Line Dancing - Go on give it a go!! (Line Dancing)

Member Name: milktray

Product:	Line Dancing
Date:	26/08/05 (1737 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, social, exercise, make new friends, great music

Disadvantages: None

Ok, so I’ve told you all that I am a line dance teacher. Then I thought – wonder if there are any reviews on line dancing?? Lo & behold there are but I don’t quite think they do it justice.

As I said in my “profile”, many people think it is all “YEE HAA!!!” and dressing up in cowboy gear with cowboy hats and cowboy boots. Well maybe I can understand that, as it did originate as Country & Western Line Dancing, but it definitely isn't "YEE HAA" and slapping of thighs!!

I don’t know all the ins & outs of its origins so I won’t embarrass myself and get things wrong, but, as with a lot of things, the craze of line dancing in this country came from America. Many would say that they were line dancing many years before it became popular in this country and I dare say they were but it was around 1995 that it started to boom in Great Britain.

I had a successful dance school teaching children and adults “disco” dancing, then line dancing was introduced to me and I started classes in this dance category, getting myself qualified as a teacher. The success at the time was overwhelming, everyone wanted to learn this “new” dance craze and the people came flooding in.

Yes, at first, all we danced to was Country & Western music. The routines were simple, most people could get up and “have a go”, even the ones with 2 left feet!!! At the time there wasn’t too many routines to learn and so they were played over and over again.

***** Let me tell you the basics of Line Dancing:

* Everyone stands in a line
* Everyone should go the same way (although it is great fun when people don’t!)
* You can have a 1 wall, 2 wall or 4 wall dance
* Most dances are counted in 8 beats to a section (unless it is a waltz which is counted in 6 beats)
* A basic dance is about 32 beats
* Dances are categorised as Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced
* You never go wrong at line dancing – it is just a variation!!
* It is good fun and brilliant exercise
* Suitable for women to attend on their own as a partner is not needed
* Men are made most welcome!

As the months progressed I found a magazine called Linedancer. In this they published new dance scripts to learn and I subscribed to have it sent to me monthly. This magazine was of tremendous help to instructors and line dancers everywhere as, not only did they publish new dances, they also told news of the up and coming country singers, social events to attend, advice on different aspects, adverts on where to buy music, clothing, equipment etc and news from around the country of what was happening at different clubs and events. Soon choreographers of the dances got to be popular names in the line dancing world and groups would become known who played and sang at these social events. Line dancers everywhere could spend weekends getting together to dance the dances they had learnt and I spent many happy weekends away with the friends I had made at my classes.

As the years rolled by people came & went but many stayed and I have lots in the classes today that started with me at the beginning. The music has changed also along the way. We still dance to country tracks but also to the modern pop songs, latin, irish, big band sounds, in fact you name it and someone will most probably have choreographed a dance to it. There are thousands upon thousands of dances out there in the line dancing world, much too many for one instructor like me to learn and teach. I try to keep up with the latest ones that are going around the circuit and Linedancer Magazine helps with this by publishing a “Top Ten” chart every month of votes counted for the most popular dances. Many of my dancers also tell me what they have seen on their weekends away or other people’s socials and say what seems to be popular. Linedancer Magazine also has a web site where you can quite easily keep up to date with everything going on. On this site you can also print off dances, download music, talk to other dancers and much much more!

There has been a big debate about the music – whether it should be kept country or modern pop/latin/irish/whatever – and I think this debate will continue for many years. My own opinion is to have a mixture of it all, this way I feel you are keeping the majority happy and also it encourages the younger people into the classes, especially when they see they can dance to songs by Gwen Stafani, Scissor Sisters, Rachel Stevens, Will Young, Jamelia, Danni Minogue and many more! For the older generation there are dances to Queen, The Carpenters, T-Rex, Bryan Adams, Elvis Presley, Robert Palmer and for the country lovers Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, Charlie Landsborough, Miranda Lambert, Nancy Hays, Dolly Parton and Shania Twain.

For anyone who is thinking of giving it a go I would suggest going to a beginners only class where only beginner dances are taught. To join a too advanced class would never work unless you have danced before and have lots of confidence! Word of mouth is usually a good recommendation but make sure the class you attend only has beginners in it. I have a class just for beginners and am constantly getting new ones start. Also in this class there are people who have been with me for years but they enjoy it, as I don’t teach the harder dances. They also know that if new ones start then the class is concentrated on the beginner not them which they accept.

Linedancers are very friendly people and love to socialise. Most will take time to make others welcome in the class and help out with steps. It is not a strict discipline like ballroom or latin and we have a great time when people go wrong (a variation). I make my classes a fun place to be and love to have banter with the class (especially the men). Although the numbers have dropped a little since I started out in 1995 it is still very popular and I cannot see it getting any less in the near future.

Thanks for reading!!

Summary: Line dancing for fun, exercise, socialising and relaxation