Country Dance: Country Two Step and Line Dancing

Country Western Dancing as a style was created from all the various traditions of people that immigrated and settled in the U.S. including the Irish, French, English, and other folk dances from the old country. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s Country Dancing started making more noise and getting more recognition than before.

Country Dance has become a very popular dance style that we love to teach here at the Bella Ballroom Dance Studio. A lot of clients are curious about the many different styles of Country dancing that can be danced with a partner, solo, or in a group set up.

Styles of Country Western Dance

• Country Two Step is a popular social dance known as a traveling dance that combines turns and complex patterns. There are fun improvisations around the dance floor.
• Triple Step Style: a triple step is when three steps are done within two beats of music. The dance style of triple step entails two triple steps followed by two normal, slow steps that traveling around the perimeter of the dance floor.
• Cowboy Cha Cha is danced side-by-side when done with a partner. It incorporates a triple step both forwards and backwards as well as well as numerous turns.
• Polka is fast paced and moves around the room dramatically with small hops. It is high energy with quick steps and a hope, involving a lot of turns.
• Schottische is sometimes described as a slower version of Polka with a slight variation in the hop. Similar to Polka this dance is done side-by-side with a partner.
• Country Swing is one of the more popular country dances and is relatively easy to learn. Just like traditional swing dance this basic step involves a rock step done in one place with no traveling. Country Swing involves many quick turns and twists making it a high energy dance.
• East Coast & West Coast Swing: both styles of swing are enjoyable and involve similar basic steps. The East Coast Swing involves more traveling and energetic twists. It is typically faster in pace. While the West Coast Swing is seen as slower with smoother movements.
• Nightclub Two Step is a great alternative for dancers who want to go beyond a simple slow dance with their partner. The foundational dance steps of the nightclub two step include the rock step basic and then turns and other romantic moves can be added.
• And here are related styles that can be done either solo or in a group: Line Dancing, Square Dance and Clogging.

Country Songs to Dance to:

• “Friends in Low Places” Garth Brooks
• “Jolene” Dolly Parton
• “God’s Country” Blake Shelton
• “Meant to Be” Bebe Rexha
• “I Hope You Dance” Lee Ann Womack
• “Miss me more” Kelsea Ballerini
• “I Walk the Line” Johnny Cash
• “This is It” Scotty McCreery
• “Beer Never Broke my Heart” Luke Combs