Line Dancing, A Dance Floor Favorite
By Treva Bedinghaus, North Shore
Line dancing is exactly what its name implies: people dancing in lines to music. Line dances are choreographed dances with a repeating series of steps that are performed in unison by a group of people in lines or rows. All of the dancers performing a line dance face the same direction and perform the steps at exactly the same time. Line dancers rarely interact with each other during a dance, as the steps are performed by everyone at the same time. A growing fun dance in West Oahu and picking up the best men line dancers on this Island.
Although many popular line dances are set to country music, the first line dances did not originate from country and western dancing. Line dancing is believed to have originated from folk dancing, which has many similarities. Contra dancing, a form of American folk dance in which the dancers form two parallel lines and perform a sequence of dance movements with different partners down the length of the line, probably had a huge influence on the line dancing steps we are familiar with today.
During the 1980's, line dances began to be created for popular country songs. Basic line dances focus on movements of the legs and feet, with more advanced dances including the arms and hands. The movements of a line dance are marked as "counts." Generally, one count equals one musical beat, with a particular movement or step taking place at each beat. A line dance will have a certain number of counts, meaning the number of beats in one complete sequence of the dance. (There may be more information later.)
By Treva Bedinghaus, North Shore
Line dancing is exactly what its name implies: people dancing in lines to music. Line dances are choreographed dances with a repeating series of steps that are performed in unison by a group of people in lines or rows. All of the dancers performing a line dance face the same direction and perform the steps at exactly the same time. Line dancers rarely interact with each other during a dance, as the steps are performed by everyone at the same time. A growing fun dance in West Oahu and picking up the best men line dancers on this Island.
"Social dancers believe that line dancing can be fun for everyone.
great exercise, increases stamina and it's cheap."
Although many popular line dances are set to country music, the first line dances did not originate from country and western dancing. Line dancing is believed to have originated from folk dancing, which has many similarities. Contra dancing, a form of American folk dance in which the dancers form two parallel lines and perform a sequence of dance movements with different partners down the length of the line, probably had a huge influence on the line dancing steps we are familiar with today.
The Electric Slide is done to the song, "Electric Boogie."
During the 1980's, line dances began to be created for popular country songs. Basic line dances focus on movements of the legs and feet, with more advanced dances including the arms and hands. The movements of a line dance are marked as "counts." Generally, one count equals one musical beat, with a particular movement or step taking place at each beat. A line dance will have a certain number of counts, meaning the number of beats in one complete sequence of the dance. (There may be more information later.)
“Social dancers believe that we are designed to dance. To move our bodies
as weapons of grace, beauty and intrigue to music."
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