How Line Dancing Became Popular in Country Music
How did line dancing become such a popular activity in country music? We explore the history and explore how it has become such an iconic part of the genre.
Origins of Line Dancing
Line dancing is a style of dance where people dance in lines or rows, often to country music. It became popular in the 1970s with a dance called the Hustle, and really took off in the 1990s with a dance called the Macarena.
Early forms of line dancing
Line dancing is a type of dance in which a group of people dance in lines or rows, usually to music. Line dances have been around for centuries, with some early forms being seen in ancient folk dances. Unlike partner dances, line dancers are free to choose their own partners, and there is no need for dancers to touch or be close to each other. This makes line dancing an ideal activity for groups of friends or strangers who want to dance together.
The first recorded instance of line dancing was in 1651, when English diarist Samuel Pepys wrote about watching a country dance in which the dancers lined up and executed the same steps. Line dancing became popular in the United States in the early 1800s, when settlers began to move westward and mix with other cultures. One of the most popular early American line dances was the Virginia Reel, which was often danced at square dances and country balls. Line dancing became particularly popular in country music clubs in the 1970s, when disco was at its height and many people were looking for an alternative to this style of dancing.
The rise of country line dancing
The history of line dancing is a long and winding one, with its origins reaching back into the Folk Dance movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Line dancing first became popular in country music circles in the 1970s, when country artists began incorporating elements of folk and square dancing into their live performances. The precise origins of line dancing are difficult to pinpoint, but its popularity exploded in the 1980s with the release of a number of country hits that featured line dancing, including the 1985 song “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock” by band Alabama.
Line dancing became so popular in country music that it eventually spread to other genres, including pop and rock. In recent years, line dancing has experienced something of a resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, there’s no better way to enjoy your favorite songs than by busting out some danced-up moves!
Popularity of Line Dancing
Line dancing is a very popular activity at country music concerts. How did this come to be? It started in the 1970s with a dance called the hustle. This dance became very popular in nightclubs across the United States. As country music became more popular, people began to line dance to this type of music as well.
The popularity of line dancing in country music
While country music has always been popular in the United States, line dancing became a mainstay in the genre in the 1990s. According to Billboard, country line dances began growing in popularity in 1992 with the release of the song “(If You’re Not in It for Love) I’m Outta Here!” by Shania Twain. The song’s music video featured a group of people line dancing, and it wasn’t long before line dancing became a regular feature at country music festivals and clubs.
Today, there are dozens of popular line dances, from the “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” to the “Electric Slide.” Many of these dances are easy to learn and can be done with a partner or in a group. Line dancing is a great way to get active and enjoy country music at the same time!
The popularity of line dancing in other genres
Even though line dancing originated in country music, it has become popular in other genres as well. In the late 1990s, line dancing became popular in hip hop music. This can be seen in the music video for the song “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot. In the video, people are line dancing to the song.
Line dancing has also become popular in pop music. In the early 2000s, Britney Spears released a song called “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” which featured a line dance in the music video. The dance became so popular that people were line dancing to the song at clubs and parties.
Line dancing is not just limited to country and pop music. Line dances have been featured in movies such as “The Breakfast Club” and “Save the Last Dance”. In these movies, characters are shown line dancing to songs from different genres of music such as rock and roll and hip hop.
How Line Dancing Became Popular
Line dancing is a type of dance in which people line up in rows and dance together. It is often done to country music, but can also be done to other genres of music. Line dancing became popular in country music in the late 1970s.
The influence of television
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, country music artists began appearing on a number of popular television shows, including “The Tonight Show,” “Saturday Night Live” and “The Dukes of Hazzard.” This exposure helped to increase the popularity of country music, and it also helped to popularize one of its most iconic dances: line dancing.
Line dancing became especially popular thanks to a number of popular songs that featured the dance, such as The Electric Slide, The Cha-Cha Slide and The Macarena. As people across the country heard these songs on the radio or saw them performed on television, they were inspired to try line dancing for themselves.
Today, line dancing is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds, and it remains one of the most recognizable and distinctive elements of country music culture.
The influence of movies
It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment when line dancing became popular, but many people trace its origins back to the film Urban Cowboy. Released in 1980, the movie starred John Travolta as a rodeo cowboy who moves to Houston to work in the oil industry. While there, he meets and falls in love with a country girl (played by Debra Winger). The film featured several line dances, including the infamous “Electric Slide,” which helped to sparked a national craze for country music and dance.
Other films, such as The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and Footloose (1984), also featured popular line dances that further boosted the popularity of this type of dancing. Today, line dancing is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds, and it remains a staple of country music culture.
The influence of the internet
The internet has been a huge factor in the popularity of line dancing. YouTube and other social media platforms have given people around the world easy access to videos of people line dancing to popular songs. This has allowed people to learn the dances and share them with others.
There are now many line dance clubs and groups that meet regularly to dance together. The popularity of line dancing has also led to competitions and festivals being held around the world.
