Line Dancing

The music can have any beat and tempo, since line dancing refers to the organisation of the dancers rather than to a single strict style. Each line dance is a fixed sequence (although sometimes there are variations), often originally choreographed to a particular piece of music. Dance figures are borrowed from other dance styles to suit the music.

Dancers generally dance separately in rows and columns, although some dances permit linkages into pairs (shadow hold) or larger groups in lines. There isn't so much emphasis on precise footwork for most steps as there is in ballroom dances. There's a lot more clapping, slapping and shouting than in ballroom though.

Chassés, Triple Steps/Cha-Cha-Chas and Shuffles/Locks

These are steps akin to those in quickstep, cha-cha etc. The rhythm is quick-quick-slow. The triple step is a cha-cha-cha on the spot, ie C C C, still resulting in a change of foot. The chassé is a sideways move, closing feet in between side steps, ie S C S. The shuffle is a forwards (or backwards) move where the feet are closed in the middle rather than locked, ie F C F or B C B.

		Triple Step on Right							Triple Step on Left
Beat		1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)			1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)
Feet		RC		LC		RC			LC		RC		LC

		Chassé to Right							Chassé to Left
Beat		1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)			1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)
Feet		RS		LC		RS			LS		RC		LS

		Shuffle Forward on R							Shuffle Forward on L
Beat		1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)			1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)
Feet		RF		LC		RF			LF		RC		LF

Grapevines

These are sideways moves where side steps are interleaved with the other foot crossing behind or in front alternately. The usual form is a cross behind (first). Although one could continue sideways indefinitely in this fashion, the grapevine generally stops after only a couple of side steps - ending with a closing touch, heel scuff or flick or one more cross-over step.

		Grapevine Right (+B) Touch									Grapevine Left (+B) Touch
Beat		1		2		1		2			1		2		1		2
Feet		RS		LxB		RS		LC t			LS		RxB		LS		RC t

		Grapevine Right (+B) Flick									Grapevine Left (+B) Flick
Beat		1		2		1		2			1		2		1		2
Feet		RS		LxB		RS		LF fl			LS		RxB		LS		RF fl

		Grapevine Right (+B) Cross									Grapevine Left (+B) Cross
Beat		1		2		1		2			1		2		1		2
Feet		RS		LxB		RS		LxF			LS		RxB		LS		RxF

Coaster Step / Twinkle

The coaster step is the equivalent of the old twinkle step in waltz. Two steps in different directions (typically backwards and forwards) are separated by a close of feet. So the net effect is a change of feet rather than much change in position.

		Coaster Back on Right							Coaster Back on Left
Beat		1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)			1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)
Feet		RB		LC		RF			LB		RC		LF

Scissor Step

The scissor step is somewhat like a sideways twinkle.

		Right Scissor Step							Left Scissor Step
Beat		1 (Q)		2 (Q)		1,2 (S)			1 (Q)		2 (Q)		1,2 (S)
Feet		RS		LC		RxF			LS		RC		LxF

Jazz Box

This is borrowed from rock and roll. However, the line-dance version seems to omit the initial forwards step (which is what makes it a box at all!) and to add a close at the end instead. The figure is typically quite slow, with each step taking 2 counts.

		...		Jazz Box						...
Beat		1,2		1,2		1,2		1,2		1,2
Feet		LF		RxF		LB		RS		LC

Rock-Recover / Rock-Step

This is the equivalent of a check-step (in any direction). The forwards and backwards motion is seen in Rumba, Cha-Cha, Jive and Rock'n'Roll. In sideways form it's also like a cucaracha (eg Rumba). Weight goes with the initial step but is then transferred back to the other foot (without changing the position of that foot) on the next count.

Rocking Chair

This is a pair of forwards and backwards rock steps in opposite directions.

		RF Rocking Chair									LF Rocking Chair
Beat		1		2		1		2			1		2		1		2
Feet		RF		LB		RB		LF			LF		RB		LB		RF

Heel Struts

These are walks forwards, initially on the heel before lowering the toe to use the flat of the foot. They are slower than normal walks - taking 2 counts to complete each step.

Toe-Heel Walks

These are rather self-evidently the opposite of Heel Struts - being slow walks forwards or backwards, intially on the toe before lowering the heel to use the flat of the foot. Once again, they are slower than normal walks - taking 2 counts to complete each step.

Step Full-Change

This is a little like a Samba whisk - especially in its timing. The initial step is usually forwards on a strong beat. The other foot is placed close behind it, taking weight only on the toe, just before the next strong beat. At which point the original foot steps again in place or slightly forwards.

		Right Step Full-Change						Left Step Full-Change
Beat		1		a		2		1		a		2
Feet		RF		LCb		RCf		LF		RCb		LCf

Flick Full-Change / Kick Ball Change

This is similar to the step full-change except that the first foot is flicked forwards in the air and hence is immediately used again. It is placed close behind the supporting foot, taking weight only on the ball of the foot, just before the next strong beat. At which point the original supporting foot steps again in place. It's a classic rock and roll element.

		Right Flick Full-Change							Left Flick Full-Change
Beat		1		a		2			1		a		2
Feet		RF fl		RCb		LCf			LF fl		LCb		RCf

(Drunken) Sailor Step

This step typically incorporates some body sway to simulate drunkenness causing a stagger. All the steps are very small.

		Sailor back on R to go L						Sailor back on L to go R
Beat		1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)		1 (Q)		and (Q)		2 (S)
Feet		RxB		LS/C		RC		LxB		RS/C		LC