From TikTok to two-step: The surprise line dancing trend taking over Australian bars
City kids in cowboy boots are leading a line dancing resurgence with ‘90s hits filling dance floors and one footballer says it’s even improving his on field moves.
A boot-scootin’, rootin’-tootin’ dance craze is enjoying its biggest surge in popularity in Australia since the 1990s, with belt buckle-wearing, city-based Gen Z at its heart.
And as young revellers seek out venues to stomp their cowboy boots and raise their hats for a bit of line dancing fun, even Billy Ray Cyrus’s Achy Breaky Heart is back on the play list.
The resurgence of this time-honoured, honky-tonk dance form – which involves dancers in lines performing a choreographed series of steps in unison – is being fuelled by social media, including “a few viral TikToks”.
The new yee-hawing fans are a diverse bunch with no country roots required, as students, professionals, tradies and everyone in between embraces the inner-city barn dance bonanza.
You’ll even find a footy player, or two, channelling the cowboy cha-cha to improve on-field agility and co-ordination with others happily attesting to a range of flow-on health benefits from weight loss to a boost in confidence and overall wellbeing.
In Adelaide, California-born Eleni Giagos is at the forefront of the phenomenal growth in popularity, offering free lessons at city bar Shotgun Willie’s since last July – first monthly and now weekly.
Giagos says, contrary to popular belief (and Achy Breaky Heart aside), it’s not just country music that dancers keep step to.
“There are so many songs we dance to as well as dances that go to several songs across so many genres,” she says, listing Freight Train by Aaron Watson, Shivers by Ed Sheeran and Nickleback’s Burn it to The Ground as among her “top three” tunes to line dance to.
A recruiter and career coach, Giagos relocated from Sydney, where she’d moved with her UK boyfriend eight years earlier, to Adelaide early last year and got a job as a bartender at the Gilbert Place venue while she found her feet.
“To be honest, my initial motive to offer lessons was a bit selfish as I just wanted line dancing back in my life … I was feeling a bit homesick and line dancing is something that I love doing; it brings me so much joy and makes me feel at home,” she says.
“But I couldn’t have imagined what would come next, that it would explode the way it has … launching a movement that is ‘rooted in country but driven by community’.”
So popular has it proved, Giagos has this weekend launched a new business, Saddle and Stomp, with a sold-out line-dancing extravaganza at Wayville on Saturday night, in a bid to keep up with the burgeoning interest.
She is now looking for a venue big enough to regularly host the swelling sessions which she advertises under @stompwithel @saddleandstomp on Instagram or TikTok.
“I really think in an era of screentime ‘takeover’, people are genuinely craving connection and community … line dancing really gives them that,” she says.
“It is a fun and inclusive space which gets people moving and connecting without any sort of pressure or judgment … it just makes people feel good, they are meeting new friends and gaining confidence as well.
“To see the happiness it brings just fills my cup.”
This sense of joy is palpable when the Sunday Mail visits a Thursday night “social” session with dozens of happy dancers overflowing onto the street.
There aren’t any phones in sight, other than in people’s back pockets, with those gathered in their cowboy boys, tassels and sequins instead smiling broadly and chatting easily to whoever is next to them waiting to go inside.
Lyla Coppola, 20, who is studying occupational therapy is among the cowboy boogie recruits.
“I am just obsessed,” she laughs.
“Growing up I watched Footloose like a million times and always wanted to try it.
“The first night I came here and saw people out in the street dancing, I immediately wanted to be a part of … to know every step, every move, every dance – it’s literally been a part of my lifestyle ever since.
“I chuck on a country hat, denim shorts and my green tassel boots … it’s such a joyous environment; I’ve always got a big cheesy smile on my face.”
Her best friend, Maddie Rogers, a forensics science student, is just as hooked, telling how she was first exposed to line dancing at “the world’s largest honky tonk” in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I was amazed by the energy, rhythm and connection from all those around me … I jumped at the opportunity to (be involved),” she says.
Nursing student and part-time bartender Nim Ram, 22, who met her boyfriend, UK-native Fin Hudson, while bootscooting, is just as smitten.
“I have two left feet, I’ve never been able to dance and never thought I would have gotten into it but I absolutely love it,” she says.
For young AFL ruck and full-forward Jordi Krikke, line dancing has proved surprisingly addictive.
“It turned out to be heaps of fun … and it’s helping indirectly with my footy (by improving) my co-ordination and direction-changing abilities,” the 22-year-old says.
And has he managed to convince his Hummocks Watchman Eagles teammates?
“I’ve been trying to but they’re a bit bloody hesitant to come,” he laughs.
WHY GEN-Z LOVES LINE DANCING
Jessie Caisley, 25, electrician
“It’s not just about the steps, it’s about the friendship, fun, laughing and enjoying dancing together,” Jessie says.
“I found it really hard to meet new people and make friends (when I moved from Melbourne) … I found line dancing and had no idea how many amazing friendships were waiting for me, people I have genuinely connected with; it gives me something to look forward to and is a place where I feel safe and uplifted.”
Stacey Mousley, 32, childcare sector
Stacey lives with an autoimmune disorder which leaves her feeling fatigued
“I’ve always loved dancing and when I saw (line dancing at Shotgun Willie’s) on TikTok I decided to give it a go and just fell in love with the community … everyone kind of had a joy about them, like everyone was smiling and having a good time which made you want to be a part of that,” she says.
“Line dancing has just given me such an energy and a joy … it helps me forget I’m sick.”
Fin Hudson, 28, public servant
Fin met his girlfriend Nim Ram, 22, while line dancing.
“I’m from the UK and moved to Australia last year and was just in the space where I really wanted to try new things and make new friends … and just sort of loved it; it’s definitely surprised me how into line dancing I’ve become, I think I’m starting to annoy people at work by how much I talk about it,” he says.
India Gautier, 23, musician
“I love country music and have always been into it … when I saw line-dancing on TikTok I thought ‘Oh my god, I would so love to go’ … I just fell in love with it straight away,” she says.
“I have a chronic illness which causes constant pain and tiredness but I love that I can do this, I love that you get some exercise, talk to people and just have a great night.”
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Originally published as From TikTok to two-step: The surprise line dancing trend taking over Australian bars
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