Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 09:56 AM

If you have nothing to say about line dancing, then do saying anything at all Ivor.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: rich-joy
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 04:36 AM

re Snuffy's and Azizi's posts :
I thought I remembered seeing a video clip of a Line Dance from the 50s/60s called "The Madison", so I went net-searching :

Jitterbug Stroll : The Jitterbug Stroll is a line dance based on early jazz steps tracing back to the swing era. It was created specifically for Lindy Hoppers and was choreographed by the extraordinary dancer Ryan Francois who is credited with the choreography in "Swing Kids", and "Malcolm X". It is danced to a Blues Format (6 bars per phrase). Woodchoppers Ball was the tune chosen by Ryan himself for this dance.

Madison Time : The Madison is an amusing line dance that originated in the late 1950's. According to Lance Benishek (dance historian), "The Madison probably started in Chicago, although it may have been Detroit or Cleveland. The Baltimore Colts learned it in Cleveland and brought it to Baltimore in 1959". It is danced to the Ray Bryant tune, The Madison Time, with calls for the particular dance sequences provided by Eddie Morrison. Eddie was a Baltimore disc jockey who started calling the steps live on the air. Based on a six count chorus step, The Madison contains several dance sequences which make playful references to the big stars of that time period. The Dance resurfaced in 1988 in the John waters film "Hairspray". According to Ryan Francois, there is also a Madison partner dance that is still danced today in England.

The Shim Sham : is a line dance based on early jazz/tap dance steps. Lindy Hoppers have taken this original Tap Routine and made it there own. The dance is divided into 10 musical phrases with specific steps such as; the Shim Sham, the Cross Over, the Tacky Annie, and the Half-Break. These steps are repeated and then followed by Boogie Backs, Boogie Forwards, and Shorty George steps, after which you grab the nearest person and dance until the song is finished. The version we teach is heavily influenced by Frankie Manning.

The Trunky Doo : is another line dance which dates back to the early Thirties, however this one was created by the Lindy Hoppers themselves. It has a more challenging and complex set of patterns. The version we teach has been more recently rearranged and tends to be the popular version throughout the swing circuit.

found at : www.savoycentral.org/classoverview.html


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 09:09 PM

Quote="from what I've seen and heard, his contributions to the folk scene are to get drunk on a regular basis"

Bullshit!

So who runs Hull Folk Club then?
So who plugs sessions, gigs and bands in this area?


Your'e an arsehole, you've got a week to apologise for your comments, after that I won't be responsible for my actions.
your'e a complete load of shit, and very soon, you'll wish you'd never heard of me.


[Don't fuck with me, I've dealt with more important people than you.]

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 10:34 AM

Firking shyte - OK for Gerry Hatricks who need a bit of exercise.
Frighteningly military / brainwashed type of Shyte

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: M'Grath of Altcar
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 07:14 AM

Instructions for a line dance (some call it a ceremony)

"American Trilogy" to the tune by Elvis tune with the same name.

Stand in a circle...

till the songs nearly finished.

Remove Stetson & bow.

End

People really do this.

Please somebody explain what's going on there.

And isn't that a minstrel tune?

MofA

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,Azizi
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 07:57 PM

FYI:
Line dancing is also an African Diaspora dance form. For example, the Calenda was a line dance that was performed among Africans in the Caribbean and in the United States {such as New Orlean's Congo Square}. One 18th century description of this dance in the Caribbean is as follows:

"The dancers are arranged in two lines, facing each other, the men on one side and the women on the other. Those who are tired of dancing form a circle with the spectators around the dancers and the drums. The ablest persons sings a song which he composes on the spot on any subject he considers appropriate. The refrain of this song is sung by everyone and is accompanied by great handclapping. As for the dancers, they hold their arms a little like someone playing castagnettes. They jump, make swift turns, approach each other to a distance of two or three feet then draw back with the beat of the drum until the sound of the drums bring them together again to strike their thighs together, that is the men's against the women's...At the proper time they withdraw with a pirouette, only to begin again with the same movement..." {Labat quoted in Lynne Fauley Emery's Black Dance from 1619 to Today, 2nd, revised edition, Princeton Books,1972, pp 21-22)

Someone asked in this thread if Ballin The Jack was a line dance. Emery describes this early 20th African American dance as a "serpentine , circular, shuffling dance" {p. 214}. I believe that "serpentine" means processional, undulating like a snake, similar to the Conga {which began as a religious processional dance}. At any rate, Ballin the Jack became a hip shakin couple's dance. So, I wouldn't consider Ballin the Jack as an example of Black line dancing. I'm too young {ahem!!} to remember Truckin', The Sroll, and The Hickhike, but I believe they were mostly vertical line dances {??}not horizontal line dances.

Among contemporary Black line dancing there are the Perculator, the Cleveland Shuffle, and one called Shake What Ya Mama Gave You. Line dancing isn't big in my adopted city of Pittsburgh, but it's starting to pop up here from the Midwest and elsewhere. Generally, the people in Pittsburgh who attend line dance classes are middle age and female, but that doesn't mean that we are the only one's doing it... While the steps are synchronized, dancers add their own flava to the mix.

If you'd like to get a sense of line dancing African American style, rent or purchase the movie Best Man. That movie ends with the entire wedding party and guests of all ages doing a line dance called the Electric Slide.

To paraphrase what someone said earlier- there's line dancing and there's LINE DANCING!

By the way, if you check out teh history of Morris Dancing, it started out as a Black thing too {Morris=Moorish=African}.

:o))

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 07:53 PM

jOhn,
When I visit England I will teach you the Bunny Hop, the Chicken Dance and the Macarena - none of this C&W line dance rubbish for us.
SINS

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 07:08 PM

the first time I heard Copperhead Road by Steve Earle was on a line dance album somebody lent me.

that is a fabulous track. they obviously dance to some good songs.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 09:52 AM

Yes. They never smile. I thought people did it for fun. what an odd way of showing it.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 12:24 AM

Hank-In my time here, Ive posted my name, address, date of birth, phone number, mothers name and place of work.

if you want to try and "bust my face" come and have a go,, i'm not scared, you don't ned to make an appointment, just turn up, i'm not scared of you or anyone else.

only thing i'm scared of is snakes and dentists.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,Hank Drygulch
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 12:16 AM

John from Hull, yew are a dirty lowdown scallywag whut ain't worth cow shit fer startin' this here insultin' thread against line dancin'! If'n I was in yer town I would find out where you hangs yer hat and git one of two things:

1. an apology
2. the pleasure of bustin' yer face

I'm Hank Drygulch and I don't cotton to folks makin' fun of other folks ways of havin' fun. I bet yew cain't line dance to save yer wu'thless skin. Yer the one who's a idiot and if you was in Texas we would tar and feather yew and run yew out of town on a rail, if'n we could find one that was old, rusty, and not fitten to use no more fer nothin' else!

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 12:01 AM

I've left this for a while, but now [having the full facts to hand] thought it was time to reply!

Quoute [Ivor biginng] "Does he sing play or dance?"
Yes, I sing,play and dance, [as well you know!]


Quoute=[same prick] "uncultered, half eductated, ill informed"

I am willing to bet real money that I am more educated, and cultured than O , Ivor Bigging!
I am university educated, and hold various proffesional qualifications, including Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition.

Whats the leverl of your qaulifications? an o level in sweeping up?

"From what I've seen and heard etc etc "
your'e obviously talking shit,
I reckon I make a fair contribution to the hull folk scene, namely by organising the Hull Folk Club, promoting local folk bands [including Punch The Horse etc] here and on other websites, and generally promoting the folk scene in and around Hull.

It may also interest you to note, that I am eligible to join Mensa [though I choose not too].


Ivor biggining-you are an idiot, you will never amount to anything, you will spend the rest of your sad life sweeping floors, accept it, that's all your'e good for.

john

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: v
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 03:21 AM

my daughter's father is a musician, and got caught up in 'c & w ' for a few years... let me tell you, where i was in Oregon and Washington, the lady line dancers were   in furs and sequined gowns, with masses of makeup and tons of jewelry, like call girls. and the guys all wore stetsons and expensive leather cowboy boots and brand new jeans.and drove expensive cars and were extremely pompous.
and the band would play the latest "achey-breaky heart" stuff, but as closet hippies, would make fun of them later in the secrecy of their insobrieties. especially the part where everybody simultaneously reaches behind their butt and waves their hand back and forth, like everybody just
passed gas...LOL
   me - i think, if my mom wanted to do it, it would be a good thing. But as far as going down in the annals of music and dancing culture, i hope it eventually goes the way of scientology and disco.
   btw - some people are even still scientologists and disco dancers, but it says a lot about them when done publically.
to each them-all's own,
v
ps (aka "bubba")

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,babeegurl
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 02:21 AM

Look line dancing isnt that great but seriously, country is cool. I came onto the site to find info on line dancing for an assiment, but all i found was people that didnt like it, which is sad. Country music rocs and basically everything counrty. im counrty bumkin you should try it sum time!

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 11:24 AM

yes

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,Robyn
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 08:10 AM

Line dancing is dancing in lines - that's all. We use all kinds of music, including country, latest pop, hip hop, latin etc and all kinds of dance steps. I have learnt Latin American dancing and am presently learning Rock and Roll (6 step) but when I my partner is not able to accompany me dancing, I would rather line dance than dance with a stranger or someone who is not able to dance properly. Line dancing is social and friendly. It helps to build self confidence. I don't have to be a wall flower, waiting for some poor bugger to work up the courage to ask me to dance - when the music plays I dance. But I agree for everyone's sake that we as line dancers should contain ourselves to line dance venues. Its logical given the routines that we perform. I can spin like a top and I can jump up into the air, clicking my heels to the side - especially to a good pop piece of music from the Top 10. Line dancing is no more rubbish than any other form of dancing! The only rubbish dancing I see is freestyle dancing around the handbag stuff at clubs by people with little or no idea of rythmn, using a total of 3 different steps all night long! LOL

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: dianavan
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 10:47 PM

My mom is a line dancer, too. I think it looks silly but when you are 79 years old, its good exercise and a pretty good way to show the world you still have a little rhythm left in you. I went to a rehearsal with her and realized I would never be able to follow the steps. I have never been able to follow choreographed moverments. I prefer rock and roll.

But John, really - sounds like mom goes out to get away from you. Maybe she wants you to get out too. It would certainly drive me out of the house if I had a son who griped about his co-workers and did nothing but sit around the house drinking beer and playing on the computer. What do you do for fun?

d

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,T Lyons
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 12:01 PM

JOhn

When you try something new and if you still don't like it then say it's crap if you've never tried it SHUT YA MOUTH!!!!!!

I've only done Line Dancing once and found it to be greaaaat fun

Line dancin is not for everyone so if ya mums happy let her be, or don't ya like ya mum havin a bit of fun????

Maybe ya jealous

There's lots of dances on the scene these days to cater for everyone, maybe ya just don't know the right move's so you go and diss it just like most people who can't do something that they actually like, maybe ya a closet linedancer!!!!! It's not all country, and some people don't like that either, thay think it should be, just so the pop world it not discredated.

Oh ya when ya learn to spell, ya might just get the dance steps write or should that be right!!!!

T Lyons

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 12:55 PM

I can't believe this rubbish thread is still shambling along! jOhn, you deserve to be flogged with a dead squid and then defenestrated from the Tower of London for launching it. I hope Penelope Rutledge seeks you out and gives you a good tongue lashing!

- LH

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,bored
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 12:28 PM

RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?

Perhaps, but not as rubbish as this thread.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: The DeanMeister
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 11:24 AM

As nobody has told you, Ivor the dickhead and Lone Shark the single brain cell are one and the same. And they are NOT my good friend ossonflags. He's been plagueing us elsewhere on this forum, though his comments on this thread are amongst his worst. Sorry guys and gals. He appears to be endeavouring to set Micheal up. Please ignore all posts from either.

He will be leaving us shortly.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Peace
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 11:12 AM

My God! Does that mean Bush is my relative?

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: kendall
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 08:00 AM

Everything is relative. To a germ, good health is a type of disease.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 05:37 AM

I take it all back ossonflags.
eric

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: lone shark
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 05:17 AM

You folks will be pleased to learn that the GUEST ivor bigginin has been revealed as a mudcat member known as Ossonflags. More details are available on other threads. I hope someone makes jOhn aware of this fact. And in answer to the question, yes, line dancing is rubbish.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 10:00 AM

I use a rolling pin and a sharp knife on my pasta.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 09:11 AM

ivor bigging-just get stuffed=you are a big load of shit, and you are rubbish, so get lost.john

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,earthling
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 08:47 AM

Ivor...I'm not up my own arse, I can take gentle criticism, jOhn is one of the funniest guys on this forum, and you have put me right off pasta. Have a nice day now.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 08:37 AM

Ivor, jOhn is not really an oaf as you probably well know, whereas you are, lighten up, join in the fun or FUCK OFF, permanently.
eric

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 05:56 AM

Gentle criticism, Ivor? "..simpering, preening sicophantic pricks"? Just like that, wholesale?

OK, your wish is granted, I won't patronise you - I don't like your behaviour in this thread. And if this is indicative of you as a person, I won't like you either.

So please don't come to any of my gigs. Stay at home and post messages about people you don't like. That way we will both be happy.

And if jOhn admits to liking you despite all, I will be happy to help with a hammer also.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,ivor bigginin
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:31 AM

Don't patronise me, I am not here to be liked.As the man said "if you can't stand the cold get out of the water".

Personally, I would rather have my testicles hammered wafer thin and fed trough a pasta maker than have that prick john the oaf like me.

The trouble with you lot is you are that far up your own arses you cant take a little gentle critisisum.

It is you lot who should "lighten up"

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Peace
Date: 22 Mar 04 - 07:58 PM

Jaysus, Igor Biginning, lighten up will ya? We all LIKE you, even jOhn, who is a closet line dancer.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 22 Mar 04 - 04:22 AM

Yo ivor, chill out man don't fight, enjoy.
eric

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,ivor bigginin
Date: 22 Mar 04 - 03:04 AM

Tam the bam (nutter), well, that about says it all doesn't it? If balloons like you read the earlier threads you would realise that these comments are not just about line dancing it is about zero's like john the oaf making unfounded and ill informed comments on subjects they clearly no nothing about.They think because a lot of you immature morons pander to ther childish comments this gives them carte blanche to do and say what they like.

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but at least let them do it in a contructive and positive way.John the oaf's arguments consist of him saying things are "crap, shit" or waffles on about the price of shit grub.From what I have heard and seen his contribution to the folk scene is to get stinking drunk on a regular basis.

Unlike you lot of simpering, preening sicophantic pricks I find none of his remarks even faintly amusing.I make no apologies for spelling mistakes,it is what is said here not how it is spelled what counts.

As for your remark about hurling abuse,sometimes the truth hurts.Maybe you lot should try it sometime,instead of picking on people because "they cannae spell"

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 08:01 PM

I did some more looking--what I have called a line dance is called the circle dance--but the principle is the same whichever you call it--you do it as an individual in a line holding hands or arms linked with other dancers, moving in a generally one direction and you don't need a partner.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 07:27 PM

Funny! I started to do a search in Google on line dancing. My terms in the advanced search were "line dancing" and "Greek Bulgarian." First Google hit is this thread!

SRS

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Compton
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 06:52 PM

Just a thought!!...Line Dancing knocked the hell out Barn Dancing in our area...It was cheaper for organisers to get someone with a record player and a Cowboy hat than a caller and 4/5 peice band!!

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 10:37 AM

What has this got to do with Line dancing, I was like that once, where I hurled abuse at other mudcatters, but I learnt all that does is it give you grief, and gets you nowhere. So just accpet people's opinions.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 10:33 AM

I totally agree with Peter, because that's what most (not all) do.
And if I'm the oaf then I'm sorry, but if not then give the person's name and that way it makes it clear as to who you are insulting.
Guest Ivor Bigginin. An it looks like you cannae spell either.
Tom
PS
Some of us aren't as clever as you, or so you think, anyway we are all entiltled to our opinions are we not.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,ivor bigginin
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 09:23 AM

Not only an oaf who can't spell now and oaf who can't read.My name is meant to be spelt like that thicko.

I see your response to my comments are at the usual leval of your intelligence and imagination - that is a big fat zero .

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 07:36 AM

I used to go a country music club (the old cowboys and stuff) and at the begining there were very few line dancers there, so you if you wanted to waltz or have a quick step you could, and then more bloody line dancers turned up and then they took over, so you couldn't get on the dance floor because of them, or you couldn't get near the bar for a drink. However if they want to look silly with their sloush cowboy stlye then they're welcome to it. But please rember Line dancers out there, that there are people like me who want to dance properly, not to look like an idiot.
But if that's want you wnat to do go ahead, but just keep out of the way of the real dancers.

See y'all

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 07:21 AM

oops, it was not Tony, it was his brother Lionel.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 07:20 AM

Tony Blair has made some line dancing videos.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 07:10 AM

A friend of mine was one of the first American line dance teachers in the UK. She had a troop called Sunsetstampede, and they travelled around the country demonstrating and teaching to all ages imaginable. They also put out a how-to video as well. Perhaps their biggest claim to fame is that one of their young dancers was Colin Farrell (of Ballikissangel/Minority Report..etc).

My friend made a LOT of money in line dancing, and I'm sure she could give many good reasons for why it became so popular, and still is in many places. But if nothing else, she's ended up with a big old bank account she can dance around in any old way she pleases.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 05:33 AM

im 13 and i do line dancing iv been doin it since i wer 7 and now i do competitions its great! im a 2x midlands champion and a british champion and a worlds champion and there are loads of people that do line dancing out there in the world millions of them! so i just wana tell u ur rong line dancing is great and im goin 2 keep on doin it and show people like u that its not crap and u r a selfish old man that cant understand that by saying theses things u might upset people!

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: C-flat
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 11:00 AM

A couple of years ago I was asked to cover guitar duties in a Pop/Rock band while their regular player was away. The band were booked to play at an American car show in Northern England which drew an enormous crowd.
They were a good band but I felt that they were taking themselves a little too seriously for their own good and the singer, in particular, had an ego the size of a planet.
At some point during the show I noticed a large group of heads in the crowd that were moving simultaneously and drew the singers attention to it,
"The bastards are LINE-DANCING to us!!!!" he choked.
I could hardly play for laughing at the bands faces and kept throwing in the occassional country lick to add to their discomfort.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Terry K
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 10:26 AM

Dancing is the vertical expression of a horizontal ambition.

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 04:19 AM

Ivor Biggining- just get lost, you spellled biggining wrong as well, stupif.john

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 04:16 AM

The American Country line dances fill an almost universal "need" for both our younger and our elder populations, it seems.

Many of the traditional "line dances" are something that people "grow up with," and there actually is an element of "learning to dance" in them. The older (and now quiet neglected) "couples dancing" requires at least minimal coordination, and at its best, a lot of practice - preferably with a favorite partner.

There being virtually no "traditions" known to our younger "clubbers," very few of them have learned to dance; and in most cases they don't keep the same partner around long enough to learn how do do it together. The result is that when they decide to "go out" they get to someplace where there's music (using the term loosely) and the girls all want to dance, but don't know how, while the guys don't want to dance because they'd have to admit that they don't know how.

The "country line dance," by prescribing a
rigidlyconfinedsetofspecificmovementsthateverybodymustdoexactlythesame
relieves the "participants" of any requirement that they bring skills and knowledge of dancing with them, particularly since at most "clubs" where country line dancing occurs, 75% of the evening is spent in "teaching" everyone the
exactsamemovesthateveryonemustmaketodancetothistune.
(And of course the moves must be "different" for each tune, so the "caller" keeps getting paid for teaching the newest one.) It provides an almost totally "brainless" activity in which even the most simple minded can participate. (Well, actually, I've seen a few failures at it.)

Instead of arriving at the location chosen for the "big night out," ordering drinks, and then sitting around wondering what to do next, someone tells you what to do and how to do it. That does solve a lot of problems for the youngsters. (And by getting them on their feet, may slightly reduce the "shooters" competition.)

I can be somewhat more sympathetic with the "elder generation." Many of them did, perhaps, know how to do at least some rudimentary form of "dance," if they're "old enough." If they're out and about, though, there's a very good chance that they are not with the partner with whom they learned it all so well. It can be very difficult to "break into" a new partner - especially with all the creaking and crackling in some of our "well ripened" bodies, (and we might not have that long to live).

The line dance provides a little mild exercise, a "focused" activity, and an excuse to get together. Again, the decision "are we gonna do it my way or are we gonna do it your way" is completely resolved, since someone will tell you what to do and how to do it. At least some of these folks could figure out something to do, if they'd leave 'em alone.

My observation has been that in most cases these older people could manage to socialize without the "dance," but when you schedule an "activity" you seem to need a "purpose," and line dancing is about as "unobjectionable" a purpose as there is (in the absence of a band that can't play anything below 95 dB or slower than 210 bpm).

Personally I don't care much for participating in it (did you guess?), but it's relatively harmless, and some people seem to enjoy it.

John

Subject: RE: Is 'Line Dancing' rubbish?
From: GUEST,Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 02:51 AM

Depending on the dance, some of the Greek ones had long lines of people circling the room. The Bulgarian dances are so fast and vigorous that shorter lines, tendrils, perhaps, form. Up to three or four people might be a line, up to six or eight if they are all of equal skill at the footwork. The point is, these dances require individuals but don't require partners.

All of my folk dancing was the International sort that Art described. I didn't partake of any of the artificial-looking American Country Music line dances.

The two-step, maybe, but not the line dances.

SRS