How to teach a line dance class: structure and first dances

To teach a line dance class, learn the dance and its step sheet first, then teach it in short chunks of eight counts, with the count spoken aloud before you add music. Put your back to the class so they can copy you, repeat each chunk until it’s steady, and finish with a dance everyone knows.

Line dance is back in community halls and studios, and it’s easy to see why. There’s no partner to find, no special footwear, and a typical beginner dance is short enough to pick up quickly. For a teacher it’s also low on preparation, because step sheets and videos for a huge number of dances are free to find online.

This guide explains how to structure a class, the words you’ll meet on a step sheet and how to teach a first dance with confidence, even if you’re new to line dance.

What line dance is, in plain terms

In a line dance, everyone dances the same set of steps, in lines, facing the same direction, without a partner. The steps are written down in a sequence called a step sheet or script. Most dances turn a quarter or half turn as they go, so the dancers end up facing a different wall of the room each time the sequence repeats.

Step sheets say how many counts the dance has, how many walls it uses and what level it’s for. On the CopperKnob website, for example, you’ll see dances listed as things like “32 Count 4 Wall Beginner” or “32 Count 2 Wall Absolute Beginner”. That tells you the dance is 32 counts long, that it faces four walls (or two) and that it’s suited to new dancers.

Our own post on line dance and your daytime timetable explains why many teachers are adding it, and where to find ready made material.

Words you’ll see on a step sheet

You don’t need to learn every term in a day. These are the ones that matter most for a first class.

• Count. The beats of the music, numbered in eights. A 32 count dance has four sets of eight.
• Wall. The direction the dancers face. A 4 wall dance repeats facing each of the four walls in turn. A 2 wall dance repeats facing two walls.
• Step sheet or script. The written steps of the dance, split into sections with the counts.
• Tag. A short extra section added at certain points in the dance. Beginner dances often have none.
• Restart. A point where the dance starts again early, partway through the sequence. Pick dances without restarts for your first few weeks.
• Phrased. A dance that follows the musical phrases in a set order, rather than repeating continuously. Leave these until later.

Starter steps you’ll see again and again include the step touch, the grapevine (or vine), the shuffle or triple step, the rock step, the kick ball change and quarter turn pivots. Practise these yourself before you teach them.

Choose your first dances

Pick dances rated for absolute beginners or beginners, with 32 counts, one or two walls or four walls, and no tags or restarts. Check the music too: listen to the whole track, check the lyrics are suitable for your hall and make sure the tempo isn’t too fast for new dancers.

Our daytime timetable post suggests easy dances for the first few weeks, such as Stand By Me, Wings To Fly, The Last Shanty and Honkytonk Heartache, with links to scripts and video tutorials. CopperKnob lets you search by level and music, so you can browse for options that suit your group.

Learn the dance well before you teach it. Walk through the counts at home, dance it with the music and practise the turns, because dancers will watch you for clues.

A simple structure for a one hour class

A shape you repeat each week helps new dancers settle.

1. Welcome and warm up (5 to 10 minutes). Greet people, check for injuries and do a gentle warm up that raises the heart rate and prepares ankles, knees and hips.
2. Recap (10 minutes). Dance something familiar, so everyone starts with a win.
3. Teach a new dance (20 minutes). Break it down, as explained below.
4. A second dance (10 to 15 minutes). Revise a dance from last week or introduce a short easy one.
5. Social dancing (10 minutes). Put on a favourite and let people join in or take requests.
6. Cool down (5 minutes). Stretch and say what’s next week.

Keep the class lively and give people a chance to chat. For many adults, the social side is the main reason to come.

How to teach a new dance

1. Show the whole dance first. Dance it once to the music so everyone sees what they’re aiming for.
2. Teach in chunks of eight counts. Start with the first eight counts, with no music, counting aloud.
3. Walk it through. Say the steps as you do them, such as “right, together, right, touch”.
4. Add the count. Say “5, 6, 7, 8” to bring them in.
5. Repeat until steady. Do it two or three times before adding more.
6. Add the next chunk. Put the two sections together, then move on.
7. Add the music. Once the dancers have the whole dance, try it with the music, at first at a gentle pace.
8. Turn to a new wall. Show how the turn changes the direction, and let the dancers face the new wall.

Teaching tips that help

• Turn your back to the class. Dancers can copy your steps more easily when you face the same way they do. Turn round to explain, then back again to show.
• Use your voice. Call the next step just before it comes, for example “vine right, then touch”.
• Keep instructions short. Say the step, show it and let them try.
• Place yourself where everyone can see you. Stand at the front, or move round the room so those at the back get a clear view.
• Be kind about mistakes. Smile and carry on. Most dancers are more worried about getting it wrong than you are.

Space, floor and footwear

You need room for each dancer to move, and for the class to turn to every wall. Leave about an arm’s length between dancers, and check that nobody’s in the way when the dance turns.

Look at the floor before you start. Choose footwear that lets the feet turn smoothly without sticking or slipping, and ask dancers to avoid anything that grips the floor tightly. Keep chairs at the side for people who want to rest, and invite anyone who has a health worry to dance at their own pace. Our guide to creating an inclusive dance space has practical ideas for welcoming dancers of every ability.

If children come along, your safeguarding duties apply in the usual way. Our guide to safeguarding in dance schools is a good place to begin.

Music, licences and promoting your class

If you play recorded music in a hall, studio or community centre, you’ll usually need a music licence. PPL PRS says that if you’re an instructor or dance teacher who hosts classes in venues such as church halls or community centres, you need a music licence in place, and that you should check a streaming service’s terms allow commercial use before you play it in class. Our music licence guide for dance classes explains how it works. Check your own situation directly with PPL PRS, as this is general guidance, not legal advice.

When it comes to getting people through the door, keep the message simple: no partner needed, no experience needed, come as you are. Our social media tips for dance teachers have ideas for sharing short clips of your class.

Quick checklist

• Learn the dance and its step sheet before class.
• Choose beginner dances with 32 counts and no tags or restarts.
• Check the music, the lyrics and the tempo.
• Teach in chunks of eight counts, counted aloud first.
• Face the same way as the class to demonstrate.
• Leave space for turning to all walls.
• Have a music licence, and know where to check.
• Keep chairs and rest breaks available.
• End with a dance everyone enjoys.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a line dancer to teach a line dance class?

You need to know the dances you teach, and be able to count and explain them clearly. Learn each dance from the step sheet and video, practise it until it’s secure and start with easy dances.

How many dances should I teach in a class?

For beginners, one new dance each week is plenty, with a recap of a familiar dance and some social dancing. Add a second new dance once the group is confident.

What’s the difference between a tag and a restart?

A tag is a short extra section added at certain points in the dance. A restart means you stop the dance partway and begin again from the top. Both can confuse beginners, so choose dances without them at first.

Where do I find step sheets and music?

Websites such as CopperKnob list step sheets by level and music. Check the music and the lyrics, and make sure you have the right music licence for the way you play it.

How long does it take to learn a beginner dance?

It varies from group to group. Beginner dances are short, but it takes a few weeks of repeating a dance before it feels natural. Come back to each dance often, because confidence comes from repetition.

Can I teach line dance to a mixed ability group?

Yes. Choose a dance that suits the newest dancers, then add small challenges for the more experienced, such as styling or a different arm. Let people dance at their own pace and keep it friendly.

Plan your first few weeks

A line dance class is simple to start and easy to grow. Pick three or four beginner dances, learn them well and keep a repeating class shape. If you’re deciding where line dance fits in your week, read our guide to building a dance school timetable.