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Country dancing is the most fun, the most
casual and least stylized form of social
dancing. It's one of the few styles of dance
where you can find a wide variety of people and
an even wider variety of dances. Everything
from partner dancing (Two-Step, Swing, Triple
Two-Step, Waltz, Polka, etc.) to line dancing
(Boot Scootin' Boogie, Cotton Eyed Joe, Tush
Push, Electric Slide, etc.) have made country
dancing incredibly popular due to it's appeal
to everyday folks.
Cowboy hats, boots, jeans, and belt buckles
all come to mind when country dancing &
country music is mentioned. If you're ready to
start dancing now, click the image below and
view the country western starter pack (it's 5
DVDs selected for beginners getting into
country dancing). Below the image, you'll see
dance related info on places to learn, where to
dance, attire for going out, the most popular
dances, and the best ways for you to get
started.
where to learn
country dancing and attire for learning
The fastest and most economical way to learn
country dancing is through the recommended
dance instruction DVDs found on this page. If
you're ready to learn country dancing via live
lessons, you can do so at your local dance
studio, but your best bets are dance lessons at
your local country bars and nightclubs. Here
you can learn the basics of the various country
dances and meet the instructors. Most of the
instructors on the country circuit are
freelance teachers who teach at the nightclubs
in the early evenings and teach private lessons
during the week and on weekends.
Be comfortable and wear jeans when learning
country dancing. You would most likely feel
slightly overdressed if you wore the same
outfit you selected for a ballroom lesson to a
country bar for a beginner two-step lesson. If
you have cowboy boots, wear them - they help
you get into the feel of the music and culture.
Ladies, close-heeled shoes are appropriate and
recommended for ladies, especially while your
dance partner gets the hang of the basic steps
and leading. Never wear flip-flops or
open-heeled sandals or mules to a lesson. If
you forget this rule, chances are you will only
forget it once.
Regarding the dance lesson videos found
here, each one captures the essence of country
dancing, the best tips and tricks for dancing
with anyone to any music, and clear instruction
for the dances as seen in clubs. The
DVDs are best used as a supplement to your
dance lessons or as a standalone tool if you
simply don't have the time or would rather not
learn to dance in front of others. Finding a
beginner dance class that fits your schedule,
is the dance(s) that you want, and that has an
instructor you're comfortable with is not
always easy. Take a look at the DVDs below to
find out more of what you can learn at home, on
your own schedule, and at your own pace.
where to dance
and attire for going out country dancing
Country nightclubs and bars are the best
places to go country dancing. Most large
country nightclubs make it a point to have a
large, well-maintained hardwood dance floor
with convenient rails on which to set drinks
and lean surrounding the floor. Ladies, if you
want to wear a skirt or a dress you can, but
chances are you will feel overdressed. A
sparkly or fun top with jeans (at any age) and
close-toed, close-heeled shoes are appropriate
attire for a lady at a country nightclub.
Likewise, gentlemen, don’t even bother
with anything dry-clean only. Jeans and a
clean-collared shirt are appropriate, with
either cowboy boots or non-sneaker shoes.
Casual is key.
most popular
country dances
You might be surprised at the variety of
dances you will see at a country nightclub. On
any given evening you can see and dance with
people doing the two-step, triple two-step,
waltz, cha-cha, slow dance, swing, West coast
swing, polka, and even occasionally the hustle.
In addition to the couples dancing, there is
also a lot of attention to line dancing, which
is done by individuals. You might also want to
give a few dances a try and then head to a
lesson or get started with the dance below that
you want to learn most:
- Two-Step (the ALL-TIME classic for
country dancing)
- Swing (aka East Coast Swing - a
dance for all occasions)
- Triple Two-Step (the new favorite
among dancers of today's country music)
- Line Dancing (Electric Slide,
Cotton Eyed Joe, Watermelon Crawl &
more)
- West Coast Swing (a challenging
but fun dance - also for all occasions)
- Waltz (a classic in any form of
dance)
- Polka (a fun and upbeat dance
that's great for country dancing)
of special
note regarding country dancing
If you are budget-conscious with your
entertainment discretionary spending, country
dancing might be the initial route for you to
take. Group lessons are extremely inexpensive,
private lessons are usually significantly less
expensive than in a ballroom, the appropriate
attire is most likely already hanging in your
closet or sitting in your drawer, and cover
charges at country nightclubs are usually
negligible when compared to other dance
venues.
Also, if you are interested in learning to
couples dance but you’re afraid of
looking or feeling frou-frou or effeminate, the
country scene and the country style of dancing
are as no-frills as they come. For many people,
the country subculture eases the transition
into the world of dancing, regardless of
whether they are huge fans of country
music.
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