Have you all been having a lot of line dancin’ fun this Summer?  I certainly have, but I’ve also been working on a new project I wanted to share with you.

Do you want to be the person out there line dancing that everyone admires?  Do you want to look better than anyone else in those skinny jeans and close-fitting shirts, or in those cute, little short skirts the gals like to wear?

We all do, don’t we.  But time, poor eating habits, gravity, and a million other things cause us to pile on the pounds we don’t want and sometimes we just don’t know what to do about it.  Our self-consciousness could even keep us from going out line dancing – Heaven Forbid!!

So, you go to the internet and search “fat loss” or “fitness” or “how to lose weight quick” and you get overwhelmed with tons of different programs, all saying that their program is the newest, best, and sure-fire program to solve all your problems.

Don’t believe it.  A lot of it is just marketing hype meant to make your wallet or purse leaner, but not your body.

With this in mind, I started a new blog called Losing Body Fat in which I REVIEW several of the top weight loss and/or exercise programs online today. Some talk about how to lose abdominal fat because recent studies are showing that it can be harmful in many ways. Other programs teach you how to exercise to burn body fat.

I was VERY picky about which programs I included. They had to be backed up by research I could check out and actually written by a person I could contact with questions.  I met some really nice, honest people along the way!

So you won’t find some of the most popular “how to lose weight quick” programs on my list because I have no confidence in programs written “by committee” or those that don’t have any way for you to contact someone if you have a question.  If they just leave you hanging out to dry after they take your money, they WON’T be on my list!

If you click over to my new blog, Losing Body Fat, you will find a mini-review on the front page and a list with the links to the complete reviews for each program in the right sidebar, as well as a list of some articles you might find interesting. In fact, I am going to include a list of the reviews in the sidebar of this blog also to make it easier for you to see what’s included and to click over to any you want to check out.

The new blog is a work-in-progress so check back often if you don’t find something you like or, better yet, tell me which program you are interested in and I will take a good look at it and give you my honest opinion.

Here’s the link again:  Losing Body Fat

Take care and keep having that line dancin’ fun!

Wanna Have the Hottest Body on the Dance Floor? is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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I had a question (Thank You, Kylie!)  on how to do a “chug” like they do in Copperhead Road.  I decided the best way to explain was to show a video of the dance and this is the clearest one I found.  Sorry, it’s in French, but if you print out my step sheet you can follow along!

One definition I found for “chug” is as follows:

Chug is similar to hop.

Chug with right foot means that the right leg is in the air bent at knee and a hop is done on your left leg.

Enjoy!
Renée

Copperhead Road Line Dance Instructions is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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Below is the  video for Rita’s Waltz as taught by Jo Thompson who choreographed it for her Mom, Rita Thompson. The music is Rock and Roll Waltz performed by singer/songwriter Scooter Lee:

Here are the line dance instructions: Rita’s Waltz Step Sheet

Keep having that line dancin’ fun!!

Line Dance Instructions – Rita’s Waltz is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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What Clothes Do Line Dancers Wear?

Awhile back I wrote an article for Ezine Articles entitled What Clothes Do Line Dancers Wear and,  the last time I checked, that article had been read by 1,573 people.  I received a lot of comments on that article and people kept asking me what was a good place to buy line dancing or country western clothing online.   I didn’t have an answer,  so I set out to see if I could find a good place, that was well respected and sincerely interested in their customers,  that I could recommend to my readers.

It took a while because there’s a lot of tacky (pun not intended) online “stores” out there and I didn’t find any place I felt comfortable recommending right away.

But, last week I found a store that I really like, called  SHEPLERS-The World’s Largest Online Western Store.

Here are some of the reasons I like Sheplers:

• They carry the brand names I’m familiar with and trust, like Levis, Wranglers, Durango Boots, Tony Lama, Ariat, Old Gringo, Stetson, Dickies, and the list goes on;
• They have a great selection of Men’s, Women’s and Kid’s clothing;
• They carry everything from hats to belts to skirts for the ladies, to leather jackets;
• They have accessories, like purses and watches, and the even have a home decor section with bedding, shower curtains, even toys and many other things;
• I like their prices.

Their “Handshake Guarantee” says:

“If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply return it for a refund or exchange. It’s as easy as that. You have our handshake on it!” I like that!

It took me a while to find a company I really felt comfortable with, but this is it!

If you agree, or even if you don’t agree, let me know your thoughts!  Check out their website by clicking on the picture below. (Yes, this is an affiliate link)   They have some great sales!

Line Dance Clothes – Introducing Sheplers is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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I ran across the website for Step In The Name of Life™ when I was looking for YouTube videos to put on my Squidoo Lens about My Favorite Line Dance Songs.

Jamie Gant was not only interested in the fun of line dancing, but also the health aspects, and the story of how  and why he started Step In the Name of Life™ caught my interest.

Jamie’s grandmother was tired visiting a gym, walking, or doing other forms of exercise to stay healthy.  When she was at a Miami party, she saw a group of people line dancing and decided that she wished to attend a class to take some line dance instructions for the exercise.  She asked Jamie to accompany  her.

So they went to the classes and learned  to dance, but wanted a class nearer to their Carol City/Miami Gardens neighborhood. Since there wasn’t one, Jamie decided to start one and bring the residents of the area an interesting way keep active, have fun,  and get exercise.

But, he didn’t stop there.  He made it his mission to provide this style of dancing to as many cities and people as possible.   He wanted people to live longer, have fun,  and be healthier, so Step In The Name of Life™  was born.  Their goal:  Stepping Away Diabetes, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure & More™.

When I last looked at their website, there were more than 32 cities listed. Jamie Gant is no doubt doing his part to bring line dancin’ fun and good health to many people.

Below you will find the step sheet of the first line dance that Jamie’s grandmother saw at that party in Miami called “Homey Twist.”  It’s easy to learn and very addicting.  I do it all the time around my home.  It’s so much fun!!

I’ve also included a video with the music and a group from  Step In The Name of Life™ performing the dance.  Enjoy!!

Here’s the step sheet: HOMEY TWIST

And here’s the video:

Make sure to visit their website at:   Step In the Name Of Life™

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance DVDs or Videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

Homey Twist – More Line Dancin’ Fun! is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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1. Line Dance Steps & Music – Under the Hood

Line Dancin’ in Hawai’i

The building in Hawaii where we had our line dance instructions was a warehouse that was open to the elements on one side, as are many buildings in Hawaii. It was old and had a parking lot downhill from the building, but the exercise was good.  We were warmed up by the time we got to the dance room.

Wooden Floors and Mirrors

The main attraction to the site was that the floors were wooden and the instructor had installed a whole wall of mirrors so we could see ourselves (not always a good thing!) and she could watch us even when she was facing the front. This made it easier for us to follow her since she would be moving in the same direction we were.

photo credit: anemoneprojectors

Camaraderie

People would start drifting in a little before the class was ready to start and the instructor would be adjusting the sound. Most people would limber up a little, visit  with each other, and practice a step they were having trouble with. There was a room off to the side where people could go for personal instruction, and there was always a lot of that going on. The experienced people were always eager to help the newcomers.

The Class Begins

When the class began, the instructor would play some slower line dances to get everyone warmed up, and then progress to faster ones. These were usually dances that we had learned recently and needed a “refresher” course on. Then she would begin to teach the weeks new dance. This was done without music, and by teaching one pattern of the steps at a time. She would go over and over each group of steps until she could see that we understood the pattern.

When she had finished teaching all the patterns, she would walk us through the whole dance, counting out the steps, until we were comfortable with the steps. Then she would put it to music, a section at a time, but the song she chose for this part of the teaching was not usually the main song for the dance. She would use one that fit the dance but had a slower beat per minute (bpm) than the actual song. Finally, we would get to dance the whole dance to the original music. We would do this several times until it was natural. She would remind us that there were line dance step sheets by the door and to be sure to take one home so we could practice for the next week.

Line Dancin’ FUN!

Then would come the fun! We would have about an hour or so of “open dancing.” She would play our favorite line dance songs, both for the beginners and the more advanced dancers, so we could just dance. When she played an intermediate dance that the beginners didn’t know, it gave them a chance to watch the experienced dancers and get pointers on how to do certain steps.

Out and About After Class

Sometimes, if enough people were available, and in the mood, we would go to one of the night spots where the band knew a few good line dance songs and we would do our dances. This always amazed the tourists who were surprised that the band knew Country and Western music and that there were actually people in Hawaii who didn’t Hula!

Our classes were only $5.00 and that was a bargain for all the fun and camaraderie we had!

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance DVDs or Videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

A Typical Line Dance Instructions Class is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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There are Many Places to Take Line Dance Instructions

There are several ways to learn how to line dance. You can learn by yourself at home or in a group. I’ve seen classes taught on the grass in a park, on a sandy beach (not easy) and in someone’s garage (the cement is hard on the feet!).

Kahala Mall, Honolulu

I remember going to a Mall in Hawaii with my daughter, Nicolette and, as we passed a store playing one of the songs we line danced to, she started doing the dance right there in the Mall! I was embarrassed, but she wouldn’t stop.

Several people began to watch her and clapped along with the music. After the music finished, three women came up to her and asked her if she could come to their house and teach them how to do the line dance steps.

She thanked them kindly and gave them the information on the location of where we received our line dance instructions – the address, phone number, and days of the classes. We were really pleased to see them at the next class.

Here’s Where to Look:

Here are some easy ways and places to get line dance instructions, in case you don’t run into my daughter at the Mall giving a free dance:

• Check in Google or your local phone book for a list of classes in your area;
• Check the bulletin boards at the Malls, your Church, or the Supermarket, to see if someone has put up a poster about a line dance class;
• Go to a book or music store and buy a line dance video and DVDs to use at home;
• Do a Google search for line dance step sheets, books, and line dance videos online, such as on YouTube;
• Do you have a friend who loves to line dance? They would probably be happy to teach you and drag you to a class with them;
• If you go to a class, always check to see if they have line dance step sheets that you can take home to practice;
• If you see someone who is line dancing at a club, ask them where they learned.   Line dancers seem to always want to share their passion for line dancing.
• Check the bulletin boards for performances, usually at a park or shopping mall. In Hawaii, the line dance team my instructor had put together (the dancers who didn’t run into each other) would give performances at the big resorts on the Big Island. I’ve even seen line dancers perform at Native American PowWows. Now that was fun!!

Whatever way you decided to learn how to line dance, just relax and have a good time. It’s really a lot of fun!

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

The Easiest Places to Find Line Dance Instructions is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

Related posts:

1. Line Dance Instructions
2. Line Dance Steps & Music – Under the Hood

Can Line Dancing Make YOU Smarter?

We already know that line dancing, as a physical exercise, is good for our bodies. It’s also good for our brains because it raises the level of serotonin, which makes us feel good. People who run or jog call this a “runner’s high.”

And that’s great, but it doesn’t halt the loss of sharpness of our minds or increase our intelligence.

Some Studies. . .

A study done a few years ago, funded by the National Institute on Aging, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, set out to determine if there were specific activities, physical and/or mental, that would halt the loss of our “mental acuity” – mental sharpness – and/or possibly improve it.

They studied a variety of physical and mental activities and, of all the physical activities they included in their study, they found that the only one that helped reduce the risk of losing our mental sharpness was frequent dancing. Playing golf, riding a bicycle, running, jogging – none of these made the cut. But frequent dancing reduced the risk of deteriorating mental sharpness by a whopping 76%. It does this, in part, by rewiring the neural pathways in our brains that we have lost over time.

But what’s important to us, and addresses the question above, is that studies since then have shown that, not only does dancing reverse the loss of these neural pathways, it actually creates new pathways. So, even if you’re young and haven’t begin to have “brain fade”, you will benefit by getting more connections in your brain, which will not only give you reserves for later, but make you smarter now.

But There’s More. . .

But there’s more to improving your mental sharpness by line dancing than just getting out on the dance floor and mindlessly repeating the same old steps over and over. Further studies indicated that we must THINK. Thinking, problem solving, and split-second decision-making are some of the brain activities you need to do to improve, and/or repair, your brain.

When you are line dancing, you can do this the following ways:

• Dance with “style.” Add new steps, be creative, be spontaneous!
• Constantly learn new line dances and line dance steps. Challenge yourself.
• Teach line dance instructions to others. Pay attention to what your students are doing. Observe what’s easy for them and what’s hard. Change things to fit the moment. Stay flexible so you can make quick decisions based upon what’s going on.

Try These Ways to Increase YOUR Intelligence:

Here are some other ways to increase your intelligence, both temporary and permanent:

• Someone told me when I was very young that the best way to keep your brain from getting old was to always be learning something new. This has been proven over and over since then by many different studies. Take classes in subjects that interest you and challenge you. Never stop learning.
• Meditate, either the traditional way or with one of the new
  CD meditation programs. Either way, your neural pathways will begin to rewire themselves. This not only makes your brain sharper, you’ll find that you handle stressful situations much better.
• photo credit: Larry Page
• Listen to good classical music, such as Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven. This can temporarily improve your IQ.
• Exercise, as mentioned before. This increases the oxygen supply to your brain enabling you to think more clearly. Deep breathing does the same thing.
• Read more. Learn to speed read. Work crossword puzzles or other word games several times a week. Do anything that makes you think!

So, to answer the question, “Can Line Dancing Make YOU Smarter?” The answer is definitely “YES” as long as you engage your mind in your line dancing as well as your body!

Learn how Scooter Lee and Jo Thompson are helping Seniors become healthier with their non-profit organization, Dancing for the Dream here: Scooter Lee Loves Senior Citizens!

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

Can Taking Line Dance Instructions Make YOU Smarter? is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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]]> http://www.linedanceinstructions.net/line-dance-instructions/smarter/feed/ 1 http://www.linedanceinstructions.net/line-dance-instructions/smarter/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LineDanceInstructions/~3/U9G_4n_DWkk/ http://www.linedanceinstructions.net/line-dance-steps/under-hood/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:38:13 +0000 Renee Benzaim http://www.linedanceinstructions.net/?p=1231 Line Dance Steps & Music – Under the Hood is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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A lot of people contacted me when I put the step sheet for Country Walkin’ in a post, along with a video of the music from Riverdance, “Lord of the Dance”, that we used for this particular line dance. They said, “Give us more like that!” (see the Post here: RIVERDANCE!)

Someone then asked me to do the same thing with the dance I choregraphed back in December of 1998, “Under the Hood,” to the Billy Ray Cyrus song of the same name. So, here it is!

Click here for the step sheet: Under the Hood

I hope you give it a try and enjoy it. I’ll post more combinations like this in the future. If you could look over the step sheet page and tell me which dances you would like this way, I’ll put them in a post also.

Keep having that line dancin’ fun!

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance DVDs and videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

Line Dance Steps & Music – Under the Hood is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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Some good “excuses” to give someone you care about a gift:

Christmas is over and the gift buying season is gone.  Whew!  But, gift giving doesn’t stop with Christmas.  All year long we have wonderful opportunities to give gifts to our family and friends.  Here are some reasons to give someone a gift from your heart:  Valentine’s Day, Easter, graduation, weddings,baby showers, new baby in the family, Bar Mitzahs and Bat Mitzahs, birthdays, anniversaries, getting engaged, house warming gifts, going away gifts, and before you know it, the holidays will be here again!  I’m sure I’ve forgotten many occasions, but you get the idea.

What to give?

Gift for a little line dancer

photo credit: Mini D

Surely there are line dancers among your family and friends who you could buy a gift for one of these occasions.  Don’t  scratch your head trying to think of a unique gift to buy him or her.  Never fear! It is really very simple and there are numerous things you can buy to brighten their special occasion. Here are some great suggestions:

* Shiny new belt buckle – the guys love those big belt buckles!
* Boot bracelet made from shiny beads
* Earrings or other jewelry
* Gift Certificate for a boot shop that sells boots and clothing for line dancers
* Country line dance videos or DVDs for the beginner to practice with at home
* Tote bag to carry their special line dancing boots back and forth from class or a night out dancin’
* Gift certificate towards the purchase of nice Stetson hat
* One of those cute little black string ties for the guys
* Go to a custom T-shirt store and get a t-shirt made that says “I LOVE LINE DANCIN’” or something like that
* One of those flat, letter sized document portfolios to keep their Country line dance step sheets organized
* Mini tape recorder to tape line dancing instructions during a class

Earrings

I like these! And, they're easy to make.

photo credit: NATALIA PHOTOS

We used to wear the cutest earrings to our line dancing class. They were miniature cowboy hats. One of the girls made them and gave everyone a pair. You could make something similar – it’s not hard to make earrings – just by visiting a crafts store and getting the necessary findings. But be careful! You might get hooked on making your own jewelry.

Boot Bracelets are very nice

Boot bracelets are another thing you can make using the supplies from a craft store. Just string bright, sparkly multi-colored beads together on a wire and attach a secure clasp (like the ones used for ankle bracelets) on the ends and, voila, you have a nice, personal gift for someone. I have also seen beautiful Southwestern beaded boot bracelets online. And remember, you only need to give one because you only wear the boot bracelet on one of your boots. Of course, you could give your favorite line dancer several to match their different line dance clothes.

Make it easy for them to tote their boots

An inexpensive tote bag is nice in lieu of lugging boots around in a plastic grocery store bag. Remember, line dancing boots are lighter and the sole is smoother for dancing, so don’t wear them outdoors.

. . . and keep their step sheets nice and neat

A lot of classes, like the ones we took in Hawaii, pass out step sheets when new dances are taught. One of those document portfolios, the kind that maybe has a pad on one side with a pen at the top, and on the other side has a pocket for loose documents, would be nice for someone to keep their step sheets in and also make notes about various things. It would fit nicely inside the tote bag!

This is the perfect time for line dancing – keep them healthy!

This is the perfect time of the year for line dancing. The weather is cooler, and normal outdoor activities like gardening and jogging are basically on hold until Spring. But, it is still necessary to keep up some kind of physical exercise and line dancing fills the bill admirably. Just attend a class two or three times a week, or practice at home,  and you will experience many health benefits.

So, delight the line dancers in your life with a nice gift for their special occasion. They will thank you every time they go having that line dancin’ fun!

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

Is there a Line Dancer In YOUR Life? is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

Related posts:

1. Line Dance Instructions

Hula dancing is a form of line dancing many centuries old.

Many people agree that line dancing, as we know it, originated in Europe as Folk Dancing, which was also called Tribal Dancing in many other cultures and countries. Other people believe that the English Country,  or Contra Dances, are the basis for our line dancing. The origins of our form of Country line dancing are not always easy to pin down.

However it started, line dancing, by definition, is a participatory form of dancing. Everyone dances together for their own enjoyment, repeating a pattern of steps in sequence to the beat of the music. These patterns of steps were fixed and easy to learn so everyone could participate.

Emigrants to America from many countries brought their dance traditions with them. By the middle 1800s, Country and Western dance was becoming popular from the Midwest of America all the way to the West Coast. There were some line dances at that time, but the majority were couples dances that followed set steps.

In New England, around the same time, most of the dancing resembled the Contra Dances of Europe. These  were directly related to the English Country Dances that can be traced back to a 1650 book of dance sheets, the first instance of step sheets.

Contra dancing was performed by two lines facing each other, males in one line and females in the other. The head couple came together and “strolled” down the middle between the two lines, separated at the end of the line, and returned to their own lines. Then the next couple began. The “Stroll” is an example of this.

Line dancing, as we know it today, was probably born in the 1980s, in Nashville, Tennessee, when Jim Ferrazano supposedly wrote the choreography for “Tush Push” on a napkin. It was then tested on the dance floor by Melanie Greenwood, a now-famous choreographer, who would later write the step sheet for Achy Breaky Heart, to the song of the same name, performed by Billy Ray Cyrus.

Pretty Line Dancing Outfit

Around the same time, Miss Jimmie Ruth White, from Texas, choreographed  “The Traveling Four Corners” and the “J.R. Hustle”, originally as square dances, but changed into line dances.

Country Western music wasn’t always the music of choice for line dancing. Many  dances were done to popular music, such as the  “Cruisin’” done to a Beach Boys song called “Still Cruisin’”, and a big favorite, “Mustang Sally” danced to the music of the R&B group, The Commitments. One very beautiful line dance, choreographed by Sal Gonzales, called “Dancin’ With You” can be danced to the song “Volcano” by Jimmy Buffet.

1992 is the date many people believe that line dancing came into it’s own when Billy Ray Cyrus released “Achy Breaky Heart” and asked the aforementioned Melanie Greenwood to choreograph the line dance instructions. This song and dance were a great success and finally put line dancing into it’s own niche.

As a result, many classes  sprang up and most line dance songs were Country Western. Country line dance videos and DVDs were created to teach people how to learn to dance in the privacy of their own homes. It’s even possible today to find aerobic line dance videos to your favorite Country music.

Nowadays, line dancing is popular for both Country Western music and contemporary music. Many people, especially in England, prefer non-Country music for their dancing. However, line dance songs remain predominately County Western in the United States, Australia, and other places and line dance history marches on, ever changing.

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance DVDs and videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

Where Did Line Dance Instructions Start? is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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Line Dancing is the Second Most Popular Thing Seniors Like to Do!

Line dancing is very popular among Senior Citizens. It’s fun, there is great camaraderie among the Seniors, and you don’t need a partner.

An Activity Director at a Retirement/Convalescent Home in California told me that line dancing is only second in popularity to square dancing and only because square dancing is an older form of dancing and more Seniors are familiar with it. Also, many Seniors were in square dance clubs and went to meetings each week when they were younger.

Line Dancin' Fun!

At almost any class in line dance instructions, you will see many Seniors. There are several dances suitable for people with limited mobility, such as  “Tush Push”, “Electric Slide”, “Country Walkin’”, “Dancin’ with You” and the ever beautiful, “Waltz Across Texas”, which I love to do to Collin Raye’s “Dreamin’ My Dreams of You.” There is even a “sit down” tongue-in-cheek line dance by Knox Rhine called “Take A Break” which doesn’t even need music! Most classes feature easy line dances as well as more advanced.

Health Benefits

The health benefits of line dancing are obvious. Everyone benefits from exercise and line dancing is so much fun, it doesn’t seem like exercise. I read a report that said that people who line dance could possibly live an extra ten years. This may or may not be true, but it’s certainly something to consider.

Here is a list of some of the health benefits you will enjoy if you line dance on a regular basis:

* Cardiovascular and muscular strength and flexibility become better;

* High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and high triglyceride levels, as well as high blood sugar levels can all improve;

* Coordination improves as you work through the different movements;

* Lung capacity can increase;

* Bone strength can increase; bone loss can be stopped or slowed down

* Help with weight control – half an hour of continuous line dancing can burn an average of 300 calories

* The social aspects of  line dancing are obvious. Your sense of well-being and the camaraderie you have with the other dancers is wonderful for your health.

Line Dance Videos are available everywhere

There are many line dance DVDs and videos that Seniors can purchase and use to practice  in the privacy of their homes. This is especially good if they are shy about going to a regular class or don’t have a class in their community that teaches line dancing for seniors.

Scooter Lee and Jo Thompson

The lovely and talented singer/songwriter Scooter Lee has many classes targeted towards Seniors through her non-profit organization, Dancing for the Dream®, which she started with choreographer Jo Thompson.

As popular as her music was for line dancing, at first Scooter Lee didn’t line dance herself, even after being diagnosed with numerous health issues and being overweight.  Finally, after learning to eat right, exercise, and create good habits in her life with positive thinking and positive people, she included line dancing in her routine for good health.  Though the damage to her joints and organs was not reversible, Lee started to pay attention to her own health, eventually losing approximately 150 pounds in five years.

Where to Find Classes for Line Dancin’ Fun

You can find many classes for line dance instructions just for Senior Citizens at Community Centers, Parks and Recreation Departments, and Church Groups all over America, as well as at classes at dance studios.

If you live in the Eastern part of America, check out the classes available through Step In the Name of Life™.  They have classes in at least 32 cities.  Jamie Gant started the first group in Florida so his grandmother would have a place to go to line dance for her health.  After going with her, he was ready to start classes for everyone.  Their goal:  Stepping Away Diabetes, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure & More™.

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance DVDs or Videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

Line Dance Instructions for Seniors is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

Related posts:

1. Line Dance Instructions & RIVERDANCE!
2. Is there a Line Dancer In YOUR Life?
3. Line Dance Steps & Music – Under the Hood

If you ever watched Michael Flatley’s RIVERDANCE troupe, you’re probably familiar with the song, “Lord of the Dance.”   But, I bet you never thought of line dancing to this song, have you? Well, Country Walkin’, choreographed by Terre DeSarro, is perfect for this music.   Country Walkin’ is a 32 count/36 step, 4-wall line dance for beginners, and only has three patterns to learn. It’s actually one of the most easy line dances I know, coming in second to Electric Slide.

Here is the STEP SHEET for Country Walkin’ and here is the YouTube Video for “Lord of the Dance.”  Don’t worry – you don’t have to learn to dance like the dancers in the video!

What I do is download the line dance videos to Real Player – you can use your favorite player – to which I’ve made a playlist for line dancing songs. Then I can play them whenever I want.

OK, for this song, you don’t actually start dancing until after the first 52 seconds. You can just stand there and look entranced by the beautiful flute sounds.  Also, as you dance, the song becomes faster and faster, which makes for a lot of line dancin’ fun!

Let me know how you do and if this is a good way to get line dance step sheets with the appropriate music to you. If it works out, I will do different dances from time to time. I’m in the process of putting together a FREE eBook for you with line dance terminology and about 30 line dance step sheets.

My personal line dancing instructions playlist has 14 songs and I have types up the step sheets for each one. When I want to teach or practice, or just have a good workout, I play the playlist, minimizing the video so I don’t get distracted by Billy Ray Cyrus singing “Acky Breaky Heart”, and dance ’til I drop!

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

Line Dance Instructions & RIVERDANCE! is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

Related posts:

1. Line Dance Instructions
2. The BEST of the Line Dance Videos!
3. Line Dance Instructions for Seniors

When Nicolette and I lived in Hawai’i, it really didn’t matter when we went line dancing because the weather was the same year round. In Kona, it would be sunny in the morning and in the afternoon we would have warm showers. It wasn’t even necessary to put the top up on the Jeep, the showers were so gentle.

There really wasn’t much of a difference in the seasons in Hawai’i. Maybe a little more rain in the Winter, but the temperature was always nice. The changes were very subtle. Actually, the weather could be quite boring at times!

The warehouse where we danced, and took our lessons was open on one side to the outdoors. It was nice that way, especially if there was a gentle rain falling. We danced up in Kealakekua, just below Captain Cook, and Mamalahoa Highway ran right outside our warehouse. We could listen to the cars going by, their tires hissing in the rain. When we were finished dancing, a sliding panel was rolled over the open side. Fond memories!

Now, I think line dancing is more something you would start in the Fall, when it starts to be a little cooler. Line dance instructions can be vigorous for someone just beginning! It’s better to have the weather a little cooler for comfort.

Autumn is always a time of new beginnings for me. School starts. The holidays loom ahead. And before you know it, the New Year arrives with more new beginnings.

If the Boot Fits!

The days are shorter in the Fall, and it gets dark much earlier. Evening activities are now planned for indoors. It’s a nice scene at a line dancing class, everyone arriving, taking off their jackets, chatting with each other. The teacher puts on a little music to set the atmosphere. People sit around the edges putting on their boots, talking about their day. Then, they form a line and, voila, the strains of Shania Twain’s “Don’t Be Stupid” fill the room and everybody starts moving! Line dancing has begun.

For our classes in Hawai’i, we would warm up with a couple of easy line dances everyone already knew, and then the class would begin. Every week a new dance. We would go over each pattern of steps, without music, until we had that set down pat. When we had worked through all the steps, we would walk through the whole dance, again, without music.

Then, we would go through the steps with an appropriate song that was slower than the actual song we would be using for the dance. This always led to a lot of laughs, as we thought we had the steps down, but once we started doing them to actual music, we could become quite befuddled!

After a time, we would get all the steps in the right order and do them to the actual music. This was always a time of great pride and satisfaction! Another line dance under our belts! Hurrah!!

So, I guess if I had to pick a time to start line dancing lessons, I would say in the Fall. Then again, in the Summer, a lot of City Recreation Departments offer free line dancing instructions. And, in the Spring, we can’t wait to start going places again in comfort! That leaves Winter – and there are so many country line dance songs you can line dance to! I guess line dancing is GREAT all year! What do you think?

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance DVDs and videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

When Should You Begin Line Dance Instructions? is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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There are thousands of line dances, each composed of individual components, or steps. Once you learn the most common line dance steps, its easy to learn a variety of dances.

The Ultimate Line Dance Reference Video teaches 49 common line-dancing components, plus four easy line dances.

Award-winning choreographer Jo Thompson teaches line dance steps like brush, kick, and stomp, and more complex moves like applejack, coaster, and sailor shuffle, presented in alphabetical order, not in order of difficulty. Close-ups of her feet, facing the same way you’re facing, make her easy to follow.

Next she shows how these steps might be combined, a few at a time. Then she teaches four easy line dances: Electric Slide, Cowboy Charleston, Rita’s Waltz, and Twist Em, all using the line dance songs of Scooter Lee.
If you’ve tried line dance instructions that seem to go too fast for you, or line dance videos that didn’t make sense, then this 90-minute video is like having a series of private lessons in your own home.

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance DVDs and videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

The BEST of the Line Dance Videos! is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

Related posts:

1. Line Dance Instructions & RIVERDANCE!
2. Line Dance Steps & Music – Under the Hood

Pay Attention!!

Most people pay attention to where they are on the dance floor, no matter what kind of dancing they’re doing, or how experienced they are.  As a rule, when you are in a class receiving line dance instructions, everything moves kind of slow, as you count through the steps, one group at a time, and practice them over and over until they become second nature. However, once you’ve learned the dances and the lights go down and the music starts, that’s another story!

Line dancers tend to really put their hearts and souls, and bodies, into their dancing.  Sometimes they get so “into” the dancing and the music, that they just close their eyes and go with the flow.  And since most line dances are performed singly, there isn’t another person attached to you to keep an eye on where you’re going.

Oh, the things I’ve seen!  Each week after our class, we would have “open dancing”, where the instructor would play the line dance songs for the line dances we knew and we could just dance – sort of pretend we knew what we were doing!  This class was mainly beginners, but there were some intermediate and advanced people there who came just for the open dancing because they just couldn’t get enough line dancing.

One man, who was at the intermediate level, absolutely loved the line dance “Walkin’ Wazzi.”  Whenever the music started, usually “Redneck Rhythm & Blues” by Brooks & Dunn, he would become SO excited and run onto the dance floor, jumping around like a little kid, warming up his line dance moves, waiting to get started!  Then he would ROCK!  He would be right in front, dancing his heart out with his eyes closed and the most enraptured look on his face!  But, he never ran into anyone.  I think the rest of the dancers knew to give him his space!

The List

Well, here is a little list of some common sense line dance etiquette whether you’re at a class, a club, a church social, or in a barn taking line dancing instructions:

• DON’T bring your drinks, glasses or cans onto the dance floor.  They make a big mess if spilled.
• WALK around the outside edge of the dance floor; don’t walk through the lines of dancers.
• IF you have to talk to someone, go off the dance floor.  Don’t just stand there and talk!
• DON’T be tempted to show off when you’re dancing next to new dancers just trying to learn.  You will only intimidate them.  You definitely won’t impress them.
• WHEN you’re in a class, or group, and new people come to join, give them a big welcome and see if they have any questions about how to sign in, or where to put their things, or whatever.  Make them feel welcome.
• It’s easy to collide with someone when the dance floor is crowded.   Take smaller steps if this is the case.  AND, if you collide with someone AND spill their drink, clean up the mess and buy them another drink.
• APOLOGIZE if you collide with someone, even if it’s not your fault.
• IF you have a DJ playing your music, be polite and respectful when you make a request.  They’re human, too.  And if they can’t play your song, don’t be a brat about it.
• REMEMBER the magic words: Please and thank you.
• DON’T  stop dancing to teach someone the steps right in the middle of the dance floor. Find an empty place somewhere to teach them.
• IF you’re starting a dance, go to the front of the dancers so the others can fall in behind you.
• LEAVE the outside edge of the dance floor clear for couple dancers.  Dancers dancing around the edge have the right of way.  Be careful not to block their progress.
• IF the lines are long and you will block the outside edge of the dance floor if you join a line, start another line instead.
• THE line of dance (LOD) is always anti-clockwise.

Have FUN!

Above all else, have a good time, smile often, and give the Instructor a big THANK YOU for all the line dancin’ fun!

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance DVDs and videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

Line Dance Instructions – Etiquette for the Dance Floor is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

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Fancy Boots for Line Dance Steps!

There are many forms of line dancing, practiced by different cultures all around the world.  Our focus will be on Country Western line dance instructions.

The first line dance I learned was BAR ROOM ROMEO, choreographed by Ron Holiday.  I was living in Hawai’i with my daughter, Nicolette, and we started going to classes in Kealakekua taught by Darhla Andrews.  She had a line dance company called DoubleD Dancers and they put on performances all over the Big Island for residents and tourists alike, as well as having classes once a week.

Darhla had some handouts with the line dance steps, which I retyped and printed in huge letters.  Nicolette and I would tape them on the wall of our living room and practice day and night.  The biggest problem we had was trying to look back over our shoulders to read the instructions when we ended up facing the other wall.

I can still remember one advanced step that continued to elude me, Apple Jacks.  I was determined to learn how to do it, but I just couldn’t get it!  I would practically trip over my own feet and fall whenever I tried.  However, one night I had one of those “ah ha” moments at 3:00 a.m.  I jumped out of bed, poured a bunch of Johnson’s Baby Powder on the kitchen floor, and I got it!

Line Dance Songs

There are so many great line dance songs and everyone has their favorite for any particular line dance.  For instance, I love Collin Raye’s “Dreamin’ My Dreams of You” for dancing “Waltz Across Texas,” and the only song for “Watermelon Crawl” is, well, “Watermelon Crawl” by Tracy Byrd. There are a lot of good line dance videos and DVDs available also, which can help you learn the steps.

After line dancing for a while, I got to the point where I could listen to a song and say, “Oh, that’s a good song for Go Go Stomp (or whatever)” Go Go Stomp is one of my favorites!  Everyone would laugh and say I had a talent, which was good, because my talent on the dance floor left a little bit to be desired!

By this time, I had been retyping and standardizing all of the line dance step sheets we used in class.  Not only to help me learn the steps, but to pass out to new members so they could take them home to practice.  This helped everyone learn quicker so they could participate in class.

Boots and Other Things

The boots you wear to class are special.  They’re not the same as the boots you wear when you rope cattle or muck around in the horse stalls of your barn.  They’re much lighter and the soles are thinner.  This is because your feet would turn into lead if you wore your Justin or Tony Lama boots to class!  You also want to be sure not to wear your boots outdoors, because they won’t last very long if you do.

The boots can also be very fancy and colorful, with fringe running down the sides, that swings around as you dance.  We also wore a boot bracelet on the outside of one of our boots.  The ones we wore were made of beads that glittered when we danced.  I’ve also seen some beautiful hand-beaded boot bracelets that are incredible.

The guys usually wore jeans, western shirts, and wide belts, with their George Strait look-alike hats.  Or sometimes they would show up wearing Aloha shirts and shorts, which looked kind of strange with their boots, but, oh well, to each his own!

Out and About in Hawai’i

Sometimes, after class, a group of us would go to one of the local night spots on the Big Island and “show off.”  I’m sure the tourists didn’t come to Hawai’i to hear a Hawaiian Band play “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” or “God Blessed Texas”, but the local bands did have a small repertoire of our songs and indulged us whenever we showed up.

Under the Hood

Oh, by the way, I tried my hand at choreography and wrote a line dance to Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Under the Hood.”  It’s a bit fast, but it was fun.  You can find the step sheet here in the line dance steps section.  Let me know what you think, if you give it a try.

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance DVDs and videos for YOURSELF or your friends!

Line Dance Instructions is a post from: Line Dance Instructions blog where you can get information on line dancing, step sheets, terminology, and more!

Related posts:

1. Line Dance Instructions & RIVERDANCE!
2. Is there a Line Dancer In YOUR Life?
3. Line Dance Steps & Music – Under the Hood