From Village Halls to TikTok: How Line Dancing Became the New Cool Craze

Line dancing is making a big comeback, and it is not just for older people anymore. Sixteen-year-old Ava Stratford-Davies has started her own line dancing business, teaching three classes a week and sharing dance tutorials on TikTok. Ava has been line dancing since she was seven, following her mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She says that line dancing has changed a lot in recent years. It used to be seen as something only pensioners did, but now it is a huge trend on social media. Ava remembers being the youngest in her class, but now her lessons are filled with kids, teenagers, and adults. She believes TikTok is a big reason for the new popularity, as people all over the world can learn dances and share them online. Ava's mom, Marie, says that when she was in high school, she kept her line dancing a secret because people thought it was uncool. Now, that stereotype is fading away.

Line dancing is a choreographed dance where people stand in lines and follow steps together. It has roots in folk dances from Europe and Africa and became a part of American country music in the twentieth century. In the UK, it was first popular with older people because it is a low-impact exercise and does not require a partner. But things are changing, and now people of all ages are joining in. Each song has its own set of steps, so once you learn them, you can dance anywhere in the world. Natalie Lake, who is forty-one, says she used to be the youngest at line dancing events, but now she is sometimes the oldest. She stopped dancing when she was younger because she thought it was not cool, but she started again after a friend encouraged her. Natalie says that line dancing is not just for country music anymore. People dance to songs by Metallica, Abba, and Ed Sheeran. New country singers like Lainey Wilson and Megan Maroney are making country music cool again.

Social media is helping line dancing become popular with young people. Amy Ray-Jones, who is twenty-nine, started line dancing this year and says she loves meeting new friends. She dances to all kinds of music, not just country. Amy says line dancing is the most fun she has ever had. Luke Shrimpton, who is thirty-nine, started line dancing when he was ten and now teaches four classes a week. He says more young people are enjoying country music and line dancing. Luke met his wife through line dancing, and now their children dance too. Line dancing is also good exercise. Natalie says she can do 8,000 steps in two hours without even thinking about it. She likes that she can relax and forget about work while dancing. Ava hopes that line dancing will become even more popular, and she thinks social media will help. Many famous singers like Beyoncé and Sabrina Carpenter are wearing cowboy hats and dancing, which makes line dancing look cool. Line dancing is now a fun way for people of all ages to dance, make friends, and stay healthy.