Line dancing is a form of formation dancing with roots in traditional folk dancing. It has been more closely associated with country and western music since the latter half of the twentieth century, though there are examples of group dance in pop music as well. Many country music venues host line dances for their patrons on a regular basis, with all patrons welcome to join in.
The fundamentals of line dancing are very straightforward. If the number of people and the amount of floor space require it, participants should stand in a single line or a series of parallel lines. The dancers will perform the same moves at the same time while moving without touching one another. Even though there is no physical interaction between the participants, the dance has a strong sense of unity.
The movement is normally queued off of what is referred to as the count. In most cases, one count equals one musical beat. At each beat, there are movements. While the fundamentals of line dancing focus on foot and leg movements, more advanced dance routines may also include hand movements and even facial expressions as part of the overall effect.
The concept of line dancing began to take hold in other genres during the 1960s and 1970s, and is often associated with folk music and dancing around the world. Country music was the first to embrace the style, and many of today’s most popular line dances are still based on it. However, this style of dancing has been used in pop music on occasion. While many musicologists associate line dancing with the late 1970s and early 1980s disco era, others point out that line dances like the Hustle were popular as early as 1974.
Today, line dancing is compatible with a wide range of musical genres. It can be used with folk, country, and pop music, as well as swing, big band, and Celtic music. Because of the symmetry and graceful movements that are frequently used in dancing, almost anyone can enjoy it.