Line dance

Line dancing is a choreographed form of group dance.

In this style, people arrange themselves in one or more lines or rows. Most dancers face the same direction, though some versions involve facing each other. A key rule is that line dancers do not maintain physical contact. This distinguishes them from other group styles like circle dancing. Each dance is usually tied to a specific song. Examples include the Macarena or the Electric Slide. These dances are practiced in many venues. These include country-western bars, social clubs, and ballrooms.

To understand how line dancing works, one must understand the concept of "walls." A wall represents the direction a dancer faces at any given time. This could be the front, the back, or one of the sides. Dancers change directions throughout a repeating sequence of steps. They might even face a direction halfway between two walls. At the end of a sequence, the dancers face a specific wall. This wall becomes the new frame of reference for the next repetition. This system allows large groups to move in unison without touching.

Line dances are categorized by how many walls they use. A one-wall dance ends with dancers facing the original direction. This involves a full 360-degree turn or no turn at all. A two-wall dance involves a 180-degree turn. In this style, dancers end the sequence facing the back or the front. The samba line dance is a known example of a two-wall dance. It uses a "volte" step to perform this half-turn. This allows the group to switch sides effectively.

A four-wall dance uses 90-degree turns. This is also called a quarter turn. Dancers face a new side after each repetition of the sequence. After four repetitions, the group will have faced all four walls. They then return to the original starting wall. The hustle is a famous example of a four-wall dance. It uses a 90-degree turn to the left in its final figure. Some dances may even use a 270-degree "three-quarter turn" to reach a new wall.

The exact origins of line dancing remain somewhat unclear. Music historian Christy Lane notes that different people provide different answers. Many steps likely came from European immigrants in the 1800s. Between 1860 and 1890, country-western dance began to emerge from these traditions. In the 1900s, American schools added folk dancing to physical education. This helped make social dancing a common activity. Later, soldiers returning from World War I and World War II brought more European dances to the United States.

Many specific dances helped define the genre over the decades. The Madison was a novelty dance from Columbus, Ohio, in 1957. During the 1970s disco era, new styles emerged. The L.A. Hustle began in 1975 and became the "Bus Stop" on the East Coast in 1976. The Electric Slide is linked to the song "Electric Boogie." This song was written by Bunny Wailer for Marcia Griffiths in 1982. It reached number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. In the 1980s, the film Urban Cowboy sparked a country culture trend.

The 1990s saw line dancing enter the mainstream. Billy Ray Cyrus's "Achy Breaky Heart" helped popularize western line dancing. The Spanish song "Macarena" also inspired a massive dance hit. Choreographer Max Perry created the "Swamp Thang" in 1994. This techno song used banjo sounds and expanded dancing beyond country music. In 1997, the band Steps created interest in Europe with the song "5,6,7,8." Even retail ads, like Gap Inc.'s "Khaki Country" in 1999, used line dancing to reach audiences.

Today, line dancing is a diverse and global activity. Modern line dance clubs combine many different musical genres. These include pop, Latin, Irish, big band, and country. Participants often wear casual clothing and dance trainers instead of western boots. The style is no longer strictly tied to country music. In 2014, Durham, North Carolina, was named the line dancing capital of America. This was based on the per capita ranking of MeetUp groups.