.jpg){kind=logo}
Beginner Tips
Welcome to Line Dancing
Line Dance Tutorials
TOP TEN BEST LINE DANCE TIPS
https://youtu.be/loMy6JwNrwQ
What kind of footwear is best for Line Dancing?
https://youtu.be/oeAmJ4sJAzs
How to Line Dance Like a Prohttps://www.classpop.com/magazine/how-to-line-dance
HELPFUL HINTS
What is Line Dancing?Line dancing is an easy to learn dance format where, as its name implies: people dance in lines to music. Line dances are choreographed dances with a repeating series of steps that are performed in unison by a group of people in lines or rows, usually facing in the same direction.
Although many popular line dances are set to country music (boot scooting), the first line dances were done to contemporary music - pop and rock 'n roll.
Line Dancing TodayIn the USA line dancing is most commonly taught and practiced in country and western dance bars, social clubs and dance halls, with the accompanying blue jeans, cowboy hats and boots.
The scene is slightly different in Australia where you can now find yourself dancing not just to the traditional country and western music but to a number of different music styles including rock and roll, waltz, Latin (cha cha, mambo, rhumba), and Irish.
Line Dance StepsBasic line dances focus on movements of the legs and feet, with more advanced dances including the arms and hands. The movements of a line dance are marked as "counts" where one count generally equals one musical beat, with a particular movement or step taking place at each beat.Line dances are made up of a series of different steps, with each step sequence identified by a catchy name.
What to WearComfortable shoes appropriate for dancing. No flip flops, sandals or thongs, please. Bring a couple of different shoe types to try. Smooth soles is better than rubber soled sneakers. Cowboy boots not required. It is recommended that you wear loose clothing.
Some Beginning Line Dancing Basics
Here’s a little more information about line dancing if you’re new to all this and a little confused about what is happening out there on the floor–I know I was!
A couple of things to know about if you’re new! Line dances are typically 16, 32, 40 or 48 steps (based on the level of difficulty) You may have noticed these numbers are all divisible by 8! Most popular music has a 4/4 time signature, but dancers count beats in sets of 8, hence line dance choreography is grouped and taught in sets of 8 or with “8-count.”Next (and the other major thing), line dances are known for having one, two or four walls. A one-wall dance means everyone will face in the same direction when all steps are performed. A two-wall line dance is when at the end of each sequence of steps everyone has turned 180º and you begin again facing the back — for these dances, you will always just face the “front” and “back” walls. Then, with a four-wall line dance (the most difficult), at the end of the steps, everyone has turned 90º and “begins the dance” again facing one of the “side” walls. As the dance progresses you will keep finishing and starting again facing a new wall.
TIP: When first learning and taking a class it is tempting to hide in the last row! But as you may have already guessed, that’s a bad idea! As soon as the dance has moved on to the back wall, if you were in the back, you are now in the front! You can’t see anyone and everyone is looking at you! So, find a good spot somewhere in the middle and you’ll be able to always watch someone who knows what they are doing!
Beginner Line Dance TipsThat first night on the floor during your first lesson, you may feel a little overwhelmed. The key is to be patient and not give up. The first time I ever tried to learn a line dance I walked off the floor about 1/2 way through the lesson! The next time I made it about 3/4 through, and then the third try I did it! I just had to keep coming.
Here are some tips for taking free group lessons, whether it be in your local country bar or a community center where there are lessons. If you are a beginner it can be more challenging than you thought. It takes a little while to get used to memorizing choreography and developing muscle memory for all the steps and at the speed of the dance.
1. Watch YouTube! I know I already mentioned this. But use YouTube to get ready before you even go. See if the bar has a schedule of what lessons will be taught and look it up to see if there’s a YouTube video of that dance. Even if you don’t totally get it down at home it will help. I’ve even thought I had it down at home, only to still feel a little lost during the lesson. But the at-home practice gave me a clue what was happening and the leg-up I needed.
2. Stand in the middle! One thing about a typical line dance is that it has “walls.” As it progresses, it turns. When the sequence of steps in the dance end, it is designed to have you facing either the next wall to your right to start over or even the “back” wall to start again. The idea here is not to try to “hide in the back!” If you’re in the back row, as the dance progresses you will then find yourself in the front! Everyone will be looking at you, and you won’t be able to watch anybody.
Stay in the middle so that as the dance progresses there will always be someone in front of you that you can watch. You’ll also have a closer view of the teacher as they show the steps.
3. Know some Basics. Another thing that can help you be successful is to do a little study of some basic line dance terminology before you go out to the local bar. But, no worries! Here’s a couple things right here for you to know:The first thing is that Line dances are typically 16, 32, 40, 48 and even 64 steps (based on the level of difficulty). You may have noticed these numbers are all divisible by 8! The music typically will have a 4/4 time signature, but dancers count beats in sets of 8, hence line dance choreography is grouped and taught in sets of 8 or with “8-count.”
Next, line dances are known for having one, two or four walls. A one-wall dance means you will end up facing the same direction when all steps are performed. In a two-wall line dance, at the end, everyone has turned 180º and the dance starts again with everyone facing the back.
Then, with a four-wall line dance (the most common), at the end of the steps, everyone has turned 90º when they start the steps again. As the dance progresses you will keep finishing and starting again facing the next wall to the right.These walls are known by the numbers on a clock. At the start, everyone is facing the “12 o’clock wall.” Then after the steps are performed the dance begins again on the “3 o’clock wall” etc.
4. Social Connections. So, that’s the basics and enough to give you a jump start to getting involved with line dancing. But the final thing to know is that line dancing is a great way to connect with people. I would be remiss not to mention a big part of my improvement as a dancer is largely due to the friends I’ve made while doing it. There are some really great and genuine people in the country dancing community, and really, staying connected to people ends up being the main thing. You just end up becoming a better dancer also!
Line Dancing for Seniors
Line Dancing: Points to Remember Welcome to Steps & Beats. I hope you find line dancing as much fun and rewarding as I do. I am 76 years old and have been dancing for six years and am amazed at the improvements I see and feel in my physical, mental, and social health. Even the Covid pandemic restrictions ddn´t stop me from turning on my music and dancing at home. Sure, it was a lot more fun dancing with others, but even dancing alone instills in me a feeling of well-being, keeps me physically in shape, and permits me an on-line social media outlet with other dancers.
Line dancing is not difficult, it just takes practice. The more you dance, the more comfortable you will feel while learning steps. For those of you who are not aware of the dance formation, a line dance basically consist of 32 steps which are broken down into 4 sets of 8 steps. Before I go further into how-to procedures. I thought I´d introduce you to a few important points that will help you feel comfortable while learning. Footwear
Leather soled shoes or boots with wide-skid heel are best Make sure your footwear fit properly No sandals or slip-on shoes
Posture
Stand with feet together Have weight falling slightly over balls of feet Knees flexible (not bent or locked) Hips tucked n a bit (don´t stick your rear out) Relax and straighten back and shoulders Hold head up (important for balance and control)
Steps
Step length: The correct step length when dancing is the same as your shoulder width. If you take large steps outside your frame you may lose balance or tire faster than when taking short steps.
Do not do
Don´t look down at your feet; you can lose your balance and co-ordination. Don't look at other dancers feet: If they make a mistake, so will you. It is wiser to exercise your own mind then follow someone else´s steps.Don´t stop dancing if you lose count or forget a step. Keep moving until you find a spot in the dance or music to sync back in with the other dancers.
Do : SMILE
If you decide to want to learn more, come on back, and I will teach you what I have learned. Instructors seldom have the time to work one-on-one with newcomers, so hopefully my tips will help you become accustomed to the world of LINE DANCING.
http://patgrillo.blogspot.com/2022/01/line-dancing-for-seniors.html?m=1 Line Dance Wall Layout If you are a new dancer, the instructor will usually request you take a place in the middle of the dance floor. This will help you from freaking out. There is nothing more discouraging to a new dancer than to turn to another wall and find yourself facing an empty wall with the entire class behind you. There will always be someone in front of you if you are in the center of the class. Although it is advised not to look at other dancer´s feet while dancing, this is the exception to rule. If you have missed a step, forgotten a step, or found yourself dancing off-beat, keep moving. Fake it until you find a place in the dance or music to continue on beat. No one will notice.
When the line dance instructor or leader counts out loud ¨5678¨, she is signaling the dancers to begin dancing on the next beat of the music.
Floor Layout
Four Wall Dance - Routine restarts on all 4 walls. Three Wall Dance - Start on front wall, turn to right wall, turn to left wall, turn back to front wall. Two Wall Dance - Start on front wall, turn 180 degree to back wall, turn back to front wall. One Wall Dance - Face front wall throughout the routine. Desirable for stage performances.
Turns Can be Tricky
Distance - discretion of the choreographer. Direction - discretion of the choreographer.
Be aware that a dance can include:
1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 turns to either to right or left wall Diagonal right or Diagonal left turns Complete turn Pivot turn Rolling turn 1/4 hinge turn 1/2 hinge turn If you decide to want to learn more, come on back, and I will teach you what I have learned. Instructors seldom have the time to work one-on-one with newcomers, so hopefully my tips will help you become accustomed to the world of LINE DANCING.
Steps and Beats: Line Dance Floor Layouthttp://patgrillo.blogspot.com/2022/01/line-dance-floor-layout.html
Line Dancing: Points to Remember Welcome to Steps & Beats. I hope you find line dancing as much fun and rewarding as I do. I am 76 years old and have been dancing for six years and am amazed at the improvements I see and feel in my physical, mental, and social health. Even the Covid pandemic restrictions ddn´t stop me from turning on my music and dancing at home. Sure, it was a lot more fun dancing with others, but even dancing alone instills in me a feeling of well-being, keeps me physically in shape, and permits me an on-line social media outlet with other dancers.
Line dancing is not difficult, it just takes practice. The more you dance, the more comfortable you will feel while learning steps. For those of you who are not aware of the dance formation, a line dance basically consist of 32 steps which are broken down into 4 sets of 8 steps. Before I go further into how-to procedures. I thought I´d introduce you to a few important points that will help you feel comfortable while learning. Footwear
Leather soled shoes or boots with wide-skid heel are best Make sure your footwear fit properly No sandals or slip-on shoes
Posture
Stand with feet together Have weight falling slightly over balls of feet Knees flexible (not bent or locked) Hips tucked n a bit (don´t stick your rear out) Relax and straighten back and shoulders Hold head up (important for balance and control)
Steps
Step length: The correct step length when dancing is the same as your shoulder width. If you take large steps outside your frame you may lose balance or tire faster than when taking short steps.
Do not do
Don´t look down at your feet; you can lose your balance and co-ordination. Don't look at other dancers feet: If they make a mistake, so will you. It is wiser to exercise your own mind then follow someone else´s steps.Don´t stop dancing if you lose count or forget a step. Keep moving until you find a spot in the dance or music to sync back in with the other dancers.
Do : SMILE
If you decide to want to learn more, come on back, and I will teach you what I have learned. Instructors seldom have the time to work one-on-one with newcomers, so hopefully my tips will help you become accustomed to the world of LINE DANCING.
http://patgrillo.blogspot.com/2022/01/line-dancing-for-seniors.html?m=1 Line Dance Wall Layout If you are a new dancer, the instructor will usually request you take a place in the middle of the dance floor. This will help you from freaking out. There is nothing more discouraging to a new dancer than to turn to another wall and find yourself facing an empty wall with the entire class behind you. There will always be someone in front of you if you are in the center of the class. Although it is advised not to look at other dancer´s feet while dancing, this is the exception to rule. If you have missed a step, forgotten a step, or found yourself dancing off-beat, keep moving. Fake it until you find a place in the dance or music to continue on beat. No one will notice.
When the line dance instructor or leader counts out loud ¨5678¨, she is signaling the dancers to begin dancing on the next beat of the music.
Floor Layout
Four Wall Dance - Routine restarts on all 4 walls. Three Wall Dance - Start on front wall, turn to right wall, turn to left wall, turn back to front wall. Two Wall Dance - Start on front wall, turn 180 degree to back wall, turn back to front wall. One Wall Dance - Face front wall throughout the routine. Desirable for stage performances.
Turns Can be Tricky
Distance - discretion of the choreographer. Direction - discretion of the choreographer.
Be aware that a dance can include:
1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 turns to either to right or left wall Diagonal right or Diagonal left turns Complete turn Pivot turn Rolling turn 1/4 hinge turn 1/2 hinge turn If you decide to want to learn more, come on back, and I will teach you what I have learned. Instructors seldom have the time to work one-on-one with newcomers, so hopefully my tips will help you become accustomed to the world of LINE DANCING.
Steps and Beats: Line Dance Floor Layouthttp://patgrillo.blogspot.com/2022/01/line-dance-floor-layout.html
