Country Line Dancing is the American Cowboy
Country line dancing is a form of dance in which groups of people no matter their size, age or gender dance in lines while executing the same movements. The costumes associated with this dance are of a western style. The idea of the “American Cowboy” is often paralleled with line dancing. The sex of the “American Cowboy” is male and has the gender identity relating to masculinity; this figure is often highly romanticized. Although this dance is acceptable for anyone to participate in it mirrors the ideas of American masculinity, mainly with a focus on cowboy characteristics. Country Line dancing was not originally a western dance it actually originated in Europe as folk dancing. (Group) Over time folk dancing was whitewashed into the western American culture. The most well known form of line dance today is country line dancing. The rise of country line dancing came about after the disco era and often associated with country music such as Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart” and Brooks and Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” (Group) Line dancing is …show more content…
Line dancing needs no partner, as it is a friendly form of dance. In Jill Williams Article Keep Fit to a Fiddle, she describes an instance on the dance floor “‘Here, lemme help you’, shouts a younger man to an older gent who is apparently confused about which way he’s supposed to be turning.” (77) She later goes on to discuss how all folks are represented from young and old, to couples, and to guys and girls without partners. (Williams) From the comfortable costumes and the inviting atmosphere of line dancing the “American Cowboy” is present throughout. The individual feels welcomed to be there and becomes more open to the experiences. The dress associated with this style of dance is parallel to a cowboy from the boots to the hat. A cowboy is romanticized, he is considered kind, honorable and friendly to
Country line dancing is a form of dance in which groups of people no matter their size, age or gender dance in lines while executing the same movements. The costumes associated with this dance are of a western style. The idea of the “American Cowboy” is often paralleled with line dancing. The sex of the “American Cowboy” is male and has the gender identity relating to masculinity; this figure is often highly romanticized. Although this dance is acceptable for anyone to participate in it mirrors the ideas of American masculinity, mainly with a focus on cowboy characteristics. Country Line dancing was not originally a western dance it actually originated in Europe as folk dancing. (Group) Over time folk dancing was whitewashed into the western American culture. The most well known form of line dance today is country line dancing. The rise of country line dancing came about after the disco era and often associated with country music such as Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart” and Brooks and Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” (Group) Line dancing is …show more content…
Line dancing needs no partner, as it is a friendly form of dance. In Jill Williams Article Keep Fit to a Fiddle, she describes an instance on the dance floor “‘Here, lemme help you’, shouts a younger man to an older gent who is apparently confused about which way he’s supposed to be turning.” (77) She later goes on to discuss how all folks are represented from young and old, to couples, and to guys and girls without partners. (Williams) From the comfortable costumes and the inviting atmosphere of line dancing the “American Cowboy” is present throughout. The individual feels welcomed to be there and becomes more open to the experiences. The dress associated with this style of dance is parallel to a cowboy from the boots to the hat. A cowboy is romanticized, he is considered kind, honorable and friendly to