linedance step by step (A breakdown of the dance including the number of beats required to fulfil each step or section should be included).
Then, beginning with a slow rhythm track and building up speed, you will soon become a master of the dance. A very popular place to find step sheets is from the kickit line dance site.
CLASSES
By far the best way to learn line dancing is to attend a line dancing class in your local area. Here is a short list of reasons for attending a class.
- Personal instruction (you will need to find a good instructor, and you may have to try a few to find one that you are comfortable with)
- Watch others (you should also find they will be more than willing to help you).
- Meet and socialize with other line dancers – Adds to the fun of it all.
- Keeps you motivated.
Practice
Although not necessary, you will find your dancing will dramatically if you practice at home with either step sheets or a DVD as outlined above.
You don’t need to spend a lot of time, just 10 minutes – 2 or 3 times a week (obviously more if you can find the time, especially in the beginning).
This will reinforce the dance in your mind and you should even find your fitness improving. What a bonus!
Reasons to learn how to linedance are many and include
- Health and Fitness
- Gain self confidence
- Friendship
- Lose weight through fun exercise
- Fun and enjoyment – even if you don’t have a partner
- Your Brain will get a workout too.
What to do next?
- Make some phone calls or search the internet for classes in your area.
- Check out the DVD’s I have recommended.
- Ask a friend who may know of someone who dances
Whatever you do, don’t put it off any longer and learn how to line dance for beginners.
Country dance - frwiki.wiki
For the film, see Country Dance.
Country Dance (literally "Peasant Dance" or "Country Dance") or Country Dance is an English dance in XVII - centuries, originally square dance.
It has four, six or eight dancers or even more. The dancers are arranged in a circle, in a square or in two columns. Very quickly this last formation prevails, allowing the progressive development of the dance to an unlimited number of dancers. If these figures are accurate, initially they do not often remain in the dancer's imagination and settle on in XIX - m .
The first edition of Country Dances dates from 1651, when John Playford published the first edition of The English Dance Master .
Not to be confused with square dance derived from square dance in XIX - th century.
Summary
- 1 General
- 1.1 Principle
- 1.2 Levels
- 1.3 Choreographies
- 2 country in France
- 2.1 Balls
- 2.2 Regular pot
- 3 steps
- 4 Derivatives
- 5 Notes and references
General
Principle
Country dances all kinds of country music: waltz, cha-cha-cha, Irish, rock, pop and even tango, etc.
Each music played during a country ball may lead to the performance of one or more choreographies. The same choreography can be performed on several pieces of music. Today it is more than 2000 choreographies. The principle is simple: you need to repeat the choreography on a certain number of walls. The starting wall, called the "12 o'clock wall", is by convention opposite the musicians during the concert, otherwise opposite the audience. The dances mostly consist of two or four walls, but some have only one, while others dance in a circle, in pairs (dance with partners ) or face to face (dance contra ). Some choreographies, such as Lookout , are mostly danced diagonally, i.e. between two walls. Others use diagonals of only a few steps, such as I am running towards you .
The choreography consists of 8-beat parts (6 in the case of waltzes). The shorter dances are 16 beats (very rarely less, for example Pick a Bale is 8 beats), the vast majority of dances are 32, 48 or 64 beats, and sometimes much longer.
Some like " Where the wind blows" or " Centurion" exceeds 100 beats.
Certain choreographies can contain the tags (part of the choreography is added exclusively) or restart (the choreography starts again at the beginning). Some particularly advanced choreographies combine several different tags and several restarts of . The complexity of the dance is often subjective: it depends, of course, on tags , restarts , the length of the choreography, but also from the beginning, style and many of the sensations that music has.
Anyone can create a country dance choreography if it meets certain criteria. There are some favorite dances that we find very often in ballrooms such as Toes , Home to Louisiana , Irish Stew , Easy Come Easy Go . A dance with as many dancers as possible on the floor, which is usually one of the premieres in the National country dance pot, is country .
Levels
Country dances include different difficulty levels: beginner, beginner, intermediate and advanced. Dancers may well stay at the same level for several years.
Choreographies
The choreographies below are sorted by level. The level is indicated in the step sheet written by the choreographer.
| Choreography for beginners | Novice Choreography | Intermediate choreographies | Advanced choreography | Other choreographies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne | Lay | California blue | Holy Moth | Billy's Dance ( partner ) |
| Easy come, easy go | Lips so close | Soul Counted | Flame floor | Mexican Wind ( partner ) |
| Hooked the country | Not fair | Doctor Doctor | Kansas is no more | Seminole Wind (Circle ) |
| Lindy shuffle | South of Santa Fe | Long hot summer | overnight stay | Texas Waltz ( partner ) |
| Sheriff Tango | White rose | We are tonight | Peaceful Valley | Wanderer ( vs ) |
Country in France
It is thanks to the American Robert Vanstreet (1960-2010) that we are indebted to import country dances to France, thanks to the creation in 1993 in Paris of the first amateur club Les Amis08 Far West 90.
He is also the author of several choreographies including Love Dance and Black Pony . Since then country dances became popular, attracting large audiences.
Balls
Balls are large gatherings of dancers who come to dance, usually taking place on Saturday evenings or Sunday afternoons. There is usually a list of choreographies that will be performed during the ball. The opening dance is often performed in a country style. The ball can also trigger an initiation, and time can also be reserved for dances on request, that is, where the dancers present can suggest the choreography they want to dance to.
During the balls you need to know the etiquette of the route . It is a set of rules, more or less unspoken, based mainly on respect and common sense, which allow everyone to dance in good conditions. We can give some basic rules such as:
- Food and drink are strictly prohibited on the dance floor, as is tobacco.
- we do not cross the already formed lines, but simply complete them at the end, or create a new line at the back.
- On the track it is forbidden to carry weapons, even artificial ones, or spurs.
- you must not stay on the dance floor if you are not dancing. In the event of an accident or collision, it is also customary to apologize and replace the glass of the person who was pushed if he knocked it over.
The division of the dance floor must also be taken into account:
- Part 1: the center of the lane is reserved for stationary dances, in a line, without continuous movement along the lane.
- part 2: intermediate part reserved for progressive couples or dances with partners, which include, for example, stops and restarts.
- part 3: the edge of the lane is reserved for progressive dances used by dancers in faster dances.
Regular potty
Once or twice a year, animators meet to select dances to be included in the curriculum and balls.
The "National Common Pot" is a short guide that allows every dancer to find what is most popular in France. In addition, each region has its own Common Pot.
Each animator offers several choreographies of different levels and different styles. Then the animators vote for their favorite chorea. The choreographies that receive the most votes are elected.
No
Here are some of the most popular country steps:
- Triple Pitch : Three pitches similar to hammered pitch.
- Kick : kick with the end of the foot extended.
- Coaster step : 3 step weight change, back: one leg moves back, the other gathers, the retreating leg moves forward. Forward: One leg moves forward, the other gathers, the advanced leg moves back.
- Rock Step : two weight transfers.
- Grapevine : put right foot to the right, cross left foot behind, put right foot to the right with body weight (also done to the left, and also 1/4 or 1/2 turn).
- Stomping : Foot pose with weight transfer by tapping the heel.
Derivatives
We also find more and more dances called line dance or new line , that is, country choreography in very modern music and non-country genres. If the steps used are the same, these choreographies are more likely to use larger developments, glides. You can give, for example, " Rolling in the Deep" and " Watch It Burn" , who danced respectively on Adele's " Rolling in the Deep" and Adele's " Set Fire to the Rain ", Timber's on Ke$ha, or Hey Brother on Avicii.
In response to , the new line, clubs are proposing a return to choreography that is considered more traditional. Steps tend to have a lot of support, with significant use of the heels and toes.
Notes and links
- ↑ "The Legacy of Robert Vanstreet" on the website of association Les Amis du Far West .
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