There is a reason that our owners at New Boots Line Dancing Line are fans of film & TV, and one of them is due to the cultural impact that inspired us. This type of dance has a history that extends far beyond the stereotypes of country bars and dance halls. While its roots run deep in various folk traditions, African American culture, and even the 1970s disco era, line dancing's enduring popularity and mainstream presence owe a significant debt to its frequent and often iconic appearances in film and television. From cinematic blockbusters to memorable TV episodes and viral social media trends, media portrayals have consistently brought line dancing into movie theaters and living rooms, inspiring generations of people to "kick up their boots" and join the fun.

New Boots Line Dancing has a decade of line dance experience under our boots, so we consider ourselves experts on the subject. Let us talk you through all of the ways that Hollywood and the small screen transformed a communal pastime into a global cultural phenomenon.

Line dancing was born as a social dance form meant to bring people together through music. People can line dance without a partner which allows large groups to gather and share in the experience. It's important to understand that line dancing is a choreographed dance with a repeated sequence of steps, performed in lines or rows by a group of people who are not in physical contact. This accessible format has always been its core appeal, fostering a strong sense of community.

While country music eventually became the genre most associated with line dancing, it wasn't the sole domain. This adaptability to various music styles—pop, R&B, hip-hop, and even techno—is one of the key reasons line dancing has remained a cultural staple for decades, an adaptability often showcased in film and television.

Urban Cowboy

Fun fact- The founders of New Boots Line Dancing (Jess Grosch & Jimmy) both went to Belmont University and majored in Music Business. They learned about the origins of country music in their studies and one of the major themes was the 1980 film Urban Cowboy. This film is widely credited with bringing country and western culture, and by extension, line dancing, into the mainstream consciousness. The movie starsJohn Travolta and is set in a Texas honky-tonk which showcases a specific style of dance and fashion. The film ignited a national craze for country music and its accompanying dance styles.

While many of the dances featured in the film were two-steps or western promenade dances, the film's success spurred choreographers to create dozens of specific line dances for country songs. This period solidified the association between line dancing and country music in popular perception.

But after this film, there was another cultural moment that blew up the genre of music and dance. Billy Ray Cyrus and his 1992 hit, "Achy Breaky Heart". You may know Billy Ray Cyrus as Miley’s father, but back in the day he was famous all on his own.

"Achy Breaky Heart”

The music video for "Achy Breaky Heart" featured custom choreography that was simple enough for anyone to learn. Filled with grapevine steps, a couple of claps, and a hip shake, it was perfect for beginners. This deliberate marketing ploy to sell the song worked beyond anyone's imagination. It became a worldwide novelty dance sensation, sparking a mania for country line dancing that spilled out of dedicated country bars and into mainstream dance floors everywhere. Media coverage of the phenomenon showed people of all ages and backgrounds doing the dance, making it seem accessible and fun. And just think- this was before Tiktok even existed!

The Electric Slide

The "Electric Slide," originally choreographed by Ric Silver in 1976 and even to this day is still a staple at weddings, parties, and social gatherings. Its enduring presence in popular culture is evident in its continuous use in film and TV. The 1999 film The Best Man, for instance, is often credited with further boosting its popularity, showcasing it as a joyful, intergenerational communal dance. More recently, popular TV shows like Abbott Elementary have featured the Electric Slide. You hardly attend a wedding without this dance bringing everyone together on the dance floor.

The Macarena

In the mid-1990s, Los Del Rio's "Macarena" became a global phenomenon, accompanied by a universally recognized line dance routine. The dance was impossible to escape, appearing everywhere from major sporting events to school dances, and its simple, arm-focused movements made it perfect for any setting where a group of people needed a coordinated, fun activity. Its appearance in countless media snippets reflected its massive cultural footprint at the time. Even to this day you can find children and adults doing this dance on Tiktok!

Surprising Dance Scenes in Film

Sometimes, film and TV use line-dance-like sequences in unexpected ways for memorable effect. In the movie 13 Going on 30, the main characters famously rally a dull party by leading the crowd in the complex choreography from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video, a challenging but iconic "group" dance that functions much like a line dance in its execution and communal energy. While you may not think of “Thriller” as a line dance, it technically actually is!

Another example comes in The cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show which features the "Time Warp," a song with explicit lyrical instructions ("It's just a jump to the left...") that makes it an instantly recognizable, interactive group dance in theaters and at parties.

While it is not a traditional line dance (as many of these examples are not), Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega's dance competition scene in Pulp Fiction to Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell" created an iconic, often imitated dance moment that highlights the power of shared choreography on screen.

The remake of Footloose features a line dancing scene filmed in a real dance hall, showcasing genuine enthusiasm and contributing a new line dance to the culture. This film is perhaps the most classic example of the “country” leaning line dance in modern film.

TikTok and the Line Dance Renaissance

The influence of media’s impact on line dancing has continued to accelerate in the digital age. Social media platforms like TikTok have become modern epicenters for dance trends, including a significant resurgence of line dancing. Line dance is one of the primary reasons the platform exploded in 2020 during the pandemic- people were craving connection and line dance was a way that families to could come together and connect with their communities via the app.

Line dancing's journey from diverse folk traditions to the silver screen and global digital platforms is a testament to its universal appeal. It brings people together through connection. Film and television haven't just mirrored line dancing's popularity; they have actively shaped it, introducing specific dances and music to massive audiences and solidifying their place in popular culture.

From the country boom of the 90s to the viral trends of today, media exposure has continuously challenged stereotypes, encouraged participation, and ensured that the simple joy of moving in unison to a shared beat remains a beloved, accessible pastime for everyone.

New Boots Line Dancing is ready to show you what its all about- So grab your boots, find a class, or check out some viral videos online, and get ready to join the global community of line dancers!

The Cultural Impact of Line Dance in Film & TV