THE LINE & COUNTRY & WESTERN DANCE & MUSIC FAQ

12.0 ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

12.1 Are There Any Specific Christmas Dances?

		      SANTA SLIDE Line Dance

NAME: Santa Slide
DESCRIPTION: 4 Wall Line Dance
COUNTS: 64
LEVEL: Beginner
CHOREOGRAPHER: Janice Guerrero, Redondo Beach, CA
MUSIC:    Mrs. Santa Claus - Paulette Carlson
	  Santa Claus Boogie - Tractors
NOTE: On steps 1-8 & 17-24, you can do standard grapevines if it is 
more comfortable.

GRAPEVINES (VARIATION):
 1-2       Step right foot to right, heel first, elbows up.  
	   Step left foot across right in front.
 3-4       Step right foot to right.  Hitch left foot.
 5-6       Step left foot to left, heel first, elbows up.  
	   Step right foot across left in front.
 7-8       Step left foot to left.  Hitch right foot.

HITCHES:
 9-10      Facing front, step forward on right.  
	   Hitch left (with left knee hitch, hop on right foot).
 11-12     Step forward on left.  
	   Hitch right (with right knee high, hop on left foot).
 13-14     Step forward on right.  Hitch left.
 15-16     Step forward on left.  Hitch right.

GRAPEVINES (VARIATION):
 17-18     Step right foot to right, heel first, elbows up.  
	   Step left foot across right in front.
 19-20     Step right foot to right.  Hitch left foot.
 21-22     Step left foot to left, heel first, elbows up.  
	   Step right foot across left in front.
 23-24     Step left foot to left.  Hitch right foot.

HITCHES WITH FULL TURN
 25-26     Step right in place.  Hitch left, turn 1/4 turn to right.
 27-28     Step left in place.  Hitch right, turn 1/4 turn to right.
 29-30     Step right in place.  Hitch left, turn 1/4 turn to right.
 31-32     Step left in place.  Hitch right, turn 1/4 turn to right.

SKIPS     KEEP ELBOWS HIGH AND SWINGING WITH EACH SKIP:
 33-34     Skip forward on right foot.  Skip forward on left foot.
 35-36     Skip forward on right foot.  Skip forward on left foot.
 37-38     Skip back on right foot.  Skip back on left foot.
 39-40     Skip back on right foot.  Skip back on left foot.

SHIMMIES  SHAKE SHOULDERS AND BODY
 - THINK OF SANTA WORKING HIS WAY DOWN THE CHIMNEY!:
 41-48     Shimmy down.  Shimmy up.  Shimmy down.  Shimmy up.

SLIDES (LIKE THE ELECTRIC SLIDE):
 49-52     Slide to left.  Slide to left.  Slide to left.  Stomp right 
	   foot.
 53-56     Slide to right.  Slide to right.  Slide to right.  Stomp 
	   left foot.

MORE SHIMMIES:
 57-60     Shimmy down.  Shimmy up.
 61-64     Shimmy down.  Shimmy up, make 1/4 turn to left during last 
	   shimmy.

Begin Again!

		  WINTER WONDERLAND Line Dance

NAME: Winter Wonderland
TYPE: 4 Wall Line 
COUNTS: 48
MUSIC: Winter Wonderland - Merle Haggard
       Bobby Wants A Puppy For Christmas - Merle Haggard
CHOREOGRAPHER: Knox Rhine 10/95  (206) 252-7921
	       1002 51st Patty Loveless SW
	       Everett, WA 98203-3004
DIFFICULTY: Advanced Beginner 

COUNTS / STEP DESCRIPTIONS

RIGHT HEEL, TOGETHER, SIDE, TOGETHER:
 1.       Touch RIGHT heel forward  
 2.       Touch RIGHT toe next to left foot
 3.       Touch RIGHT toe to right side
 4.       Place RIGHT foot next to left foot     
 
LEFT HEEL, TOGETHER, SIDE, TOUCH:
 5.       Touch LEFT heel forward   
 6.       Touch LEFT toe next to right foot
 7.       Touch LEFT toe to left side
 8.       Touch LEFT foot next to right foot
 
LEFT HEEL, HOOK, HEEL, TOUCH:
 9.       Touch LEFT heel forward  
 10.      Hook LEFT heel across right leg
 11.      Touch LEFT heel forward  
 12.      Touch LEFT toe next to right foot
 
LEFT SIDE, BEHIND, SIDE, TOGETHER:
 13.      Touch LEFT toe to left side
 14.      Slide LEFT toe across behind right leg
 15.      Touch LEFT toe to left side
 16.      Place LEFT foot next to right foot                  
 
RIGHT HEEL, HOOK, HEEL, TOUCH:
 17.      Touch RIGHT heel forward  
 18.      Hook RIGHT heel across left leg
 19.      Touch RIGHT heel forward  
 20.      Touch RIGHT toe next to left foot
 
RIGHT SIDE, BEHIND, SIDE, TOUCH:
 21.      Touch RIGHT toe to right side
 22.      Slide RIGHT toe across behind left leg
 23.      Touch RIGHT toe to right side
 24.      Touch RIGHT toe next to left foot
 
STEP, SKATE, STEP, SKATE:
 25.      Step forward-right with RIGHT foot              
 26.      Reverse scuff LEFT toe up-behind right foot 
	  (skate left)
 27.      Step forward-left with LEFT foot
 28.      Reverse scuff RIGHT toe up-behind left foot 
	  (skate right)
 
STEP, SKATE, STEP, SKATE:
 29.      Step forward-right with RIGHT foot              
 30.      Reverse scuff LEFT toe up-behind right foot    
	  (skate left)
 31.      Step forward-left with LEFT foot
 32.      Reverse scuff RIGHT toe up-behind left foot 
	  (skate right)
 
TOUCH, PIVOT, STEP, SLIDE:
 33.      Step forward with RIGHT foot
 34.      Pivot 1/2 turn to the left
 35.      Step forward with RIGHT foot
 36.      Slide LEFT foot up behind right leg
 
STEP, TOUCH, PIVOT, STEP:
 37.      Step forward with RIGHT foot
 38.      Step forward with LEFT foot
 39.      Pivot 1/2 turn to the right
 40.      Step forward with LEFT foot
 
SLIDE, STEP, SCUFF & TURN:
 41.      Slide RIGHT foot up behind left leg
 42.      Step forward with LEFT foot
 43.      Scuff RIGHT toe forward
 &.       Step in place with RIGHT toe &
	  lift left foot slightly
 44.      Turn 1/4 turn to the left and step in place with 
	  LEFT foot

RIGHT SIDE, TOGETHER, SWIVEL, CENTER:
 45.      Touch RIGHT toe to right side
 46.      Place RIGHT foot next to left foot, 
	  weight on toes
 47.      Swivel both heel to the left
 48.      Swivel both heel to center, weight to left foot

REPEAT      
Keep On Dancin'
Knox Rhine
1002 51st Pl SW
Everett, WA, USA
TEL: (206)252-7921
FAX: (206)252-0769
E-Mail: linedncr@premier1.net

Other Christmas Dances:

CJ Shuffle..........Lighten Up, It's Christmas - Geesinslaws (Perform)
Counts: 24..........Santa Claus Is Coming - Tractors
Dance: 4 Wall Line..There Goes My Heart - Mavericks
Level: Beginner
Choreog: Jane Newhard (814) 838-9101
Featured In: CDL Issue 9 1995

Jingle Bell Rock.....Jingle Bell Rock By Chet Atkins/Various Artists
Counts: 32................Jingle Bell Rock - Mickey Gilley
Dance: 4 Wall
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Choreographer: Louise Hodson
Note: Right foot lead - 16 count intro after the vocals
Click Here For Step Sheet

Jingle Bell Rock.....Jingle Bell Rock - Lynn Anderson
Counts: 32.................Jingle Bell Rockin' - Bobby Helms
Dance: Couples/Mixer.......Rock 'n' Roll Angel - Kentucky Headhunters
Levl: Beginner.............Redneck Girl - Bellamy Brothers
BPM: 128
Choreographer: Unknown
Click Here For Step Sheet

Jingle My Bells......Jingle My Bells - The Tractors
Counts: 32
Dance: 4 Wall Line
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Choreog: Peter Fielding (1996)
Featured In: Linedancer Magazine (UK) Issue 7 12/96

A Honky Tonk Christmas.....A Honky Tonk Christmas- Mickey Gilley (1)
Counts: 244
Dance: 1 Wall Line
Level: Advanced
Choreog: Louise Hodson
Albums: (1) Christmas At Gilleys
Note: Right Foot Lead
Click Here For Step Sheet

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer......Rudolph - Gene Autry (*)
Counts: 64
Dance: 1 Wall Line
Level: Intermediate
Choreographer: Bentley Cromwell 1994
Note: (*) Gene Autry is only one of many artists who have performed this song. Other artists include Dean Martin.
Click Here For Step Sheet

Santa Claus Boogie......Santa Claus Is Comin To Town- Tractors
Counts: 32
Steps: 32
Dance: 2 Wall Line
Level: Beginner
BPM: 159
Choreog: Kane, North Pole, AK.
Featured In: Step By Step Magazine Vol II No.9 (December 1996)

Santa Claus Boogie......Santa Claus Boogie - The Tractors
Counts: 60
Dance: 4 Wall Line
Level: Intermediate
Choreog: Bryan McWherter
Featured In: Linedancer Magazine (UK) Issue 7 12/96

Star, The......Santa Claus Boogie - The Tractors
Counts: 24
Dance: 4 Wall Line
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
BPM: 164
Choreog: JanGeelen 1995 (Holland)
Call for Info: 31 - 30 - 2898726


12.1a Are There Any Christmas Songs/Albums By C&W Artists?

Songs By C&W Artists

A Honky Tonk Christmas- Mickey Gilley
Bobby Wants A Puppy For Christmas - Merle Haggard
Christmas Is My Favourite Time Of Year - Kenny Rogers
Cowboy's Christmas - Wayne Newton
Frosty The Snowman - Loretta Lynn
Goin' Home for Christmas - Merle Haggard
I'll Be Home For Christmas - Ronnie Milsap
Jingle Bell Rock - Chet Atkins
Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Charley Pride
Mary's Boy Child - Jim Reeves
Mrs Santa Claus - Paulette Carlson
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Jim Reeves
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
Santa Claus Boogie - Tractors
Sleigh Ride - Dolly Parton
White Christmas - Dolly Parton
Winter Wonderland - Merle Haggard

Other Christmas Songs

Make Someone Happy - Jimmy Durante (Reprise/WEA)

ALBUMS

The Christmas Country Collection - 16 Christmas Tracks By C&W Artists. Includes Tracks By: Jim Reeves, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, Ronnie Milsap, Alabama, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn & Freddy Fender.

A Cajun Christmas - 25 Tracks By Various Artists - Tracks Include: Cajun Christmas, Christmas In Cajun Land, It's Christmas Time In Louisiana, Cette Veille De Christmas, Bonne Annee, White Christmas & Blue Christmas.

Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits 1935-1954 (Rhino) - Various Artists - Tracks Include: White Christmas (B.Crosby), Let It Snow (V. Monroe), Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (G. Autry), Christmas Song (Nat King Cole), All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth (S. Jones), I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Christmas Island (Andrews/Lombardo), Silent Night, Here Comes Santa Claus (G. Autry), Santa Baby (E.Kitt).

Christmas Again - The Oak Ridge Boys (MCA 1986) - Tracks Include: When You Give It Away, Voices of Rejoicing, First Christmas Day, There's a New Kid in Town, First Christmas Gift, King is Born, Christmas Again, Santa Bring Your Elves, That's What I Like About Christmas & It's Christmas Time Once Again.

Giant Country Christmas Vol. 1 - Various Artists (Giant 1994) - Tracks Include: Rockin' Little Christmas (Carlene Carter), The Working Elf Blues (Daron Norwood), Santa's On Vacation (Dennis Robbins).

Goin' Home for Christmas - Merle Haggard (EPIC 1978). Tracks Include: Goin' Home For Christmas, Grandma's Homemade Christmas Card, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Santa Claus and Popcorn, Daddy Won't Be Home Again for Christmas, If We Make It Through December, Bobby Wants a Puppy for Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Blue Christmas & Lonely Night.

The Gift - Kenny Rogers - (Magnatone 1996 MGT 108-2) Tracks Include: Mary Did You Know, A Soldier's King, Pretty Little Baby Child, What A Wonderful Beginning, It's The Messiah, I Trust You, Sweet Little Jesus Boy, The Chosen One Montage & Til' The Season Comes 'Round Again. Other albums include "A Kenny Rogers Christmas", "Once Upon a Christmas" (Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton) and "Christmas In America" (Kenny Rogers).

OTHER ALBUMS

| Alabama Chistmas (Alabama) | Christmas, Volume II - Alabama (RCA 66927-2) |
| Christmas Time (John Anderson) | East Tennessee Christmas (Chet Atkins) |
| His Christmas Album (Gene Autry) | O Holy Night (John Berry) |
| Looking For Christmas (Clint Black) | Beyond the Season (Garth Brooks) |
| Christmas With Glen Campbell | Christmas For You (Paulette Carlson) |
| Personal Christmas Collection (Johnny Cash) | A Brenda Lee Christmas |
| Rocky Mountain Christmas (John Denver) | Mr. Christmas (Joe Diffie) |
| Christmas Tradition (Various Artists) | Christmas Time With the Judds |
| Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (Elmo & Patsy) | Good News (Kathy Mattea) |
| Let There Be Peace on Earth (Vince Gill) | Christmas Wishes (Anne Murray) |
| Poncho, Lefty and Rudolph (Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard) |
| Honky Tonk Christmas (Alan Jackson) | Christmas to Christmas (Toby Keith) |
| Christmas Time's a Comin' (Sammy Kershaw) | Cowboy Christmas (Michael Martin Murphy) |
| Christmas With Willie Nelson | Country Christmas Eve (Oak Ridge Boys) |
| Home For Christmas (Dolly Parton) | Elvis' Christmas Album (Elvis Presley) |
| Christmas, the Gift - Collin Raye (EPIC EK 067751) | Christmas Card (Statler Brothers) |
| Have Yourself a Tractors Christmas | An Old Time Christmas (Randy Travis) |
| Loving Time of Year (Travis Tritt) | All I Want For Christmas Is You (V. Vance & the Valiants) |
| Christmas Memories (Steve Wariner) | The Sweetest Gift (Trisha Yearwood) |
| Shenandoah Christmas - Shenandoah (Capitol 8-52169-2) |
| Christmas Island - Jimmy Buffett (Margaritaville MCAD-11489) |

PLEASE NOTE: Nearly every major C&W Artist has released a "Christmas" album and there are simply far too many to list here. Some albums may now be unavailable indeed some albums may never have made it outside of North America. I would therefore suggest that you utilise CD Vendors with a WWW presence as they will be far better placed than I to offer advice and information in this area.

Alternatively you could purchase "The Christmas Book". The fourth volume in the Encyclopedia of Country Dance series of reference books for Country Dance Instructors and Country DJs ....

THE CHRISTMAS BOOK icludes the following information:

  1. The Song Book - Song, Artist, Songwriter, Album/CD, Year Recorded, Intro Time, Playing Time, BPM and Dance Cross References
  2. The Dance Book - All the Line Dances, Partner Dances, and Couple Dances, in alphabetical order, with the Songs that can be best used for them, with the Artist, Album/CD, and BPM
  3. The CD Reference Book - Inserts for the back of your CD Jewel Case, or CD Sleeve, with the same information as the Song Book for the better dance songs.

Price: Only $24.95 (postage paid)
E-Mail: twostep@tiac.net
Website: http://www.tiac.net/users/twostep/
Address: YHSC Dance Productions, P.O. Box 167, Sudbury MA 01776, USA.
Tel: 508/562-2286


12.2 Are There Any Line Dance Games?

The Tush-Push Game

The object is to dance the Tush-Push without dropping any balloons.

You start off by placing one balloon under each arm (this keeps the person from "accidently" adjusting the balloon between the legs), and one balloon between the legs. Start off with a slow dance. Everybody must move to the dance at all times, and is not allowed to adjust the balloons (even during the song break!) To keep eliminating people, speed the song up, and add more balloons between the legs. (they can adjust the balloons at that point).

I have found that by the third dance and with two balloons between the legs, we have a winner. Joe Diffie's "Third Rock From The Sun" usually eliminates people FAST!!!!

Submitted By: Scott Watson
E-Mail:Scott.Watson@fms.sprint.com
Tel: (301) 596 2915
Kickin' Heels Kountry Dance Instructors, 7024 Copperwood Way, Columbia, MD 21046.


Other Tush Push Variations

Tush Push Kaleidoscope 1

Two circles, one in the middle facing out and the one on the outside facing in, doesn't matter which sex is where!! All up to you to create a visual effect, especially if you had different colors of shirts or costumes. Don't change anything in the way you do the tush push as far as turns go, just be careful you all don't get mixed up especially if you do this for a parade or similar event where you don't have 'walls' to square up to. I would suggest everyone spot their own temporary 'walls', that way they will know where their own new wall is. Everyone in the circle tush push needs to be doing the same version at the same time, not that you couldn't do one round of each or whatever. What a hooooot! Fun to do.

Submitted By: CATHIE

Tush Push Kaleidoscope - More Variations!

Begin with the men inside the circle facing LOD. Ladies outside the circle facing RLOD standing right hip to right hip when you bump right, bump your partner's hip

Submitted By: Don Deyne
E-Mail: drdeyne@apci.net
Website: http://www.apci.net/~drdeyne/

In Indiana it is very popular to do the Tush Push in a circle. Usually everyone starts facing into the circle, then as the dance progresses to each 1/4 turn, you will go to the side, the back and the other side. When you are going to the sides, you have to remember to keep your lines rounded to keep the circle. It is fun to do it this way and it gives an old dance a new style.

Submitted By: Pat Borowicz
Country Connection Magazine - Chicago
E-Mail: CCMChgo@aol.com

Cotton Eyed Twister & Pattycakes

Something we came up with at one off our outings was "Cotton-eyed Twister" Done in groups of eight people. All holding hands to form a circle. They danced the Cotton-eyed Joe pattern, Stomp, kick, triple step (4 times) and 8 shuffles. Only rule we had was you can't let go---unless it hurts!!! We had about 15 groups what a laugh. We let them practice to a slow version of Cotton-eyed Joe, then they competed to the Rednex version. We picked the best 3 teams and they had a dance off. We let the rest of the people decide the winners. It was fun to see all the variations they came up with.

Something else we did was turn the mixer dance Pattycake Polka into a 2 wall contra line dance. We had several long line doing the dance. I thought they were going to slap each other silly!!! They did have fun. The modified step description is outlined below.

			    PATTYCAKES

THIS IS A LINE DANCE VARIATION ADAPTED FROM THE ORIGINAL "PATTYCAKE
POLKA" MIXER         

Name: Pattycakes
Counts: 32 
Dance: 2 Wall Contra                        
Level: Beginner
As Taught By: Robert Wanstreet (Paris, France)  
Adapted by: Knox Rhine 
Dance Position: Start facing partner 
Suggested Music:  How Do- Mary Chapin Carpenter                                         
		  Amarillo- Kathy Mattea                                                      
		  Sunday Drive- Alabama                  
		  That's What I Like About You- Trisha Yearwood                                                                     

COUNTS / STEP DESCRIPTIONS


RIGHT HEEL, TOE, HEEL, TOE
 
 1      Touch RIGHT heel forward-right
 2      Touch RIGHT toe next to left foot
 3      Touch RIGHT heel forward-right
 4      Touch RIGHT toe next to left foot

RIGHT SIDE-TOGETHER-SIDE-TOGETHER-
SIDE-TOGETHER-SIDE
 
 5      Step to right side with RIGHT foot
 &      Slide LEFT foot next to right foot
 6      Step to right side with RIGHT foot
 &      Slide LEFT foot next to right foot
 7      Step to right side with RIGHT foot
 &      Slide LEFT foot next to right foot
 8      Step to right side with RIGHT foot

LEFT HEEL, TOE, HEEL, TOE
 
 9      Touch Left heel forward-left
 10     Touch Left toe next to right foot
 11     Touch LEFT heel forward-right
 12     Touch LEFT toe next to right foot

LEFT SIDE-TOGETHER-SIDE-TOGETHER-
SIDE-TOGETHER-SIDE
 
 13     Step to left side with LEFT foot
 &      Slide RIGHT foot next to left foot
 14     Step to left side with LEFT foot
 &      Slide RIGHT foot next to left foot
 15     Step to left side with LEFT foot
 &      Slide RIGHT foot next to left foot
 16     Step to left side with LEFT foot

CLAP RIGHT-2-3, CLAP LEFT-2-3, 
CLAP BOTH-2-3, CLAP TOGETHER-2-3
 
 17     Clap partner's RIGHT hand
 &      Clap partner's RIGHT hand
 18     Clap partner's RIGHT hand
 19     Clap partner's LEFT hand
 &      Clap partner's LEFT hand
 20     Clap partner's LEFT hand
 21     Clap partner's RIGHT & LEFT hand
 &      Clap partner's RIGHT & LEFT hand
 22     Clap partner's RIGHT & LEFT hand
 23     Clap your own hands together
 &      Clap your own hands together
 24     Clap your own hands together

LINK RIGHT ARMS AND 
CIRCLE 1 (1/2) TURNS RIGHT 

25-32   Link RIGHT arm with partners and starting with
	RIGHT foot make A 1 (1/2)  turn to the right

Note: Either do 1 or 1 1/2 circles depending on the dance ability 
      of the group

Dance starts over
Keep On Dancin'
Knox Rhine
1002 51st Pl SW
Everett, WA, USA
TEL: (206)252-7921
FAX: (206)252-0769
E-Mail: linedncr@premier1.net


Other Games & Suggestions

Take a broom stick, the couple participating in the game start in normal closed dance position. The broom stick is placed between their legs with one end on the floor behind the man, the man reaches behind the lady to hold the end up while they must perform a dance, (two step, Waltz etc.) around a simulated set of barrels. They start at point A and end up at point B. When we saw it the couples were judged on speed, proper foot pattern for the dance being done and style.

Another fun thing to do is for the man and woman to dance with a balloon between their knees or between thier bellies. Last one retaining said balloons wins.

Although it is not done to dancing, we all have to take a break some time. That's when the pie auction took place. The ladies bake the pie's and the men bid on the pie's with the idea in mind that if a man is the high bidder the lady who baked the pie sits him down and serves the man and herself a piece of pie and they eat together.

Submitted By: Mike Rohrer
E-Mail: mikerohrer@fsd.com
Submitted On: 24/01/97 15:15


12.3 Are There Any Software Programs That Calculate BPM Speeds?

The following web sites carry BPM timers:

Windows BPM Counter: http://www.neosoft.com/~jclayton/winbpm.htm
Various BPM Counters: http://www.massive.com/in_tune/bpm_counting.html
More BPM Counters: http://www.hyperreal.com:2000/1/music/djs/software/
Victor's BPM Counter: ftp://math.ucla.edu/pub/eijkhout/dance/bpm.hqx
Apple Mac BPM Counter: ftp://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive/Archive/app/mac-bpm/212.hqx
DJ Tools & BPM Counters: http://www.neosoft.com/~jclayton/dj_tools.htm

CompuServe's (CIS) MusicArts Forum also has a couple of BPM Counters.

Users wishing to find out how to manually calculate BPM speeds should consult Part II of Victor Eijkhout's R.A.D. FAQ which is posted monthly to rec.arts.dance. Go to Section 3 for further information on the RAD FAQ.


12.4 How are dances ranked as Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced?

Step By Step Magazine used to rank line dances Beginning, Intermediate or Advanced was as follows.

First of all, it is usually the choreographer who decides what level the dance is. We will occasionally move it up or down in the magaine depending on how difficult or easy that the dance is to teach.

A 32 to 40 count dance, that uses music that has a BPM of 150 or less, and contains fairly standard steps would be classified as "Beginner".

A 32 to 40 count dance using music with BPM of 180 or higher or a dance with a count of up to 64 but using less than 150 BPM music would be considered "Begin/Inter".

Dances using music of 180 BPM or higher or having more than 64 steps would be labeled, "Intermediate".

Dances with steps numbering more than 72 would be probably be considered "advanced" in most teaching situations.

The Difficulty Level that we use is meant to be a suggestion only. If you are an instructor who can take someone who has never had a lesson in their life and teach them the Cowboy Hip Hop in 20 minutes, then "You the Man! (I certainly don't mean to slight the ladies by that remark, but I've never heard any home boy say, "You The Woman"!)

Denny Hengen
Step By Step Magzine


12.5 Does the "AND" (&) count come Before or After the beat?

The answer to the question is simple. For DANCERS, the "&" count comes BEFORE the beat. However, the question is far more complex than it appears and requires a much more in-depth response.

It is important to understand that "2 beat" Rhythms are what we put together to make up patterns in ALL forms of dance. Understanding how the "2 beat" Rhythms work is essential for improving the quality of the dance. It is also important for improving the quality of TEACHING.

To illustrate this, let's look at an example. Someone sent me a breakdown of the first 8 beats of a routine taken from the Internet. They asked if it was written properly because they could not understand it. The choreography is really clever, but the way it was broken down made it feel disjointed and did not reflect the flow and the feeling of the dance.

Here is the original breakdown:

The KEY is the "&" count that comes BEFORE the first beat of each individual Rhythm. Each Rhythm ENDS on an "Upbeat." There are no "&" counts that follow the "2", the "4", the "6", or the "8" in the 8 beat Mini-phrase of the music (AND the dance).

The following breakdown is the SAME dance, but separates each "2 beat" increment into it's own "2 beat" Rhythm:

Once the directions (above) are known, the RHYTHMS would be easy to read with the following "CALL."

VERBAL CALL:
1&2 Step, Scoot Step
&3&4 Scoot, Step 3 times
&5&6 Scoot Step - Scoot Step
&7&8 Scoot, Step 3 times

It took us 20 minutes to figure out what the first breakdown meant. Things are much easier to read and much easier to learn when the "2 beat" increment is understood, as in the second breakdown! When you practice any Line Dance, stopping every 2 beats, (on every Upbeat), you will discover for yourself the "2 beat" increment and experience the rhythmic FEELING of a more accomplished dancer.

Skippy Blair
Tel: 310-869-8949

As published in the March 1996 Issue of:

COUNTRY CALENDAR,
PO Box 3178,
Walnut Creek,
CA 94598, USA.
Tel: (510) 935-5995


12.6 Can a Dance Step Sheet be reproduced without infringing Copyright?

I have provided information in this section pertaining to US, UK and International Copyright law (Berne Convention). This section is provided solely to give choroegraphers a legal of reference. For specific information on the "The Copyright of Choreographic Works" please consult Julie Van Camp's excellent synopsis of the subject which can be found here: http://www.csulb.edu/~jvancamp/coprigh.html

BERNE CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC WORKS (Paris Text 1971)

Article 10

It shall be permissible to make quotations from a work which has already been lawfully made available to the public, provided that their making is compatible with fair practice, and their extent does not exceed that justified by the purpose, including quotations from newspaper articles and periodicals in the form of press summaries.

It shall be a matter for legislation in the countries of the Union, and for special agreements existing or to be concluded between them, to permit the utilization, to the extent justified by the purpose, of literary or artistic works by way of illustration in publications, broadcasts or sound or visual recordings for teaching, provided such utilization is compatible with fair practice.

Where use is made of works in accordance with the preceding paragraphs of this Article, mention shall be made of the source, and of the name of the author, if it appears thereon.

U.S. COPYRIGHT ACT, AS AMENDED 1994
SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT

Section 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: fair use

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include--

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;
(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.

THE UNITED KINGDOM COPYRIGHT ACT 1956 HAS BEEN AMENDED BY
THE UK COPYRIGHT, DESIGNS & PATENTS ACT 1988

which in turn has been amended by:

European Union Directives:

3233 THE COPYRIGHT(COMPUTER PROGRAMS REGULATIONS) 1992
3297 THE DURATION OF COPYRIGHT & RIGHTS & PERFORMANCE REGULATIONS 1995

Provides protection against unlicensed copying of original artistic and creative works - articles, books, paintings, films, plays, songs, music, engineering drawings and computer programs. But also provides Limitations on exclusive rights termed "Fair Dealing" as opposed to "Fair Use".

To claim copyright the item in question should carry the copyright symbol (the letter "C" within a circle) - © - the date and the author's name.

REGISTERING A COPYRIGHT CLAIM

Both the United States and United Kingdom are signatories of the Berne Convention and as such formal registration of Copyright is no longer required.

The principal benefit of registering your work is to authenticate your "authorship" of a dance. In instances where a Choreographer might wish to benefit commercially from his/her creation registration of Copyright might be a sensible precaution.

A cheaper alternative would involve you writing up your dance step sheet and adding the following information:

Copyright © Your Name April 1996
All Rights Reserved

Then seal the dance in an envelope and mail it to:

1. Yourself; or
2. Your Lawyer; or
3. Your Bank Manager.

The postmark/datestamp provided by the Royal Mail/US Mail Service will act as an authentication of the creation date.

Do not open the envelope after you/they have received it. Instead simply store it safely until such time as you may need it.

There is no guarantee that this economy route will be as effective as formal legal registration of copyright.

IN THE UNITED STATES

To register a claim in a dramatic work, submit the following to the Register of Copyrights, Copyright Office, Washington, 20559-6000:

1. A completed and signed Form PA;
2. A nonrefundable filing fee of $20.00 made payable to the Register of Copyrights; and
3. If unpublished, one copy of the work; if published, two complete copies of the best edition of the work:

a. for a script, the copy may be a manuscript, printed copy, a film video recording, or a phonorecord;
b. for a pantomime, the work may be embodied in a film or video recording, or be precisely described in text or on a phonorecord;
c. for choreography, the work may be embodied in a film or video recording, be precisely described on any phonorecord or in written text, or in any dance notation system such as Labanotation, Sutton Movement Shorthand, or Benesh Notation.

All of the elements must be submitted in the same package or envelope. Registration of the work is effective on the day all of the material is received in the Copyright Office although your certificate of registration may not be mailed until 16 weeks after receipt of your submission.

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

For a fee of 32.25 pounds Sterling you can register your dance with:

The Registrar,
Stationers Hall,
Ave Maria Lane,
Ludgate Hill,
London
EC4M 7DD

Tel: +44 (0)171-248-2934

The Applicant must:

1. Complete a Registration Form;
2. Pay the Registry's Fee; and
3. deliver to the Register a copy of the work

Registration lasts for a period of seven years. Registration can be extended for a further seven years upon receipt of a further registration fee.


12.7 Which Is The Longest Line Dance?

Top Ten Chart

Time Marches On        
Counts: 328
Steps: 328
Dance: 1 Wall Line
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Choreog: Jean Marcham, Chandler, AZ, USA.

Click Here To Check The FAQ Master List Entry For Further Information & Step Sheet Availability


A Little Less Talk (and a lot more action) Counts: 321 Dance: Line Level: Advanced Choreog: Little Joe

Click Here To Check The FAQ Master List Entry For Further Information & Step Sheet Availability


Yo-Yo Counts: 319 (Exhibition Version) Dance: 4 Wall Line Level: Advanced Choreog: John & Patty Elliott, March-April 1994 Ordinary Version: 64 Count, 4 Wall, Intermediate.

Click Here To Check The FAQ Master List Entry For Further Information & Step Sheet Availability


Slappin' Country Counts: 272 Steps: 280 Dance: 4 Wall Line Level: Advanced Choreog: George & Estella Haines

Click Here To Check The FAQ Master List Entry For Further Information & Step Sheet Availability


A Honky Tonk Christmas Counts: 244 Dance: 1 Wall Line Dance Level: Advanced Choreographer: Louise Hodson

Click Here To Check The FAQ Master List Entry or Click Here For Step Sheet.


Street Walk Counts: 240 Dance: 1 Wall Line Level: Advanced Choreog: Debora Crew

Click Here To Check The FAQ Master List Entry For Further Information & Step Sheet Availability


All Shook Up Counts: 224 Dance: 1 Wall Line Level: Advanced Choreog: Naomi Fleetwood

Click Here To Check The FAQ Master List Entry For Further Information & Step Sheet Availability


Cowboy Carousel Counts: 178 Dance: Couples (Triple Two Step) Level: Intermediate Position: Skater's Choreog: Connie Halfenberg

Click Here To Check The FAQ Master List Entry For Further Information & Step Sheet Availability


Main Event Counts: 172 Dance: 4 Wall Level: Advanced Choreog: Robert Cordoba & Doug Endo

Click Here To Check The FAQ Master List Entry For Further Information & Step Sheet Availability


Whiskey Ain't Workin' Counts: 164 Dance: Line Level: Advanced Bianca van Strien

Click Here To Check The FAQ Master List Entry For Further Information & Step Sheet Availability


Close Contenders

Nighttime Twist 160 Count, 1 Wall, Advanced Beginner By Knox Rhine.
Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox 138 Cnt, 4 Wall, Advanced By Jo Ann Hilbish.
Bear Walk 128 Cnt, 1 Wall, Intermediate/Advanced By Lydia Stevenson.
Chaos 128 Cnt, 4 Wall, Advanced By Knox Rhine.
M.J.D.A.C.S. 128 Cnt, 4 Wall, Advanced By R. Tymko & O. Carlson.
Ponerosa Strut 128 Cnt, 1 Wall, Advanced By Donna Smith.
Hillbilly Rock II 124 Cnt, 4 Wall, Advanced By Unknown Choreographer.


12.8 What If I Don't Like The Suggested Music For A Dance?

The FAQ Dance Master List Section tries to include a number of tracks for each dance. However there will no doubt be times when you either don't like the suggestions or are unable to locate the album on which the track appears. There are a number of ways in which you can select different music to accompany a dance:

  1. Consult Section 2.0 of the FAQ which will give you a number of alternative tracks from which to make your selection.
  2. Consult Step By Step Magazine Vol II Issue Number 5 (August) and Issue Number 6 (September) 1996 which carry a huge collection of dance tracks listed by BPM.
  3. Refer to the chart below. All dance forms have a tempo and this is calculated by determining the number of Beats Per Minute (BPM) of a dance track. All dance forms generally adhere to a specific tempo range so all you have to do is to find a Cha Cha tempo track to accompany a Cha Cha tempo dance. Similarly for other dance forms or types of dance such as Waltz, Two Step, etc.

Universal C&W Dance Categories (BPM)

       Two Step                      180-212
       Waltz                          90-112
       Polka                         116-136
       Cha Cha                        92-116
       West Coast Swing              108-136
       East Coast Swing              140-164
       Shuffle                       124-148
       Southwest Shuffle             100-128
       Triple Two Step               108-132
       Schottische                   120-144
       Southern Style Sschottische   140-164
       Rhythm Two Step               140-168
       Pony Swing                    208-236
The FAQ tries to include BPM information where available but you may sometimes need to calculate the track BPM's yourself. Please refer to the BPM section (12.3) above for further information.

Please remember that BPM speed can vary from album to album especially if the track is remixed or recut. FAQ BPM speeds should therefore only be viewed as guidelines.


12.9 What Is A PDF File?

A PDF file (Portable Document File) is a page description format used for scanned documents. You will need a program called Acrobat Reader to view PDF files. This program is available free via the Adobe website: http://www.adobe.com/acrobat/

Once you install it, you should be able to double-click on any PDF file on your system, and Acrobat Reader will display it, and you're able to print it out. Adobe sells other tools for creating and manipulating PDF files.

You may have to instruct your Web browser to launch Acrobat Reader when you download a PDF file. In Netscape, this is under Options- General Preferences-Helpers. In Internet Explorer, this is under View-Options-Programs, and click on File Types.

Gary Maxwell
South Bay Country Dancers, San Jose, California, USA.
Just Wanna Have Fun Dance Club, Anywhere, USA


12.10 What Do All These Other File Extensions Mean?

Graphical & Video Image File Formats

AVI........Windows Video File (Video)
BMP........Bitmap File (Image)
CDR........Coreldraw (Image)
CGM........Computer Graphics Metafile (Image)
DIB........Device Independent Bitmap (Image)
EPS........Encapsulated PostScript (Image)
GIF........Graphics Interchange Format (Image)
IMG........Gem (Image)
JPG/JPEG...Joint Photographic Experts Group (Image)
MOV........Apple Mac Quick Time Movie File (Video)
MPG/MPEG...Moving Pictures Experts Group (Video)
PCX........ZSoft (Image)
Photo-CD...Kodak Photo-CD (Image)
PICT/PCT...MAC Picture File (Image)
PNG/PING...Portable Network Graphic (Image)
TGA........Targa (Image)
TIF........Tagged Image Format (Image)
TIFF.......Tagged Image File Format (Image)
WMF........Windows Meta File(Image)
WPG........Word Perfect Graphic (Image)

Your capability to view or playback any or all of the above file types will largely be governed by your hardware and software configuration and capabilities.

Be aware that displaying image files and especially video image files whilst online will seriously degrade your system performance. Unless you have a Super Fast PC on a T1 line your best option for viewing realtime video is to use the "Save To Disk" option rather than the "launch the application" option.


12.11 What is a BeDazzler & Who Makes It?

A "BeDazzler" is like a large plastic stapler that sets rhinestones and studs in material and is used to personalise dance wear and accessories. The BeDazzler is manufactured in the USA by:

Southbury Manufacturing Corp., PO Box 8, South Britain, CT 06487, USA.
Tel: (203) 264-6588


12.12 Country Dance Records & Achievements

Canada
Largest Scottish Country Dance - 512-some reel by the Toronto Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (Toronto, Canada 1991).

New Zealand
Geraldine, New Zealand (January 97): Longest line dance length for this country was set at 910 people.

Australia
Tamworth, Queensland, Australia, January 25, 1997. Grand total of 5502 line dancers.

USA
A total of 2,578 people danced to the "Boot Scootin' Boogie" in Lebanon, TN, USA on 30 Jul 1994. A line dance in Fairfield CA, USA had 5,000 people and a line dance in Laugin NV, USA had 8,000+ people.

An estimated 30,000 people took part in a Madison/Electric Slide line dance held during the 1991 Comin' Home African American Holiday Celebration in Columbus, OH, USA on 12 Jul 1991.

United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland
Saturday 7th December 1996 - National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, UK. 1,630 people danced continuously for 5 minutes to the Line Dance "The Freeze".

12th April 1997 - RAF Burtonwood, Warrington, UK. 4,500 people danced continuously for 5 minutes to the Line Dance "The Freeze". This record was monitored by, and submitted to, the Guiness organisation. The record will be confirmed in a broadcast of BBC "Record Breakers" scheduled for transmission in September. If successful this will be the "FIRST OFFICIAL" UK and World record to be accepted by the Guiness organisation.


12.13 What Is The History Of Line Dancing?

** HISTORY OF LINE DANCING **
Line Dances began sometime around BC. As far as I have been able to
determine from research, line dancing in one form or another has been
around since recorded time.

What we do today evolved from the old "Contra" dances that were very
popular in the New Englnad States from the early 1800's. Contra style
dances are still popular but in a slightly different form. In the 1800's
two lines would form, men on one side, women on the other. The partners
would join between the two lines and generally do their own routine down 
the middle. When they reached the end of the lines, they parted and moved 
back into their respective lines and the next couple would begin. The 
"Stroll" from back in the 1940's is a good example of this style of 
dance. If you saw the movie "Grease", you saw the "Stroll" being done by 
John Travolta.
	
In the 1970's, the form of Line Dance we do today was born. I have no
data on specific dates but, when I first got into "Country Western"
style dance, there weren't that many line dances being done. I was told
that "Four Corners" was the second oldest line dance of this sytle but,
no one could ever tell me what was the oldest. That is hearsay because
I've never been able to find anything in writing to back it up. I have 
books written by a man who was born in the early 1800's and who gave 
what I consider to be fairly accurate information on the concept of line 
dancing. That's where I got most of my information.  

The "JR Hustle" dating back to 1980 & "The Traveling Four Corners" were 
choreographed by a gal from Texas by the name of Jimmie Ruth White. The
Traveling Four Corners is (in it's original form), a quad dance (square)
but choreographed in the general concept of the Line Dance. I've seen 
some very old film dating back to the beginning of moving pictures and 
some even older photos of African tribes in line dance formation doing 
step combinations not that far removed from what we do today. There were 
similar dances done by the American Indian. I realize that most people, 
when they think of Indian dances, visualize circles around a fire but, 
many dances were done in lines, moving left & right in a step, close, 
step, close series of moves. Until recently, the most common move in 
line dances was the basic Schottische; step, cross, step, lift (or 
scoot). This, followed by the Polka and the Cha Cha, both of which play 
a very large part in the composition of the Line Dance. More recently, 
still, syncopations of the style normally found in WCS have made a large 
imprint on the Line Dance choreography.

Looking back at some of the earlier line dances, having the correct
number of steps, utilizing the correct number of musical beats, didn't
seem all that important. The JR Hustle mentioned earlier, was the only
dance for a very long time that actually followed the concept of 
phrasing to the musical major (32 beats). Chorus lines, which have 
been around for a very long time, are not that different in concept 
when compared with line dances we do today. So, as I said, Line 
Dancing, in one form or another, has been around for a very long time.

A long time friend of mine, the first I know of to teach CW dance in the
public school system, gave me step-descriptions from the 1970's. Back
in the 70's & early 80's, teachers from all over the country would get
together in what they called "Dance Caravans" similar to the "Dance
Camps" that you see today except it was for teachers only.They exchanged
dances, ideas and general information on how to improve on what they
were doing. Most of these people were professionals who owned their own
studios and generally taught in seveal areas of dance, not just CW. 
Specifics on Line Dancing history is rare and trying to nail down exact
dates is impossible.
This article was written by and is © Copyright:
Rick Bowen, Pine Grove, CA, USA.

Article Submitted To: CW Dance List on Tue, 18 Jul 1995 10:26:58 PDT
Article Submitted By: Charlotte Skeeters skeeters@scs.philips.com


Further Information pertaining to the history of Country Dance & Music can be found here:

An excellent article on the History of Country Dance in America by the noted choreographer Fred Rapoport can be found here: http://www.tiac.net/users/twostep/history.htm

An article entitled "Line Dancing - A step in the right direction?" by Duncan Warwick can be found at: http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~duncan/step.html This article includes some interesting insights and perspectives on the history and future of C&W line dancing.

Follow The History of Country Music from the 1920's through to the current day with Roughstock's guide to the History of Country Music: http://www.roughstock.com/history/

Alternatively you could try these books:

Dance Across Texas - Betty Casey (University of Texas Press, 1985)
Kicker Dancin' Texas Style - Shirley Rushing & Patrick McMillan (Hunter Textbooks, 1988)


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LD FAQ Section 12: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jgothard/sect12.htm
The Line/C&W Dance & Music FAQ is Copyright © Julian L. Gothard 1995-1998
The FAQ was converted to html/htm format by Robert Fielder and Julian L. Gothard.