Country Dance Steps

A typical country dance has roots of contemporary folk and ballroom dance. Over the years, this dance form has been refined since it was originated in the pre-16th century folk dances. Although the dance is not easy to learn if you have never danced before, but with practice and determination, you can teach yourself. The basic dance steps need concentration and speed as the tempo of the songs played while dancing is high. There are two main types of dance steps ~ partner dance and group dance. Both these dance styles are illustrated in detail in the article so that you can learn them from the comforts of your home.

Basic Steps to Do the Steps

Get your boots and hat ready, take a deep breath, and let's get these country dance moves right.

Boot Scootin' Boogie
Before we can learn the boot scootin' boogie dance, we need to know how to do the brush kick and the grapevine. As both these styles are used in the boot scootin' boogie dance steps, you will need to perfect them as they can look a bit tricky.

Brush Kick: You touch the ground with your foot while doing a forward kick on your side before the foot goes forward. Perform the step only once, which means, one forward kick is equal to one brush kick.

Grapevine: Grapevine can sound a bit complicated, but if you understand the steps, it will be very easy to perform. Keep both your feet together and take your right foot to take the first step on the right side. Move to the right side as you cross your left foot behind your right foot. Step on your right foot and then your left foot. The last step will be to bring your right foot back next to the left foot. Keep doing this continuously across the floor.

Boot Scootin' Boogie Steps

1. Start with the left foot and step forward while keeping the entire body weight on it. Take half a pivot turn on the same foot toward the right and shift your weight on the right foot.
2. Do the last part again and go into a grapevine. Stomp on your right foot and clap your hands.
3. Come forward on your right foot while keeping your weight on the same foot. Take half a pivot turn on the same foot and turn to the other side (left). Shift your weight to the left foot as you turn.
4. Repeat step #2.
5. Now touch your left heel as it goes forward and then cross it over your right leg. Take a step forward with your left foot, slide the right foot toward it, and meet both the legs together.
6. Do the last part again. As you bend your knee, come forward with your left foot and swing yourself down to the left side. Don't move your feet and swing back to the other side, and now stand up straight.
7. Now come forward with your left foot and do a brush kick with the other leg (right). The left foot will act as a pivot to reach a quarter turn to the left.
8. Take your right foot and cross it in front of you while keeping the weight on the right foot itself. Clap again and start from beginning.

Schottische
This dance is performed with a partner where both are facing each other throughout the dance. Although there are variations made to the form where in the first part, the dance will have an open position and the second part will have the closed position. I will explain how this technique works. The entire dance works in an eight count. So bar 1 of the song will have eight steps.

Bar 1

• Start in your open position and come forward on your left foot.
• Take the weight on the right foot and close the right foot to the left.
• Take a step with your left foot.
• Hop on the left leg and swag your right foot forward.
• You will repeat steps 1 through 4 on your right foot. On the fourth step, you will hop and swag your left foot forward.

Bar 2

• The next eight counts will have the closed position and come forward on your left foot.
• Pivot half way around while you hop on your left foot.
• Take a step forward on your right foot.
• Pivot half way around while you hop on your right foot.
• You will repeat steps 1 through 4 and finish the count till 8. Keep repeating both the bars.

Two Step
Understand the basic knowledge of how to dance the two step style. While you're dancing, try not to pick your feet up too much because the step requires you to glide them across the floor.

Lead

• Face your partner and stand with your feet close to each other. Place your right hand over your partner's waist and keep your left hand slightly bent on one side.
• Take your partner's hand in yours. Both these steps are done before the music starts.
• As the first beat comes in, with your left foot, take a quick step forward.
• As the second beat comes in, with your right foot, take a quick step forward.
• As the third beat comes in, with your left foot, take a slow step forward.
• As the fourth beat comes in, you will take a brief pause.
• As the fifth beat comes in, with your right foot, take a slow step forward.
• As the sixth beat comes in, bring your left foot together with the right foot.
• Repeat steps 1 through 8.

Follower

• Face your partner and stand with your feet close to each other. Place your left hand on your leader's right shoulder.
• With bent elbow, keep your right palm on the leader's left hand that is stretched out.
• Do exactly the opposite of what is explained for the lead. As the leader comes forward with his left foot, you will move back with your right foot.
• You will follow the directions your leader gives you and do them in reverse.

After reading the article about country steps, I do believe you might be itching to try it for yourself. Call your friends over to your place and teach each other the techniques of country dance steps. Within a few days, you might just become a champion at dancing the basic dance steps.