| I hope you find line dancing as much fun
as the many others who are enjoying it
Line dancing is not difficult - it's just the first
few nights that are always the hardest! After a few weeks
things will start to flow for you and you'll find your mind
is doing less work and your dance steps become more natural.
Everyone has a different rate of learning depending
on previous dance and musical experience. Those without prior
experience will have to work harder - but remember, everyone
can do this. We have seen some of the most uncoordinated people
become excellent dancers if they don't give up too soon. Each
line dance is a sequence of steps. You will learn that
sequence in one direction and then repeat it in different
directions. There are only so many steps and each dance consists
of a combination of one or more of these. Although it may
seem complex to start with, once you know all the steps, you'll
be able to learn new dances must faster.
Here are some important points to remember that will help
you get off on the right (or left) foot!
Footwear:
It is most important for both your safety and your dance performance
that you wear sensible shoes. Leather soled shoes or boots
are best, with a wide non-skid heel (not too high) least Heels
that are very narrow are dangerous as they may cause you to
lose balance or slip. Make sure shoes fit your foot securely
- sandals and slip ons are a definite hazard. With proper
footwear you willfind your dancing much easier and safer.
For correct Posture while dancing:
Stand with:
Feet together
Weight falling slightly forward over the balls of your feet,
Knees flexible (not bent, not locked),
Hips tucked in a bit (don't stick your rear out!),
Back and Shoulders relaxed but straight,
Head held up (important for balance and control)
A common temptation is to look down at your feet (or someone
else's). If your head is down your balance can be thrown off.
You'll learn faster if you exercise your own mind to remember
the steps rather than watching someone else's feet (besides,
they will probably make a mistake and then so will you!)
Step Length:
Generally the correct step length when dancing is the same
as your shoulder width. If you take large steps outside your
frame you may lose balance and co-ordination.
Variations:
A variation is something which changes the basic steps of
a dance but doesn't change the basic flow of direction. (Its
also the name for when the instructor makes a mistake (-:
Variations are a lot of fun but can be confusing to a beginner.
Don't worry if you've just learned a dance and a more experienced
dancer starts changing the steps! Don't watch them and just
keep doing what you know. In time you will experiment with
variations too, but remember, it is most important to know
the original version first. Please don’t do variations
during the lesson until everyone has had a chance to learn
the pattern especially if it is a beginners class. And sometimes
the instructor will teach you variations. Then you can go
ahead and try them while you are learning.
Sequence:
As we said earlier, each line dance is a sequence of steps
with sequence being the operative word. You need to think
about the next step so that your balance is on the correct
foot ready to perform the next step. You do not have time
to do one step and then stop and think about what comes next
- you are already at least one step behind. As you complete
a vine right, you should already be thinking about vining
left if that is the next step. The flow of one step to another
is important.
If you forget what you're supposed to do and everyone else
if going left - pretend you know and go with the flow!
Floor ettiquette:
Line dances and stationary couples dances like the swing dances
are done in the center of the floor. Progressive dances liked
the 2 Step, Shuffles, etc. are done around the outside of
the dance floor. Unless this is a line dance lesson, when
everyone is line dancing, you need to remember to stay in
lines and leave space around the outside of the floor for
the 2 steppers.
Don’t make your own line either. Get in an existing
line if there is room and stay in that line. When people wander
around during line dances, they usually run into other dancers
or cause others to get off step.
As a beginner, don't be too hard on yourself. Line dancing,
like everything else, takes practice (Remember when you learned
to ride a bike how hard it was at first! Could you drive a
car after your first lesson?) The more you practice the easier
it becomes. At home, when you are ironing or washing up, washing
the car etc, do some vines, some 45's etc. Every time you
hear some music on the radio or TV that sounds like you could
dance to it, practise your line dancing steps - vine, waltz,
cha-cha etc. If you are having difficulty with a particular
step in a dance, don't not do the dance because of it. Pick
up the rest of the dance and fake the bits you have trouble
with. Then ask the instructor to go through the difficult
step with you again. Gradually you will be able to do the
whole dance without a problem.
Believe in yourself and anything is possible! You don't
have to get it right first time.
The most important thing to remember about Line Dancing is
that its not about competing or showing off.. Its simply about
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