Walk the line

POLSON – I was not quite sure what I was “prissy walking” into on a chilly Monday night as I entered the  Linderman gymnasium to partake in an evening of line dancing. But, with the help of my fellow line dancers I was scuffing in no time. Hazle Heth, who has been organizing the lessons for the past few years, said, “I loved line dancing in  Thompson Falls, but when I moved to Polson there were not any line dancing lessons. So I thought, if I’m going to do it, I’m going to have to teach it myself.”

This week the dancers performed the “Hully Gully” and one of Heth’s favorites, “Sweet Sweet Smile,” performed by the Carpenters. There were also a few holiday themed dances leftover, including “Holly Jolly Christmas.”  

Heth had some help organizing the lessons from her unofficial second in command, Belen Robbins. Robbins was the one to watch for any first timer trying to keep up. From what I grasped, if you can keep  your hands  in your pockets for the entire song, you have mastered the art of line dancing.

Line dancing is a four-count dance that is believed to have originated from European folk dancing, although there are a number of similar characteristics found in Native American dances.  

By the mid 1800s there was a distinct “American”  dance style that was evolving in the Midwest and Western parts of the country, and this style was called “Country and Western Dancing.”

Line dancing in today’s form was developed in the 1970s and became popularized in the ‘80s.  The form of dancing involves the repetition of a sequence [or steps] for the duration of the music. The sequences are called a “wall,” and most commonly last for 32, 48 or 64 beats of the music.

Heth said, with a twinkle in her eye, that there are thousands of different line dances and that it is impossible to pick out just one as her favorite.

All are welcome to the class, held most Monday nights at 6:15 p.m. at the Linderman Gymnasium. Those interested can contact Heth for more information at hazle@live.com.