Many of the people who come to The Villages go to the squares in the evenings where they enjoy the free entertainment. As they watch the groups of line dancers, sometimes they are inspired to go to classes so they will be able to join in.

Despite what you may have seen, flip-flops are not appropriate footwear for the squares OR IN CLASSES. You are a danger to yourself and others if your shoes do not have backs or straps, or if you dance in heels when you're not used to it. Some instructors will ask dancers to leave class if they are wearing backless footwear (an option is to dance barefoot, but you'll only do that once--I speak from experience, LOL).

Anybody can dance on the squares!

You can do any dance YOU know on the squares. Find a vacant spot (sometimes easier said than done), and do the easy dances you learn in introductory classes (see suggestions below).

It may be fun to go with a couple of friends from class.  Don't try to join in the established groups unless you know what you're doing. They have been dancing together for a long time. Instead, find a spot off to the side and do the dances YOU know. Make a list and take it with you. Listen to the song being played and check your list, then pick a dance that will work to the song. You don't have to start at the beginning of a song--jump in on the beat whenever you're ready. If you're doing the easiest dances you know, it's likely that some other new dancers in the audience will come up and follow you. Welcome them with a smile and coach them if you can--pretty soon, you'll have your own little group!

Once you are very familiar with the the beginner steps and turns, you can seek out the classes where the instructors focus on dances done on the squares, and you can join the groups dancing with their instructors.

In general, dances with few or easy turns are good choices. The outdoor surfaces are very rough, so you should be mindful about picking your feet up rather than trying to slide the way we can do when we're inside. That's why, as much as I would enjoy it, I forego dancing on the squares in the hope that my knees will last longer.

How many dances do you need to know?

You don't have to do lots of different dances to start with--the "audience" won't know the difference if you rotate 4-5 <g>.

Below is a list of good starter dances taught regularly in introductory and easy beginner classes that will work to lots of different music. Click on the dance to open a Learn With Lisa instructional video. (An asterisk indicates a dance I teach in the Enrichment Academy class.) Note that these dances contain many of the same beginner steps; once you know the steps, you can do them in any sequence to any song.

AB Alright, Already by Connie Nielsen

ABieber  by Ross Brown*

Ah Si!  by Rita Masur 

All In One Part B   by Lisa McCammon*

And It Goes Like This by Sue Hutchinson

Booty To The Floor AB by Lisa McCammon*

Cupid Shuffle  by Bernard Bryson* 

Cut A Rug by Jo Thompson

Every Once In A While by K. Sholes

First Steps by Lisa McCammon*

Gloria (AB) by Rosie Multari

Good Morning by Szymanski & Holloway

Keep My Cool  by Nicole Miller*

It's A Beautiful Day by Monika Mickein

Rumba Hips by Rick Wilson

Second Step Blues by Lisa McCammon*

Stings Like AB by Peter Metelnick & Allison Biggs

Who's Been Sleepin' In My Bed  by Linda Pink