Line Dancing Steps

Line dancing steps are most commonly associated with country line dancing. Technically there are many others, both folk dances and popular disco-era dances like the Electric Slide. However, the bars and dance halls of America are filled with groups of people wearing fine boots and cowboy hats and turning and moving en masse to the Boot-Scootin' Boogie and other contemporary country songs. Part of the appeal is not only that line dancing steps are easy to learn – it's also the way that it's danced, in a large group with many people to remind each other of the next step.

The over-enveloping structure of a line dance is called the "wall." This represents the facing of the dancers – a one-wall dance has the dancers facing the same direction throughout, while a two-wall dance has a series of line dancing steps that takes people through 180 degrees so that they are facing forward and backward. There are also four-wall dances, but that is the limit.

Each dance will also have it's own "count," or the number of beats before the entire dance is repeated. This is not necessarily the same number of beats as the song, but is often a multiple of it. For example, there may be 64 beats worth of line dancing steps before a repeat, but the song may last for 128 beats. Therefore, the entire dance would be performed twice. The point at which a dance is repeated is known as the "restart."

"Variations" are sections of the dance that change, either for more advanced dancers (also called "ornamentation") or simply to vary the dance and keep it interesting. For example, there may be a section where for 8 beats the dancers walk in a small circle. The next time that pattern comes around, the 8 beats may be a step touch, and the next repeat may be a jazz square. Variations are part of what keep a dance interesting, and also allow for more personal expression.

These are only a few of the many line dancing steps out there. Steps may vary depending on the teacher, the area of the country, or even just when the dance was learned. The importance is not to get a dance exactly right so much as to have fun.

• Grapevine – This is one of the first line dancing steps learned. Moving to the side, dancers step with one foot, then place the other behind it (maintaining their balance). The first foot is moved to the side again, and the second either moves right next to it (to close) or crosses in front to continue the pattern. Many variations of the step exist, incorporating things like hops, weaves, or scuffs.
• Chasse - Similar to a grapevine without the feet crossing, one foot moves to the side, the other "chases" it (placing alongside the first) and the first moves again. This is a light and quick step.
• Triple step Performed in any direction, this is known in musical terms as a "triplet" – three steps equally spaced during the same duration as two regular beats of music.
• Shuffle step – when done to the side, this is basically the chasse, except that the feet stay on the ground. It is also performed to the front or back with a count of "1 and 2, 3 and 4" or by simply saying the mnemonic "Shuf-full-step, shuf-full-step."
• Lock step – This is a bit like a chasse to the front or back, with the difference that the "chasing" foot is drawn up tight behind the lead foot, and often doesn't even touch the ground after, instead being used to change the direction or momentum of the dance.

Line dancing steps are constantly being influenced by other forms of dance from ballet to flamenco to hip-hop. Some examples of other names of steps are botafogo, jazz box, kick ball change, mambo step, military turn, sugarfoot, vaudeville – a complete list is impossible because the art is constantly changing. That's what keeps line dancers smiling and active no matter where you go.

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