Dance With Me Line Dance Step Sheet? The 89 Latest Answer

We’re often asked, “What are some easy line dances for seniors?”

So I thought I would highlight 8 dances, starting with a full beginner line dance and gradually building up in complexity.

This will quickly help you improve your knowledge of modern line dance moves. You can also learn a dance for free.

First a bit about line dance songs and choreography

Each line dance is choreographed to a specific song and includes a series of moves that become the dance routine. This basic routine is then danced facing all 4 walls (sometimes less) of a room.

In other words, you dance the entire choreography facing the teacher in front of you, and when the exercise is complete, you end up facing the left wall and finishing the exercise before (in this case) turning to the back wall and circling them around the continue space around until the song stops.

Easy line dances for seniors – and everyone else.

The following aren’t just for seniors, but they’re evergreen and great for anyone starting out.

I chose these dances because they can all be found on one DVD.

If you’re interested in learning all of these dances, you’ll find them on Volume 1 of Liz Collett’s very popular Line Dance DVD for Seniors.

Elvira Houston Hustle Boot Scootin’ Boogie Stray Cat Strut Slap Leather / Slappin’ Leather One Good Reason Woolshed Waltz Cowboy Cha Cha

NOTE: Many line dances have different versions of the choreography, so I’m referring to the version I’m familiar with.

1 – Elvira Elvira will help you learn the basics of a vine (vine) and hitch, as well as a sense of rhythm and timing. The story I like to tell is that when I started out as a complete linedance beginner around 1992 when everyone wanted to learn the “Achy Breaky Heart” linedance, I first learned a dance similar to Elvira. My girlfriend at the time was a natural dancer but I certainly wasn’t and after learning the second line dance I told her it was easier than the first. She looked at me and said it’s actually harder, but you’re just starting to “click in,” so it seems easier. The point is, if you find it hard at first – stick with it as it gets easier and great fun and you meet a lot of great people – and maybe even lose a few pounds. choreographer

unknown

Counts per exercise / wall:

24

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

“Elvira” by the Oak Ridge Boys.

worksheet

2 – Houston Hustle The Houston Hustle is a faster dance that introduces some fancy footwork, including fans and stomps, to improve on steps you’ve already learned. choreographer

Chuck Radmacher

Counts per exercise / wall:

32

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

“You’re Right, I’m Wrong” by George Strait

StepSheet

3 – Boot Scootin’ Boogie A perennial favorite with all line dancers. Not only is it choreographed to a great song, but the choreography is simple yet challenging for all levels. choreographer

Bill Bader

Counts per exercise / wall:

32

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

“Boot Scootin’ Boogie” by Brooks & Dunn

StepSheet Dance along and learn Boot Scootin’ Boogie by following Liz’s simple instructions in the video below. This is an example of her easy-to-understand teaching style.

4 – Stray Cat Strut A slower dance with a great strut that goes to your soul. choreographer

unknown

Counts per exercise / wall:

32

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

Stray Cat Strut by The Stray Cats

StepSheet

5 – Slap Leather (Slappin’ Leather) Let’s speed things up a bit with this popular line dance. Once you get this in your head, you can dance it to many other songs with a similar feel and speed. choreographer

unknown

Counts per exercise / wall:

42

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

“T-R-O-U-B-L-E” by Travis Tritt

StepSheet

6 – A good reason I really enjoy this dance, mainly because I love the Ricky Van Shelton song. It’s slow and gentle, but upbeat, and you’ll just float along while listening to the lyrics. Don’t get too carried away with the song as I know people (who are very close to me) who can easily forget what step they are taking while dancing! choreographer

Su Marshal

Counts per exercise / wall:

32

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

Unsure

Maybe Shanley Del’s Give Me One Good Reason

but I learned it on Ricky Van Shelton’s “If They Turn Out The Lights.”

StepSheet

7 – Woolshed Waltz Everyone loves line dancing waltzes and I love the Colin Raye song too.

Waltz has a very different feel to all other dances that are in 3/4 time, so you count it as

1-2-3 | 1-2-3 | 1-2-3 | 1-2-3 |

instead of the more typical

1-2-3-4 | 1-2-3-4 | 1-2-3-4 | 1-2-3-4 | counting.

This is a beautiful dance style. If you want to learn how to count in line dances, read these articles.

How to Count Country Line Dances – Part 1

How to Count Country Line Dances – Part 2 (Waltz Time) Choreographer

Kath MacManamon

Counts per exercise / wall:

36

4 Wall Beginner Line Dance Waltz

Song originally choreographed to

“The Dance” by Anne Kirkpatrick

Alternatively, “Dreaming My Dreams with You” by Collin Raye

StepSheet

8 – Cowboy Cha Cha Brooks and Dunn are one of the most famous Nashville duos/bands with a huge hit string. I learned Neon Moon on guitar, so it holds a special place for me. Cha cha is a specific step that has a specific rhythm – slow, slow, fast, fast, fast, where the 3 x fast moves take the same amount of time as the 2 x slow counts. This will make more sense after learning this dance. choreographer

Unsure but most likely Kelly Gellette & Michelle Stremche

Counts per exercise / wall:

20

4 Wall Beginner Line Dance Cha Cha

Song originally choreographed to

“Neon Moon” by Brooks & Dunn

StepSheet

I sincerely hope that you’ve gotten some inspiration to take up line dancing for both fun and practice.

Check out the senior line dance DVD below to learn these dances and get a good head start.

social dance

Country Line Dance

A line dance is a choreographed routine performed with a group of people and has a repetitive sequence of steps. Line dancing is great fun because it can be danced with or without a partner! Country line dancing is popular across the United States and is a favorite at country nightclubs, weddings, and fitness centers.

History of Country Line Dance

There are various theories as to how and when line dancing originated. Line dancing has taken many forms and has existed in many parts of the world for thousands of years. The first known line dancing instructions were written in 1650 in a book of dance sheets for English Country Dancing. Country line dancing seems to have originated in Europe and came to the United States with the settlers who immigrated to America.

Some theorists agree that the country line dancing we know today evolved from the English country dances, or contra dances, that were danced in the states of New England in the United States in the early 19th century. These contra dances came to America from the settlers who brought their dance traditions with them. Contra dance was a combination of European folk dances and country dances. In contra dancing (which is still practiced today), men and women stand in two separate rows and dance together. This style of line dancing had dance step patterns set out so that anyone could participate.

In the mid-19th century, western and country dances became very popular from the Midwest to the West Coast. While most of these dances were couple dances that followed set steps, some were line dances.

Line dances continued to evolve in the United States. In the 1950s and 1960s, some line dances such as “The Madison”, “Hully Gully” and “San Francisco Stomp” developed. In the 1970s, line dances were performed to many popular styles of music, including pop, rock and roll, swing, disco, Latin, and jazz. The 1970s brought line dances like the “Cowboy Boogie” and the “L.A. Hustle”, which combined country music with disco songs. A few dozen more line dances for country songs were developed in the 1980s, and the country line dance that’s recognized today was probably born in Nashville, Tennessee, around this time. Jim Ferrazano is said to have written the line dancing steps to the song “Tush Push” on a napkin sometime in the ’80s. Dancer Melanie Greenwood, who became a famous line dance choreographer, then tested Jim Ferrazano’s dance and brought him to the dance floor. Melanie Greenwood later wrote the line dancing instructions for the song “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus. “Achy Breaky Heart” was a smash hit in 1992, and country line dancing was catapulted into the mainstream.

Line dancing today

Today line dancing has very traditional dances set to country music as well as popular line dances set to non-country music. Line dancing is popular in country western dance nightclubs, weddings, social clubs, ballrooms and parties worldwide. It is also used for health and fitness in gyms and health clubs. You can also find country line dancing in community centers when people dance as part of social welfare and recreational programs.

Some of the most popular country line dances today are: Tush Push, Cotton Eyed Joe, Boot Scootin’ Boogie, Hoedown Throwdown, Cowboy Cha Cha, Slap Leather, Swamp Thing , and “Watermelon Crawl”. Some common line dances outside of the country are: “Electric Slide”, “Cha Cha Slide”, “Macarena”, “Cupid Shuffle” and “Chicken Dance”. The “Macarena” and the “Chicken Dance” are examples of modern line dances that are danced in a circle instead of in a row formation.

In recent years, music has been written to do justice to dancers, while originally dances were written to do justice to music. This has opened the doors for some dances to be danced to the music of the dancer’s choice.

Country line dancing has spread to other parts of the world but remains predominantly in the United States, Australia and Europe. The arrival of country line dancing in Europe was helped by the arrival of Country Music Television in 1998. In 2014, Durham, N.C. named the Line Dance Capital of America by a ranking of MeetUp groups.

Online databases have been created for dancers to search existing line dances by dance name, choreographer name and music. These databases also offer searching for places for line dancing.

Line dancing is popular because it is easy to learn and avoids the problem of imbalance between male and female partners that worries ballroom and ballroom dancers. Country line dancing is often combined with other country-western dances such as the country two-step, western promenade dances, and western-style variations of waltz, swing, and polka.

Country Line Dance Songs

The most famous wedding dances of all time

Line dancing has been around for hundreds of years and its popularity has only grown over time. While wedding line dances definitely had their heyday in the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s, we’re seeing a resurgence of the trend thanks to new, catchy songs and the ingenuity of dancing teens on apps like TikTok. Before we move on to the modern hits, let’s take a look at some of the most famous line dances in party history!

Cupid Shuffle

“Cupid Shuffle” is a song by singer-songwriter Cupid from his 2007 studio album Time for a Change. It spawned a popular line dance, “The Cupid Shuffle,” which became popular due to its meteoric popularity as a wedding dance and at school dances, proms or other festive occasions was a defining aspect of the early 2010s.

The cupid shuffle dance and the song itself immediately drew comparisons to DJ Casper’s “Cha Cha Slide.” As with the Cha Cha Slide, The Cupid Shuffle’s moves are named in the lyrics of the song and guide the contestants through the dance. At weddings or proms, Cupid Shuffle and Cha Cha Slide are often played back-to-back.

Cha Cha slide

While Cha Cha Slide may seem ubiquitous to those who grew up in the late ’90s and early 2000s, this party hit has only been around since August 2000, when it was released as a single by American artist DJ Casper. The track’s producers initially marketed it for use in aerobics sessions and nightclubs, but it quickly took the entire entertainment and events industry by storm. You can now hear the Cha Cha Slide at proms, proms, birthday parties, ice and roller rinks, bar/bat mitzvahs, quinceaneras, weddings and sporting events around the world.

Like its spiritual successor, The Cupid Shuffle, Cha Cha Slide’s lyrics challenge partygoers to perform each dance step, like the eponymous “Slide” left or right or—of course—”Cha Cha Real Smooth.”

Electric slide

There aren’t too many slide dances at a wedding! Similar to the Cha Cha Slide, the Electric Slide is a four-wall line dance (meaning that participants turn around as the dance progresses, eventually facing all four walls of the room) that has become incredibly popular at weddings since its introduction is .

Choreographer, pianist, and Broadway artist Richard L. “Ric” Silver created the dance in 1976 and set it to Marcia Griffith and Bunny Wailer’s song “Electric Boogie.” The original choreography is 22 steps, but there are several variations, the most popular of which is the 18-step Electric Slide 2.

In addition to the original track, there are at least 134 songs to dance the Electric Slide to. Here are just a few:

“Another bites the dust”, Queen

“Brick House”, The Commodores

“December 1963 (Oh What a Night)”, The Four Seasons

“Come down,” Kool & the Gang

“Ice Ice Baby”, vanilla ice cream

The wobble

This line dance is taken from the song “Wobble” by rapper VIC, which was originally released in the summer of 2008. Four years later, it debuted at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on January 7, 2012, credited to the dance it eventually inspired, The Wobble.

It’s a simple dance in the same vein as Electric Slide or Cha Cha Slide but with a more modern hip-hop/R&B flavor. More recently, the song and accompanying dance enjoyed another surge in popularity thanks to its discovery by the next generation of partygoers on video-sharing app TikTok.

Macarena

Hello Macarena! “Macarena” is a Spanish dance song by Los del Río about a woman of the same name. The song, which appeared on their 1993 album A mí me gusta, became an international hit and dance craze in the second half of 1996. The song even earned the group the No. 1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder Ever” by VH1 in 2002! The accompanying dance consists primarily of arm and hand movements, making it a fun wedding reception dance for groups of many different ages and mobility levels.

YMCA

Disco is not dead! This 1978 hit by The Village People is perhaps one of the most famous songs of all time, not to mention the enduring popularity of the dance of the same name. “Y.M.C.A.” is one of fewer than 40 singles to have sold 10 million (or more) physical copies worldwide.

“Y.M.C.A.” stands for Young Men’s Christian Association, an organization that has built low-income housing and youth community spaces for underprivileged and homeless urban residents. During the ’60s and ’70s, the YMCA was known as a safe place for young men of color and youth who were being evicted from their homes because of their sexual orientation, which inspired Victor Willis, lead singer and lyricist for The Village People, to write the song .

The song remains popular at events around the world, and crowds join in the dance, which uses arm movements to spell out the four letters of the song’s title. As with the Macarena, this dance’s reliance on arm movements makes it a great choice for groups with mixed activity or mobility levels.

The chicken dance

Did you know “The Chicken Dance” dates back to 1950? That’s right – this infamous catchy tune is attributed to Swiss accordionist Werner Thomas. The song’s original name was “Der Ententanz” and was a popular drinking song at Oktoberfest in Germany. In 1981, the song was played at the Oktoberfest in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The performers wanted to don duck costumes, but none were available, so a local TV station donated a chicken costume to the festival, accidentally making history by giving “The Chicken Dance” its name.

Since then, the polka tune has featured at Oktoberfests, wedding receptions, school dances, proms, and festivals across the country. Its four simple dance moves (mimic opening and closing a chicken’s beak with your hands, flapping your arms like chicken wings, shaking your hips, and clapping four times to the beat) make it easy for everyone from kids to kids at heart to pick up a quick pace. It also happens that top lists of the most common songs appear on couples’ don’t play lists for their wedding DJ’s regularly, so your mileage may vary with this old classic!

Cotton Eyed Joe

Believe it or not, “Cotton-Eyed Joe” is actually the oldest song on this list! Its roots go back to before the Civil War and it is believed to have been sung by enslaved people on the plantation fields of the American South. The first printed version of the song’s lyrics were published in 1882, and the lyrics have evolved since then. Many different versions of the song have been performed and recorded, with many different versions of the lyrics or without lyrics, but the most popular and well-known rendition today was recorded by Swedish eurodance group Rednex in 1994.

As a line dance, the Cotton Eyed Joe is essentially a heel-and-toe “poker” style dance commonly seen in square dances or hoedowns. “Cotton Eyed Joe” is a great country wedding line dance song for couples having a barn or farm wedding, a backyard wedding, or a rustic-chic wedding.

New line dances and Tik Tok trends

Social media video apps like YouTube and TikTok have breathed new life into line dancing! Over the past decade, artists have seen their songs skyrocket with new, younger audiences. Of particular note is the proliferation of hip hop tracks, in addition to tracks mixing hip hop and country influences, as the new genre of choice for line dances. Below we give you full details on some of our favorite new line dances and TikTok trends for your 2022 wedding playlist.

old town street

“Old Town Road” is the debut single that launched American rapper Lil Nas X to fame. Originally released in 2018, then remixed again in 2019 with country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, this country rap number gained popularity on Tiktok before hitting the Billboard charts. Tiktok users developed their own dance moves to the song, leading to the hit being widely considered a dance track, despite originally being released without associated choreography. The song was later featured in the dance-centric video game Just Dance 2020, which solidified the track’s line-dancing steps.

This dance is a great choice for younger couples who want a more modern take on the country flair of their wedding soundtrack. Older guests may not know the dance as it was developed and popularized by social media, but the steps are easy enough to learn, especially for experienced line dancers.

Fancy like

If you’ve seen an Applebee commercial since late summer 2021, you’ve probably heard “Fancy Like!” During the COVID-19 pandemic, country singer Walker Hayes and his family decided to make TikTok videos for fun by creating dances for several songs on his Country Stuff EP for his kids. The TikTok video for “Fancy Like” received more than 2.4 million likes and 23,000 comments and went viral overnight. What does this have to do with Applebee? The restaurant is mentioned in the song’s lyrics, prompting the chain to use the track in their commercials, contributing to its popularity.

Created by Hayes and his family, the dance draws inspiration from both classic line dances and more modern hip-hop dance. As journalist Chris Deville wrote for Stereogum in 2021, “There’s probably a connection between hip-hop-adjacent ‘fancy like’ dancing and the line dancing that accompanied every country hit in the late 20th century.” No wonder “Fancy Like” feels so familiar!

The Git Up

Country Rap went viral again in early 2019 with American rapper Blanco Brown’s The Git Up. The song has been described as a “sequel” to “Old Town Road” thanks to its mix of hip-hop and country sensibilities and viral popularity. Despite its decidedly modern conception, the dance associated with “The Git Up” ties in with the origins of classic line dances from the 80s to the early 2000s: Brown himself performed a line dance to the song in a self-recorded video, which resulted in a meme and was later used in the music video.

The dance borrows basic elements of country line dancing like side steps, heel-toe taps and turning, but with a looser body language that stays true to its hip-hop roots. The Git Up suits both city and farm weddings thanks to its cross-genre beat.

Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)

Thanks to a viral clip on YouTube in 2015, this song by rapper Silentó became known for its dancing – despite mixed reviews of the track overall! The dance involves a combination of the two popular movements mentioned in the title: the “whip” and the “nae nae”. Both moves require the dancer to adopt a low stance and use their arms and hips, so this is a dance best for flexibility!

Since its initial surge in popularity, this song has taken on a life of its own, becoming a popular tune at sporting events, dance clubs, school dances, proms, and weddings. It has also been used as an alternative song for other popular hip hop dances such as “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” and “Stanky Legg”.

Baby Shark Dance

“Baby Shark” is a children’s song and dance to go with it – so rest assured this will be a big hit with all the kids at your wedding party and reception! Originally intended as a campfire song and dance where contestants used their hands to mimic shark jaws, “Baby Shark” became popular in 2016 when South Korean entertainment company Pinkfong’s YouTube music video for the song went viral. In January 2022, it became the first YouTube video to reach 10 billion views and is the most viewed YouTube video of all time.

Gangnam style

“Gangnam Style” became a gangster in 2012 when it was released as the lead single by South Korean rapper Psy. The term “Gangnam style” refers to a lifestyle associated with the Gangnam district of Seoul, Korea. Psy’s amusing dancing in this K-pop dance song became a worldwide phenomenon, sparking memes, parodies, skits and more. The dance itself is highly energetic and includes canter and lasso movements, pulses and small kicks. Anyone who was a part of this major cultural moment will no doubt hit the dance floor when this is played at your wedding reception!

Crank That (Soulja Boy) – “Superman”

“Crank That (Soulja Boy)” is responsible for what was billed as “the greatest dance fad since the Macarena” at the time of its release in 2008. The debut single from American rapper Soulja Boy Tell’em, this song spent seven weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination. A YouTube instructional video for the associated dance garnered more than 27 million views in early 2008.

Inspired by the recent dance craze in Atlanta, Georgia, Soulja Boy and his friends invented the moves that became synonymous with “Crank That.” As The Wall Street Journal put it, “Dancers hop back on their heels, wiggle their hands, crank their wrists like motorcyclists, and then strike a superman pose.” The dance became and is very popular at dance clubs and school dances at this time a memorable line dance to this day.

The Time Warp

Originally featured in the 1973 musical The Rocky Horror Show and the subsequent 1975 film adaptation Rocky Horror Picture Show, Time Warp is a glam rock parody of the dance song genre. The accompanying dance of the same name is one of the most important parts of the audience participation performed during screenings of the film and performances of the stage show. As with many popular line dances of the time, many of Time Warp’s lyrics are dance step instructions, making them easy to follow.

“Time Warp” has become a popular song that extends beyond the reach of its source material, often being played at dances and weddings. Given that “Rocky Horror Picture Show” has legendary cult-classic status among movie fans, this song is an excellent choice for wedding reception groups of all ages – especially if the couple are self-proclaimed sci-fi or movie nerds!

More Wedding Line Dance Songs Everyone Will Know

Country Wedding Line Dance Songs

Since country music is the grandfather of all line dancing, you can bet there are more hits out there that make boot tappin’ good country wedding line dance songs:

Achy Breaky Heart, Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)

Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, Trace Adkins (2005)

“Man! I Feel Like a Woman”, Shania Twain (1997)

Hip hop group dance songs

There are almost too many great hip hop dance songs to choose from – but here are a few more, just to be sure!:

Harlem Shake, Bauer (2012)

“Jump On It”, The Sugarhill Gang (1999)

“Teach Me How to Dougie”, Cali Swag District (2010)

More fun wedding reception dances

Here are some of our favorite pop, latin and R&B inspired funny wedding reception songs:

“Thriller”, Michael Jackson (1982)

“Conga”, Miami Sound Machine & Gloria Estefan (1996)

“Twist & Shout”, The Beatles (1963)

“Sweet Caroline”, Neil Diamond (1969)

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We all know that line dancing is basically an amalgamation of different steps put together to match the tempo of a song (we all knew that, RIGHT?!?). In the many years that I have been teaching I have taught many different steps.

Some of the more difficult steps I’ve taught include magic step, sailor step, scissor step, vaudeville step, basic steps with odd turns, querchasse, etc. But I’ve finally nailed the absolute hardest step I’ve ever taught. It’s… wait for it… the break!

I’ve literally found that holding for a bar in a dance is the Achilles’ heel of most dances. We’re so used to moving with every step (or even every half-step) that the idea of ​​standing there for just a beat is more than our bodies allow for.

The following are some of our dances that include pauses (how many have you mastered??):

The best way to combat the pause problem is to count steps (literally). Pretty much all dances are danced in 8 steps*, so count them off as you do the steps. For example:

1-2-3-BREAK-5-6-7-8

Remember that in our dances there are also a lot of half counts, but there will still be the same 8 counts, so it could be more like this, but you still get your 8 counts:

1&2-3-4-BREAK-6-7&8

So next time a dance looks easy, take a “break” and see if you can stop your momentum as soon as you get going! If not, come see me and we’ll get through this damn break together!

*Disclaimer: In my experience, every line dance is done in 8 counts. I’ve yet to meet anyone who isn’t, but since anyone can choreograph a dance and there are no rules, technically anyone could break this pattern and some probably did, so that’s the only reason I said “like that” instead pretty much all” say “all”.

Line dancing is inevitable when visiting a country hoedown. Line dancing is popular in honkey tonks, bars, church basements, and just about anywhere people gather for a good time.

The history of line dancing is rich, even if its origins are disputed. According to Colorado’s Grizzly Rose Club, some believe that country line dancing can be traced back to the round and square dances of Europe. Others say it derives from the folk dance of the 19th-century social settlement movement. City settlers had their own songs and sounds that evolved into modern day country music. In turn, dances were modified to fit the melodies. Contra dancing, a form of American folk dancing in which dancers form two parallel lines and perform a series of dance moves with different partners along the line, likely also played a role in the development of country line dancing.

As the name suggests, line dancing is all about people dancing in lines to music. The dances are choreographed with a repetitive series of steps performed in unison. The dancers all face the same direction, although there may be multiple lines. Dance Poise also says that unlike other country-western dances, there is almost no physical contact between dancers, although hand-holding can occur.

Country line dances consist of various steps to a series of counts timed to the beat. They often go by catchy names like The Texas Two-Step, The West Coast Shuffle, and Boot Scootin’ Boogie.

Some find line dancing so appealing because it doesn’t require a partner, making it ideal for singles, couples, or those who don’t consider themselves to be the strongest dancers.

Line dances aren’t limited to country music. Popular music has spawned many different line dances, including the Charlie Brown, the Macarena, and the Cha-Cha Slide, among others.

Line dancing can make for a fun night out with friends who share a love of country music.

We’re often asked, “What are some easy line dances for seniors?”

So I thought I would highlight 8 dances, starting with a full beginner line dance and gradually building up in complexity.

This will quickly help you improve your knowledge of modern line dance moves. You can also learn a dance for free.

First a bit about line dance songs and choreography

Each line dance is choreographed to a specific song and includes a series of moves that become the dance routine. This basic routine is then danced facing all 4 walls (sometimes less) of a room.

In other words, you dance the entire choreography facing the teacher in front of you, and when the exercise is complete, you end up facing the left wall and finishing the exercise before (in this case) turning to the back wall and circling them around the continue space around until the song stops.

Easy line dances for seniors – and everyone else.

The following aren’t just for seniors, but they’re evergreen and great for anyone starting out.

I chose these dances because they can all be found on one DVD.

If you’re interested in learning all of these dances, you’ll find them on Volume 1 of Liz Collett’s very popular Line Dance DVD for Seniors.

Elvira Houston Hustle Boot Scootin’ Boogie Stray Cat Strut Slap Leather / Slappin’ Leather One Good Reason Woolshed Waltz Cowboy Cha Cha

NOTE: Many line dances have different versions of the choreography, so I’m referring to the version I’m familiar with.

1 – Elvira Elvira will help you learn the basics of a vine (vine) and hitch, as well as a sense of rhythm and timing. The story I like to tell is that when I started out as a complete linedance beginner around 1992 when everyone wanted to learn the “Achy Breaky Heart” linedance, I first learned a dance similar to Elvira. My girlfriend at the time was a natural dancer but I certainly wasn’t and after learning the second line dance I told her it was easier than the first. She looked at me and said it’s actually harder, but you’re just starting to “click in,” so it seems easier. The point is, if you find it hard at first – stick with it as it gets easier and great fun and you meet a lot of great people – and maybe even lose a few pounds. choreographer

unknown

Counts per exercise / wall:

24

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

“Elvira” by the Oak Ridge Boys.

worksheet

2 – Houston Hustle The Houston Hustle is a faster dance that introduces some fancy footwork, including fans and stomps, to improve on steps you’ve already learned. choreographer

Chuck Radmacher

Counts per exercise / wall:

32

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

“You’re Right, I’m Wrong” by George Strait

StepSheet

3 – Boot Scootin’ Boogie A perennial favorite with all line dancers. Not only is it choreographed to a great song, but the choreography is simple yet challenging for all levels. choreographer

Bill Bader

Counts per exercise / wall:

32

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

“Boot Scootin’ Boogie” by Brooks & Dunn

StepSheet Dance along and learn Boot Scootin’ Boogie by following Liz’s simple instructions in the video below. This is an example of her easy-to-understand teaching style.

4 – Stray Cat Strut A slower dance with a great strut that goes to your soul. choreographer

unknown

Counts per exercise / wall:

32

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

Stray Cat Strut by The Stray Cats

StepSheet

5 – Slap Leather (Slappin’ Leather) Let’s speed things up a bit with this popular line dance. Once you get this in your head, you can dance it to many other songs with a similar feel and speed. choreographer

unknown

Counts per exercise / wall:

42

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

“T-R-O-U-B-L-E” by Travis Tritt

StepSheet

6 – A good reason I really enjoy this dance, mainly because I love the Ricky Van Shelton song. It’s slow and gentle, but upbeat, and you’ll just float along while listening to the lyrics. Don’t get too carried away with the song as I know people (who are very close to me) who can easily forget what step they are taking while dancing! choreographer

Su Marshal

Counts per exercise / wall:

32

4 wall beginner line dance

Song originally choreographed to

Unsure

Maybe Shanley Del’s Give Me One Good Reason

but I learned it on Ricky Van Shelton’s “If They Turn Out The Lights.”

StepSheet

7 – Woolshed Waltz Everyone loves line dancing waltzes and I love the Colin Raye song too.

Waltz has a very different feel to all other dances that are in 3/4 time, so you count it as

1-2-3 | 1-2-3 | 1-2-3 | 1-2-3 |

instead of the more typical

1-2-3-4 | 1-2-3-4 | 1-2-3-4 | 1-2-3-4 | counting.

This is a beautiful dance style. If you want to learn how to count in line dances, read these articles.

How to Count Country Line Dances – Part 1

How to Count Country Line Dances – Part 2 (Waltz Time) Choreographer

Kath MacManamon

Counts per exercise / wall:

36

4 Wall Beginner Line Dance Waltz

Song originally choreographed to

“The Dance” by Anne Kirkpatrick

Alternatively, “Dreaming My Dreams with You” by Collin Raye

StepSheet

8 – Cowboy Cha Cha Brooks and Dunn are one of the most famous Nashville duos/bands with a huge hit string. I learned Neon Moon on guitar, so it holds a special place for me. Cha cha is a specific step that has a specific rhythm – slow, slow, fast, fast, fast, where the 3 x fast moves take the same amount of time as the 2 x slow counts. This will make more sense after learning this dance. choreographer

Unsure but most likely Kelly Gellette & Michelle Stremche

Counts per exercise / wall:

20

4 Wall Beginner Line Dance Cha Cha

Song originally choreographed to

“Neon Moon” by Brooks & Dunn

StepSheet

I sincerely hope that you’ve gotten some inspiration to take up line dancing for both fun and practice.

Check out the senior line dance DVD below to learn these dances and get a good head start.

Every night in bars across the country, happy people move their polished boots through country line dance steps. The dance’s popularity may be due in part to the fact that, unlike most other ballroom dances, country line dancing does not require partners to learn how to dance in pairs, making it one of the easiest dance forms to learn. Country line dancing allows dancers to move independently while enjoying a group activity while moving to the beat of the music.

Line Dancing Steps and Variations Drawing on many different dance traditions, line dancing steps vary from simple walking to intricate twists and syncopated rhythms. Luckily, there are plenty of line dances for beginners; These dances all consist of very simple steps. For more advanced dancers, variations can be added (e.g. replacing a vine with a three-tiered twist) to keep it interesting while ensuring dancers of all levels can share the dance floor for the same songs.

Heel Dig As simple as digging a heel into the ground, this can be done with an accent by bending the supporting leg. Another accent/variation is to jump out of step instead of just stepping back on foot.

Double Heel Dig Faster dances sometimes require a double heel dig, in which you, with your weight firmly on your left leg, quickly dig your right heel into the floor twice, usually forward and slightly to the side

Grapevine (or Vine) When walking to the right or left, this step (to the right) is performed as follows: Right foot step right Left foot crosses behind right Right foot step right Left foot closes to left side of right foot. Grapevine Variations: As you get more advanced, vary the fourth step of the Grapevine by replacing it with a heel dig or by rubbing the bottom of your boot against the ground and bringing your left foot back up in the air.

Weaving Combining the vine with a cross in front and a cross in back, this movement has the dancer travel in a zigzag on the floor. A complete cycle looks like this: Step right foot to right Cross left foot behind right foot Step right foot to right Cross left foot in front of right foot Repeat steps 1-4 as many times as you like. When you want to finish weaving, do steps 3 and 4 of the vine step to finish weaving.

Jazz Square or Jazz Box You may know this step from jazz lessons. It can be done on the right or left; It’s often done twice in a row in the same direction: Step your right foot over your left foot. Step your left foot back and to the side. Step onto your right side with your right foot. Close your left foot to the left side of your right foot

Triple Step These are three steps in a musical triplet as two beats of music move in any direction. Similar to the step-ball switch in tap dancing, this step involves the following three steps (or the opposite if you start with the left foot instead of the right foot): Step on the right foot Step on the ball of the left foot and put weight on foot Quickly step onto your right foot without pausing on your left. The weight transfer to your left foot should have been just enough to lift and step on your right foot.

Charleston While not always called the Charleston, this step is commonly used in country line dancing (it will likely be referred to by the caller as “step-tap, step-tap”): Step forward on right foot Step left foot behind forward, in front of your right foot, but don’t put your weight on it. Step backwards onto your left foot. Tap your right foot behind your left and repeat

Pivot Turn A single turn, a pivot is a half turn. Dances often use two pivot turns in a row to complete a full 360-degree rotation: Step forward on your right foot, but keep weight centered on the ball of your foot. With your weight evenly distributed on both feet, rotate your body half a turn to the left so that your left foot is in front

Kick-Ball Switch A favorite in cowboy boots, this move is easy to perform but looks difficult because it’s performed quickly: With your weight firmly on your left foot, step your right foot in front of you, heel first right foot behind you, but only on the balls of your feet, in order to quickly transfer the weight back to the left foot hard (loudly) in the third step

Popular Line Dances Once you’ve learned a few line dancing moves, you may want to stitch them together into dances that you can enjoy at country western bars, community centers, and other venues near you. Some of the most common line dances you will encounter are these: Tush push

Watermelon Crawl

Oh broken heart

Boot Scootin’ Boogie

West Coast Shuffle

Cowboy Shuffle

redneck girl

Ten Step Because these dances are so common, you can learn them in no time by joining more experienced dancers on the dance floor. Just walk in the middle of the group so that whichever way you turn there is still someone in front of you so you can watch and learn from your fellow dancers.

social dance

Country Line Dance

A line dance is a choreographed routine performed with a group of people and has a repetitive sequence of steps. Line dancing is great fun because it can be danced with or without a partner! Country line dancing is popular across the United States and is a favorite at country nightclubs, weddings, and fitness centers.

History of Country Line Dance

There are various theories as to how and when line dancing originated. Line dancing has taken many forms and has existed in many parts of the world for thousands of years. The first known line dancing instructions were written in 1650 in a book of dance sheets for English Country Dancing. Country line dancing seems to have originated in Europe and came to the United States with the settlers who immigrated to America.

Some theorists agree that the country line dancing we know today evolved from the English country dances, or contra dances, that were danced in the states of New England in the United States in the early 19th century. These contra dances came to America from the settlers who brought their dance traditions with them. Contra dance was a combination of European folk dances and country dances. In contra dancing (which is still practiced today), men and women stand in two separate rows and dance together. This style of line dancing had dance step patterns set out so that anyone could participate.

In the mid-19th century, western and country dances became very popular from the Midwest to the West Coast. While most of these dances were couple dances that followed set steps, some were line dances.

Line dances continued to evolve in the United States. In the 1950s and 1960s, some line dances such as “The Madison”, “Hully Gully” and “San Francisco Stomp” developed. In the 1970s, line dances were performed to many popular styles of music, including pop, rock and roll, swing, disco, Latin, and jazz. The 1970s brought line dances like the “Cowboy Boogie” and the “L.A. Hustle”, which combined country music with disco songs. A few dozen more line dances for country songs were developed in the 1980s, and the country line dance that’s recognized today was probably born in Nashville, Tennessee, around this time. Jim Ferrazano is said to have written the line dancing steps to the song “Tush Push” on a napkin sometime in the ’80s. Dancer Melanie Greenwood, who became a famous line dance choreographer, then tested Jim Ferrazano’s dance and brought him to the dance floor. Melanie Greenwood later wrote the line dancing instructions for the song “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus. “Achy Breaky Heart” was a smash hit in 1992, and country line dancing was catapulted into the mainstream.

Line dancing today

Today line dancing has very traditional dances set to country music as well as popular line dances set to non-country music. Line dancing is popular in country western dance nightclubs, weddings, social clubs, ballrooms and parties worldwide. It is also used for health and fitness in gyms and health clubs. You can also find country line dancing in community centers when people dance as part of social welfare and recreational programs.

Some of the most popular country line dances today are: Tush Push, Cotton Eyed Joe, Boot Scootin’ Boogie, Hoedown Throwdown, Cowboy Cha Cha, Slap Leather, Swamp Thing , and “Watermelon Crawl”. Some common line dances outside of the country are: “Electric Slide”, “Cha Cha Slide”, “Macarena”, “Cupid Shuffle” and “Chicken Dance”. The “Macarena” and the “Chicken Dance” are examples of modern line dances that are danced in a circle instead of in a row formation.

In recent years, music has been written to do justice to dancers, while originally dances were written to do justice to music. This has opened the doors for some dances to be danced to the music of the dancer’s choice.

Country line dancing has spread to other parts of the world but remains predominantly in the United States, Australia and Europe. The arrival of country line dancing in Europe was helped by the arrival of Country Music Television in 1998. In 2014, Durham, N.C. named the Line Dance Capital of America by a ranking of MeetUp groups.

Online databases have been created for dancers to search existing line dances by dance name, choreographer name and music. These databases also offer searching for places for line dancing.

Line dancing is popular because it is easy to learn and avoids the problem of imbalance between male and female partners that worries ballroom and ballroom dancers. Country line dancing is often combined with other country-western dances such as the country two-step, western promenade dances, and western-style variations of waltz, swing, and polka.

Country Line Dance Songs