Styles of Dance: Country and Western
Two types of country western dance are square dances and line dances. Country music and a caller, who tells the dancers what to do, are traditional for square dancing. Standard steps, sometimes following a lead dancer, are traditional for line dancing. Both are participatory activities usually without a formal audience. In square dancing, the dancers form couples. Rather than learning several specific dances and choosing one based on the music as in swing, square dancers learn several basic steps and the caller choreographs the performance on the fly. All couples complete the same movements. In line dancing, several basic steps and dances are learned. Then large groups form lines and do the same moves side by side. Traditional outfits include knee length A-line skirts for women and cowboy hats and boots for men.
Styles of Dance: Country and Western
