What is Line Dancing?
Line dancing is dancing to a choreographed set of steps, which you repeat to the end of a song.
Sets of steps are usually 8 counts and the majority of beginner level dances are 32 counts (4 sets of 8 counts). This means learning 4 sections of choreography, of 8 counts each, which you repeat to the end of the song.
Please see below for some tuition on common line dance steps.
To clarify direction of a dance, we refer to the walls of the room as the walls of a clock face. We all start facing the same way (12 o’clock). We will finish a set of steps on one of the other 3 walls of the room (3 o’clock, 6 o’clock or 9 o’clock) and then continue round the room, clockwise or counter-clockwise.
The best place for a beginner to stand is near the front, in the middle (where you can see Louise and her feet).
Common Line Dance Steps
Other Terms
Restart – a dance can include a ‘restart’ at any point, where you go back and start section 1, instead of continuing on with the remaining sections. Louise will let you know if the dance includes a restart and on which ‘wall’ of the dance to expect it. Louise will then call ‘restart’ at the restart point.
Tag – a dance can include a tag, which is extra choreography in addition to the main sections of the dance. It can be any number of counts. Louise will let you know if the dance includes a tag, what the steps are and the count, and on which wall of the dance to expect it. Louise will then call out ‘tag’ at the appropriate point in the dance.
Some dances can include both a restart and a tag, or more than one restart / tag.