Line Dance Variations
One of the reasons why many people love line dancing so much is because most of the dances are very easy to learn. In addition, the repetitive nature provides ample opportunity to practice each dance multiple times.
While the dances are generally fairly simple, there is a lot of room for adding accents and a lot of regional variation. Once you have the basics down, watch other dancers to see what kinds of extra steps they add into the routine, such as hand clapping, arm movements, and extra steps or hip motions.
Don’t be surprised if you enter a new dance venue and find everyone inserting an extra hand clap or making quarter turns instead of half turns; line dancing is all about being part of the community of dancers and enjoying each others’ company. Just go with the flow and you’ll have a whole new repertoire of moves in no time at all.
Common Line Dances
The following line dances are some of the most popular ones across the spectrum of dance genres:
- Cotton-Eyed Joe
- Chicken Dance
- Hokey Pokey
- Macarena
- The Hustle
- Tush Push
- The Stroll
- The Hora
- Hoedown Throwdown
- Cupid Shuffle
- Catwalk Shuffle
Some of these dances are not performed in a line, but in a circle. As long as everyone dances in one group and the steps repeat themselves throughout the song, the dance can be considered a line dance regardless of the formation of where all of the dancers stand.
Learning Line Dances
Use these step-by-step guides to practice a few popular line dances at home:
The Cha Cha Slide
The Cha Cha Slide has a funky beat and is easy to learn because the song’s lyrics provide guidance to what you have to do next.
The Electric Slide
The Electric Slide is one of the most commonly-learned line dances. The steps are easy, and the music is slow enough to allow even beginners to keep up. A favorite during high school and junior high dances for several years, this dance is still popular at wedding receptions and large group events.
The Boot Scootin’ Boogie
For country line dancing, the Boot Scootin’ Boogie is one of the simplest and common dances. For beginning country line dancers, this is a great place to start.
Learner Tips
Inexperienced dancers should keep the following tips in mind:
- Don’t be afraid to jump in and try it.
- Once you learn a few basic steps, such as the grapevine, you will find it much easier to pick up new combinations.
- You may want to start small. Don’t jump into the middle of the most complex, fast-paced song of the night if it’s your first time out.
- If you attend a country line dancing night at a local bar or other venue, find out if there will be an instructional period at the beginning of the event. Reviewing the steps at a slower pace can make it much easier to catch every nuance of the dance.
- Instructional videos like Party Line Dances can help you practice your steps at home. Review each piece of the dance as many times as necessary and never worry about getting in the way of others.
The most popular line dances are very common requests for wedding receptions and other big gatherings with family, friends, and coworkers. While the list of line dances is extensive, you can start by learning the ones that are most often requested. Once you join a group of dancers out on the dance floor, you can easily pick up new steps for a variety of different line dances.
