Line-dancing is a form of group dance performed in one or more lines or rows. A prevalent part of American culture and known all around the world today – line-dancing is a social dance, often performed at bars, dance clubs and ballrooms. Each dance is usually accompanied by a specific song (usually Country) and repeated choreography. Some of the classic line dances include ‘Electric Slide’ and ‘Madison’.
The origin of line-dancing is widely contested, however many believe it was brought to North America by European immigrants in the 1800s, where it soon gained popularity. By the mid 20th century, the dance style transformed into country-western dancing we know today.
When Billy Ray Cyrus’s ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ was released, line-dancing was catapulted into worldwide mainstream media. Suddenly line-dancing wasn’t restricted to Country music and cowboy boots. We soon saw line-dances incorporate various cultural dance styles such as salsa, hip-hop and disco, accompanied by music from all over the world. Some of the more memorable dances still popular today, such as the ‘Macarena’ and ‘Cha Cha Slide’.
Each line dance will consist of a number of ‘walls’, which translates to the direction the dancers face. In a ‘one-wall dance’, dancers will face the same direction at the beginning and end of the sequence. A ‘two-wall dance’ means the dancers will end on the opposite wall to when they started the sequence. A ‘four-wall dance’ means the sequence will end on one of the other two walls – 90 degrees from where the sequence was started.
Some of the common moves seen in line-dancing are:
- Ball Change (Transferring weight from the ball of one foot to the other)
- Scoot (Hopping or sliding with one foot raised)
- Slap (Slapping the opposite foot or knee)
- Dig (Swinging the toe, heel or ball of the free foot to the floor with emphasis)
The good thing about line dancing is the steps are often repeated, meaning it can be easier to get the hang of!
Here are 5 Benefits of Line-Dancing for your Physical and Mental Health:
Improves Cardiovascular Health
Line dancing is an excellent form of aerobic exercise – helping you to maintain a healthy heart. The continuous movement and rhythm variations will elevate your heart rate, and the varying speeds of the routines will help you control how much you exert yourself and how hard your heart works.
Regular participation can help lower your blood pressure, enhance circulation and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Strengthens Bones & Muscles
Line dancing involves working various muscle groups, including your legs, hips and core. Many of the movements involve lots of impact with your feet and the floor, which in turn helps build your bone density.
With these two aspects combined, the repetitive steps will help tone your muscles and strengthen your bones, leading to improved endurance and muscle strength. This will also help with maintaining better posture and reduced muscle stiffness.
Improves Memory
Memory recall is often challenged during line-dancing. Though the movements and routines are often repeated, turning to face different walls during the routines will enhance your memory recall as you perform from various angles.
Line dancing requires body movements accompanied by complex brain functions. This increase of brain activity helps the participant to develop new synapses and improve connections between neurons. This increased connection allows for better memory recall and problem-solving capabilities.
Great for Social Interaction
Primarily, line-dancing is a form of socialization and a highly enjoyable pass time by people all around the world – dancers and non-dancers alike!
Line-dancing classes are opportunities to meet new people, build relationships and improve confidence. A study on the effects of line-dancing on mental health after Covid-19, with the sample consisting of 14 dancers with an average age of 65, showed consistent participation can reduce depression and lead to greater life satisfaction and happiness.
Improves Balance and Coordination
Many of the movements prevalent in line-dancing, such as the kick ball changes and pivot turns, encourage you to transfer weight quickly from one foot to the other. Consistently performing these steps will lead to improved balance and co-ordination, as well as improved confidence, allowing you to quickly move your feet in a situation where you may fall. Regular line-dancing can also improve your gait and walking speed.
“Line dancing is magical – it has the power to bring people together, make strangers into friends, and turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary one.”
– Unknown
Xpress-Yourself Dance CIC run weekly Keep Dancing classes, suitable for older adults across, Birmingham, Solihull, Walsall, Sandwell and online. Keep Dancing will teach you dances from around the world with no need for a dance partner. Find your nearest Keep Dancing class here.
If you enjoyed reading 5 Benefits of Line-Dancing for your Physical and Mental Health, you might want to consider reading 5 Benefits of Bachata for your Body and Brain.
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