4 Fun Things to Know About the History of Country Music Line Dancing
At our award-winning country music show in Pigeon Forge TN, you’ll have the chance to see mesmerizing production numbers with our talented cast of singers and dancers! One of the most iconic parts is the country line dances, which some suggest goes all the way back to the 1800s when early settlers in the American West and South brought folk dances from Europe! Here are 4 fun things to know about the history of country music line dancing:
1. Roots in Folk Tradition
While the exact origins of country music line dancing are not entirely clear, it’s likely that at least some of the steps and terminology used in modern line dancing originated from the dances brought to North America by European immigrants in the 1800s. The style that would later be known as country western dance began to emerge from these dances throughout the 1860s to 1890s, and many schools in the USA started to incorporate folk dancing into physical education classes in the 1900s. This led to popularizing folk and country dancing as a social activity!
2. Line Dancing Solidifies as a Genre in the 1970s and Early 1980s
Although the 1970s were famously known as the disco era, the period was defined by a number of dance crazes that swept America, including country line dancing! Many people are quick to associate this time with disco alone, but the era also saw major changes to the country music scene.
It was during this time that many popular country line dances were created, such as the “Walking Wazi” and the “Cowboy Boogie”. When the hit film Urban Cowboy with John Travolta was released in 1980, it created a massive nationwide interest in country western culture that moved country music line dancing from local bars into the mainstream!
3. Mainstream Explosion in the 1990s
Line dancing was already firmly established as a trend in the 1990s, but the arrival of Billy Ray Cyrus’s country Western hit “Achy Breaky Heart” in 1992 launched the dance format into peak global popularity! While line dancing retains deep roots in country music, the dance format spread out to more pop-centric musical genres thanks to its newfound mainstream appeal! This led to a flurry of popular songs such as the Macarena and Cha-Cha Slide, both of which are still often played at parties and weddings!
4. Modern Evolution of Country Music Line Dancing
Just like disco, the massive popularity of country line dancing has declined in the eyes of the public over the years. However, you can rest assured that line dancing is still very much alive and well! The old classics are still danced to in country music venues around the world, including right here in Pigeon Forge at our live country music show!
See Country Music Line Dancing in Action
If you love everything “country music” related, just wait until you see our talented performers live on stage, moving their feet to country music line dancing! Learn more about our country music show in Pigeon Forge TN today to plan your visit. We look forward to seeing you in our audience soon!
