Fatcat Ballroom - Phoenix Dance Studio
Come dance with us tonight! Get started or see class schedule.
Beginner Line Dancing Class
every Friday at 6PM
with instruction by Alison — AZBTA Trainee under Terry Schmoyer
👢
What is Line Dancing?
Come dance with us every Friday night in Phoenix 🪩 at Fatcat Ballroom - Phoenix Dance Studio for the best beginner Line Dancing class in Phoenix! We'll cover country & pop current music routines, as well as old classics.
Line Dancing is a quintessential American social dance - it's easy to learn, requires no partner, and is a great form of exercise. While often associated with the American 1980s/90s Country music boom, the concept of sequential, formation-based dancing traces back to European folk dances (like the Contredanse). Mixing with steps and music from many cultures who call the USA their home, modern American line dancing was born.
Line Dancing is performed by dancing a specific choreography in a repeating pattern to a specific song. Beginner line dances are often "32 count, 4 wall." This means the pattern takes 32 beats of music before repeating, and the pattern is repeated facing all 4 walls of the room.
Common beginner line dance steps are the Grapevine, Coaster Step, and K-Step. You can check out more steps here, but you don't need to know these to come to class. Alison is an Arizona Ballroom Teachers' Association Trainee under World Champion Terry Schmoyer. She loves teaching brand new dancers and will be happy to bring you along!
Some examples of classic line dances are:
🐈 Copperhead Road by Steve Earle is a great example of how line dance choreography can vary by region. Arizona has its own version that you'll learn in this class! You can easily recognize the influence of European folk dance in this choreography. The song is instantly recognizable by the bagpipes introduction, and it has several opportunities to stomp! It's a favorite at Fatcat Ballroom.
🐈 Footloose by Kenny Loggins, made famous by the 1984 movie by the same name, is a classic line dance. The steps are not difficult, but song is very fast! Sometimes we'll take a vote to see if the class is up for dancing Footloose. And we always have plenty of water on hand!
🐈 Electric Slide is a classic choreography danced to the song Electric Boogie by Marcia Griffiths.
Why leave early? Stick around! The moment your Line Dancing lesson ends, the night transitions into the Valley's favorite social dance party! The West Coast Swing night spins to life with two progressing classes from 7 - 8:30 PM and a Dance Party at 8:30 PM for instant, effortless fun that makes every minute of class worth it!
🎶 Get in the Groove! Follow Alison's Line Dance 🎧 playlist on Spotify for this month's songs & standard classics!
Quick Links
⬇️ Class schedule ⬇️ About dance style ⬇️ FAQs ⬇️ What to wear ⬇️ Etiquette ⬇️ More classes ↗️
Ready to dance? Join our $10 drop-in Line Dancing class
Every Friday 6PM | $10 drop-in | BYO refreshments | No registration needed
No partner? No problem. Come dance with us!
📅 What to Expect
Walk into Fatcat Ballroom - Phoenix Dance Studio 👋, check in at the front desk, and find a spot along the benches for your shoes, bag, or a quick rest. Meet new people who were brave enough to start dancing too!
👢 Dress comfortably, wear smooth-soled shoes, and BYO refreshments 🫧 to enjoy between songs.
Each class covers our scheduled choreography based on the Top 100 on Copperknob, local favorites you'll see at places like Foley Ranch, and old classics. We go at a beginner pace, so we may cover only 1 or 2 songs per class. We go over foot positions, counting, and direction changes. We practice the steps together, then put it to music! For the last few minutes of class, we'll review a previous song or classic choreography.
📅 See here for music & choreography links! https://linktr.ee/alisonburen
August 7th
🎵 Sounds Like the Radio
🎵 Honky Tonk Highway
🎵 you look like you love me
August 14th
🎵 Different Kind of Fine
🎵 Shimmer
August 21st
🎵 Shivers
August 28th
🎵 American Kids
🎵 What You've Done to Me ("Rocket to the Sun")
🎯 At the end of the lesson, Alison is available if you have questions about where to find more information, how line dance is structured, upcoming songs, or where to go for more practice.
💡 Why Line Dance at Fatcat Ballroom?
"I've seen line dancing at the bar. It looks fun, but I'm scared to try!"
Fatcat is the perfect place to start. We cover Beginner routines at a slow pace in a judgement-free environment. Alison provides lots of information about how line dancing works and troubleshoots steps beginners are struggling with. Sometimes we'll slow down the music, then take a vote to see when the class is ready to speed up. It's lots of fun!
😻 What foundational routines and steps will I learn in my first Line Dancing class?
😻 At Fatcat Ballroom, your first class focuses entirely on confidence and clear footwork. You will spend maximum floor time practicing the basic elements, like the Grapevine and Shuffle, ensuring you leave with the muscle memory to join the social floor immediately.
😻 Are Fatcat Ballroom's Line Dance lessons in Phoenix good for beginners?
😻 We specialize in providing high-quality, supportive Line Dancing group classes in the Valley for beginners and adults with zero experience. Fatcat Ballroom - Phoenix Dance Studio offers a low cost 🏷️ drop-in rate (book now for just $10!) and is your premier choice for beginner dance instruction, focusing on foundational steps and technique to get you dancing confidently right away.
Here’s why beginners thrive in our group dance classes:
📚 Structured progression: Our instructors break down complex moves into simple, manageable steps.
💵 Affordable drop-In: Classes are offered at a low drop-in rate (~$10), so you can try before you commit to a full package.
🌟 Beyond the basics: Once you know the fundamentals, we offer a clear path to intermediate and advanced technique.
😻 What should I wear?
We recommend wearing clothes that allow for a full range of movement, but please focus on your footwear to ensure a great experience.
Key apparel and footwear tips:
👚 Comfortable clothing: Wear anything that is easy to move in. Dressing comfortably helps you focus entirely on the instruction and enjoyment of the Line Dance lessons.
🥿 Footwear is crucial: We highly recommend comfortable, flexible shoes with a smooth, non-gripping sole (leather, suede, or specific dance shoes). Please avoid street shoes (especially those with dirty soles or sticky rubber), flip-flops, or shoes with sharp edges that could scuff the floor.
😻 What should I know about dance etiquette?
😻 At Fatcat, we maintain a welcoming, traditional dance studio atmosphere, making us one of the top-rated Phoenix dance classes for social dancers. We believe good etiquette contributes to a fun, safe, and respectful environment for everyone learning Line Dance around Scottsdale and Tempe.
The essentials of dance etiquette at Fatcat Ballroom:
🚫 Keep the floor clear: Avoid walking across the dance floor while others are dancing or when instruction is in progress.
🧼 Freshen up: Out of courtesy for your partners, consider mints and personal hygiene before class.
💬 Focus on learning: Keep chatter short to maximize the benefit of class instruction time.
✨ 6:00 PM — Line dancing class for beginners | $10 drop-in Fridays
The best Line Dance classes near Scottsdale, Tempe,
North Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and Biltmore
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