Country line dancing remains one of the most wholesome and inviting club-based dance styles in America. That being said, despite its status as being widely beloved, many people know very little about country line dancing. Here are eight must-know facts about the art form to tickle your brain:
1. Country is Only the Beginning
When people think of line dancing, they typically think of country line dancing. After all, it remains one of the most popular and long-lived forms of line dancing in the US. In hot spot tourist destinations like Nashville, you can even take country line dancing classes that will teach you how to burn up the dance floor in an authentic fashion. But the reality is that most genres have had some hit songs turned into a line dancing routine at some point in the art form’s history.
2. Dances are Varied
Since line dancing can be done using so many different forms and styles of music, the dances themselves are filled with a creative, exciting sense of variety as well. Those who love country will enjoy the more laidback, yet energetic feel of country line dancing in particular. For those who want a super upbeat, high-octane experience, disco line dancing can be attractive. There are even many classic line dancing routines that mix different genres into a single dance. No matter what your tastes are, you’ll find something to love.
3. The 1950s Were King
While line dancing existed before the 1950s, the 1950s were the decade when the dance form really took off in the American popular culture sphere. From Nashville to Madison, there were millions of people rushing to dance halls to find a place to learn the exciting new way of dancing. Soldiers, businessmen, and regular Joes all knew the dance was a great way to meet new people, after all. The socially acceptable nature of line dancing at the time made it that much more popular.
4. It Inspired Many Country Hits
Because line dancing and country have been intertwined for so long, it’s not surprising that so many country hits over the last few decades have been inspired by the art form. Currently, significant songs like “Cowboy Boogie,” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” (which we will cover more later on), are a part of the country pantheon, and without the influence of line dancing, these beloved songs would have never existed. So if you’ve ever been in love with these country anthems, you should fall in love with the actual line dancing art form with no problem.
5. Disco and Line Dancing in the 1970s
The 1970s were one of the few decades where line dancing was not as dominated by country music. In fact, the disco craze and line dancing became natural partners. Although many people fail to realize it, disco and country have many artistic similarities when it comes to rhythm and community. Due to this, it was easy for line dance choreographers to bring in a whole new generation of line dancers by using disco music. If you were at a popular disco club in the 1970s, it was a near guarantee that many of the dancing numbers used the line dancing art form to guide patrons in their boogies.
6. The Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Few country anthems have been as popular, and have dominated country dance charts, quite like “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” The infectious dance hit inspired people from around the country to toss on their dancing boots, after all. There was an extra complex line-dancing number created for the song by Bill Bader. Although complex, the dance is also easy to learn in many ways. For this reason, it’s become one of the number one jams that people learn when first going to a country line dancing club.
7. Billy Ray Cyrus Takes Over
Although it will never quite beat “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” as a major line dancing hit, Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart” became another widely beloved country hit that was quickly adapted into a country line dancing routine. Since the single was all over the top 10 radio for several years, it remains popular in country line-dancing music halls to this day.
8. Anyone Can Do It
Even if you think you can simply not dance, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how accessible country line dancing is. People of all ages and backgrounds have found themselves falling in love with the art form for decades, after all. If you’ve been looking to develop a new hobby, or simply want a fun way to express yourself while on vacation, finding a quality line dancing club near you is a great idea.
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