Line Dancing for Seniors

Line Dancing: Points to Remember

Welcome to Steps & Beats. I hope you find line dancing as much fun and rewarding as I do. I am 76 years old and have been dancing for six years and am amazed at the improvements I see and feel in my physical, mental, and social health. Even the Covid pandemic restrictions ddn´t stop me from turning on my music and dancing at home. Sure, it was a lot more fun dancing with others, but even dancing alone instills in me a feeling of well-being, keeps me physically in shape, and permits me an on-line social media outlet with other dancers.

Line dancing is not difficult, it just takes practice. The more you dance, the more comfortable you will feel while learning steps. For those of you who are not aware of the dance formation, a line dance basically consist of 32 steps which are broken down into 4 sets of 8 steps. Before I go further into how-to procedures. I thought I´d introduce you to a few important points that will help you feel comfortable while learning.

Footwear

• Leather soled shoes or boots with wide-skid heel are best
• Make sure your footwear fit properly
• No sandals or slip-on shoes

Posture

• Stand with feet together
• Have weight falling slightly over balls of feet
• Knees flexible (not bent or locked)
• Hips tucked n a bit (don´t stick your rear out)
• Relax and straighten back and shoulders
• Hold head up (important for balance and control)

Steps

• Step length: The correct step length when dancing is the same as your shoulder width. If you take large steps outside your frame you may lose balance or tire faster than when taking short steps.

Do not do

• Don´t look down at your feet; you can lose your balance and co-ordination. 
• Don look at other dancers feet: If they make a mistake, so will you. It is wiser to exercise your own mind then follow someone else´s steps.
• Don´t stop dancing if you lose count or forget a step. Keep moving until you find a spot in the dance or music to sync back in with the other dancers.

  Do : SMILE

If you decide to want to learn more, come on back, and I will teach you what I have learned. Instructors seldom have the time to work one-on-one with newcomers, so hopefully my tips will help you become accustomed to the world of LINE DANCING.

 NEXT WEEKS LESSON: The Dance Floor and Walls

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