The Basics
Basic dance steps are the building blocks of all dances—both for couples dancing and line dancing. Learn the basic steps first and then string them together in the correct series. Now you are dancing!
Table of Contents — The Basics
Starting Stances
How should I stand?
Every dance starts standing with your feet aligned with your shoulders and your weight slightly shifted forward onto the balls of your feet.
Where should I stand?
For a line dance, stay about 5 feet from your neighbor if possible to give them room. Everyone takes a misstep sometime. Giving your neighbor extra room helps prevent a collision on the dance floor when either of you turn the wrong way! Practice good posture and let your hands hang naturally along the side of your legs.
What about standing with a partner?
For couples dancing there are three main starting positions:
- Open position is when the couple stands facing each other holding hands. Feet should be misaligned so that when stepping straight forward your foot has a place to go. Your left foot will land beside your partner’s right foot and your right foot will have room between your partner’s feet.
- Closed position is like open position, but the lead’s left hand should be holding the follower’s right at shoulder height. The lead’s right hand should be placed on the follower’s left shoulder blade. The follower’s hand should lightly grasp the lead’s arm just under the shoulder muscle and above the bicep. Make sure you can step forward without stepping on your partner’s feet, just like in open position!
- Promenade position has both partner’s facing the same direction. The lead should stand on the left of the follower. The right leg of the lead would be only three inches from the follower’s left leg were it not for the lead should be a step behind the follower’s position! The lead’s right hand should hold the follower’s right hand just to the right of the follower’s right shoulder. The lead’s left hand should hold the follower’s left hand a few inches in front of the lead’s heart.
Anchor Step
A left anchor step:
- Shift all your weight to your left foot and then step with your right foot behind your left foot so that the ball or arch of your right foot almost touches the heel of your left foot. Take weight on your right foot.
- Shift your weight back to your left foot. This is your “anchored” foot and so doesn’t move!
- Step returning your right foot to its original place.
A right anchor step is the mirror opposite exchanging left and right feet.
Although it takes three steps, they are not counted as whole beats. The counting is “1-&-2” or “5-&-6”, not “1-2-3” or “4-5-6”.
Coaster Step
A left coaster step:
- Shift all your weight to your right foot and then step straight back with your left foot placing your toes just behind where your left heel used to be. Take weight on your left foot.
- Step straight back with your right foot placing your toes just behind where your right heel used to be. Take weight on your right foot.
- Step forward returning your left foot to its original place.
A right coaster step is the mirror opposite exchanging left and right feet.
Although it takes three steps, they are not counted as whole beats. The counting is “1-&-2” or “5-&-6”, not “1-2-3” or “4-5-6”.
Grapevine
A leftward moving grapevine:
- Shift all of your weight to the left foot and then step with your right foot crossing in front of your left leg so that the heel of your right foot is near your left foot’s smallest toe. Take weight on your right foot.
- Step with your left foot to place it once again beside the right foot.
A grapevine to the right is the mirror opposite with the left leg crossing in front of the right leg.
The grapevine is usually counted as two whole beats as “1-2” or “5-6”.
Monterrey Turn
A left Monterrey turn:
- Shift all your weight to the toes of your right foot and slightly bend your right knee.
- Push off with your right foot transferring weight to your left foot. Spin half a turn on the ball of your left foot so that your right shoulder goes backward.
- Step on your right foot placing it beside your left foot. You are now facing directly opposite of your starting position.
A right Monterrey turn is the mirror opposite exchanging left and right feet.
Although it takes three steps, they are not counted as whole beats. The counting is “1-&-2” or “5-&-6”, not “1-2-3” or “4-5-6”.
If you have played basketball, this should seem very familiar. You are doing a basketball pivot that rotates you 180 degrees!
Rock Step
A left side rock step:
- Shift all of your weight to your right foot and then step with your left foot 6 inches to your left. Take weight on your left foot.
- Slightly bend your left knee and push off transferring weight to your right foot and step with your left foot returning it to its original location beside your right foot.
A right side rock step is the mirror opposite exchanging left and right feet. A forward rock step or backward rock step can also be done by stepping forward or backward instead of to the side.
The rock step is usually counted as two whole beats as “1-2” or “5-6”, but can also be counted as “1-&” or “5-&”.
Sailor Step
A left sailor step:
- Shift all your weight to your left foot and then step with your right foot behind your left foot so that your right foot lands at least 9 inches behind the heel of your left foot. Take weight on your right foot.
- Shift your weight back to your left foot. This foot doesn’t move!
- Step returning your right foot to its original place.
A right sailor step is the mirror opposite exchanging left and right feet.
Although it takes three steps, they are not counted as whole beats. The counting is “1-&-2” or “5-&-6”, not “1-2-3” or “4-5-6”.
The sailor step is not much unlike its nautically named cousin the anchor step. However, as you may think of the anchor step as a quick step needed to steady yourself on a rocking ship at anchor, the sailor step is more like a quick step to steady yourself on the rolling seas!
