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:
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🧼 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.

A Lock Step is a triple step counted 1&2, where the foot in motion locks in front of, or behind, the weight bearing foot. All the action happens below the waist — your upper body remains upright and isolated.

The magic happens when your feet lock, like your legs are giving each other a quick little hug. This lock creates a tight cross in 1st position (feet together) — perfect for that crisp, clean line dancers love. Sometimes feet lock in 2nd position (feet parallel apart).

✨ Two Types of Locks:

• Cross Lock – foot crosses in front
• Hook Lock – foot crosses behind

▶️ How to Do a Forward Lock Step (1&2):

1-  Step R foot forward
&- Cross L foot behind R foot (tight lock!) 
2-  Step R foot forward again


◀️ How to Do a Back Lock Step (1&2):

1-  Step R foot back
&- Cross L foot in front of R foot (tight lock again!)
2-  Step R foot back again



🚫 What a Lock Step is Not:

• Crossing Shuffles and Crossing Triple steps aka: Cross-Side-Cross combos are not lock steps — those should be crossing in 5th position, not locking in 1st or 2nd position. (5th position-toes of back foot near heel of front foot in slight diagonal)
• The Wizard Step differs from a lock step because it locks on count 2, not the “&” like a true lock step.

Toe Struts: Can move forward or backward, counted 1-2
1️⃣ Touch that **toe** to the floor like you’re testing the water...
2️⃣ Then drop your foot flat and transfer your weight


👉 Heel Struts: Moving forward: counted 1-2
1️⃣ Plant your **heel** first like you mean it...
2️⃣ Then let the rest of your foot follow and shift that weight!


🚫 Not a Tap Dance, Y’all!
If you're tapping that toe or heel and *then* stepping in place, that's a **tap-step**, not a **strut**. Cute? Maybe. Correct? Nope!


1️⃣ Touch that **toe** to the floor like you’re testing the water...
2️⃣ Then drop your foot flat and transfer your weight


👉 Heel Struts: Moving forward: counted 1-2
1️⃣ Plant your **heel** first like you mean it...
2️⃣ Then let the rest of your foot follow and shift that weight!


🚫 Not a Tap Dance, Y’all!
If you're tapping that toe or heel and *then* stepping in place, that's a **tap-step**, not a **strut**. Cute? Maybe. Correct? Nope!

You may have heard this move called the Dorothy Step, inspired by Dorothy skipping down the Yellow Brick Road to meet the Wizard of Oz. But in NTA, we call it the **💫 Wizard Step**.
🟢 It’s a diagonal forward locking triple step, counted “1-2&”.
1 - Step diagonally forward on the right foot, slightly pitched forward (think chest leading).  
2 -  Slide the left foot to lock behind the right.  
& - Step diagonally forward again with the right foot.
🚫 Two Common Mistakes
1. Doing a triple step (1&2) instead of a wizard (1-2&).  
2. Stepping to the side on count 1 instead of moving diagonally forward.
Am I doing it right?
Dance the triple step and the wizard step in front of a mirror. The Wizard Step should look and feel distinct.
✅ Wizard = count 1- step diagonal/pitched forward | count 2- slide into lock
❌ Triple = count 1- step forward/upright body posture | count & - step to close

🔧 Fix It With These Tips

• Be intentional: hold count 1 before shifting to the 2 count.  Use that time to slide.
• Say it out loud as you dance, “1 – 2 – &”,  “2 - &” are fast—move those feet like it’s hot!  

Why This Really Matters
My biggest concern? Mimic dancers stepping to the side on count 1 while trained dancers step diagonally forward. It’s a recipe for a floor collision.

Unfortunately, quality line dance technique isn’t always easy to find online. So, dancers copy what they see—and often, it’s incorrect. But together, we can do better. Let’s keep learning, practicing, and dancing with confidence and care. Stay sharp,  💃🕺

3️⃣ The Triple Step is a three step Polka Pattern. You will often hear instructors call it a Shuffle Step, Chassé or Cha Cha Step because in line dancing it’s all the same thing: “Step-together-step, counted 1&2”. Those steps can be taken, forward, sideward, backward, diagonal, or in place using 3 weight changes for 2 beats of music. The proper way to perform a triple forward is to: 1- step your R forward , &- the L comes behind into 3rd position, 2- the R steps forward. (1-Forward, &-beside, 2-forward = flat dancing in 4th position).
👯 In dance at large, a shuffle step is a basic tap dance movement that involves brushing the toe forward and back and then taking weight on that foot. This is a stationary combination counted 1&2.
As Country Western line dancing was taking off dancers were creating their own terminology like: buttermilks, limp step, swiggle, fancy feet…..and thus Shuffle step became the most commonly used term for a triple step. There even emerged Shuffle Dances that utilized triple steps. Not to be confused with modern shuffle dancing. Dance, like language, seems to be constantly evolving and changing meaning.
When calling dances, I prefer the term triple step because it is less ambiguous, Aaaand NTA makes me say it. 😂

The Rock Step consists of two weight changes in opposite directions to 2 beats of music. This dance move is typically called, “Rock Recover” and is useful for changing directions. Did you know that no matter which direction you rock (cross, side, back, front) your weight remains on the forward part of the foot-never the flat foot or heel.
Rock Steps forward and backward are the same as Break Step in Latin dances. The feet should remain beneath the body in 3rd or 5th position using a cuban motion. The magic of cuban motion is waiting until the last moment to shift your weight and straightening the knee as the weight is shifted.
 If you lower your heel performing a back rock, you should still keep your weight on the forward part of your foot. For your safety, do not lean back when dancing a back rock, keep an upright body posture with weight distributed between your feet. You may need to watch yourself do a back rock in the mirror to see if you are in the habit of leaning back. If you are leaning back, take the time to correct it to prevent future injury.
Side rocks are performed in 2nd position and the feet are kept close to the body so as not to throw the dancer off balance. The weight remains on the front part of the foot even when stepping to the side. Dancers will talk about rolling around the ball of the foot on a side rock. Try it out!

​A Paddle Turn is usually a 360 degree turn utilizing 7 weight changes on the ball of the foot while leaning in the direction of the turn. 
1 - Left foot steps 1/4L
& - Right foot side R
2 - L 1/4L
& - R side R 
3 - L 1/4L
& - R side R 
4 - L 1/4L
The Push Turn is a variation of the Paddle Turn with one definite weight change and six partial weight changes. Following the above pattern you step your left foot 1/4L on count 1 and the ball of that foot remains on the dance floor and the heel is elevated to allow the turn as you push yourself around on the & counts.
Do you differentiate between a Push Turn and a Paddle Turn in your danicng? I like a Push Turn, but if the floor is sticky; or, I'm dancing on a rough surface, I  substitute a Paddle Turn to protect my joints.
*NTA Dance Terminology Booklet and Study Guide 2019

If you’ve ever been line dancing, you’ve probably heard of the “jazz box.” But have you ever stopped to wonder why it's called that when, well, it doesn’t actually make a box? Let’s take a deeper look at this dance move, and how it relates to the often-forgotten term “jazz triangle.” Spoiler alert: It might change the way you think about this classic step!​
How do you perform the jazz box*?
The jazz box is created by stepping: 1 - forward, 2 - across, 3 - back, 4 - side. To hit the four corners we step: R foot to top L, L foot to top R, R foot to bottom R, L foot to bottom L. Notice your feet begin and end apart.
How do you perform the jazz triangle*?
The jazz triangle is created by stepping: 1 - across, 2 - back, 3 - side, 4 - together (close). To touch all three corners you step: R across L, L back L, R side R, L next to R. Notice your feet begin and end together.

Honestly, I don't use the term jazz triangle as I should. It is the most common dance move in line dancing but I am hard pressed to find the term jazz triangle on modern step sheets. I should say, "jazz triangle" because it's 4 syllables to match the 4 counts, but honestly, when I'm calling, I just say "jazz" because I want 3 counts to catch my breath!
What terminology do you use and how do you call the most common move in line dancing?

*Reference: NTA Dance Terminology Booklet and Study Guide 2019

What keeps you from improving? Is it lack of formal education or training? Lack of resources or opportunities in your area? Is it just not knowing what to do next? Consider asking someone to mentor you. Be specific in your request with what you hope to accomplish and a time frame. You may be surprised how many possible mentors would say yes. 

I recently became aware of my need for a mentor. September 20, 2019 I participated in the Vegas Dance Explosion Choreography Competition. I've been line dancing weekly for about 3 years now and really enjoying myself. I had a song stuck in my head and just needed to choreograph something to it. I went to enter the dance into the VDE competition, but the division for that dance was full!  Ugh. I wanted to see how the dance would do. It's one thing for friends to like your dance, but would strangers? I had a little over a week to create a new dance and I was stuck because I had poured out my heart and soul into this dance.

In college, I had a professor, who would say creating art is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. I would get so mad at him because he didn't seem to understand I couldn't do the 99% without the 1%! You can create good conditions for the 1%, but you can't force it. Also, 99% work that has 0% inspiration is just....uninspired! Fortunately, my husband had the 1% inspiration and came up with a great contra line dance idea. He also had a beginning and an end, I just had to come up with a middle and just like that we had a dance to submit for the competition.

You should know that I'm not really competitive. I don't like competition. It doesn't thrill me, it rather terrifies me because I put way too much pressure on myself. I try to relax and tell myself it doesn't matter but my body seems to have a mind of its own. So why compete? At some point, I need feedback on how I'm doing and where I can improve, so I have to put myself out there.

I survived the competition on 4 hours of sleep and a headache. I was a little disappointed in how everything went, but mostly, relieved that it was over and I somehow made it through. I came in third place with our dance. I think third was the best I could do on my own. I don't have a local person who is better trained in line dance than I am. The locals couldn't tell me how to set the level of the dance or properly write up the choreography. I had to teach myself. After receiving my competition results from the judges I shared my frustrations with the choreography competition coordinator. I told her that based on the judges scores I know I've done things wrong, but I don't know what I did wrong or how to improve. I don't have anyone to help me fix my mistakes. She was so kind to listen to my dilemma and then she offered to mentor me. She explained that's how she won the competition once upon a time, she had a mentor who helped her. I'm so glad she offered because I wouldn't even have thought to ask? The mentoring will have to be done via Skype because she lives in the Bay area and I'm in L.A., but I'm so glad to have a way forward in improving my skills as a well rounded line dance instructor.

Is there something you want to improve in your life? Some skill you'd like to take to the next level? My 1% inspiration for you is this: "Seek out a mentor." Now the 99% work is up to you. Good Luck!

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 

Saturday, July 20th at Christian Assembly Church in Los Angeles I taught for their Country Western Night.  The dances were:

Boots Do Boogie, Choreographed by Erin Hoxie to Boot Scootin' Boogie by Brooks & Dunn and Friday Night by Eric Paslay
Claire's Dance, Choreographed by Dianne Evans to Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus and I Want Crazy by Hunter Hayes
A Little Sweet, Choreographed by Dan Albro to Roller Coaster by Luke Bryan
Electric Slide to Man I Feel Like a Woman by Shania Twain and Suds in the Bucket by Sara Evans