Wedding Line Dances

One of the most fun parts of your nuptials can be including some wedding line dances in the reception. While there are other kinds of "group" dances such as the infamous "chicken dance," a line dance gives a sense of unity and purpose. The entire dance floor becomes a moving organism, and the sound of the music involves people in a mutual experience who might never have met otherwise.

The fact is, there are hundreds of different dances that qualify as "line dances," and if they're done at a wedding, then you have a wedding line dance. While ballroom dance is more traditional, a line dance is a great way to get everyone, even the shy people, out on the floor and moving.

Not all line dances are created equal, however, and there are a few criteria that you should take into account when selecting one for your wedding.

1. Easy – The line dance should be easy to learn, without too many specialized steps.
2. Interesting – Easy should not mean boring. The dance should be more than simply marching in various directions like a military company.
3. Interactive – This may mean nothing more than eye-contact and smiles between dancers, but the most fun line dances involve some sort of physical connection between the dancers.

With these criteria in mind, here are some of the most popular wedding line dances:

• Electric Slide – This is the most common line dance done at any gathering. This dance consists of left and right grapevine steps followed by a march backwards and two rock steps before changing direction one quarter turn to the left. Because it is so easy to learn, it is a perennial favorite, but doesn't allow for very much interaction and rather quickly gets repetitive.
• Cotton Eyed Joe – This is a partnered dance with couples going around the room in the "line of dance" (i.e., counter-clockwise). It consists of a series of standing kicks to each side followed by several "polka steps" to the right and left.
• Macarena – This song came out in 1997 and the dance became a self-ridiculing way to have fun on the dance floor. It can be performed in a silly, cartoonish motion or with a sultry and flirty twist of the hips at the end. It's a very popular dance for children, and is performed individually, not in pairs. Thankfully for those who are tired of the song, it can be performed to any song with a strong beat.
• Slappin' Leather – For those who want a Country-Western flavor to their dances, this dance contains several elements particular to that style. Heel-splits, toe-taps, and kicking the feet up behind and slapping the heel are all parts of the dance.
• Tush Push – Another Country Line Dance, this one bears a strong resemblance to the "Time Warp," because of the inclusion of a double pelvic thrust in the middle of each step. The rest of the steps can be rather complex, so this is probably a dance for early on in the wedding, not later.
• Boot Scootin' Boogie – One of the most popular line dances, this dance is also relatively complex. It is a good "final dance" for a line-dancing event, when people have a few easier dances such as the Electric Slide under their belts.

One very important thing to think about when doing a wedding line dance is how the dance is going to be taught to the party-goers. It is best to arrange for a professional such as an experienced DJ or ballroom dance instructor. Using a headset microphone and demonstrating on a raised platform can also make the entire process go smoothly. If you're lucky, there will be other people there who know the line dance and can be stationed on each side of the dance floor. This ensures that when the dancers turn (in dances such as "Macarena") everyone still has someone to follow along with.

While most line dances have specific songs associated with them, the beats are steady enough that they can be performed to whatever tune or style the wedding planners like.

Steps for each can be found easily through Google or other online sources, and new innovations are constantly being created. Whether traditional or just part of a wild reception, the wedding line dance will be sure to put a smile on every dancer's face.

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