The History of Line Dancing

The History of Line Dancing

Period: 1800 to 2000

Line Dancing is known as a type of dance that is performed by a number of people all facing in the same direction and moving in lines. Everybody in the line does the same steps. A line dance consists of a sequence of steps repeated several times to a particular piece of music. This is determined by three things: level of difficulty, walls and count (h2g2, 2002).

The Beginning of Line Dancing

1801

Early settlers arriving into the USA in the mid 1800's brought new dance steps. These dances include individuals, with no-partners and consisted of spontaneous footwork. This includes clogging, shuffling, leaping, and heel clicking (Volz, 2002).

Tush Push

1886

Tush Push was a type of line dance designed by James Ferrazzano & Ken Engel. Other artists that contributed to new line dances are Alabama Slammer, Arkansas Stomp, Amos Moses, Carolina Stroll, Gone Young, Kansas City Stomp, Montana Four Corner, Montana Stomp, Riggins Stomp, & Oklahoma Shuffle (Volz, 2002).

The Urban Cowboy

1980

The 1980's movie Urban Cowboy showed John Travolta in cowboy hat, buckle and tight jeans two-steppin' in a Texas honky tonk with Debra Winger. Texas dances & country-western music & western clothes became the 'style' ...dance routines were created and shared and taught and line dancin' just came to be (Volz, 2002).

Fancy Free

1981

The Oakridge Boys released "Fancy Free". Track #1 was "Elvira", the music that we are familar with to dance the Freeze. The Freeze is first described and diagrammed in Betty Casey's Dance across Texas published by University of Texas Press. The word 'grapevine' was not used in the original step description & the dance started with the left foot as was the custom for a "drill" line dance (Volz, 2002).

Copperhead Road

1988

Steve Earle released "Copperhead Road"; The album's only commercial U.S. single - targeted exclusively to rock radio. This music inspired the classic line dance Copperhead Road (Volz, 2002).

Cruisin

1989

Cruisin' was choreographed to "Still Cruisin'. The signature "figure 8" pattern defined this simple, single wall, beginning/intermediate level line dance, and it is easily one of the most recognizable and well known dances in the world today. Cruisin' was the first internationally acclaimed choreography of its kind to be done to a non-Country/Western song. It is conceptually simple, and it can be danced to a variety of rhythms, including a variety of Latin and Swing (Volz, 2002).

The Electric Slide

1989

Marcia Griffiths (along with Bunny Wailer) recorded the "Electric Boogie", a pop hit in the U.S. This music inspired a variation of the Freeze ...we call the Electric Slide

Mustang Sally

1991

Mustang Sally was choreographed to "Mustang Sally" by the Commitments. Mustang Sally, by Neil Hale, is a spirited, two wall, 48 count, intermediate level line dance (Volz, 2002).

Achy Breaky Heart and Bar Room Romeo

1992

1. "Achy Breaky Heart" recorded by Billy Ray Cyrus burst on the radio airwaves in the spring of 1992. The catchy, rhythmic tune became a national phenomenon that summer, igniting a dance craze (Achy Breaky by Melanie Greenwood), a hit video and pop crossover airplay (Volz, 2002).
2. Bar Room Romeo created by Ron (Doc) Holliday and written to music played by a local Fresno, CA band

Linda Lu & Waltz Across Texas

1992

1. Linda Lu created by Neil Hale in 1992, was originally done to a Lee Greenwood cover of the older Rhythm & Blues tune. It was quickly embraced by an enthusiastic Australian line dance community and remained one of the top dances for years (Volz, 2002).
2. Waltz Across Texas created by Lois and John Nielson. In 2001, dancers still do Waltz Across Texas as a floor split when any waltz music is played.

Hot Tamales & Midnight Waltz

1993

1. The twangy, and at time searing, guitar solo in "Country Down to My Soul" by Lee Roy Parnell provided the perfect backdrop for yet another signature Neil Hale move, the 8 count Hot Tamales' shoulder shimmies, a 64 count, two wall, up-tempo intermediate line dance.
2. Jo Thompson created the Midnight Waltz, a 48 count, 4 wall line dance done to any slow to medium tempo waltz music. Midnight Waltz continues to be used in country western line dance competitions around the world. (Volz, 2002).

Cha Cha Lengua & Rock It

1994

1. Cha Cha Lengua, Neil Hale's slow, stylish, intermediate level line dance was choreographed to "Un Momento Alla" from the self-titled "Rick Trevino" CD. Cha Cha Lengua is the first internationally acclaimed choreography to be danced to a non-Country/Western song in a language other than English
2. When The Tractors sing ...Baby Likes To Rocket It (to a boogie woogie choo choo train) Rock It by Hillbilly Rick Meyers is THE dance. A beginner level 48 count, 2 wall dance. (Volz, 2002)

Smokey Places & Black Dresses

1995

1. Smokey Places written by Michele Perron in January 1995. Smokey Places is the first internationally acclaimed Rumba line dance ever choreographed to country music. This is a 32 count, four wall, beginner plus level line dance.
2. Black Dresses was Michael Barr's first choreographed dance and debuted at the 1995 Golden Gate Classic, which is a 48 count 4 wall line dance. (Volz, 2002)

Cruise Control & Swing Time Boogie

1996

1. Cruise Control, by Neil Hale, won 1st place at the first Annual CWDI International Choreographers' Competition. Cruise Control is a 32 count, one-wall, fast-paced, line dance done to "All Over But The shoutin'" by Shenandoah.
2. Swing Time Boogie written by Scott Blevins to "Swing City". Swing Time Boogie is the first internationally acclaimed choreography to be danced to phrased music. (Volz, 2002)

Uno, Dos, Tres

1996

Sherry McClure wrote Uno, Dos, Tres (aka 13 MWZ), a 32 count, 4 wall intermediate line dance to "Maria".
Ricky Martin released his album "A Medio Vivir" which was Latin in focus with "a tinge of rock ".This latin music with rock influence inspired the explosive creation of Latin rhythm line dances still being written at the beginning of the new millenium.
(Volz, 2002)

Hey Bruce

1997

From the first teach of Hey Bruce, this 48 count 2 wall line dance hooked the dancer. The weird name, the pulsing song and the arm movements hit a spot dancers were ready for.
(Volz, 2002)

Running Bear and Ribbon of Highway

1997

1. Running Bear, was initially recorded by Johnny Preston, but it was covered by the Dean Brothers in August, when it appeared on their "On The Right Tracks" CD. It has been featured in the UK's Linedancer Magazine's Blasts From The Past and is a fun, crowd-pleasing dance that is also popular in New Zealand and with the very vibrant dance community in Hong Kong.
2. Ribbon of Highway represents a departure from most of Neil Hale's choreography in that it is done to a Two Step rhythm. (Volz, 2002)

Got To Be Funky and Dizzy

1998

1. Got To Be Funky was created by USA choreographer Dawn Beecham. It only took two months for this 32 count, 4 wall easy intermediate dance - Got To Be Funky to hit the top ten line dance ballots throughout the world. Got To Be Funky may be considered the 'new dance' to replace the Electric Slide going into the new millenium.
2. "DIZZY"(country dance mix version) by Jo Thompson, USA written especially for Scooter Lee's "Movin' On Up" album. (Volz, 2002)

Jai' Du Boogie, What's Your Name, Whole Lotta Peppas, Storybook Endings

1999

1. Jai' Du Boogie - Max Perry, USA written especially for Scooter Lee's music of the same name.
2. What's Your Name is a 64 count 4 wall dance is a fun pattern that finishes with a 16 count traverse of the dance floor
3. Whole Lotta Peppas, true to its name, is an up-tempo, intermediated level, 48 count, two-wall line dance. It is done to a Salsa rhythm
4. Storybook Endings, is a 3/4 time waltz line dance done to "Someone Must Feel Like A Fool Tonight" by Kenny Rogers (Volz, 2002)

Classic Line Dances

2002

The Fireman (George Davis), Fat Sally Lee (Arthur Smith), The Cowboy , (Kole Dunn), Ain't Going Nowhere ( Lori Wong), Conrado Cha Cha (Rob "I" Ingenthron), Mambo #5 (Pedro Machado/AT Kinson), Cruisin' - Cha Cha Lengua - Linda Lu - & Hot Tamales (Neil Hale), Bar Room Romeo (Ron (Doc) Holliday), Midnight Waltz , (Jo Thompson), and Baby Likes To Rock It (Hillbilly Rick).
(Volz, 2002)

Classic Line Dances

2002

Got To Be Funky (Dawn Beecham), You Sang To Me ,Hurricane Desert Sands Cha Cha ,<Chevy Dancin With You & Ooo Aah! Sal Gonzalez, Boot Scootin' Boogie (Tom Mattox & Skippy Blair), Smokey Places (Michele Perron ), Alley Cat (Donna Aiken), Norma Jean (Donna & Dena Wasnick), Cannibal Stomp (Lisa Firth), MMMBop (Kelly Kaylin) and Uno Dos Tres - aka 13 MWZ (Sherry McClure).
(Volz, 2002)

Classic Line Dances

2002

An original, vintage 1994 sheet for Cowgirls' Twist and Ophelia by Bill Bader. Rare signed sheets from 1996 ... Waltz Across Texas (Lois & John Nielson), Swing Time Boogie (Scott Blevins), Swamp Thang (Max Perry ), Fly Like A Bird - Shipwrecked Prairie Strut - Still The Same - & Love Letters (Hedy McAdams)
(Volz, 2002)