The more line dancing I do, the longer my list of favourite dances seems to get.
When I first started, I was happy if I could remember which foot I was supposed to start on. Now I hear the first few bars of certain songs and think, “Yep, I know this one!” and I’m ready to get up.
Of course, there are still plenty where I look around the room and think, What on earth are they doing? I haven’t learnt this one yet.
That’s line dancing.
So this is not an official Top 13 list. I’m not saying these are the best line dances in Australia or the most popular dances in the world. They’re simply my dances right now — the ones I know, the ones I enjoy and the ones I look forward to when the music starts, plus one at the end that I haven’t learnt yet but definitely want to.
And yes, I tried to make this a Top 10. I couldn’t.
1. Wild West & Wicked — My Number One
If you asked me today to choose my favourite line dance, this would be it.
Wild West & Wicked is a 64-count, 2-wall Improver dance choreographed by Rob Fowler, danced to Wild West & Wicked (Remix) by DJTEXX. It’s got enough going on to make me work for it, but once I get into it, I absolutely love it.
There are dances you enjoy, and then there are dances where you hear the music and immediately think: YES! This is that dance for me.
Some of these dances certainly get the heart rate up too. I’ve learnt pretty quickly that having something to drink beside the dance floor isn’t optional when we’re dancing for a few hours. If you’re the same, have a browse through my line dancing accessories — there are drink bottles, tumblers and other useful dance-night bits in there. I’ve also written about what line dancing has done for my fitness, strength and brain.
Wild West & Wicked stepsheet on CopperKnob
2. Choosin’ Texas
Another definite favourite. I dance it to Ella Langley’s Choosin’ Texas, and this one is just good fun.
It’s country, it’s easy to enjoy and it’s one of those dances I’m very happy to see come up. And that’s something I’ve realised as I’ve learnt more dances: they don’t have to be complicated to be good. Sometimes I just want to know what I’m doing and enjoy the song and the dance.
Choosin’ Texas stepsheet on CopperKnob
3. Turn This Town
Turn This Town is a 32-count, 4-wall High Beginner dance by Maddison Glover and Jo Thompson Szymanski, danced to Spencer Hatcher’s Turn This Town (Into a Honky Tonk).
I’m starting to recognise Maddison’s dances more and more now. I’ve even written about some of the choreographers I’m starting to recognise, and Maddison certainly keeps appearing on my dance list.
Turn This Town stepsheet on CopperKnob
4. Going Blonde
Yep. This one’s staying.
Going Blonde is a 32-count, 2-wall Beginner dance choreographed by Gary O’Reilly, to Going Blonde by Kaylee Rose. It’s a good reminder that Beginner doesn’t mean boring.
Sometimes it’s actually lovely to do a dance where I can stop concentrating quite so hard and just enjoy myself rather than spending the whole song thinking: What wall am I on? Was there a restart? Why is everybody facing the other direction?
We’ve all been there.
Going Blonde stepsheet on CopperKnob
5. A Rattlesnake Kiss
Not quite as new as some of the others, but definitely a goodie.
A Rattlesnake Kiss is a 32-count, 4-wall Improver dance choreographed by Maddison Glover, to Miranda Lambert’s Ain’t In Kansas Anymore.
I know this one, I enjoy it, and it’s staying on my list. That’s another thing I’ve learnt: new doesn’t automatically mean better. There are some dances that deserve to hang around.
A Rattlesnake Kiss stepsheet on CopperKnob
6. Stomp 2,3,4
The name alone sounds like line dancing, doesn’t it?
Stomp 2,3,4 is another Rob Fowler dance. It’s a 32-count, 4-wall Improver. And here’s something I particularly appreciate about this one: no tags. No restarts.
Thank you, Rob.
Sometimes my brain has quite enough to remember without someone suddenly yelling “RESTART!” halfway through.
And speaking of working up a sweat, this is where a line dancing towel earns its keep. Hydration and a towel are two little things I’m very glad to have nearby when the class gets going. You’ll find those sorts of dance-night extras in my Line Dancing Accessories collection.
Stomp 2,3,4 stepsheet on CopperKnob
7. Rhumbumbumba
Firstly, Rhumbumbumba is easier to dance than it is to say.
This is another Rob Fowler dance. It’s a 32-count, 4-wall High Beginner dance and, again, no tags or restarts.
It’s just fun. And sometimes that’s all I need to say about a line dance. If I enjoy getting up and doing it, it’s going on my list.
Rhumbumbumba stepsheet on CopperKnob
8. Twenty Two (22)
Well, everybody should know Twenty Two!
Twenty Two (22) is a 32-count, 4-wall Absolute Beginner dance choreographed by Michelle Risley, danced to Ella Langley and Riley Green’s you look like you love me.
It isn’t brand new. I don’t care. That’s one of the things I love about line dancing. A good dance doesn’t suddenly become a bad dance because twenty new ones appeared last week.
Some dances just become part of the furniture. The music starts, people recognise it and everyone gets up. Twenty Two is one of those for me.
I’m also building up the little extras at Step Culture now — keyrings, hats and gift ideas for line dancers — because sometimes you want something line-dancing related that isn’t another T-shirt. Although I’m not convinced there’s such a thing as too many line dancing shirts.
Twenty Two (22) stepsheet on CopperKnob
Shop the Dance
9. Love Potion 666
Yes, 666.
Love Potion 666 is another Rob Fowler dance — 32 counts, 2 walls and Beginner.
And this is where I sometimes have to remind myself how far I’ve come. When I first started line dancing, remembering a handful of dances seemed like an achievement. Now somebody calls a dance and quite often I find myself thinking: Oh! I know that one too.
Somewhere along the way, without really noticing, I’ve built up this whole library of dances in my head. Where they’re all stored in there, I have absolutely no idea.
Love Potion 666 stepsheet on CopperKnob
10. Strummingbird
Of course Strummingbird had to make my list.
This is another Maddison Glover choreography. It’s a 32-count, 4-wall Absolute Beginner dance to James Johnston’s ONE MORE.
This is one I know well enough now that I can actually enjoy what’s happening around me instead of spending the entire dance watching somebody else’s feet. That’s progress.
And if you’re new to line dancing and currently spending most of the class watching the feet in front of you, don’t worry. I did it too. I’ve put together some of the things that have helped me in How to Learn New Line Dances Faster.
Strummingbird stepsheet on CopperKnob
11. “A Bar Song”
Surely this one needs very little introduction anymore.
“A Bar Song” is Ben Murphy’s 32-count, 4-wall Beginner dance to Shaboozey’s A Bar Song (Tipsy).
It’s been around for a couple of years now and I’m still putting it on my list. Why? Because it’s fun.
When that music starts and a floor full of people know what’s coming, there’s something really enjoyable about everybody getting up and dancing it together. Not everything has to be the newest dance released last Thursday.
“A Bar Song” stepsheet on CopperKnob
12. Ziggy
Yep, Ziggy gets a spot too.
It’s a 32-count, 4-wall Absolute Beginner dance choreographed by Gary Lafferty to I wanna dance with somebody by Ziggy in tha House.
And this is exactly the sort of dance I like mixed into a class. I enjoy learning the more challenging dances, but I don’t want every dance to feel like I’m sitting an exam. Sometimes I just want to hear the music, know the dance and have fun.
13. Lord Willing — The One I Want to Learn
And finally, I’m cheating.
I don’t know this one yet.
Lord Willing is a newer Maddison Glover dance. It’s 24 counts, 4 walls and High Beginner, danced to Pynk Beard’s Mine, Lord Willing.
I’ve seen it. I want to learn it. And it’s now sitting firmly on my “Right. That’s next.” list.
That’s the trouble with line dancing. You can learn dance after dance after dance and still discover another one you suddenly desperately need to know.
Maybe next time I update this list, I’ll be able to tell you whether Lord Willing made the jump from want to learn to one of my favourites.
Lord Willing stepsheet on CopperKnob
And One More I Couldn’t Leave Out…
Pour Me a Drink!
I know, I know — I said this was my list and somehow I left this one off.
Pour Me a Drink is another one I enjoy, and considering I’ve now got a Pour Me a Drink, Let’s Dance T-Shirt to go with it, I really couldn’t finish without giving it a mention.
Maybe that’s what happens when you learn too many line dances — eventually you need a list just to remember your list!
So, What’s on Your List?
That’s mine — for now.
There are Absolute Beginner dances here, Beginner dances, High Beginners and Improvers. Some are new, some have been around for a while, and some I could happily keep dancing for years.
And I think that’s actually one of the best things about line dancing. I don’t have to love every new dance that comes along. I find the ones I love.
If you’re fairly new to line dancing and you’ve read this thinking, I only know two of those, don’t worry. I remember when I hardly recognised any of the dance names being called.
I kept turning up. I kept practising. I used YouTube at home when I needed extra help. And gradually, more and more of those strange dance names started becoming familiar.
Then one day someone puts a song on that you haven’t heard for months and you suddenly think: Hang on… I know this!
That’s a pretty good feeling.
A Little Something for Your Next Dance Night
Whether it’s a new line dancing T-shirt, a drink bottle to keep you hydrated, a dance towel, a hat, or one of the little keyrings and gifts, I’ve been adding more things to Step Culture that I’d actually use or give to another line dancer myself.
Browse my Gift Ideas for Line Dancers or have a look through the wider Step Culture line dancing clothing, gifts and accessories collection.
So now I’m curious: If you could only choose THREE line dances to dance tonight, which three would you pick?
Mine? Well, I’ve already given away number one.
Wild West & Wicked. Every time.
