Extra World Line Dance Newsletter WHAT LINE DANCES SHOULD I TEACH BEGINNERS
Carol Craven
NOTE FROM ME: Peter Blaskowski posted this and I thought it was very informative. I asked if I could share it with you. I'm going to see if Stacy can add it under the LIBRARY tab on the web site for future reference. I hope you find it helpful. Peter is the owner of Kickit.to and has been compiling dances on his site for many years for dancers. He is very knowledgeable and I thought this was interesting. If you have any questions or just want to thank him, I will post his email below. Thank you, Peter, for this and what you have been doing for line dancers for many years.
What Line Dances Should I Teach To Beginners?
In trying to answer that question, I went searching for a short list of what to teach Ultra Beginner dancers.
I found that other put together lists based on 2- to 4-count patterns. e.g., "I want a dance with a shuffle forward" (2 counts), or "..a vine.." (3 counts), or "..a pair of toe struts.." (4 counts)
Rather than focus on tiny patterns, I searched all Ultra Beginner dances to find the 8-count patterns that appeared most frequently. I then found a set of 10 dances that covered all the patterns at the top of the list.
Ultra-Beginner Dances
The top 25 8-count patterns found in Ultra Beginner dances are:
1. VINE, VINE
2. VINE, VINE (WITH TURN)
3. FORWARD X3, BACK X3
4. STROLL, STROLL
5. K-STEP
6. SIDE-TOUCH X2, VINE
7. RUMBA BOX SIDE & FORWARD (QQS)
8. TOUCH-TOGETHER X4
9. BACK X3, BACK X3
10. RUMBA BOX SIDE & BACK (QQS)
11. ROCKING CHAIR X2
12. TOE STRUT FORWARD (X4)
13. MAMBO SIDE, HOLD, MAMBO SIDE, HOLD
14. VINE, SIDE-TOUCH X2
15. FORWARD-TOUCH X2, BACK-TOUCH X2
16. SLOW STEP 1/4 TURN (X2)
17. SIDE-TOUCH X4
18. FORWARD-TOUCH X4
19. TOE STRUT BACK (X4)
20. CHARLESTON X2
21. TOUCH-TOUCH-TOUCH-TOGETHER, TOUCH-TOUCH-TOUCH-TOGETHER
22. TOE STRUT FORWARD (X2), ROCKING CHAIR
23. HEEL STRUT FORWARD (X4)
24. ROCKING CHAIR, STEP 1/4 TURN, STEP 1/4 TURN
25. V-STEP
These 25 patterns appear over 1700 times in the Ultra Beginner dances found at Kickit.
To teach these common patterns (and more), you can use the following 10 dances, in any order.
I believe that a dancer who learns these 10 dances is ready to progress to Beginner dances.
Take Me Home by Laura Kampschroeder
FORWARD X3, BACK X3
VINE, VINE (WITH TURN)
VINE, VINE
Blame It On Your Heart by Yvonne Krause-Schenck
K-STEP
TOUCH-TOGETHER X4
STROLL, STROLL
SLOW JAZZ BOX STEP WITH 1/4 TURN
Good Time Friends by Pat Newell
TOE STRUT FORWARD (X4)
SIDE-TOUCH X2, VINE
ROCKING CHAIR X2
FORWARD X3, BACK X3
STEP 1/4 TURN, STEP 1/4 TURN, JAZZ BOX STEP
Ireland's Call by Russell Breslauer
RUMBA BOX SIDE & FORWARD (QQS)
RUMBA BOX SIDE & BACK (QQS)
SCISSOR, SCISSOR
MAMBO FORWARD, HOLD, MAMBO BACK, HOLD
If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body by Marla Brandon
FORWARD X3, CHARLESTON
BACK X3, CHARLESTON
VINE, SIDE-TOUCH X2
STROLL, STROLL
BACK X3, BACK X3
STEP 1/8 TURN, STEP 1/8 TURN, STEP 1/8 TURN, STEP 1/8 TURN
SIDE, DRAG, TOUCH TOGETHER, SIDE, DRAG, TOUCH TOGETHER
Never Stop Falling In Love Rumba EZ by Helaine Norman
SIDE-TOGETHER, FORWARD, HOLD, SIDE, TOGETHER, FORWARD, HOLD
SIDE-TOGETHER-BACK, HOLD, SIDE-TOGETHER-BACK, HOLD
MAMBO SIDE, HOLD, MAMBO SIDE, HOLD
STEP 1/4 TURN, TOGETHER, HIP X3
Nimby EZ by Micaela Svensson Erlandsson
SWIVEL HEELS-TOES-HEELS RIGHT, CLAP, SWIVEL HEELS-TOES-HEELS LEFT, CLAP
TOE STRUT FORWARD (X2), ROCKING CHAIR
SLOW STEP 1/4 TURN (X2)
VINE, VINE
Cup Cake Dance by Monica Varnell
HEEL STRUT FORWARD (X4)
TOUCH, HOOK, TOUCH, TOGETHER, TOUCH, HOOK, TOUCH, TOGETHER
TOE STRUT BACK (X4)
VINE, VINE
Swing Time Learner by Amber Blavin
FORWARD X8
SIDE-TOUCH X4
BACK X8
CHARLESTON X2
She Is Not You by Jen Shepherd
FORWARD X3, BACK X3
FORWARD-TOUCH X2, BACK-TOUCH X2
VINE, VINE
TOUCH-TOUCH-TOUCH-TOGETHER, TOUCH-TOUCH-TOUCH-TOGETHER
Beginner Dances
I then repeated the process for Beginner dances. Not counting the patterns taught in the 10 dances shown above, the top 24 8-count patterns found in Beginner dances are:
1. LINDY, LINDY
2. ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ BACK, ROCK BACK, CHASSÉ FORWARD
3. ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ SIDE, ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ SIDE
4. ROCK SIDE, CROSSING CHASSÉ (X2)
5. JAZZ BOX STEP WITH 1/4 TURN X2
6. FORWARD TOGETHER, CHASSÉ FORWARD, FORWARD TOGETHER, CHASSÉ FORWARD
7. CHASSÉ FORWARD, ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ BACK, ROCK BACK
8. ROCK FORWARD, TRIPLE IN PLACE, ROCK FORWARD, COASTER STEP
9. MONTEREY 1/4 TURN, MONTEREY 1/4 TURN
10. ROCKING CHAIR, STEP 1/4 TURN, STEP 1/4 TURN
11. SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ FORWARD, SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ BACK
12. TOUCH-TOUCH, TRIPLE IN PLACE, TOUCH-TOUCH, TRIPLE IN PLACE
13. ROCK SIDE, BEHIND-SIDE-CROSS, ROCK SIDE, BEHIND-SIDE-CROSS
14. STEP 1/2 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD, STEP 1/2 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD
15. ROCK SIDE, TRIPLE IN PLACE, ROCK SIDE, TRIPLE IN PLACE
16. CHASSÉ FORWARD X4
17. ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ BACK TURNING 1/2, ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ BACK TURNING 1/2
18. CHASSÉ FORWARD, STEP 1/2 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD, STEP 1/2 TURN
19. SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ SIDE (X2)
20. ROCK FORWARD, TRIPLE IN PLACE (X2)
21. MAMBO CROSS, MAMBO CROSS
22. CROSS-TOUCH-CROSS-TOUCH, JAZZ BOX STEP WITH 1/4 TURN
23. JAZZ BOX STEP, JAZZ BOX STEP WITH 1/4 TURN
24. SIDE-TOUCH X2
These 24 patterns appear over 3900 times in the Beginner dances found at Kickit.
To teach these common patterns (and more), you can use the following 20 dances, in any order.
I believe that a dancer who learns these 20 dances is ready to progress to Low Intermediate dances.
From Grassland To Beijing by BM Leong
ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ BACK, ROCK BACK, CHASSÉ FORWARD
ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ SIDE, ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ SIDE
STEP 1/4 TURN, CROSSING CHASSÉ, ROCK SIDE, CROSSING CHASSÉ
LINDY, LINDY
Take That by Rita Masur
LINDY, LINDY
ROCK FORWARD, TRIPLE IN PLACE (X2)
STEP 1/2 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD, STEP 1/2 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD
ROCK STEP COASTER STEP, ROCK STEP COASTER STEP
ROCKING CHAIR, JAZZ BOX STEP WITH 1/4 TURN
ROCK SIDE, CROSSING CHASSÉ (X2)
ROCK FORWARD, TRIPLE IN PLACE, ROCK FORWARD, COASTER STEP
TOUCH-TOUCH, HEEL BALL TOUCH (X2)
Saddle Up by Diana Bishop
SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ FORWARD, SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ BACK
TOUCH-TOUCH, CHASSÉ FORWARD (X2)
MONTEREY 1/4 TURN, MONTEREY 1/4 TURN
TOUCH-TOUCH, TRIPLE IN PLACE, TOUCH-TOUCH, TRIPLE IN PLACE
Daddy's Hands by Sue Webb
TOUCH-TOUCH, TRIPLE IN PLACE, TOUCH-TOUCH, COASTER STEP
FORWARD TOGETHER, CHASSÉ FORWARD, FORWARD TOGETHER, CHASSÉ FORWARD
JAZZ BOX STEP WITH 1/4 TURN X2
Let's Groove by Anne Herd
FORWARD-TOUCH X4
ROCKING CHAIR, STEP 1/4 TURN, STEP 1/4 TURN
WEAVE FOR 3 & TOUCH, WEAVE FOR 3 & TOUCH
CROSS-TOUCH-CROSS-TOUCH, JAZZ BOX STEP WITH 1/4 TURN
Brokenhearted by Nancy Rosera
WEAVE, LINDY
CHASSÉ FORWARD, STEP 1/2 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD, STEP 1/2 TURN
JAZZ BOX STEP, JAZZ BOX STEP WITH 1/4 TURN
ROCKING CHAIR
Sweet Wonderful You by Sue Ann Ehmann
CHASSÉ FORWARD, ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ BACK, ROCK BACK
FORWARD-TOUCH SIDE (X4)
ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ BACK TURNING 1/2, ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ BACK TURNING 1/2
FORWARD-TOUCH, BACK-TOUCH, TURN 1/4 RIGHT, FORWARD-TOUCH-BACK-TOUCH
Love To See You Tonight by Rene And Reg Mileham
ROCK FORWARD TRIPLE IN PLACE, ROCK BACK TRIPLE IN PLACE
ROCK SIDE, TRIPLE IN PLACE, ROCK SIDE, TRIPLE IN PLACE
TURNING SAILOR, TURNING TRIPLE, TURNING SAILOR, CROSS/ROCK CROSS
ROCK SIDE, BEHIND-SIDE-CROSS, ROCK SIDE, BEHIND-SIDE-CROSS
Hey Little Devil by Lorraine Macmillan
FORWARD X3, FORWARD X3
BACK X3, TOUCH, BACK X3, TOUCH
MAMBO CROSS, MAMBO CROSS
MAMBO STEPS FORWARD AND BACK (PROGRESSIVE)
VINE, VINE
CHASE TURN X2
K-STEP
STEP 1/4 TURN (X2), ROCKING CHAIR
A Rose Of The Night by SoonYoung-Bae
LINDY, TURN 1/4, LINDY
CHASSÉ FORWARD X4
ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ BACK TURNING 1/2, ROCK STEP, COASTER STEP
STEP 1/4 TURN, STEP 1/4 TURN, JAZZ BOX STEP
SIDE-TOUCH X2
Space Cowboy by Levi J. Hubbard
CHASSÉ FORWARD, STEP 1/2 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD, STEP 1/4 TURN
KICK-KICK-TRIPLE IN PLACE, KICK-KICK-TRIPLE IN PLACE
LINDY, LINDY
MONTEREY 1/2 TURN, MONTEREY 1/2 TURN
A Kiss To Build A Dream On by Annette Lapp
FORWARD X2, CHASSÉ FORWARD, FORWARD X2, CHASSÉ FORWARD
WEAVE, SIDE-TOUCH X2
ROCKING CHAIR, STEP 1/8 TURN, STEP 1/8 TURN
V-STEP
River Bank by Maryloo
ROCK FORWARD, TRIPLE IN PLACE (X2)
ROCK BACK TRIPLE IN PLACE, ROCK BACK TRIPLE IN PLACE
STEP 1/2 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD, STEP 1/2 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD
SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ SIDE (X2)
CHASSÉ FORWARD X2, BACK X4
STEP 1/4 TURN, STEP 1/4 TURN, STEP 1/4 TURN, STEP 1/4 TURN
Change My Ways Beginner by Fran Lineweaver
ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ SIDE, ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ SIDE 1/4 TURN
SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ FORWARD, SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ FORWARD
ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ BACK TURNING 1/2, JAZZ BOX TOUCH
ROCK SIDE, CROSSING CHASSÉ (X2)
BACK 1/4 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD, ROCK STEP, COASTER STEP
SIDE-TOUCH X2, CHASSÉ FORWARD X2
Rock The Clock by John Dembiec
WEAVE, MAMBO CROSS
WEAVE, SIDE 1/4 TURN, FORWARD, HOLD
ROCKING CHAIR, STEP 1/2 TURN (X2)
ROCK FORWARD, STEP BRUSH, ROCK FORWARD, STEP TOGETHER
SWIVEL HEELS-TOES-HEELS RIGHT, HOLD, SWIVEL HEELS-TOES-HEELS LEFT, HOLD
MONTEREY 1/4 TURN, FORWARD X4
Spanish Eyes by DJ Country Cowboy Stafke Peeters
ROCK FORWARD, CHASSE BACK TURNING 1/2, CHASSÉ FORWARD TURNING 1/2, ROCK BACK
SKATE-SKATE, CHASSÉ FORWARD, SKATE-SKATE, CHASSÉ FORWARD
SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ SIDE, ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ SIDE
CROSS ROCK RECOVER CHASSÉ SIDE 1/4 TURN, STEP 1/2 TURN CHASSÉ FORWARD
Every Hour, Every Day by Lee Lark
HOLD
VINE, VINE
ROCKING CHAIR, STEP 1/2 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD
CHASSÉ FORWARD, ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ BACK TURNING 1/2, CHASSÉ FORWARD
VINE, VINE (WITH TURN)
JAZZ BOX STEP, JAZZ BOX STEP
Locomotion by Ju-Hyun Oh
FORWARD X3, BACK, BACK, COASTER STEP
STROLL, STEP 1/4 TURN X2
WEAVE, LINDY
VINE (WITH TURN), ROCKING CHAIR
CROSS-TOUCH-CROSS-TOUCH, JAZZ BOX STEP
Turn On The Radio by Laura Kampschroeder
CHASSÉ FORWARD X2, CHASSÉ BACK X2
VINE, VINE (WITH TURN)
FORWARD, PIVOT TURN X2, TOUCH, VINE (WITH TURNS)
CHASSÉ FORWARD X4
HIP X8
SIDE-TOUCH X2, ROCK STEP, STOMP STOMP
People Go Places by Linda O'Farrell
KICK-KICK-TRIPLE IN PLACE, KICK-KICK-COASTER STEP
STEP 1/4 TURN, CHASSÉ FORWARD, ROCK STEP COASTER STEP
SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ SIDE, ROCK FORWARD, CHASSÉ SIDE 1/4 TURN
SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ BACK, SIDE-TOGETHER, CHASSÉ FORWARD