​Let’s be honest: if you’ve ever line danced, you’ve grapevined right and left, weaved, rolled, and turned those vines. These combos are the bread and butter of line dancing! Because these moves are “beginner,” we can take them for granted and get sloppy with them.
So today, we’re going to get into the weeds🌿 — or should I say vines — and untangle these classic steps for smoother💃, safer, and ✨better-looking dancing! 
​
🍇 The Grapevine (a.k.a. “Vine”)
The grapevine is a three-count combination that travels sideways with three weight changes. Most instructors just call it a vine — because who has time for all those syllables while calling a dance?
Grapevine:
1️⃣ Step R foot to the right side.
2️⃣ Step the ball of your L foot behind the right.
3️⃣ Step R foot to the right side again.
 
👉 Pro tip: Keep that “behind” step on the ball of your foot — not flat!
 If you put your heel down, you’ll slow your momentum and risk stepping into the dancer behind you. The toes of the L should be near the heel of the R, keeping your steps small, and under your body.
 
Count 4 is usually a touch, but depending on the dance, it could also be a stomp, kick, scuff, brush, cross, or whatever the choreography calls for.

👉 Pro tip: Absolute beginners and older dancers can find vines and weaves tricky, there’s no shame in simplifying to “side-together-side.” Safety first, always! 💃❤️
 
🔄 Turning Vines
Ready to change direction? Let’s turn those vines!

¼ Turning Vine:
1️⃣ Step R to the side.
2️⃣ Step L ball of foot behind R.
3️⃣ Turn ¼ right on L ball and step R forward.
 
½ Turning Vine:
1️⃣ Step R to the side.
2️⃣ Step L ball of foot behind R.
3️⃣ Turn ¼ right, step R forward on the ball.
4️⃣ Turn another ¼ right, step L to the side.
 
👉 Remember: your heel is your brake! Stay on the balls of your feet to keep it smooth, stylish, and just enough turn to keep things interesting!
 
💫 Three-Step Turn (The Rolling Vine)
For dancers who love to twirl, you can often swap a grapevine for a Three-Step Turn. The 3-step turn is a progressive turn — not stationary — that travels down the line of dance (like a Chainé).

Three Step Turn:
1️⃣ Step R ¼ right on the ball of foot in the direction of the turn.
2️⃣ Draw the L foot under your body as you Step L ball of foot ¼ right.
3️⃣ Draw the R foot under your body as you turn ½ right stepping R to the side, completing the turn.
 
🕺 Tip: Match your turn speed to the music.
 Fast song? Fast turn. Slow song? Slow turn.
 If you finish your turn early and just stand there waiting for the beat… you’ve gone too fast!
 
🧵 The Weave (Vine’s red-headed step-Cousin)
Here’s where it gets interesting — and a little controversial!
According to the NTA Dance Terminology Booklet (p. 66), a weave is “a continuous grapevine pattern crossing behind and in front, taking at least 8 counts or beats of music.”
But… many instructors (myself included!) define it differently.
 
💡 My take:

• If the combination starts with a step to the side, it’s a grapevine.
• If it starts by crossing in front, it’s a weave.
• If it starts behind, we’ll often call it behind-side-cross. 

For example: 

• “Side-behind-side-cross” I would call “Vine-Cross” 
• “Cross-Side-Behind-Side” I would call “Weave -2-3-4”
• “Behind-Side-Cross” I would call “Behind-Side-Cross”  

So, if a new instructor calls a weave, be ready to cross both in front and behind, usually for at least four counts, maybe starting to the side or across. You will have to discern what this instructor means by “weave”.
 
💬 Your Turn!
 
How do you call these moves?
Have you heard other terms used for vines or weaves?
Which terminology makes the most sense to you?
 
Drop me a message — I’d love to know how your dance community talks about these classic line dance steps!

Whether you're a brand new or seasoned dancer, a smooth night on the dance floor comes down to respect, rhythm and common courtesy. Here's how to keep the dance floor flowing and welcoming for everyone:
​
🧼 Wipe Your Feet - Protect the floor (and your spins) with clean shoes. Consider changing into dedicated dance shoes after you arrive at your venue.

✨ 1. Step Off If You’re Not Stepping In
Not dancing? That’s okay! But please take your chats, filming, and practice off the main floor so dancers have room to shine.

✨ 2. Keep Food & Drinks Off the Floor
Spills = slips. If you do spill, wipe it up right away so nobody’s two-step turns into a tumble.

✨ 3. Bumps Happen—Be Kind
If you bump someone, just smile and apologize. A quick “oops, sorry!” keeps the good vibes flowing.
✨ 4. Welcome New Faces
Visitors and newcomers may not know all the moves—be encouraging and help them feel at home to keep our community growing.

✨ 5. Respect the Flow
Think of the outside lane like a dance highway—those two stepping around it have the right of way. Don’t block their route!

✨ 6. Adjust for Crowds
More people = smaller steps. Help prevent pileups and keep the dance looking clean.
✨ 7. Pocket That Phone
No texting, scrolling, or filming from the middle of the floor. Dance first, updates later.

✨ 8. Enter & Exit Gracefully
Use the nearest exit, then circle around the outside to get back to your seat. And please—no cutting across the dance floor mid-dance.

✨ 9. Join Smoothly
If you’re hopping into a dance already in progress, take the nearest open spot instead of weaving through dancers.

✨ 10. No Road Rage
If someone breaks the “rules,” shrug it off. We’re here for fun, not floor feuds.

👏 Show Some Love​ - Clap to thank the DJ or instructor and let them know you enjoyed the dance.

Here is the third place dance  to "A Nightmare on My Street" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Enjoy it at your Halloween party this year. Find the video teach here: A Nightmare on my Street 

A good pair of dance shoes will prevent injury and reduce joint pain but you don't have to spend a lot of money for a shoe that will dance well.  Read on to learn from my experiences with synthetic soles, sandals, leather boots, dance sliders, split soled shoes, and more. 

The quick answer to what makes a good dance shoe is good support and a leather sole. Leather is long wearing and allows for beautiful turning without wrenching your knees. If you have a pair of leather soled shoes in your closet shine them up and start there. Start with what you already have so you can figure out what you like and dislike about dancing in that kind of shoe.  

I've seen dancers in everything from flip flops to work boots and instructors wearing everything from Tom's to high heel dance sport shoes. All I can say is, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." I have gone through many shoes in an attempt to live blister free and avoid joint pain while dancing for hours on end. 

Pro Tip: To avoid blisters, I now baby powder my feet before I put on moisture wicking, seamless toe socks that I slip into shoes that are well ventilated. Works Wonders!

When I first became serious about line dancing  I wore my super cute cowboy boots that had a synthetic sole and moved well on the dance floor. I loved these boots . . . until I started dancing in them. I had to buy a gel insert for the ball of my foot because there just wasn't enough padding there. The good news, I didn't blister. The bad news is it just doesn't feel great dancing in these shoes for more than one hour.  I still wear them when I want to look cute and will only be dancing for 90 minutes. Verdict: Okay Update: The synthetic sole moves well for me on the dance floor, I have attempted to insert cushion for ball of foot and heel, really I can dance no more than 90 minutes in these. I wear these when I’m hired to teach at a Country/Western event. (6/11/2024) Update again LoL: These boots are in the shop. I teach so much I've busted the heel and created a hole in the ball of the foot. My clients love these boots so I took them to the cobbler who will glue on a new leather sole and replace the heel - all for $45 dollars!!! Totally worth it. I still only wear these boots when I'm getting paid, but I get paid a lot these days.(7/31/2025)

One week during the summer, when it was very hot,  I tried dancing in my orthopedic, leather sandals. While my feet didn't sweat, or blister, I totally stretched out my sandals because of all the side to side and forward and back motion. Verdict: Don't ruin a good pair of shoes with the wrong activity. Update: I have since learned that dancers with bunions or bone spurs like to dance in sandals. They often slip dance socks right over their favorite shoe. (6/11/2024)

I decided to invest in a nice pair of Justin leather boots from Boot Barn before going to Montana's Country Night Club. While these boots look fantastic and move well on the dance floor they also rub one of my ankle bones to the point of bruising. The seam on these boots buckles in toward my ankle and it is painful. My body literally will not let me put these on again because it remembers the pain. Verdict: You cannot enjoy dancing in shoes that pain you. Shoes may feel fine dancing in the store but will rub you raw after a half hour of dancing. You can't know until you try.  Follow up: Because these are leather, I stuffed them with newspaper to try to pop out the part that rubs my ankle. It worked for a little while. (1/13/2020) Update: I have given these boots to a friend because the last time I wore them I got a blister on my ankle bone. I have literally tried on every boot in my size at Boot Barn and French's Boots and cannot find a boot that doesn't rub. I need soft sided boots to come back in fashion because I can't get the stiff leather to work for me.(10/15/2022) Still on the quest for the perfect leather boot. (6/11/2024) My friend gave the boots back to me, I'll probably wear them August 7th for a music video. (7/31/25)

I wanted a pair of split soled shoes like I saw so many people wearing at line dance class so I went online and bought two pair for a great price. These shoes did not dance well at all. They stuck to the floor when I turned and had absolutely zero arch support because of the split sole. However, they received many compliments and envious glances for their cuteness. I know a lot of dancers who love their split soled Capezios but I just don't see the attraction.  Verdict: You do not need split soled shoes for line dancing. Shoes that stick are no good even if they are cute. You can't dance on compliments.   Follow up: I bought a sheet of adhesive suede that I cut and put on the bottom of these shoes. They are now useable. The split arch doesn't provide enough support for me so I also include an orthotic. Update:  I have given away these shoes because they simply didn't offer enough support for hours of dancing. 

I recommend buying a sheet of adhesive suede to cut to fit the sole of your favorite shoes. I have friends who have put the suede on the bottom of their favorite trainers and dance in those each week as their go to dance shoe.  (6/11/24)

I have considered, but not yet tried, bowling shoes. My parents danced for years in their bowling shoes because they have a leather sole, are comfortable, and provide great support. One of my dance students wears bowling shoes to class and loves them. (6/11/24) Verdict: Good enough for Mom and Dad, I'm willing to try it, I just haven’t found a pair cute enough to tempt me.