Definition of Line Dance
Line Dance is a formation dance, in which dancers form either a single line or multiple lines, depending on the floor space available. There is no physical contact between the dancers, but they execute the same moves at the same time. The dancers either face each other or face in one direction. Even though they don’t touch, the cohesiveness makes this dance impressive to watch. Line Dances can be simple or fairly complex.
Line Dance is a formation dance
History of Line Dance
It is difficult to pinpoint when line dancing was invented, but, it has origins dating back into the B.C.’s, when traditional folk and tribal dancing prevailed. These folk dances have slowly transformed into what is now called ‘Line Dancing’. Since the 1970′s, line dancing has been closely associated with country and western music.
Some popular line dances are “Madison,” “San Francisco Stomp,” “Cowboy Boogie,” and “Saturday Night Fever.” Today, line dancing has become a common event in country-western music bars and social clubs.
In 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus chose line dancing for the music video for his song “Achy Breaky Heart” and Melanie Greenwood choreographed the dance. The popularity of the song brought line dancing, which was once thought to be only a disco-club affair, to the limelight in the country world. From then on, line dancing classes started springing up all over America, Europe and Australia.
Line Dance consists of a number of walls
Description of Line Dance
A line dance consists of a number of walls. A wall is the direction that the dancers face at any given point of time. The direction they face at the end of the step is used as a reference for the next iteration. Based on the walls, line dances are classified as follows:
1. One Wall Dance: Dancers face the same direction at the beginning and at the end.
2. Two Wall Dance: Dancers turn around 180 Degrees during one set.
3. Four Wall Dance: Dancers turn around 90 degrees during the 1st repetition and subsequently cover all the four walls before the end of the dance.
The dancers dance for 32, 48, or 64 beats of music before switching the wall.
Because choreographers continue to create new and complex line dancing steps, it is fair to say that this dance form, which has ancient roots is still evolving!
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