American Line American Line DanceDance

BackgroundBackground•The lack of physical contact meant that line dancing was

socially accepted long before any couple dances.

•Line dancing in America is thought to have developed out of the contra dance.

•Contra dances was influenced by English and French folk dances.

BackgroundBackground•During the 1960s the contra dance transformed into line

dancing.

•The First choreographed line dance is considered to be the Tush Push, from 1980.

•In 1992 the hit song Achy Breaky Heart drew international attention to American Line dancing.

•The song also linked Line dancing with country and western.

The DanceThe Dance•Stand in lines

•Many types of steps eg. Boot scoot

•Some have simple and some have complex dance structures

•Each dance has a number of walls.

Musical Musical CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• Most commonly associated with country and western music.

• Simple melody, rhythms and harmony• 4/4 with accented 1st and 3rd beats• Single melody harmonised by backing singers• Only 2 or 3 chords-mainly tonic and dominant• Steady crotchet moment in the bass line• Regular 4 bar phrases• Verse & Chorus structure• Slides in the melody and accompaniment

Instruments

• Banjo

• Steel guitar

• Harmonica

• Accordion

• Drums