Introduction To LineDanceSport
LineDanceSport is a new, innovative syllabus-based program for dance athletes. Incorporating established dance styles and techniques with adjustments for the unique properties of line dancing, LineDanceSport fits somewhere between ballroom dancing and line dancing. Dancers perform solo (without a partner), as in line dancing, but the rhythms, steps, and techniques are similar to those used in the standard ballroom dance syllabuses (Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Cha Cha, etc.)
The LineDanceSport Syllabus is a graduated collection of dance patterns covering sixteen of the world's most popular dance styles and rhythms. The complete set of dance patterns is designed to facilitate the ability for dance athletes to master the technique in a wide variety of dance patterns, while providing dance coaches a systematic format for planning dance instruction and marketing lesson packages. The depth and flexibility of the syllabus allow it to propel dance programs at all levels -- beginner, intermediate, advanced and beyond -- in studios, schools, community programs, social situations, and world-class competitions, with respect for each individual's personal dance goals. Mastery of dance patterns produces successful dance athletes, while enhancing balance, rhythm, and coordination, encouraging expression, and developing a social aptitude that can easily become a lifelong activity.
This is a new form and format, developed by The Line Dance Institute LLC with the intent to provide a new option for athletes to participate in and enjoy line dancing. While many of the dance concepts incorporated in LineDanceSport have elements in common with other dance programs, there is currently no other program of this nature for dance athletes.
LineDanceSport is neither a replacement nor a challenger for existing infrastructures. It is a complement to the existing options for athletes; open to any interested athlete.
In addition to detailed descriptions of the step patterns, The Line Dance Institute offers training manuals containing lesson plans for teaching the patterns, then combining those patterns into longer pieces of choreography (line dances) that can be performed by groups of dancers.
Bronze
The Bronze Level is separated into two parts; Level 1 and Level 2, and covers Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, International Rumba, Mambo, Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Merengue, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Nightclub, and Hustle. The Bronze Syllabus contains 260 step patterns (152 in Level 1 and 108 in Level 2).
Silver And Gold
The Silver syllabus and Gold syllabus maintain that format. Silver is also in two levels with 169 step patterns (98 in Level 1 and 71 in Level 2). Silver adds three more rhythms (Viennese Waltz, Bolero, and Paso Doble) and eliminates three (Merengue, Nightclub, and Hustle). The Gold Syllabus is in development, but will contain up to 10 patterns per rhythm. By the time an athlete completes the Gold level, they will be a world class dancer.
Why Should Athletes Take Training?
Through years of working with youth athletes while developing LineDanceSport, we have noted the following benefits to athletes.
- Athletes show increased physical coordination and stamina.
- Athletes develop an ability to learn line dances exceptionally fast. In increased learning speed, a successful Bronze Level 1 athlete is often far ahead of a line dancer who has been taking standard line dance lessons for years.
- Athletes are often able to choreograph new dances that accurately reflect the rhythms of the music.
- There is a large social component to line dance. The LineDanceSport syllabus includes a standard set of amalgamations ("line dances") at each level and for each rhythm. An athlete completing a level will know exactly the same line dances as every other athlete worldwide who has completed that same level. This creates a very strong social connection between athletes.
- Youth athletes are notoriously reluctant to participate in mixed-gender dance lessons, though the idea may become more enticing as years go by. Early solo lessons in the standard couples-dance rhythms enhances the progress of athletes who move on to couples dancing.