No partner, no problem
Line dancing for beginners: just follow the row
Line dancing is the most forgiving way to dance in a group. You don’t need a partner, everyone does the same steps, and if you get lost, the person in front of you is a walking cheat sheet. Expect a friendly, forgiving first night.
- Rated 4.9 on Google
- Founded by World and British champions
- Adults only
- No partner needed
How a line dance works
A line dance is a short sequence of steps that everyone performs together, in rows, facing the same way. When the sequence ends, it starts again, usually after a quarter turn so the whole room is facing a new wall. That’s why you’ll hear dances described as “four-wall” or “two-wall”.
Each dance has a set number of counts and is usually matched to a particular song or style of song. Learn the pattern once and you can dance it every time that song plays. Most nights mix very simple dances with slightly trickier ones, so there’s always something you can join.
Stand in the middle of a row, not the front. When the wall changes, you’ll always have someone to follow.
Steps you’ll meet in the first hour
Grapevine
Travel sideways by crossing one foot behind the other. It turns up in a huge number of beginner dances.
Shuffle
Three small steps in two beats, forward or back. Keep it light and it starts to feel like a bounce.
Pivot turn
Step forward, turn on the balls of your feet, and you’re facing a new direction. Smooth soles make this much easier.
Heel and toe touches
Tap a heel forward or a toe back. Simple, but they give a dance its country flavour.
Your first Country Friday
At Beach Ballroom, line dancing happens on Country Fridays at our studio on Queen Street East. The night starts at 8:00 with a beginner-friendly lesson, so you’ll know a dance or two before the floor opens for line dancing and country partner dancing. For the partner dances, everyone rotates.
It’s $10 drop-in and free for members. Come on your own or bring friends; most of the room started exactly where you are. Our guide to social dancing in Toronto covers both weekly nights.
Prefer Latin music? Latin Thursdays run the night before.
What to wear (and what not to)
Comfortable clothes and shoes with a smooth sole are all you need. Cowboy boots and hats are welcome, never required. If you own boots, Fridays are a great excuse; if you don’t, nobody will notice.
In a Toronto winter, change out of your outdoor footwear at the door. Wet boots and heavy treads are hard on a dance floor and make pivot turns sticky. Bring a pair of dry, smooth-soled shoes in a bag.
Plenty of people treat a Friday of line dancing as a night out with friends or a partner. It’s on our list of date night ideas in Toronto for a reason.
See you in the back row
Want to learn some steps before your first Friday? A private lesson can get you started, from $140 + tax, or book a $99 consultation for a plan.