Country Western Dance Lessons

"What a wonderful gift this was to my husband! we've been married for 7 years & have only talked about dancing together until we tried your tapes. we've now worked our way through all 5 dvds & have been having a BLAST!" -D. Gruber '10

Each of Shawn's Country Western Lesson DVDs is backed by our one-of-a-kind Risk Free Guarantee!

Check out more great Country Western dance lesson videos brought to you by the number one rated, Shawn Trautman Instruction:

Cowboy hats, boots, jeans, and belt buckles all come to mind when country dancing & country music is mentioned. If you're ready to start dancing now, click the image below and view the country western starter pack (it's 5 DVDs selected for beginners getting into country dancing). Below the image, you'll see dance related info on places to learn, where to dance, attire for going out, the most popular dances, and the best ways for you to get started.

where to learn country dancing and attire for learning

The fastest and most economical way to learn country dancing is through the recommended dance instruction DVDs found on this page. If you're ready to learn country dancing via live lessons, you can do so at your local dance studio, but your best bets are dance lessons at your local country bars and nightclubs. Here you can learn the basics of the various country dances and meet the instructors. Most of the instructors on the country circuit are freelance teachers who teach at the nightclubs in the early evenings and teach private lessons during the week and on weekends.

Be comfortable and wear jeans when learning country dancing. You would most likely feel slightly overdressed if you wore the same outfit you selected for a ballroom lesson to a country bar for a beginner two-step lesson. If you have cowboy boots, wear them - they help you get into the feel of the music and culture. Ladies, close-heeled shoes are appropriate and recommended for ladies, especially while your dance partner gets the hang of the basic steps and leading. Never wear flip-flops or open-heeled sandals or mules to a lesson. If you forget this rule, chances are you will only forget it once.

Regarding the dance lesson videos found here, each one captures the essence of country dancing, the best tips and tricks for dancing with anyone to any music, and clear instruction for the dances as seen in clubs. The DVDs are best used as a supplement to your dance lessons or as a standalone tool if you simply don't have the time or would rather not learn to dance in front of others. Finding a beginner dance class that fits your schedule, is the dance(s) that you want, and that has an instructor you're comfortable with is not always easy. Take a look at the DVDs below to find out more of what you can learn at home, on your own schedule, and at your own pace.

where to dance and attire for going out country dancing

Country nightclubs and bars are the best places to go country dancing. Most large country nightclubs make it a point to have a large, well-maintained hardwood dance floor with convenient rails on which to set drinks and lean surrounding the floor. Ladies, if you want to wear a skirt or a dress you can, but chances are you will feel overdressed. A sparkly or fun top with jeans (at any age) and close-toed, close-heeled shoes are appropriate attire for a lady at a country nightclub. Likewise, gentlemen, don't even bother with anything dry-clean only. Jeans and a clean-collared shirt are appropriate, with either cowboy boots or non-sneaker shoes. Casual is key.

most popular country dances

You might be surprised at the variety of dances you will see at a country nightclub. On any given evening you can see and dance with people doing the two-step, triple two-step, waltz, cha-cha, slow dance, swing, West coast swing, polka, and even occasionally the hustle. In addition to the couples dancing, there is also a lot of attention to line dancing, which is done by individuals. You might also want to give a few dances a try and then head to a lesson or get started with the dance below that you want to learn most:

• Two-Step (the ALL-TIME classic for country dancing)
• Swing (aka East Coast Swing - a dance for all occasions)
• Triple Two-Step (the new favorite among dancers of today's country music)
• Line Dancing (Electric Slide, Cotton Eyed Joe, Watermelon Crawl & more)
• West Coast Swing (a challenging but fun dance - also for all occasions)
• Waltz (a classic in any form of dance)
• Polka (a fun and upbeat dance that's great for country dancing)

of special note regarding country dancing

If you are budget-conscious with your entertainment discretionary spending, country dancing might be the initial route for you to take. Group lessons are extremely inexpensive, private lessons are usually significantly less expensive than in a ballroom, the appropriate attire is most likely already hanging in your closet or sitting in your drawer, and cover charges at country nightclubs are usually negligible when compared to other dance venues.

Also, if you are interested in learning to couples dance but you're afraid of looking or feeling frou-frou or effeminate, the country scene and the country style of dancing are as no-frills as they come. For many people, the country subculture eases the transition into the world of dancing, regardless of whether they are huge fans of country music.