How to Sign up for Line Dancing Lessons

The line dance probably has existed since the first function attended by an odd number of dancers. With global and ancient roots, its popularity today is surprising--until we realize how flexible this dance form is. A 1970s resurgence coupled line dancing with country and western music, followed closely by disco and later hip-hop versions. Today, line dances are set to pop, country, rap, Latin and more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A place to dance and to practice
• Music of your choice

Choose the Music

1. Explore your family heritage. Many cultures, from Middle Eastern to Celtic, practice line dancing or adapt the line dance to fit their particular brand of folk music. Connect via local ethnic clubs or public radio programs that feature ethnic music.
2. Cowboy or cowgirl up and listen to some country music to get a feel for line dancing. Visit a popular country dance bar or nightclub in your area, or listen to a CD such as "Line Dancing" at Amazon to see if country and western is for you (see Resources below).
3. Groove in the streets with urban or pop music. Hip hop lends itself to line dancing because of its solitary "breaks" that feature the individual. Discover hip hop line dance in nightclubs and on television dance shows to see if this is your passion.

Sign up for Line Dancing Lessons

4. Take advantage of free or inexpensive social line dancing lessons at dance halls or nightclubs. Learn for an hour and then dance all night!
5. Sign up for country or hip hop line dancing at a professional dance studio. These will prepare you to socialize and exercise or to excel and compete.
6. Sign up for video lessons and learn at home. You can rewind as many times as you need to while practicing a step. Try an instructional DVD such as "Smokin' Line Dances" at Amazon or a more basic program (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Show up to the dance clubs early to learn the latest line dances.
• Country and western is still the most popular American music for line dancing. Clubs may combine line with two-step, swing and cowboy waltz all on the floor together.
• Line dancing is a great workout. Stretching and proper hydration will help you to avoid sore muscles the next day.