By Sorina Fant / Edited by Samantha Bellerose, B.Ed, Dip.Dance (Performing Arts)
Country Western and Dance is a casual style of dance that is performed to American country music. Stiff cowboy boots are commonly worn during this dance as many of the movements do not require feet to be flexible. Country Western dance is compromised of heel and toe-tapping, as well as stepping and sliding across the floor or in a circle or a square to the music.
Many popular country-western dances include The East and West Coast Swing, the Traveling Cha Cha, Ten Step Polka, the Texas Two-Step, the Tush Push, as well as square dancing and line dancing.
Line dancing is a popular type of country western dance where dancers are in consecutive lines and repeat the same steps in a loop until the song is over. Some line dances are region-specific with many hometowns adopting a song and choreography to showcase pride in where they are from.
Square dancing is a dance where four people, usually two couples, are participating. There is music as well as a caller who announces the directions for the dancers.
All country western dance is enjoyed with country music. This genre originated in America and is now popular worldwide. Many popular contemporary country musicians include Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain, Hank Williams, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood.
Brooks & Dunn’s 1992 hit song, Boot-Scootin’ Boogie and Billy Ray Cyrus’ song, Achy Breaky Heart are two incredibly popular line dancing songs.
This page is just one of hundreds of definitions of the many styles and genres of dance. This library is being continually added to by the writers and contributors of Dance Parent 101!