Popular 2014 Country Line Dances in Arizona

How well do you know your line dances? If you've been to a Country bar recently (or ever, for that matter) you've probably seen your fair share of Two Stepping, Swing Dancing, and Line Dancing. Here in Arizona, we've got plenty of Country bars and plenty of Line Dances to learn. We've spent our Summer at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona teaching some of the most popular line dances out there to help get you guys out on the dance floor. Not sure which ones you need to know to fit in? Here's our top 5 list with our go-to standbys and some newer additions:

1. Copperhead Road - Steve Earle

This one's pretty easy. Don't let it fool you though - you'll get a definite workout with all the jumps and kicks! Head on over to Cactus Moon at Mesa Riverview and give it a shot. They've got a nice big floor with plenty of room, so you don't have to worry about accidentally kicking anyone.

 

2. Fake ID - Big and Rich

Fake ID is pretty new, but you can't go to a Country bar without it playing at least once. This dance is tricky, so it'll take some time to pick it up. With patience, you can be out there with the best of 'em!

 

3. Boot Scootin' Boogie - Brooks & Dunn

An oldie, but a goodie! Boot Scootin' Boogie has been around for ages. Not too hard and definitely worth learning if you don't know it already. Throw on your favorite boots, swing by Toby Keith's, and get to scootin'!

 

4. Footloose - Blake Shelton

Footloose has been around for a while, but it remains popular to this day. It's another challenging one, so commit some extra time to learning it before heading out! You can probably catch it at Denim and Diamonds if you're there on a busy night.

 

5. Whiskey Drinkin' - Mikel Knight

Whiskey Drinkin' has been around for a few years and there are a few variations of this particular line dance. There are simple, intermediate, and advanced versions, so don't be afraid to learn it and get out there. Stop by Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ this Friday at 6 PM to learn this one. Drop ins are only $7, so you can get comfy before you try this one out and about.

Now, there are plenty of other line dances for you to learn that aren't on that list. In fact, we teach a new line dance every Friday night! If there's a dance in particular that you want to learn, feel free to shoot us an email at info@dancefxstudios.com and let us know. We'll be sure to put it in the rotation. Want to get some more skills in your partner dancing, too? We also have awesome Two-Step and Country Swing group classes and private dance lessons. We're just off the 60 and the 101 with easy access to most of the greater Phoenix area, so check us out and let's get to dancing!

Country Dancing Do's and Dont's

If you're new to the Country Dance scene, it's always good to know the rules of the dance floor. Here in Arizona, we've got a few standard rules to keep the peace in our bars. We at Dance FX Studios have decided to share with you the top 3 rules of dance floor etiquette so you don't make a fool of yourself when you decide to get out there.

1. Progressive on the outside, Rhythm, Line, and Swing on the inside.

This rule is taken straight from the old school ballrooms. If you and your partner are traveling along the floor, keep on the outside and travel counterclockwise (think Nascar). This is known as line of dance or LOD. Faster couples should stay in the farther outside lanes, and slower couples closer to the inside. If you're a Rhythm (Arizona) Two Stepper or prefer to Line Dance, keep it to the middle of the dance floor. This way, you're a lot less likely to be run over by a fellow dancer! Oh, and if you aren't dancing, there isn't room for you on the floor. Take your conversation elsewhere.

*Unfortunately, a lot of dancers ignore this rule. If there's no room for Progressive (Texas) Two Step, BE NICE. Keep your steps small and work on your maneuvering. You aren't the only one on the floor, so be respectful of the dancers around you. If everyone is predominantly dancing Rhythm Two Step or Country Swing, it may be a good idea to try to adapt.

2. No glass, booze, or lit cigarettes on the dance floor.

You don't bring glass to a pool, so don't bring it on the dance floor. Be nice and keep the drinking at the bar. As tempting as it is to try to twirl a girl with a drink in your hand, it's incredibly dangerous. There isn't usually a lot of room, so the likelihood of that beer bottle getting knocked out of your hand is pretty high. Now... Picture a few hundred dancers in slick cowboy boots trying to dance across broken glass and a wet, slippery floor. Doesn't end well, does it? Keep the spilled drinks and hazardous materials away from the people who are just trying to have a good time.

This all goes double for lit cigarettes on an outdoor floor. I doubt you want to accidentally burn someone who brushes by you. Keep it classy and take your smoking to the side.

3. No tricks or flips on a crowded floor.

Again, this all comes down to safety. True Country has made its way into bars over the last few years, but a lot of dance halls are starting to ban the crazy flips and dips due to liability issues. Tricks are lots of fun when you've practiced them with a regular partner and you have lots of space, but there is no room for them on a crowded dance floor. It is incredibly dangerous to be thrown into the air by a stranger because you haven't properly communicated what type of lift is going to happen, nor have you trained to execute it safely. The pros in youtube videos have practiced those lifts together for ages, so they are going to look a lot better than you when you drop that girl you just met. 

The other side of this is, even if you've been dancing with this partner and practiced everything for years, there is no accounting for everyone else on the floor. New dancers don't always know to keep an eye out for tricks and may very well dance right under your lift. Save yourself the lawsuit and keep the lifts for the performances.

If you're looking to learn to dance Country the right way, rules and all, join us at Dance FX Studios. Located in Mesa, just off the 60 and the 101, we are a hop, skip, and a jump away from just about anywhere in the greater Phoenix metroplex. We offer customized private dance lessons to give you the best one-on-one learning experience and group dance classes if you're looking for something a with a bit more of a crowd. Not sure if Country Dance is your thing? We also teach Latin, Argentine Tango, Ballroom, Swing, and more! Come check us out and get your boots scootin' the right way.

Get Ready for Country Thunder 2014!

Arizonans love all things Country… Toby’s Keith I Love This Bar, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, rodeos, Cowboy boots and best of all, Country dancing and music!! Country Thunder is a huge country music festival that is held right here in the Phoenix Valley.  Already have tickets? How exciting! Not going this year? Come to our Country Dance Party with live music instead! It’s on April 12th, Saturday evening, from 8-11 pm, so you could even squeeze in some Country dance lessons in before you go! Knowing your stuff will keep you safe and having fun all weekend long. Country Two Step, Country Swing and Nite Club Two Step will all come in handy there, and we at Dance FX Studios are the best place in the Valley to teach you! We are located in Mesa, so close to so many cities in the Phoenix area, making us the perfect social ballroom dance studio for you.

Our unique style of instruction and customized dance lesson packages ensure that you will get the most out of your lessons, which exactly what you need in a time crunch! In our Introductory Lesson for just $40 per couple, you will learn some Country dance basics, proper dance form and how to lead and follow, as well as how to navigate a crowded dance floor and connect with your partner.  After you get hooked during this first lesson, you can enroll in a five-lesson private dance lesson package. These five hours are full of more customized instruction with one of our great instructors, in which you will learn steps and moves that you can combine and use to any song at Country Thunder!

Single guys, knowing how to dance is NOT girly, you will be a hot commodity at the festival if you are able to twirl the country ladies all weekend. Not to mention, your skills will come in handy even after the party ends, at bars and clubs all over Arizona.

Ladies, besides packing and making sure you have all the right outfits, what better way to prepare for a music and Country dancing filled weekend than learning to dance?? We can equip you will the skills you need to be swept off your feet ever so gracefully by the cowboy of your dreams!

Couples, you’ve got tickets, camping passes, and a list of all the provisions and refreshments you need for the weekend, but what are you going to do the entire four days? Listening to music or faking it on the dance floor is fun for a while, but you will surely enjoy yourself so much more if you take lessons! We will teach the ladies to follow their capable and confident leading men on the floor, while also helping your communication skills and intimacy as a couple.

Country Thunder is right around the corner, and dance lessons should be on your to-do list! We can prepare you will the skills and tips you will want and need to safely and confidently boogie the whole weekend. Best of all, you will have so much FUN in your lessons and at Country Thunder! The Country dance party list here at Dance FX Studios is filling up fast, so buy your tickets ahead of time for $15 a person. Two-bit Shotgun with be playing, and drinks and dessert will be provided. Dip your toes in the dancing waters with our Intro Offer; you are sure to get hooked! See you soon, Country friends.