Line Dancing Etiquette

We dance in lines. If a line is full, please start another line.

Never walk in front of a dancer or through a line of dancers to cross the floor during a dance. Someone may get hurt. Please wait until the music has stopped to enter or leave the dance floor.

Please change your shoes from your outside shoes and wear sensible shoes to dance in.

Never come onto the dance floor carrying drinks, glasses or cans.

Please put your mobile phones on silent.

Never stay on the dance floor to talk, and please don't talk while a teach is going on. It's very distracting for the teacher and other dancers.

Line Dancing Terminology

Most dances fall into one of four categories - One step, Two step, Cha-cha or Waltz.

The first three are counted in groups of eight (8 beats to the bar of music) whilst the waltz is counted in groups of six (6 beats to the bar).

The steps of the dances are counted individually e.g. 1,2,3,4 or in double time e.g. 1&2, 3&4 or with a waltz the count is 123,456.

Single beat steps:

Step

(1 count) place foot on floor and take weight onto it

Right vine

(3 counts) (1)step right foot to side, (2)step left foot behind right, (3)step right foot to side.

Left vine

(3 counts) (1)step left foot to side, (2)step right foot behind left, (3)step left foot to side.

Touch or tap

(1 count) touch toe or heel to ground but don't put any weight on it.

Rock

(1 count) to transfer weight from one foot to the other.

Left ½ pivot

(2 counts) step forward on right foot, keeping weight on ball of left foot make a ½ turn over your left shoulder so that you end up with your weight on your left foot and facing the wall that was behind you.

Right ½ pivot

(2 counts) step forward on left foot, keeping weight on ball of right foot make a ½ turn over your right shoulder so that you end up with your weight on your right foot facing the wall that was behind you.

Weave left

(4 counts) (1)step right foot across in front of left, (2)step left foot to left side, (3)step right foot back behind left, (4)step left foot to left side.

Weave right

(4 counts) (1)step left foot across in front of right, (2)step right to right side, (3)step left foot back behind right, (4)step right foot to right side.

Jazz box

(4 counts) (1)step right foot across in front of left, (2)step left foot back, (3)step right foot to right side, (4)step left foot next to left. Also done leading with left foot i.e. start by crossing left in front of right.

Hip bumps

bump hips to the right, left, backwards or forwards in time to the music.

Toe Strut

(2 counts) place toe forwards or backwards on floor then heel onto floor taking weight onto that foot.

Heel Strut

(2 counts) place heel forward on floor then toe onto floor taking weight onto that foot.

Twinkle

step right foot across in front of left, step left foot to left side, step right foot next to left.

Scissor

(4 counts) step right foot to right side, return weight to left foot, cross step right foot in front of left, hold for one beat. (can also be syncopated - count is 1&2&)

Syncopated steps:

3 steps forwards, backwards, sideways or on the spot, executed within 2 beats of the music. The following instructions are all leading with the right foot, but are also danced leading with the left foot (just the same steps but read left for right and right for left!) All counts are 1&2.

Cha-cha or triple step

step(1) right (&) left (2)right on the spot. Or (1) left(&) right (3)left on the spot.

Forward shuffle

(1) step forward on right foot, (&) step left foot to right heel, (3) step right foot forward.

Backward shuffle

(1) step back on right foot, (&) step left foot back to right toe, (3) step right foot back.

Chasse

(1) step right foot to right side, (&) step left foot next to right foot, (3) step right foot to right side.

Coaster step

(1) step right foot back, (&) step left foot back next to right, (3) step forward on right foot.

Kick ball step

(1)kick right foot forward, (&) step onto ball of right foot next to left foot and lift left foot slightly off the floor, (3) replace left foot onto floor on the same spot.

Toe Heel Stomp

place right toe to side, place right heel to front then stomp.

Mambo

Step forward on right foot, lift left foot and replace it back down in the same place, step right foot back next to left.

Sailor

Step right foot back behind left foot, step left foot to left side, step right foot next to left.

Just a few more

All examples leading with right foot but are also done leading with left foot

Rumba box

(8 counts) (1)step forward on right foot, (2)touch left toe next to right,(3)step left to left side, (4)step right next to left, (5)step back on left foot, (6)touch right toe next to left, (7)step right to right side, (8)touch left toe next to right.

Lock steps forward

(3 counts) (1)step forward on right foot, (2)step left foot behind right foot,
(3)step forward on right foot.

Lock steps back

(3 counts) (1)step back on right foot, (2)step left foot in front of right foot,
(3)step back on right foot.

Charleston steps - there are two ways to do them!

(4 counts) (1)touch right toe forward, (2)step right foot next to left, (3)touch left toe back, (4)step left foot next to right
 
(4 counts) (1)step right forward, (2)kick left forward, (3)step left back, (4)touch right back.

Monterey Turn

(4 counts) touch right toe to right side, on ball of left foot make 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 turn over your right shoulder and step onto your right foot, touch left toe out to the side, step left foot next to right. Also done leading with left foot.

Rocking Chair

(4 counts) (1)rock forward on right foot, (2)recover on left foot, (3)rock back on right, (4)recover on left foot.

V step

(4 counts) (1)step right foot out to right diagonal, (2)step left foot put to left diagonal, (3)step right foot back to centre, (4)step left foot next to tight.

And, finally

The fun factor

Relax and enjoy - you'll make some great friends and keep fit at the same time.

Return to the Jubilee Line Dancing Page.