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Before there was the Cupid Shuffle and the Cha Cha Slide, the country-western line dances such as Texas Two-Step and the Watermelon Crawl would dominate the dance floor.
This style of dance, which is once again surging in popularity, calls for people of all ages to come together as a group and move their feet in sync to the beat of their favourite songs in a repeated sequence of steps. No previous dance training is required to take part in these choreographed line dances, which eliminates the pressure of having to bring out the impressive freestyle moves on the dance floor.
Billy Ray Cyrus may have launched the modern line dance craze of the early 90s with his claim to fame, ‘Achy Breaky Heart’, but many artists since then have followed suit, allowing the repetitive step sequences to carry on in dance halls and saloons worldwide.
So grab your dancin’ boots, call up a few friends and prepare for a hoedown, because we've compiled a list of 15 of our favorite country songs to line dance to.
Chris Young - Aw Naw
Line dancing can often lead to late nights with friends and that’s just the kind of experience Chris Young’s 'Aw Naw' describes. Once this country-rock song dropped, it didn’t take long for a line dance to emerge alongside it. Right from the start with a kick of the boot, this choreography can liven up any party.
Luke Bryan - Country Girl (Shake It For Me)
It makes sense that country music superstar Luke Bryan - who’s known for shaking his hips whenever he’s on stage - would produce a song with the perfect tempo to dance along to. When this track comes on, it’s almost like everyone on the dance floor instinctively embraces Bryan’s spectacular hip-swinging talent.
Toby Keith - Should've Been A Cowboy
The fast-paced line dance for Toby Keith’s 'Should’ve Been A Cowboy' could be considered one of the more challenging ones on the list, but nothing that can’t be picked up with a little practice. The difficulty comes with the addition of an optional partner and learning how to move around the room as a pair.
Tracy Byrd - Watermelon Crawl
A night at the local saloon wouldn’t be complete without a dance to Tracy Byrd’s 'Watermelon Crawl'. In order to follow along with this line dance, the most important choreography to know is the Charleston, the grapevine, the pivot and a bit of heel/toe steps. Once those moves are established, this dance is a breeze.
Hunter Hayes - I Want Crazy
Paired with Hunter Hayes’ 'I Want Crazy', this 48-count, 2-wall dance has a few variations to it, as most line dances do. The most popular version is at the intermediate to advanced level with steps that tend to get a bit confusing because of the frequent changing of walls in the choreography.
Mikel Knight - Whiskey Drinkin'
This boot-stomping line dance, usually known as "The Outlaw", fits the vibe of Mikel Knight’s explicit, rap country song, 'Whiskey Drinkin''. Get ready to break a sweat because this choreography will have you moving up, down and side to side to this upbeat song.
Billy Ray Cyrus - Achy Breaky Heart
Without a doubt, one of the main songs to make both Billy Ray Cyrus and line dancing popular needed to be included in the top 10. With its simple two-chord structure and perfectly paced tempo, Cyrus’ iconic 'Achy Breaky Heart' will most definitely be played anywhere that line dancing takes place.
Big and Rich - Fake ID
Upon seeing this famous line dance featured in the movie Footloose, it’s only a matter of time before the need to learn the steps and start dancing along with the cast takes over. Something about the movements paired with this Big and Rich country rock ‘n’ roll song just puts you in a great mood.
Blanco Brown - The Git Up
A relatively new dance added to the mix comes from Blanco Brown’s 'The Git Up'. According to Brown, this line dance consists of four easy steps: the cowboy boogie, the hoedown, the butterfly and the two-step. Whether in a saloon or a concert, the crowd will be ready to dance along to this song.
Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
With this classic country tune, country music fans often find it difficult to resist the urge to sing and dance along to Darius Rucker’s recording of 'Wagon Wheel', making it a great candidate for a line dancing song. With its beginner level choreography, the 'Wagon Wheel' line dance is the perfect introduction to this style of dance.
Brooks and Dunn - Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Anyone who has have ever participated in - or even just witnessed - line dancing before knows that Brooks and Dunn’s 'Boot Scootin’ Boogie' is almost always included in the DJ’s setlist. This song has, rightfully so, been labelled as one of the prime line dancing songs because anyone - even beginners - can pick it up.
Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe
As soon as the opening lyrics, “If it hadn’t been for cotton-eye Joe,” play through the DJ’s speakers, dance floors everywhere quickly fill up with party-goers ready to take part in one of the most entrancing line dances. Although the steps are simple, they can easily be made more difficult with a few extra hops and turns.
Steve Earle - Copperhead Road
Steve Earle’s 'Copperhead Road' was also a driving force of the line dance craze in the 90s. The song is paired with the signature choreography that may include some verbal cues from the dancers, which correlate with the steps. This dance is 20 counts of pure fun that anyone to enjoy.
Shania Twain - Man I Feel Like A Woman
Growing up listening to this Shania Twain staple on a daily basis has assigned it a special place in my heart. This fairly simple line dance with hip-swinging movements offers a feeling of empowerment with every step. Plus, it’s pretty safe to assume that along with line dancing, everyone will also be singing along.
Jason Aldean - Hicktown
Caution: this line dance contains high kicks, heavy stomping and fast footwork. Jason Aldean's 'Hicktown' might just be the best song for showing off your dance moves in a saloon. It takes a good amount of concentration to get the hang of it, but the end result will be worth it, making it the top choice on our list.
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