Line dance
For the rap/funk remix; see Line Dance (Booty Call).A
line dance is a formation
dance in which a
group of people dance in a line formation or in lines, and they all execute the same
dance moves individually.
The term is applied to two different types of dances.
In a number of cultures there are line dances that may be considered a variation of
circle dances, where people are joined by hands in chain, e.g., the
Dabke dance of
Middle East. In fact, with small numbers of dancers most circle dances, such as
hora, may be danced in a line formation, rather than in a circle.
Description
In a small group there may be only one line, but usually there are several parallel lines, one behind the other. A dance teacher, or more experienced dancer, will usually perform on a stage or in the center of the first line. Inexperienced dancers are encouraged to take positions in the middle of the group to allow watching other dancers' feet in front of them. Experienced dancers are encouraged to take positions on the outside edges of the group to help others.
In this parallel line formation, the dancers dance in a synchronized manner, but independently of each other. There are usually no moves that require any interaction between the dancers, other than they execute the maneuvers at the same time. Each dance has a different sequence of movements that must be learned.
There are several variations to this parallel lines set-up. There may, for example, be two sets of lines where the dancers face in directly towards each other. In larger groups these will become several sets of in-facing parallel lines. In these "contra" line dances, the dancers will dance with the others in the facing lines. The dancers often weave in and out, exchanging places, or dance up to each other, and make momentary contact, such as a hand clap, or a swing, or take hold in
Promenade position for a few counts, and then move on. This has it roots in Square or Round Dancing.
These contact maneuvers are more likely in the variation where line dancing takes place in two concentric rings which are facing each other, such as a Barn Dance or Indian Outlaw.
Two dancers (usually partners) can dance together in what is known as a cape dance, where the male partner stands next to the female and holds her corresponding hands - one arm over her shoulder, like cape.
Music
Line dancing has had a
cowboy image, and it was danced predominantly to
country-western music. This has been changing since the late 1990s, as more young people became involved. Today, country music may make up the minority of a DJ's play list, with the balance spread through a variety of many different musical styles both new and old. Genres including Celtic, Swing, Pop, Rock, Big Band, Folk, and almost anything else that has a regular beat.
History
Line dance is sometimes thought of as originating in the
Wild West. In fact, it has a much more diverse background. Many
folk dances are danced in unison in lines, usually single lines, and often with a connection between dancers. Such unison movements done by separate individuals in line might be traced back to old styles of group
exercise. There have been line dances during the heyday of many modern popular music styles, including
swing,
rock and roll, and
disco.
Line dancing's current popularity grew out of the disco period, when the country-western dance and music communities continued to explore and develop this form of dancing.
Billy Ray Cyrus' 1992 hit
Achy Breaky Heart, helped catapult western line dancing back into the musical mainstream's public consciousness, and in 1998, the band
Steps created further interest with the
techno dance song "5,6,7,8". Line dancing is a popular recreation activity and is practiced and learned in country-western dance bars, social clubs, dance clubs and ballrooms worldwide. It avoids the problem of imbalance of male/female partners that plagues ballroom/swing/salsa dancing clubs. It is sometimes combined on dance programs with other forms of
country-western dance, such as
two-step,
shuffle, and
western promenade dances, as well as western-style variants of the
waltz,
polka and
swing.
Two popular dances that technically classify as line dances are the
Nutbush (performed to
Nutbush City Limits by
Tina Turner) and the
Macarena.The chicken dance is another line dance for little children.
Line dancing in the late 90's, and so far through the 2000's, has changed in some line dance clubs with the main bulk of the dancing done to
pop music. This has brought with it a renewed interest in the dance form for people of all ages.
Line dancing is now seen not just as a form of dance but also as good exercise and as a good social scene.
Competition
The main organisation for line dance competition is Masters in Line (www.mastersinline.com). Masters in Line (MIL) run competitions all over the world, from Asia to America and feature a World Championship in Black Pool, UK during August each year. Competitors compeete throughout the year at a number of events to qualify for the finals which are held in December, named the 'British Masters'. The Masters consist of three notable line dancers, Rachael McEnaney, Robert Fowler and Paul McAdam. Competitors compeete in divisions, including 'Newcomer', 'Division 4', 'Division 3', 'Division 2' and 'All Stars'. Competitors must follow strict guidelines and rules related to each particular division. Normally competitions run over a number of days, featuring line dance workshops, socials and demonstrations from the Masters themselves as well as the compeeting.
Terms
Basic
A
basic is one repetition of the main dance from the first count to the last not including any tags or bridges.
Variation
Dancers who have progressed beyond beginner status will often replace a section of a dance (say 8 beats) with a compatible set of steps which is called a variation. This is often required in competitive line dancing.
Count
A dance will have a number of
counts, for example a 64-count dance. This is the number of beats of music it would take to complete one sequence of the dance. This is not necessarily the same number of steps in the dance as steps can be performed on an
and count between two beats, or sometimes a step holds over more than one beat.
Restart
A
restart is a point at which the basic dance sequence is interrupted and the dance routine is started again from the beginning. Restarts are used to fit the dances to the music.
Step
A dance is made up of a number of movements called
steps. Each step is given a name so teachers can tell dancers to perform this step when teaching a dance. The most well-known is the
grapevine (or
vine for short), a four-count movement to the side. There can be any number of movements in one step.
Step descriptions
These descriptions are for the typical way they are danced; in particular dances they may have small variations, eg a stomp or a point instead of a touch, as given in the vine.
Chasse: Is basically a shuffle (qv) done to the side. eg Step right to right side, slide left up to right, step right to right side. Beat: One-and-two
Lock step: Can be done to the back or the front, starting on either foot. Works like a shuffle except that the second step locks the foot behind or in front of the first step. eg Step left to the front, lock right behind left, step left to the front.
Shuffle step: Done to the front or the back, starting on either foot. Usually has a one-and-two beat, i.e. a triple step. eg Step left to front, step right beside left, step left to front. Done to the side works the same way, but it is more properly called a chasse step. Shuffles can also be done while you are turning, eg through 180 degrees, and this is often called a half shuffle turn.
Triple Step: Can have other names, but is basically a one-and-two step on the spot with alternating feet.
Vine (
Grapevine): Can be done to the left or the right. eg Step right to right, step left behind right, step right to right and touch left next to right.
Weave: To the left or the right. eg Step left infront of (over) right, step right to right, step left behind right, step right to right.
Tag / Bridge
A
tag or
bridge is an extra set of steps not part of the main dance sequence that are inserted into one or more sequences to ensure the dance fits with the music. The term
tag usually implies only a few additional counts (e.g. 2 or 4), whereas
bridge implies a longer piece (e.g. 8 or 16). The terms are generally interchangeable however.
Wall
Each dance can be described to consist of a number of
walls. A wall is the direction in which the dancers face at any given time, which would be the front, the back or one of the sides.Note that a dance may contain many turns, to either the left or the right: quarter turns (90 degrees), half-turns (180 degrees), , three-quarter turns (270 degrees), and full turns (360 degrees), .
* A
one-wall dance would mean that at the end of the routine, the dancers would be facing in the same direction as they had started and so each sequence would repeat exactly the same.
* A
two-wall dance would mean the start of each routine alternates between two walls (almost always the front and back walls). In other words the dancers have effectively turned through 180 degrees during one sequence.
* A
four wall line dance is one in which at the end of the whole routine of dance moves, the dancers will have turned effectively through 90 degrees, so that they would face all four walls in turn during four repetitions of the routine.
Step Sheet
Describes the Dance Step sequence. Each step group (usually eight counts) is written out as calling cues that the instructor may use to driect the class. Below each group appears the individual foot or hand work required for each beat in the music.
