How to Line Dance Like a Pro in 2024
Learning how to line dance is a fun, simple and social activity that you can practice alone or with a group of friends. Movies like Sweet Home Alabama, Cool Runnings, Thelma and Louise and even Shrek Forever After feature the fun of learning how to line dance. Who wouldn’t want to get in on this social and energetic dance movement?
According to Stanford University, “the health benefits of dancing include stress reduction, increased cognitive acuity and the ability to ward off the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.” Along with lifting moods, easing anxiety and improving balance and flexibility, it’s just plain fun! You don’t even need a partner.
So what is line dancing and how do beginners get started? From stepping left to turning right, to staying in your own row, learning how to line dance can appear intimidating, especially to master the art. But we're here to guide you with an introduction to learning how to line dance that includes its basic steps and what it's all about. This article will surely get you on the right foot (pun intended)!
Jump to Section
- What is Line Dancing?
- Line Dancing Lessons
- Five Basic Line Dance Steps
- Popular Line Dances
- Line Dance Songs
What is Line Dancing?
Let's start with the basics. If you want to get straight to line dancing lessons, you can scroll down where we give some great suggestions.
Line dancing involves synchronized movements done in unison to choreographed steps. Dancers line up in rows facing in the same direction (though it can also be done facing each other). Each movement (whether it’s a step, hip movement or a wobble) is timed to the music.
While there are set steps and everyone moves in unison, each dancer can introduce a little of there own flare and style by extending their arms differently, throwing in an extra twirl or moving their hips in a salsa-like shake.
Line Dancing History
Line dancing may seem like a fairly new dance, but it goes back to the 1920s with the Shim Sham. In fact, African, Native American and European cultures have histories of dance styles like line dancing.
New generations add movements, steps, songs and style to add on to the genre, making learning how to line dance an ever-evolving sport.
Country Line Dancing
The style became more mainstream and widely popular in 1992 with Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart.” Everybody and their brother wanted to learn how to line dance to country music! The song filled up country line dance saloons and bars with cowboy hats, boots and denim-wearing dancers of all ages.
This is probably the scene most visualize when they think of line dancing. And, while it has evolved from traditional country line dances like square, round and folk, the wonderful thing about the genre is that anybody can learn how to line dance.
Line dancing has millions of combinations of steps, combined with walls, so this is one dance where you can grow skills and movements the more you practice learning how to line dance.
Line Dancing Lessons
First, you'll need a place to learn with some line dancing classes near you. If you're a nervous beginner, there are online classes. But if you like to dance like no one's watching, then you can walk into any saloon and just copy what the others are doing. Here is how to take part in line dancing classes around your area.
Dance Classes
Line dancing for beginners is easy when you book classes with professional dancers. For example, there are plenty of dance classes in NYC, dance classes in Las Vegas or dance classes in Colorado Springs. With line dancing classes, you can gather your friends or join a group of like-minded beginners for a fun and energetic evening as you learn how to line dance.
Not ready to show off your skills? You can also sign up for online dance classes to attend from the comfort of your own living room. Check out dance classes near you to find the perfect class to learn how to line dance at your own comfort level. If you're unsure which class they want to get, get them a Classpop! gift card so they can choose!
Social Settings
Another way to learn how to line dance is to jump right in there — figuratively and literally! Bars, dance clubs and places for group gatherings across the country are possibly the best places for learning how to line dance.
Line dancing is even done at weddings. While Texas and Tennessee offer a plethora of dance halls, you’ll find places all over the U.S. to learn how to line dance. Here are a few fo the most popular line dancing spots:
- Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee
- The Grizzly Rose in Denver, Colorado
- Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, Texas
- Ponderosa Lounge and Grill in Portland, Oregon
- Robert’s Western World in Nashville, Tennessee
- Cowboy Country Saloon in Long Beach, California
- The Bowery in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Pop’s Tavern in Baltimore, Maryland
- Gilley’s Saloon in Las Vegas, Nevada (Sound familiar? The original Gilley’s was in Pasadena, Texas and the film site for Urban Cowboy)
- Coyote Joe’s in Charlotte, North Carolina
But it's not only the U.S. where line dancing is popular. There are line dancing classes all over from Cape Town to Taipei to Seoul! The World Dance Masters is probably the biggest line dance competition on the globe and it's held in Blackpool, England.
Line dancing is also extremely popular in several other countries. But if you want to know, "Is line dancing good for seniors" you can look to China, where it's one of the most popular senior activities. The dancers are called "damas" and hold massive pop-ups around the country, including mobile silent discos! They're known for being quite raucous and disruptive with groups over 200 people at a time.
Five Basic Line Dance Steps
Basic Steps and Touches in Line Dancing
As you get started learning how to line dance, the most important aspect is figuring out the steps. A step is when you change your weight. A touch is when you don’t change the weight (this is mainly used to change directions).
Put basically, there’s a step for each beat in 4/4 time (four steps over four music beats). To time your steps, count from one to eight or do a count of 1, 2, 3, 4 – 1, 2, 3, 4.
Walls in Line Dancing
When learning how to line dance, keep in mind that formations have either one, two or four walls. A wall refers to the direction that the dancers are facing (think of it like they’re forming a wall/barrier). With one and two wall versions, dancers are always facing the front and back walls.
One-wall means everyone faces the same direction when performing steps. Two-wall is when, at the end of each dance sequence, everyone turns 180 degrees. Then, they begin again facing the back.
Four-wall is the most difficult, especially when you’re just beginning to learn how to line dance. At the end of the steps, everyone turns 90 degrees and proceeds facing one of the side walls.
Throughout the dance, dancers finish and start again by facing a new wall. When you’re first learning how to line dance, it’s best to stick to the basics and add on as you get accustomed.
Essential Line Dance Basic Steps
While it’s seen as a group effort, you can learn how to line dance alone. This makes learning terrific because beginner line dancers can practice at home until they feel comfortable.
You just have to learn some basic counting, combined with the steps and you’re ready to go. Accurate timing and the proper foot placement are the key things to remember when you learn how to line dance.
So, what are the five basic steps in line dancing and how do you do them? By becoming familiar with the five basic line dance step names listed below, you'll have a great headstart for your first official line dancing lesson or group dance.
1. Grapevine
The Grapevine, or Vine, is the most common line dance step. It goes: Step to the side, cross behind, step to the side again, step back to first (with the option of a brush, kick or scoot).
2. Weave
The Weave is similar to the Grapevine but you step over instead of to the side. It goes: Cross over, step back, cross under, step to first.
3. Scoot
A scoot, as the name implies, is a slide of the weighted foot in a forward, backward or sideways motion. The opposite leg is raised with a bent knee. A scoot can also be done with weight on both feet.
The most basic form of the scoot is to step forward with leg A, raise the heel of foot B up, slide (or scoot) the ball of foot B behind foot A, raise the heel of foot A. It's almost like a horse prancing forward. Yee haw!
4. Brush
A Brush is when the free leg swings forward or back as the ball of the foot brushes the floor. It's just a basic sweeping motion — your best dust-buster impression. Remember that with a Brush, always keep the heel of the brushing leg off the floor, only the ball of the sweeping foot brushes the floor.
5. Kick
A kick is a leg lift movement in any direction. Don’t completely straighten the knee. Now that you know the basics, you can start to learn some nice complicated full line dances.
Popular Line Dances
When it comes to learning how to line dance as a beginner, it's best to start with some of the easiest line dances. You may be familiar with popular dances, such as the Cupid Shuffle or the Electric Slide, which often play at weddings or other dance events. You can learn how to line dance these hit numbers in no time!
The Cupid Shuffle
The Cupid Shuffle is one of the simplest line dances for beginners. The song tells you just what to do! “To the right (x4) … to the left (x4) ... now kick (x4) ... now walk it by yourself... (x4)“ Pretty easy for those learning how to line dance for the first time.
- Take eight side steps to the right (last step is a touch step).
- Take eight steps to the left.
- Stand in place and kick your heel out four times, alternating the heel each time.
- Last, do eight counts of stepping in place, shimmying a quarter to the left.
- You’ll now be facing a different wall and you’ll then repeat the same steps.
Song: Cupid Shuffle
Artist: Cupid
Cowboy Boogie
While pretty basic, the Cowboy Boogie (sometimes written as Cowboi Boogie) is a step up from the Cupid Shuffle. There's no single song to dance the Cowboy Boogie to, so you can go at your own tempo to the song of your choice.
- Take a Grapevine step (step to the side, step behind, step to the side) to the right.
- Now, instead of a tap, do a hitch (knee up) at the end.
- Repeat this same step and hitch to the left.
- Next, a step forward with a hitch.
- Another step forward and hitch.
- Step back for three counts with a hitch at the end. Or you could smack your left heel with your right hand for extra flare.
- Then “boogie” with those hips (this means to do a small hip movement forward and back). The step here is to boogie twice forward and twice back, then a single boogie forward and back.
- Then turn a quarter turn to the left with a hitch to face a new wall.
- Repeat the steps facing the new wall, beginning with a Vine to the right.
Copperhead Road
Copperhead Road is sure to get your heart rate up as it involves a lot of skippin' and hoppin' and kickin'. It's a signature line dance that's really popular after a couple of drinks in the clubs and saloons. It's super fun to do and not too difficult to get down.
- Do four kicks forward in a bouncing motion with alternating legs.
- Do two cross-leg kicks with alternating legs. This involves a right kick forward, right toe across the left knee; then a left kick forward, left toe across the right knee.
- Repeat four kicks forward.
- Do a right-leg kick-stomp as you turn your body a quarter to the left. Do another right-leg kick-stomp while facing the new wall.
- Repeat the same kicks and stomps.
Song: Copperhead Road
Artist: Steve Earle
Line Dance Songs
There are a variety of different choreographed songs within the line dancing genre. Sometimes, a single song has it's own choreographed dance. Other songs have no dance attached. If the dance name is not explicit, or you don't know the steps, stand to the side and watch. Practice on the spot and when you're ready, jump in! No one is judging you, and once you're in, you'll be an instant part of the community of dancers.
Some popular choreographed dances that share the name with the song include: The Stroll, the Cowboy Boogie, the Electric Slide, the Achy Breaky Heart, the Macarena, the Cha-Cha Slide, the Cupid Shuffle and the Wobble.
When learning how to line dance for beginners, try “Two-Step” (by Laura Bell Bundy featuring Colt Ford). This is not to be confused with the two-step partner dance.
The Electric Slide (done to Bunny Wailer's "Electric Boogie") and Cowboy Hustle (done to Vince Gill’s “What the Cowgirls Do”) are beginner line dances to try. “Watermelon Crawl” (Tracy Byrd), “My Maria” (Brooks & Dunn), “Cha Cha Caliente” (Jennifer Lopez) and "Rockin’ the Wagon Wheel" (Darius Rucker) are more on the beginner-moving-into-immediate side.
Popular Line Dance Songs & Dances
- “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” (Brooks & Dunn)
- “Achy Breaky Heart” (Billy Ray Cyrus)
- “Watermelon Crawl” (Tracy Byrd)
- “Any Man of Mine” (Shania Twain)
- “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” (Shania Twain)
- “Macarena” (Los Del Rio)
- “The Loco-Motion” (Little Eva)
- “Gangnam Style” (PSI)
- "Copperhead Road” (Steve Earle)
- “Old Town Road” (Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus)
- “Cupid Shuffle” (Cupid)
- “Electric Boogie” (Bunny Wailer — the name of the dance is "Electric Slide")
- “Hoedown Throwdown” (Miley Cyrus)
- “Jerusalema” (Master KG — a fun South African line dance for a little move away from the Country tracks)
When it comes to learning how to line dance, the best piece of advice is to just have a good time. You don’t even have to be a country music fan with all the pop, salsa and jazz-inspired line dances out there!
Once you’ve gotten the steps down, you can put your own spin on what you do in between. Add some funky hip, torso or hand movements to shake it up! And when you're really confident, you can start a line dance at the next wedding. Watch how people follow and the line magically appears out of nowhere.
Whether you’re learning how to line dance by taking line dancing lessons or joining a dance at a club, party, wedding reception or other event, you’ll be among like-minded dance enthusiasts as you learn how to line dance. You’ll be line dancing like a pro in no time!
For even more creative ideas and inspiration, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
