Line Dancing Week 2012

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Line Dancing Week – Update – Good for your heart!

By Terry Orr

Today line dancing is a worldwide phenomenon. Devotees have formed organizations are worldwide – and has been around in one form or another for centuries. There are lessons, classes, books, videos, cruises, weekend dances, and conferences, competition for all levels and in many local dance halls/clubs around the world.

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While there are a very wide variety of opinions on when and where line dancing originated from.  Some online sites refer to the ancient drawings in Egypt and later in Greece. Yet others indicate refer to tribal gatherings – and in the Americas (north and south) folks have been here for 20 to 30 thousand years ago.  I suspect when and where really doesn’t matter in today’s world. There are millions of folks around the globe who enjoy line dancing, watching and or participating.

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Definition of Line Dance

Line Dance is a formation dance, in which dancers form either a single line or multiple lines, depending on the floor space available. There is no physical contact between the dancers, but they execute the same moves at the same time. The dancers either face each other or face in one direction. Even though they don’t touch, the cohesiveness makes this dance impressive to watch. Line Dances can be simple or fairly complex.

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Line dancing, by definition, is a participatory form of dancing, with all the members dancing together for their own enjoyment, repeating a pattern of steps in sequence to the beat of the music. There are many different theories as to when line dancing originated. Most theorists agree that line dancing as we know it originated in Europe as Folk Dancing, also called Tribal Dancing in many other cultures and countries. http://uk.ask.com/question/where-did-line-dancing-originate

Though deeply rooted in Irish and German folk traditions, line dancing was off most urban grids until 1992 when Billy Ray Cyrus megahit "Achy Breaky Heart."

Adam Herbel, a.k.a. the Dancing Cowboy, teaches country line dancing at The Rodeo Club in San Jose, California. He said some come for the exercise, some for the music and atmosphere.

Dancing Cowboy
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REDNECK AEROBICS

"We have a funny thing called redneck aerobics," said Herbel, described as a series of five or six upbeat line dances strung in a row.

"When the DJ calls out 'its redneck aerobics,' everybody knows what's coming," he said. "Sometimes the fitness gals will do pretty advanced line dancing."

So grab you friends and head out to have a great time and then let us know how it was!!!

References and Links:

http://www.squidoo.com/top-10-line-dances-from-the-world-line-dance-newsletter

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/line-dancing-good-for-that-achy-breaky-heart/136694-17.html

http://www.worldlinedancenewsletter.com/WorldEventCalendar.html

Line Dancing Day

A line dance is a choreographed dance with a repeated sequence of steps in which a group of people dance in one or more lines or rows without regard for the gender of the individuals, all facing the same direction, and executing the steps at the same time. Line dancers are not in physical contact with each other. Older "line dances" have lines in which the dancers face each other, or the "line" is a circle, or all dancers in the "line" follow a leader around the dance floor; while holding the hand of the dancers beside them.

Although line dancing is associated with country-western music and dance, it has similarities to folk dancing.

Line dances have accompanied many popular music styles since the early 1970s including pop, swing, rock and roll, disco, Latin (Salsa Suelta), and Jazz.

The Electric Slide is a fun line dance enjoyed by people of all ages. The Electric Slide is simply a series of "grapevine" steps. Learn how to dance the Electric Slide so you can join in the fun at your next event.

"Grapevine" to the right.

Step to the right with your right foot.

Step to the right with your left foot, crossing your left foot behind your right foot.

Step to the right with your right foot.

Close your left foot next to your right foot, gently tapping it on the floor. Keep your weight on your right leg. Clap your hands as you "tap" your left foot.

"Grapevine" to the left:

Step to the left with your left foot.

Step to the left with your right foot, crossing your right foot behind your left foot.

Step to the left with your left foot.

Close your right foot net to your leftt foot, gently tapping it on the floor. Keep your weight on your leftt leg. Clap your hands as you "tap" your right foot.

Take three steps backwards, starting with your right foot.

Close your left foot next to your right foot, gently tapping it on the floor. Keep your weight on your right foot. Clap your hands as you "tap" your right foot.

Step forward with your left foot.

Tap your right toe behind your left heel.

Step back with your right foot.

Tap your left foot next to your right foot, keeping your weight on your right leg.

Step forward with your left foot, turning your body 90 degrees to the left, or a quarter-turn. Repeat the entire sequence until the music stops.

Tips:

Substitute a knee-lift or a kick for the taps.

Bend your knees and bounce a little on the grapevine steps.

Replace the hand claps with finger snaps for a fun variation.

What You Need

A group of people

Take a look at this video on how.