Shuffle vs. Two Step: Easton, Dierks, King George

Lovin' You Is Fun - Easton Corbin

Two  Step vs. Shuffle (aka Triple Two)
  ~ a darn good Triple Two

Am I the Only One - Dierks Bentley 

Two  Step vs. Shuffle 
  ~ a darn good two-step too! 

Here for a Good Time - George Strait 

Two  Step vs. Shuffle (Triple Two)
  ~ a darn good Triple Two

Alright Guy - Gary Allan 

Two  Step vs. Shuffle (aka Triple Two )

Country Dancing Don'ts for dancers and DJ's

Honestly, a certain stomping ground of mine has been quite frankly irritating lately. Dance nights have crossed the boundary of annoying onto the no-longer-fun side. At the risk of sounding like a dance snob, I'm going to throw some of my gripes into the universe. Why not? It's my blog right?


Dear DJ:

• First and foremost: There is absolutely no excuse for a bad two step song
• Two-stepping was designed for country music, please one of the thousands of fantastic songs that go with this dance
• BTW it's Cha-cha not Chachaka 
• Chachaka isn't cute or funny - learn the names of the dances. It's your job. 
• Pay attention to the dance floor (hint: most people go out to have fun) [see Dear Dancers]
• There is an art to DJing a country dance. Not to point out the obvious but if the floor is rocking & everyone's having a great time to an easy upbeat dance, do not follow up with some obscure request to a slow song that 6 people in the bar know.
• Please don't kill the buzz by calling a slow dance while there is quality momentum. 
• Notice if certain crowds always do certain dances. Cluster them together. 
• If you absolutely feel the need to kill the buzz during peak dance time with an obscure dance, slower song, or some other random bad idea, KINDLY cluster that nonsense so we can at least enjoy our drinks and conversation. 
• No one really likes the cha cha slide, casper slide, cupid shuffle or electric slide regularly.
• Every once in a while for nostalgic purposes acceptable but for the love of dance - please remember it's not a wedding or a high school dance.

Dear Two steppers:

• Attention leads: prep on the slows, spin her on the quicks
• Even the most experienced dancers aren't cartoons - there are real weight & balance issues if you yank her on the wrong foot the wrong way. 
• A good lead gently guides the woman the way he would like her to go. It's a suggestion - not a command.
• All right NASCAR fans: Women are not cars, two stepping is not a race 
• Super sweater? Bring a change of shirt. 
• planting your hand on the shoulder / back of your partner shouldn't cause a squishing sound... like, ever.
• Wear deodorant (yeah, list necessary :/ ) 
• Under no circumstance is it ok to grab a woman by the wrist n drag her across the floor, caveman
• Women are NOT arm racks

Dear Dancers:

• If you don't know a dance, standing in top of someone who does will not help you learn it
  
  • to watch & follow someone, they need to be able to dance 
• Don't forget dance floor etiquette - couples on the outside, line dancers on the inside. If the floor is crowded, line dancers should still be aware of the couples. If the floor isn't crowded, couples, that doesn't mean make the outside smaller. DJs, to you that means c'mon - if you call 2 popular inside dances and a popular outside dance, the bar clears and you see people knocking each other down, don't keep calling that combo

Are you with me? Am I being fickle? Thoughts & opinions welcome. 

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Country dancing Christmas party playlist

20 good country Christmas songs of line dancing cheer

1. Rock It - Santa Claus Is Comin' (In a Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train) - The Tractors
2. Calamity, Tailgating/ Sidekick (couples) - Run Rudolph Run - Bryan Adams
3. Tush Push, Thunderfoot --- Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy - Travis Tritt
4. Apple Jacks / 16 Step - Nuttin' For Christmas Gold and Green - Sugarland
5. 38 Step - Christmas Time's A Comin' - Bluegrass & White Snow - A Mountain Christmas - Patty Loveless
6. Jose Cuervo / 16 Step - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer - Elmo & Patsy
7. Sleazy Slide  --- Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Chely Wright A Country Superstar Christmas, Vol. 3 
8. Elvira's Cha Cha / Wooden Nickle ---  Merry Christmas from the Family - Montgomery Gentry
9. Rio,  El Paso, Lorrie's Cha Cha,  --- All I Want for Christmas Is a Real Good Tan - Kenny Chesney
10. Fast Dutchess Hustle -  Sleigh Ride A Joyful Noise - Jo Dee Messina
11. Houston Slide --- If We Make It Through December -  Honky Tonk Christmas - Alan Jackson & Keith Whitley
12. Horsin' Around (aka Trashy Women)  / Wooden Nickel --- Leroy the Redneck Reindeer - Mr. Christmas - Joe Diffie
13. Dancin' Feet --- Randy Travis - Jingle Bell Rock - A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 2
14. Suicide Blonde --- John Cougar Mellencamp -I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 1
15. Cowboy Rhythm, Foot Boogie --- George Strait -  Christmas Cookies - A Country Superstar Christmas, Vol. 3
16. Waltz / Waltz Across Texas - Silent Night Gold and Green - Sugarland
17. Walk The Line, Bartender's Stomp ---  Meet Me under the Mistletoe - Randy Travis
18. Wishful Thinkin' --- Joy to the World - Christmas Offerings - Third Day
19. Cripple Creek --- Bluegrass Christmas Fiddle Jig - Bluegrass Christmas Music Country Christmas Picksations
20. Cruisin' / El Paso --- Maybe Baby (New Year's Day) - Gold and Green - Sugarland

7 good Christmastime Two-step Songs

1. Two-Step 'Round the Christmas Tree - Country Christmas- Suzy Bogguss
2. If We Make It Through December -  Honky Tonk Christmas - Alan Jackson & Keith Whitley
3. Christmas Time's A Comin' - Bluegrass & White Snow - A Mountain Christmas - Patty Loveless
4. Santa's On His Way - 20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection: The Best of George Strait
   
5. Sleigh Ride A Joyful Noise - Jo Dee Messina
6. George Strait -  Christmas Cookies - A Country Superstar Christmas, Vol. 3
7. Joy to the World - Christmas Offerings - Third Day
8. Meet Me under the Mistletoe - Country Christmas, Vol. 1 - Randy Travis

5 good Christmas country tunes for slow dancing

 'Cause Baby It's Cold Outside!

1. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Single - Lady Antebellum
2. Blue Christmas - Elvis Christmas - Elvis Presley
3. Please Come Home for Christmas / Funky New Year - Single - Eagles
4. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire) - White Christmas Martina McBride
5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas

4 good Christmas country tunes for Tripple-two steppin' (Shuffle)

1. Toby Keith - Winter Wonderland - A Classic Christmas
2. Randy Travis - Jingle Bell Rock - A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 2 (Line Dance - Dancin' Feet)
3. Bryan Adams - Run Rudolph Run
4. John Cougar Mellencamp -I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 1 (Line Dance - Dancin' Feet)

3 East Coast Swing / Shuffle

1. Little Saint Nick - The Essential NOW That's What I Call Christmas
2. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
3. Santa Claus Is Comin' (In a Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train) - The Tractors

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What are your thoughts? Other Christmas song - line dance combos? We'd love to hear em!
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Song 'n Dance > Line dance suggestions for songs you actually hear today

Yesterday, a 38step facebook fan asked a good question as to what older line dances go to newer music. Local country bands have been Askin' Questions too. This post has been on my mind for quite some time so now's as good a time as any, right? Here it is:

Line dance suggestions for songs you actually hear today:

Selected songs from Billboard's Top Country Songs, Week of June 25, 2011

• Honey Bee - Blake Shelton
• (couples) West Coast Swing
• (couples) Shadow
• (couples) Six Pack Summer 
• (line dance) Six Pack Summer
• (line dance) Mucarra Walk
• (line dance) Montego Bay
• (line dance) Cruisin'
  
• Without You - Keith Urban
• (couples) nice slow Two Step
• (couples) Buckle Polisher
• You Lie - The Band Perry 
• (couples) another nice slow Two Step
• (line dance) Canadian Stomp
• (line dance) Cruisin
• Old Alabama - Brad Paisley Featuring Alabama
• (couples) Shuffle!
• Tomorrow - Chris Young 
• (couples) nice slow Two Step
• (couples) Buckle Polisher
  
• Dirt Road Anthem - Jason Aldean
• (couples) Two Step
• Am I The Only One - Dierks Bentley
• (couples) Two Step
• (line dance) Tush Push
  
• Country Girl (Shake It For Me) - Luke Bryan 
• (couples) Two Step
• (line dance) quick 38 Step
• (line dance) quick Cowboy Rhythm
• (line dance) Good old school Cowboy Hip Hop!!
• (line dance) Every time I roll the dice
• (line dance) Houston Slide
• (line dance) Mucarra Walk
• (line dance) Freeze
• (line dance) Walkin' After Midnight
• Crazy Girl - Eli Young Band
• (couples) Waltz
• (line dance) Waltz Across Texas

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100 great two-step songs

The ultimate country two step playlist - 100 great songs to two step to!

1. Alabama - Mountain Music - 
2. Alabama - Born Country - 
3. Alan Jackson - Chattahoochee - 
4. Alison Krauss - Every Time You Say Goodbye - 
5. Amy Dalley - Men Don't Change - 
6. Big & Rich - Comin' To Your City - 
7. Brad Paisley - Me Neither - 
8. Brad Paisley - Mud On The Tires - 
9. Brad Paisley - Ticks - 
10. Brad Paisley - The World - 
11. Brooks & Dunn - Red Dirt Road - 
12. Brooks & Dunn - You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone - 
13. Bryan White - Sittin' On Go -
14. Bryan White - Rebecca Lynn - 
15. Carlene Carter - Every Little Thing - 
16. Chris LeDoux - Copenhagen - 
17. Chris LeDoux – Life Is A Highway -
18. Chris LeDoux - Under This Old Hat - 
19. Chuck Wicks – All I Ever Wanted - 
20. Clay Walker - Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open - 173 bpm - 
21. Clay Walker - If I Could Make A Living - 
22. Clint Black - We Tell Ourselves - 
23. Clint Black - A Good Run Of Bad Luck - 
24. Clint Black - A Better Man - 
25. Clint Black - No Time To Kill - 
26. Collin Raye - I Can Still Feel You - 
27. Collin Raye - I Think About You - 
28. Collin Raye - On The Verge - 178 bpm - 
29. Craig Morgan - I Got You - 
30. Craig Morgan - Little Bit of Life - 
31. Daryle Singletary - Amen Kind Of Love - 
32. Darryl Worley - Tennessee River Run - 
33. Dierks Bentley - What Was I Thinkin' 
34. Dixie Chicks - Cowboy Take Me Away - 
35. Eddie Rabbit - Drivin' My Life Away - 
36. Faith Hill - Let's Go To Vegas - 179 bpm - 
37. Faith Hill - Piece of My Heart - 
38. Garth Brooks - Standing Outside the Fire ---
39. Garth Brooks - Mr. Right ---
40. Garth Brooks - Much Too Young ---
41. Garth Brooks - Longneck Bottle - 181 bpm ---
42. George Strait - You Know Me Better Than That - 
43. George Strait - All My Ex's Live In Texas - 
44. George Strait -Love Bug - 181 bpm - 
45. Gretchen Wilson - Redneck Woman - 
46. Gretchen Wilson - California Girls- 
47. Hal Ketchum - Small Town Saturday Night - 
48. Joe Diffie - John Deere Green - 
49. Josh Gracin - Nothin' To Lose - 
50. Josh Turner - Long Black Train - 
51. Keith Urban - Better Life - 
52. Keith Urban - Somebody Like You - 
53. Kenny Chesney - Never Gonna Feel Like That Again - 
54. Kenny Chesney - How Forever Feels - 
55. Lady Antebellum - Long Gone - 
56. Lady Antebellum - Love's Lookin' Good On You -
    
57. Lorrie Morgan - I Don't Know My Own Strength - 
58. Lorrie Morgan - Except For Monday - 
59. Lorrie Morgan - Watch Me -
    
60. Mark Chesnutt - Bubba Shot The Jukebox - 
61. Mark Chesnutt - Goin' Through The Big D - 178 bpm - 
62. Mark Chesnutt - Gonna Get A Life - 
63. Mark Wills - Jacob's Ladder -
64. Mary Chapin Carpenter - Down At The Twist And Shout- 192 bpm- 
65. Mary Chapin Carpenter - Passionate Kisses - 
66. Mary Chapin Carpenter - I Take My Chances - 
67. The Mavericks - Hey Good Lookin' - 
68. Michael Peterson - Too Good To Be True - 
69. Michael Peterson - Drink, Swear, Steal And Lie - 208 bpm - 
70. Pam Tillis - Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life) - 180 bpm -
71. Randy Travis - Forever and Ever Amen - 
72. Rick Trevino - Running Out Of Reasons To Run - 
73. Rodney Atkins - Watching You -
74. Rodney Atkins - These Are My People - 
75. Sara Evans - Suds In The Bucket - 
76. Sara Evans - Born To Fly - 
77. Sawyer Brown - The Race Is On - 
78. Steve Earle - Hillbilly Highway - 
79. Steve Wariner - Every Little Whisper - 
80. Steve Wariner With Garth Brooks - Katie Wants A Fast One - 
81. Tanya Tucker - If Your Heart Ain't Busy Tonight - 
82. Tanya Tucker - Tell Me About It - 
83. Tanya Tucker - It's a Little Too Late - 
84. Terri Clark - Emotional Girl - 
85. Tim McGraw - Back When - 
86. Tim McGraw - Just To See You Smile - 
87. Toby Keith - I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying - 
88. Trace Adkins - Chrome - 
89. Trace Adkins - Swing - 
90. Tracy Byrd – Holdin' Heaven - 191 bpm - 
91. Tracy Lawrence - Better Man, Better Off - 
92. Tracy Lawrence - If The World Had A Front Porch - 
93. Travis Tritt - "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" - 
94. Travis Tritt - Where Corn Don't Grow -
    
95. Vince Gill - One More Last Chance - 
96. Wade Hayes - When the Wrong one loves you right -
97. Wade Hayes - Old Enough To Know Better - 
98. Wade Hayes - Don't Stop - 178 bpm - 
99. Wade Hayes - On A Good Night - 
100. Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried 

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