As you walk into the neon lights, you hear the stomps, claps and scuffs of the dancers on the floor. Each person is in sync as they move and flow with the music. Perhaps they look like they practiced all together for hours, learning and memorizing the steps, however, each one practiced these dance moves individually. This is what country line dancing looks like.

The history of this dance form goes back to the 1800s when immigrants took familiar dances such as polka, square dancing and the waltz and used those ideas to create a synchronized dance form to the newly formed genre of country music. Later on, in the late 1900s songs like “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” by Brooks & Dunn and “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus helped shape the line dancing world and accelerated the way it grew. Some dances are more energetic than others however and according to Sennarey Garven, a first year criminal justice student at Lethbridge Polytechnic, some of these dances give her the chance to shake out the stress and let loose. Her top five for most energetic line dances includes “Burn It to The Ground” by Nickelback, “Whiskey Drinkin” by Mikel Knight, “The Wolf” by Spencer Lee Band, “Church Clap” by Lecrae and “Wobble” by V.I.C.

Burn It to The Ground

Released in 2008 on the Dark Horse album, Nickelback gives an intense bass with fun lyrics. The line dance that pairs with this song consists of loud stomps and high kicks. According to Copper knob step sheets, Burn It to The Ground has a 5 star rating among 73 votes as an improver level line dance and was uploaded in 2023. According to Garven, it’s one of the hardest dances she has learned to date.

“’Burn It to The Ground’ is one of the hardest dances I know. It’s a very tiring one but I love the kick, now that I can do it,” says Garven.

Whiskey Drinkin

Released in 2010 on The Country Rap King album, this song by Mikel Knight seems trickier but this line dance is beginner friendly and was choreographed by Suzanna Wilson. For Garven, this dance is one where she lets her muscle memory take over.

“That one is a little trickier because the moves aren’t the same each time, but this is another one where I just stop thinking and start dancing,” states Garven. 

The Wolf

This song, from the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack is an intermediate dance with five stars in 12 votes on Copper Knob Step Sheets. With a restart included in the dance, Garven tends to give her friends a laugh when she misses it.

“I like doing ‘The Wolf’ because it’s a little harder but once you get into it you again just stop thinking and start dancing. I do often forget the restart which gives my friends a laugh and we all just have a good time,” says Garven.

Church Clap

Church Clap, released in 2012 by KB and his Weight & Glory album, gives the Christian community and anyone who loves a good beat a fun energetic dance for them to do. Garven says her favourite part of the dance is the movement.

“I like ‘Church Clap’ because it’s simple and I don’t have to think about what I’m doing. The steps are easy and it’s a lot of movement which I like,” says Garven.

Wobble

This line dance has changed over the years in many ways and forms. Released in 2008, this line dance has changed and evolved with the time in many ways and forms. Garven says the variety of ways makes it fun. 

“It’s another very simple one that I can just have fun with. There are so many ways to do one dance, so you just mix it up and go for it,” says Garven.