top of page

Skills List

Skill Sets Required for Participating in Cape Sands Ballroom's Line Dance Classes

My goal is to keep everyone safe while having fun in dance class!  Line dancing is generally regarded as a safe way of getting a little light exercise.  But please know that some physical and mental exertion is required, and that as with any physical activity there are risks of participation.  Please verify that you have the following skills/abilities before enrolling.  Your decision affects not only you but also the dancers around you because line dancing flows in multiple directions and to be safe all dancers must flow together in the same direction at the same time.  If uncertain about whether or not you possess the following skills/abilities please review the list with your doctor and obtain his/her approval prior to participating.  If you do not feel that you can safely participate in line dancing, alternative activities to check out are aquatic exercise and seated exercise. Please note: the best way to begin your path to safe and fun participation is to join a class on a “restart date”.  Please ask for info.  Hope to see you on the dance floor!

Skills Required to Participate in Beginner Classes

  • Ability to process both voice and visual cues.

  • Ability to retain and execute instructions without a visual reference (i.e. when facing away from the instructor).

  • Good spatial orientation (i.e. understanding and following cues to turn 90, 180 or 270 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise). 

  • Adequate foot health to comfortably wear shoes that are considered safe for dancing which include styles having all of the following characteristics:  closed toe, heel and instep, some flexibility in the sole, some means of staying on the foot (tie or strap).  Not allowed:  bare feet, stocking feet, mules, clogs, slides, platforms, sandals, and heels.

  • Doctor’s approval to participate if there is a history of any surgeries, injuries or conditions that could cause balance, gait, or cognitive issues.

  • Ability to remain actively participating for the full length of the class.  There are no seated breaks during class because abruptly sitting down while the heart rate is elevated can cause dizziness.

  • Maintaining balance while shifting weight from foot to foot and traveling forward, backward and sideways.

  • Maintaining balance with weight on one foot while tapping or kicking the other foot forward, side, back, or next to the supporting foot.

  • Rocking weight from foot to foot with one foot positioned behind the other.

  • Rocking weight from foot to foot with one foot positioned next to the other.

  • Turning up to 270 degrees clockwise and counterclockwise quickly and without experiencing dizziness.

Skills Required to Participate in Level 1 and Beyond the Basics Classes

 

Most of the following Level 1 skills are presented as options in the Beginner classes, so dancers who would like to move into Level 1 classes should have previously successfully tried out these options.  Please request a demo of any skills listed that you’re unsure of.

 

  • All of the above plus …

  • ¾ turns

  • 5th position back rocks

  • Boogie steps in place, skating, and K-boogie

  • Box steps

  • Charlestons

  • Chasses right and left

  • Grapevines/weaves

  • Heel swivels

  • Hitch

  • Jazz squares with and without turn

  • K-taps

  • Kicks

  • Paddle turns

  • Rocking chairs with and without turn

  • Shuffles forward and back

  • Toe struts

  • V-steps

  • Rhythms including rumba, cha cha, and swing

funkyLD.png
summertime happy dance public domain vec
Level 1
beginner classes

Skills Required to Participate in Ballroom, Latin, and Swing Line Dance Classes

 

All of the skills/abilities listed for Beginner plus …

  • Boogie steps in place

  • Chasses right and left

  • Jazz squares

  • Kicks

  • Paddle turns

  • Rocking chairs

  • Shuffles forward and back

  • Toe struts

  • V-steps

Skills required to participate in Level 2 Prep classes:

 

  • Skills listed in all of the preceding levels plus … 

  • Ability to quickly acclimate to new material

  • Understanding of rhythm – combining “quicks” and “slows” in elements such as box steps, chasses, and cha cha basic steps

  • Smooth weight transfers to handle faster tempos

  • Confidently dance Level 1 dances

Level 2 Prep
Ballroom LD

Skills required to participate in Level 2 classes:

 

The progression of levels is:  Level 2 Prep, Level 2.  The skills listed below are developed by participating in the Level 2 Prep classes. 

If considering joining Level 2 without having recently completed a Level 2 Prep course,  please request a list of dances to verify

that they are in your repertoire before joining.  Only minimal time is spent breaking down the dances.  Most of the class time

is dedicated to dancing.  

 

  • All of the above plus …

  • Coaster steps

  • Corta jaca/angled rocking chair

  • Curving chasses

  • Crossover breaks

  • Extended quick vine

  • Flicks

  • Heel grinds

  • Hip bumps 

  • Hip rolls

  • Hook turn

  • Kick ball change

  • Kick ball cross

  • Kick ball travel

  • Lock steps

  • Paddles and pivots up to 3/4 turns

  • Sailor steps with and without turn

  • Salsa/mambo steps forward and back 

  • Samba crosses

  • Samba side basics Side breaks

  • Side rock crosses

  • Sweeps/rondes

  • Twinkles in waltz and samba rhythm

  • Volta arch

  • Rhythms including samba, salsa/mambo

  • Rhythm changes within a dance

  • Multi directional turns in a dance

  • Syncopation and holds

  • Faster tempo

  • Restarts

  • Tags

Line Dancer Exercise 2.3.16.jpg
Level 2

Skills required to participate in Level 3 Prep classes:

 

Dancers who confidently dance Level 2 dances and wish to expand their repertoire should plan to take Level 3 Prep to learn the current set of Level 3 dances before enrolling in Level 3.

 

  • All of the above

Skills required to participate in Level 3 classes:

 

The progression of levels is:  Level 3 Prep, Level 3.  If considering joining Level 3 without having recently completed a Level 3 Prep course,  please request a list of dances to verify that they are in your repertoire before joining because only minimal time is spent breaking down dances in this level.    

 

  • All of the above plus …

  • Diamonds

  • Full turns

  • Heel jacks

  • Knee lifts

  • Knee pops

  • Lunges

  • Press lines

  • Rolling vines

  • Toe and heel switches

  • Syncopated variants of locks, vines and twinkles

  • Wizard steps

Questions: Please email Karen at capesandsballroom@gmail.com

bottom of page