Find community and a multi- genre playlist at line dancing
— beginners, sneakers and pop music fans welcome
Decades after “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and “Achy Breaky Heart” helped propel it into a national craze, line dancing is experiencing a renaissance, particularly in New England. From the Seacoast to the Lakes Region, in nightclubs, town halls and senior centers, across the spectrum of ages, the blend of choreography, fitness and just plain fun is back — but with a fresh soundtrack.
Go out to The Goat in Manchester, Bernie’s Beach Bar in Hampton or the Big House in Laconia, to name a fraction of venues offering weekly nights of line dancing, and it’s likely the crowded floors will be moving in time to Pitbull, Dasha or Eminem along with Keith Urban and Blake Shelton.
To put a finer point on it: This isn’t a country revival. It’s not even a rebranding, but an old thing repurposed for an entire genre of music that heretofore did not know it existed. It’s fueled in no small part by a generation with a preference for comfortable shoes over cowboy boots.
Cathy Garland teaches all over New England. She was around for the line dancing’s first wave, watched it ebb and relished its return, She has a theory about its current resurgence.
“I’m gonna honestly say that social media probably plays the biggest role,” she said. “I know there are the classic line dance instructors who have been hardcore for 50-60 years. The last thing they want to see is a young person doing a line dance on TikTok and maybe adding their own flair or changing the choreography a little bit. But for me that can only help.”
The new blood keeps Garland agile when she hosts a dance.
“On any given night, I might think I’m gonna play ABCD, and then I look at the crowd and I’m like, ‘nope, we’re switching it up,’” she said. “I love the fact that I can take a large group of people and have them move together as one, and make it fun and entertaining.”
There are a lot of great things about line dancing. For starters, it’s a way to be active for all ages. Gail Eaton teaches at senior centers in Nashua, Pelham and Hudson to students age 50 and up. “Most of them are in their 60s, 70s, and I have several in their 80s,” she said. “I have one that’s turning 90 this year.”
Jennifer Hanson is the owner of Dance The Line and teaches several classes on the Seacoast.
“One of my oldest students is turning 90 this year,” Hanson said, “I always ask her what’s her key, and she says, ‘Don’t stop moving.’ She’s like, ‘If I stop, you know what’s going to happen? I don’t want to talk about it.’”
It’s also a great tool for easing everyday struggles. Kathleen Crocker first tried line dancing to momentarily forget about her job as a high school principal, in 2012. Crocker now runs 603 Line Dance with Kim Murray Carpentino. The organization holds events at Bonfire and The Goat in Manchester, Tuscan Village in Salem, Lakeport Opera House in Laconia, and a few Seacoast spots.
“I needed an outlet where I could forget about my day, and line dancing did that for me, because you can’t do it and think about your troubles — you have to think about what you’re doing,” she said. “Everybody gets drawn to it for different reasons. Some are lonely and need something different, some are feeling sick or sad … some come as a couple. People have met and gotten married because they found each other on the dance floor.”
The absolute best thing about line dancing, however, is that it’s very easy to learn and welcomes newcomers. If you can’t figure out the steps to one song, wait for another. Gail Eaton, who runs On The Dance Floor, has a YouTube video for what she calls Absolute Beginners that covers the basics.
“They need to know a grapevine, something called a rocking chair, a jazz box, a Charleston kick,” she said. “I teach in sections of eight. So we have a 32-count dance. It’s broken down into four sections of eight counts. If you know how to walk, you know how to count to eight.”
Equally important is what not to know. Ginger Kozlowski started line dancing in 1995 and began teaching five years later. She now holds classes in Bedford, at the Old Town Hall. She almost didn’t attend that first dance, worried that it was some ‘yee-haw’ affair, but got hooked when “I’m Too Sexy” was the first song played. She doesn’t want others to make that mistake.
“What drives me nuts about line dancing is that people have this hokey stereotype about it,” she said, “Some people wear boots and cowboy hats, including me at times. But most just wear sneakers, jeans, T-shirts [and] we dance to all kinds of music, including country, pop, rock, Irish, waltzes, you name it. There’s a wide range of skill levels, from simple walking and stomping patterns to complicated routines that take a lot of practice.”
A great website to look at the many line dances created over the years is copperknob.co.uk. It offers detailed steps from easy to hard and includes profiles of choreographers — some of whom are contributors to this story. If you want to see how complex The Sphinx dance is, for example, this is the place.
Right now the Seacoast is a jumping spot for line dancing enthusiasts. Michelle Jackson-White runs three different gatherings every week, all summer long. On Mondays at Bernie’s Beach Bar in Hampton Beach she leads Country Nights, and on Thursdays she’s at the more family-friendly Seashell Stage. Tuesdays, the action happens across the border at Surfside on Salisbury Beach.
Each dance is different. Monday’s crowd is varied and often includes people who need help with dancing. That’s something readily provided at pretty much every line dance. At a given moment, she’ll call the curious to the center of the room to demonstrate an easy set of moves.
This is not for the seasoned steppers, she explained. “Dancer-dancers can do them with their eyes closed, but this is for somebody brand new that doesn’t dance. So several times throughout the night I’ll say, OK, after this, a micro-lesson. People are hanging around, it’s a good party vibe, that’s the thing.”
The Tuesday event in Salisbury is also taught by 603 Line Dance’s Kathleen Crocker and “is more like a social night,” Jackson-White observed, with lots of open dancing and couples pairing off along with line dancing. “There’s so many people. Then Thursday is, for me personally, more business and professional.”
Music, as the Bernie’s night’s title suggests, includes more than a little country, but every instructor says that being flexible with the playlist is crucial given the diversity of the ever-growing audience. Crocker, for her part, believes this is much easier than most people might think.
“We can put dances to multiple different songs, depending upon the beat and how the dance works,” she said. “Initially, every dance is choreographed with a particular song in mind, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done to a different song, depending upon the steps and the beat of the music. There are dances that can go to a hundred different songs out there.”
Anyway, if tossing the ten-gallon hat and the pure country tune for Eminem or Nickelback inspires a ballcap wearing twentysomething to become a new convert, it’s worth it. Everyone’s welcome, all genres are played, and anything can happen at these happy get-togethers.
All that’s asked is for folks to jump in line and smile.
“The dance floor is your happy place,” Jennifer Hanson insists. “It’s a community. We call it our dance family because we’re together more than we see our own family sometimes, as much as you like to dance. It’s the happy place where you get to meet other people and exercise and forget about everything else that’s going on in the world. You can just focus on the music, and the dance, and it’s … just a happy place.”
Where to line dance
If you’re looking for a line dance, first check out the calendar hosted by Ginger Kozlowski at bit.ly/4jwZncR, which is growing daily. Here are several recurring events and few one-offs, including dates, times, cost and level of difficulty. Most if not all welcome absolute beginners.
Old Town Hall, 10 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford
Host: Ginger Kozlowski
Price: $7-$10
Level: All
When: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (begins September), 7 p.m.
Broadway North Dance Studio, 217 DW Highway, Belmont, 524-6225
Host: Sue
Price: $90 per person for 10
Level: Beginner
When: Mondays 6:45-8:15 p.m.
Bow Community Building, 3 Bow Center Road, Bow
Host: Michele Vecchione
Price: $61 for 8 classes for residents, $65 non-Bow residents
Level: Absolute Beginner, Beginner, Improver
When: Mondays Beginner & Wednesday Improver
Brookline Event Center, 32 Proctor Hill Road, Brookline (673-4474)
Host: Bernie Barrette
Price: $5 Beginner, $6 Beyond
Level: Beginner, Improver
When: Mondays 6-8:30 p.m.
Line Dance Classes, 8 Raymond Road, Deerfield (463-8811, ext. 305)
Host: Joe Manzi
Price: $4
Level: All
When: Wednesdays 6 p.m.
Upper Village Hall, 52 East Derry Road, Derry (396-0753)
Host: Linda Alfonsi & Mark Sandland
Price: $10 per person
Level: All
When: Thursdays 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Dover Elks, 282 Durham Road, Dover (782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $15, no outside drinks, bar will be open
Level: Partner Dance Event
When: Aug. 1, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19, 7-10:30 p.m.
Dover Elks, 282 Durham Road, Dover (502-5917)
Host: Dance The Line
Price: $10, cash only
Level: All
When: Mondays, 6-7:30 p.m. Beginner & 7:30-9 p.m. Intermediate
Epping American Legion, 232 Route 125, Epping (782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $10 for the night
Level: Beginner, Improver & Intermediate
When: Wednesdays, 6-7 p.m. Beginner, 7-9 p.m. Improver/Intermediate
Francestown Town Hall, 2 New Boston Road, Francestown (562-8910)
Host: Dorene Adams
Price: $5
Level: Absolute Beginner, Beginner
When: Tuesdays 7 p.m.
Bernie’s Beach Bar, 73 Ocean Blvd., Hampton (nashvillelinedance.com)
Host: Nashville Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Mondays 7-11 p.m.
Seashell Stage, 180 Ocean Blvd., Hampton (nashvillelinedance.com)
Host: Nashville Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Thursdays 6-7 p.m.
Where: Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, 15 School St., Hillsborough (562-8910)
Host: Dorene Adams
Price: $5
Level: Absolute Beginner, Ultra Beginner, Beginner
When: Mondays 7 p.m.
Where: Hudson Senior Center, 19 Kimball Hall Road, Hudson (782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $5 members, $7 non-members
Level: Beginner, Intermediate
When: Thursdays, 9-10 a.m. Beginner, 10-11:30 a.m. Intermediate
Where: Saddle Up Saloon, 92 Route 125, Kingston (347-1313)
Host: Linda Alfonsi
Price: $15 per person
Level: Absolute Beginner, Ultra Beginner, Beginner, Improver
When: Tuesday 7-9 p.m.
Where: Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave., Laconia (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: $15 at the door or Venmo
Level: All
When: Sunday, Aug, 24, 7-10:30 p.m.
Where: The Big House, 322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia (granitestatestomp.com)
Host: Granite State Stomp
Price: Free
Level: All levels
When: Fridays, Aug. 1 & 15, 6-9 p.m., lessons at 7 p.m.
Where: Bonfire, 958 Elm St., Manchester (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: 5 p.m. Advanced, 6 p.m. Beginner
When: Sundays 6 p.m.
Where: The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Mondays & Wednesdays 7 p.m.
Where: Nashua Senior Center, 70 Temple St., Nashua (603-782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $5 members, $7 non-members
Level: Beginner
When: Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. Beginners, 10-11:30 a.m. Intermediate
Where: Old Homestead Farm, 7159 Greenville Road, New Ipswich (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: $15 at the door or Venmo
Level: All
When: Saturdays, Aug. 16, 7 p.m.
Where: Fox Run Dance Hall, 50 Fox Run Road, Newington (dancetheline.net)
Host: Dance The Line
Price: $10, cash only
Level: Beginner, Intermediate
When: Wednesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. Beginners, 7:30-9 p.m. Intermediates
Where: Rockingham Ballroom, 22 Ash Swamp Road, Newmarket (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: $15 at the door or Venmo
Level: All
When: Friday, Aug. 8
Where: The Gathering Place, 1471 First NH Turnpike, Northwood (dancetheline.net)
Host: Dance The Line
Price: $10, cash only
Level: Beginner
When: Tuesdays 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Hobbs Community Center, 8 Nashua Road, Pelham (603-782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $5
Level: Beginner
When: Mondays 1 p.m.
Where: George Maloof, 101 Fairgrounds Road, Plymouth (603-536-1179)
Host: George Maloof
Price: $5
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
When: 2nd & 4th Sundays only, 4-6:30 p.m.
Where: Eastside Tavern, 43 Highland St., Rochester (dancetheline.net)
Host: Dance The Line
Price: Free
Level: open dancing & requests
When: Thursdays 7-8 p.m. (co-host Michelle Jackson-White)
Where: Tuscan Village Outdoor, Stage 9 Via Toscana, Salem (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Thursdays 6-8p
Where: Dellicolli Dance Studio, 875 Lafayette Road, Seabrook (603-782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $10 beginner, $15 for both
Level: Beginner, Improver & Intermediate
When: Mondays 6-7 p.m. Beginner, 7-8:30 p.m. Improver/Intermediate
Where: Bow Lake Community Center (The Grange), 569 Province Road, Strafford (dancetheline.net)
Host: Dance The Line
Price: $10, cash only
Level: Beginner
When: Tuesdays 10-11:30 a.m.
Where: Pembroke City Limits, 134 Main St., Suncook (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Saturday, Aug. 2, 6 p.m.
Where: Smitty’s Theatre & Game Lab, 630 W. Main St., Tilton (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Tuesdays
Where: Bent-Burke Post 10 American Legion, 24 Maple St., Wilton (562-8910)
Host: Dorene Adams
Price: $5
Level: Beginner, Improver
When: Thursdays 7 p.m.
Where: Windham Senior Center, 2 N. Lowell Road, Windham (782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $5 pay as you go
Level: Beginner (6-7p), Improver & Intermediate (7p)
When: Thursdays 9:45-10:45 a.m.
Ginger Kozlowski on What’s Awesome About Line Dancing
It is for ANYONE! All ages, all body types. You will feel better physically and emotionally. You can meet new people and make friends. You will have FUN! Best of all, there’s nothing better for keeping your mind and body healthy.
If you dance with me, I try hard to make it all about the fun!
Here’s the most popular line dance on the World Line Dance Newsletter (worldlinedancenewsletter.com) right now:
No Remorse: youtu.be/8dB2kV2Req0
This is a very hard dance: The Sphinx: tinyurl.com/34hvurf6
… and a very easy dance: Dancin’ In the Country: tinyurl.com/mpk8cmj9
Here’s me having just taught a dance to a bunch of people at an event in Sturbridge, Mass. [look for “Ginger Love Me to Heaven” on YouTube.]
