Blog Archives
How to Read a Line Dance Stepsheet
Part 1 of 3 — The Basics
A “step sheet” or “stepsheet” (both are correct) is basically a listing of the steps of a dance. In some parts of the world, these instructions are called “dance scripts.”
No matter what you call it, having step-by-step directions about where to put your feet, is a very good thing! In this article, I’ll show you the basics on how to read one of these wonderful tools.
Once you know the “secret” you’ll be able to use your new found skill to teach yourself just about any line dance on the planet.
[ Read the Rest of the Article ]
Part 2 of 3 — “Walls” and “Clocks”
In the first article, we introduced you to the basic concepts you need to read a line dance step sheet for the beginner and ultra-beginner levels. That information should allow you to read stepsheets for dances which are straight forward and not too complex.
Now we are going to discuss two concepts which apply to higher level dances:.
(1) Walls
and
(2) Clock Positions
[ Read the Rest of the Article ]
Part 3 of 3 — “Tags” and “Restarts”
In the first article we introduced you to the basic concepts you need to read a line dance step sheet for the beginner and ultra-beginner levels.
In the second article, we expanded the definition and concept of a “wall” and we covered how to determine directions on the line dance floor using clock positions as a frame of reference.
Now we are going to discuss:
(1) Tags
and
(2) Restarts
[ Read the Rest of the Article ]
Related articles
- LineDancer Magazine Top Ten List Updated (txcowboydancer.com)
- Line Dances Danced to ‘Wanted’ by Hunter Hayes (txcowboydancer.com)
- World Line Dance Survey Top Ten Updated (txcowboydancer.com)
- Copperknob Top Ten List Updated (txcowboydancer.com)
Share with folks on the Interwebz :-)
Five Tips for the First Time Dance Competitor
Congratulations! You’re already a winner!
I remember my first time competing. I have to confess, that I was very nervous which is really weird because I love being in front of people! That didn’t stop me from being nervous however. I still get nervous just before walking onto the dance floor for the first dance at every event. Truthfully, it feels like I gotta go to the little dancer’s room!
You laugh! But it’s true! And I’m not alone!
At my last competition, I was standing in line ready to go onto the floor for the first dance of the event; I was right behind this professional dancer who was in the same heat with his lady student and I overheard him say “I gotta go” with a wiggle and a stamp of his feet. The pro, to protect the very guilty, and because he’s a friend of mine, shall remain unnamed. I admit, I burst out laughing.
I said “You too?” He grinned this silly sheepish grin and replied that he always feels that way. He didn’t really need *ahem* “to go” and neither did I, but the nerves made it feel that way. So, I asked him, “You’ve been dancing for years now, you’re a ‘pro!’ Why do you still get nervous?” He laughed and said that no one ever stops getting nervous, they just learn to handle it better as time goes on.
So let me be the first to welcome you to the family of competitive dancers. To help you get to the point where you “handle it better” I’m offering five tips that…
[ Read the rest of the article ]
Share with folks on the Interwebz :-)
Line Dances Danced to ‘Wanted’ by Hunter Hayes
Line Dances Danced to the Song ‘Wanted’ by Hunter Hayes
This is the second in what will be a periodic series of articles. You can see the debut article in the series here:
[ Line Dances Danced to the Song ‘Pontoon’ by Little Big Town ]Whenever there is a new #1 song on Billboard’s Country Songs Chart, I will gather all the line dances which have been written to that song and post an article here along with links to the music, step sheets, and videos showing demos and teaches of the dance(s).
I’ll also include information about the artist, the song, and the album with links where you can find more information on the artist.
I hope you enjoy the series. Now, introducing Billboard’s #1 Song: “Wanted / by Hunter Hayes” and the dances choreographed to the song.
[Read the rest of the article]
Related articles
- Behind The Song: Hunter Hayes’ ‘Wanted’ Gets Multiple ACM Award Nominations (wycd.cbslocal.com)
Share with folks on the Interwebz :-)
Weekly Line Dance Top Ten Lists Updated
There Are a Lot of Line Dance Lists!
There are lots of places on the Web that track the “Top Ten” line dances on a weekly or monthly basis.
And every single one of the darn tootin’ thangs seem to have a different way of calculating just which dances are the top ten.
*sigh*
It’s enough to make one’s inner domestic diva want to take off her tiara and eat bon bons!
Never fear, dearest readers, all twelve of you who actually read this blog… I, the awesome, the fantastic, the studly, being the kind, generous, friendly, charming person that I am have set out to make sense out of that muddle of mish-mashy information and simply for you. Can I have an amen?!
Ok, so, what I’ve done, is create two articles on Squidoo:
TxCowboyDancer’s Weekly Summary of Top Ten Line Dance Lists
What you’ll find on this page is a summary of all the Top Ten Lists that of which I keep track. You’ll find a simple straight forward listing of the “Top Ten” dances from each list along with a link to the full list for that website. Here is the blurb from the beginning of the the Review:
Welcome to TxCowboyDancer’s Weekly Report of the Top Line Dances from ranking sites around the world.
Keeping track of all those line dances is a lot like Herding Cats which is why I created this summary page to make life a bit easier! (And why there is a photo of a cute Cowboy KItty. 🙂
Those wanting more information can follow the links to visit a “Detailed Report” for each site containing the “Top Ten” dances, links to the stepsheets, demo & walk-through videos, and the music for each dance. [read the full review…]
TxCowboyDancer’s Weekly Review of
The Hottest, Most Popular Line Dances in the World
For those folks who don’t even want to deal with the Lists in the Summary, I’ve created a page where I only show those dances appearing on multiple websites. Here is the blurb from the beginning of the article.
I monitor several line dance survey lists from different websites:
1. World Line Dance Newsletter
2. LineDancer Magazine
3. CopperKnob Line Dance Archive
4. Kickit Line Dance ArchiveThe following dances are ones which appear in the “Top Ten” lists on at least two of the four websites listed above, making them the most popular line dances on the planet!
HOTTEST — On all Four List
HOTTER — On Three of the Four Lists
HOT — On Two of the Four Lists
[Check out the dances listed in the article...]
So, there you have it, I hope you enjoy my two summary lists.
See ya on the Dance Floor!
Related articles
- I’ve been BUZZZEEE! (txcowboydancer.com)
- Special Discount for ProAm Students, Couples and Social Line Dancers (txcowboydancer.com)
- Reflect, Revel, Reward, and Revise…Really! (txcowboydancer.com)
Share with folks on the Interwebz :-)
Reflect, Review, Revise, Revel, Reward, …Really!
Reflect…
Well, yesterday was a busy dance day. Practiced with my dance partner for a little over an hour. Then I went to the West Coast Swing classes taught by the most fabulous Beata Howe and “Pappa Daddy” TRose aka Terry Roseborough. That was another 3 hours of dancing. OMG! Oh, my aching feetsies. Ouchies! Oh da pain, da pain.
Ok, ok, maybe I’m being a bit dramatic, (hey being dramatic is what I do…I wouldn’t be “Tony” without the drama!)
…but in all seriousness, I did kinda push things.
So, now I know, at my current fitness level, doing four hours of dancing/learning/practicing is very close to “over doing it.”
The trick is to find exactly the right amount of exercise with which to stress my body. I may have to alternate “heavy days” like yesterday with “easy days” or “rest days” while I’m still on the bottom end of the “fit” range.
It is true that I’m trying to build up stamina but I’ve also got to not overdo it and injury myself. It is important to give my body a chance to repair itself and build itself stronger.
That’s how you get fitter; you stretch your limits, rest a bit, then stretch your limits again. Eventually tasks that were difficult become easier. Then they become routine and then you have to stretch further to keep on improving. Woot!
Revel…
Who da man? Who da Pappa Daddy? Who is on track on his fitness goals! Come on, chant with me… “Go Tony! Go Tony! Go Tony!”
Doing those little circle things with your hands clenched in a fist is optional, but encouraged. 🙂
Here are the cold hard numbers:
-- 12.2 lbs lost (total so far) -- 1 lb lost at the official Jenny Craig Weigh-in this week. -- 5.65 inches lost (total so far) - Hips, Chest, Waist -- .4 inches lost this past week.
Yay! 2013 is on track! Woo Hoo! Here are the charts and the cool fun visual stuff: Read the rest of this entry
5-6-7-8 Dancing My Way to a Healthy Me! 