Cotton Eyed Joe Traditional

Music: Cotton Eyed Joe by Isaac Payton Sweat, Tommy Jackson, Al Dean and the All Stars or other equally traditional country pickers (if you are offended by the traditionally common language of the bardyard, there are blanked out or instrumental versions available)
Choreographer: Unknown
Position: Couples in promenade position, both facing line of dance (CCW floor direction); lady standing on the gentleman's right side; each will have heels together; his left hand will hold her left hand either in front of his left shoulder, in front of and slightly higher than his waist, or in front of the lady's left shoulder; his right arm will reach behind the lady and hold her right hand in his right hand slightly to the right of her right shoulder or individual or as a linked-arms group
Comment: This dance can easily be started on the right foot and danced with the feet switched, if you are in a club (Raleigh's Longbranch, among others that overdose on the Rebel Strut) that prefers to start the dance with the right foot lead.

Copyright © 1994, 1995, 1996 by Ronald L. Still. Merida Business Group, 1413 Kenbrook Drive, Garner, NC 27529-4447; 919-772-2082. If the Subject is Dance Steps ... Volume I, Third Edition, January 1996. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

Standard steps for gentleman and lady are identical.

Cha-Cha Steps Backward—Syncopated Rhythm

1. Left toes cross in front of right leg and touch to the right

2. Left foot kick diagonally forward and left (as if trying to get something off its sole)

3-4. Left foot step back, right foot step back, left foot step back (although these are written as three individual steps in one direction, the second one in each set may just close to the first foot instead of passing it)

Cha-Cha Steps Backward—Syncopated Rhythm

5. Right toes cross in front of left leg and touch to the left

6. Right foot kick diagonally forward and right (as if trying to get something off its sole)

7-8. Right foot step back, left foot step back, right foot step back

Cha-Cha Steps Backward—Syncopated Rhythm

9. Left toes cross in front of right leg and touch to the right

10. Left foot kick diagonally forward and left (as if trying to get something off its sole)

11-12. Left foot step back, right foot step back, left foot step back

Cha-Cha Steps Backward—Syncopated Rhythm

13. Right toes cross in front of left leg and touch to the left

14. Right foot kick diagonally forward and right (as if trying to get something off its sole)

15-16. Right foot step back, left foot step back, right foot step back

Eight Cha-Cha Steps Forward—Syncopated Rhythm

17-18. Left foot step forward, right foot step forward, left foot step forward

19-20. Right foot step forward, left foot step forward, right foot step forward

21-22. Left foot step forward, right foot step forward, left foot step forward

23-24. Right foot step forward, left foot step forward, right foot step forward

25-26. Left foot step forward, right foot step forward, left foot step forward

27-28. Right foot step forward, left foot step forward, right foot step forward

29-30. Left foot step forward, right foot step forward, left foot step forward

31-32. Right foot step forward, left foot step forward, right foot step forward

Repeat Counts 1 to 32 until the end of song.

Option 1

Double Time Rhythm - Alternate Steps for Counts 1 to 2, 6 to 7, 11 to 12, and 16 to 17

1a. Left foot brought "toe-down" in front of and across the right leg (does not touch floor)

1b. Left foot kick to outside left in air

2a. Left foot brought "toe-down" in front of and across the right leg (does not touch floor)

2b. Left foot kick to outside left in air

5a. Right foot brought "toe-down" in front of and across the left leg (does not touch the floor)

5b. Right foot kick to outside right in air

6a. Right foot brought "toe-down" in front of and across the left leg (does not touch the floor)

6b. Right foot kick to outside right in air

9a. Left foot brought "toe-down" in front of and across the right leg (does not touch floor)

9b. Left foot kick to outside left in air

10a. Left foot brought "toe-down" in front of and across the right leg (does not touch floor)

10b. Left foot kick to outside left in air

13a. Right foot brought "toe-down" in front of and across the left leg (does not touch the floor)

13b. Right foot kick to outside right in air

14a. Right foot brought "toe-down" in front of and across the left leg (does not touch the floor)

14b. Right foot kick to outside right in air

Option 2

Alternate cha-cha steps styling for two beats in Counts 17-18, 21-22, 25-26, and 29-30.

Left foot step forward, right foot step behind left foot with the right toe crossing slightly to the left of the left heel, left foot step forward

Alternate cha-cha steps styling for two beats in Counts 19-20, 23-24, 27-28, and 31-32.

Right foot step forward, left foot step behind right foot with the left toe crossing slightly to the right of the right heel, right foot step forward

Option 3

Walk around alternate on syncopated steps for lady, as part of a couple, for Counts 17-24 and which can be repeated for Counts 25-32.

Lady Change Side

17-18. Left foot step forward left in front of partner, right foot step forward left of left foot, left foot step forward left to left of partner

Full Turn CCW (From slightly in front of partner on left to slightly behind partner on left.)

19-20. Right foot close to left foot, left foot step to left in half turn CCW, right foot step to left in half turn CCW

Lady Change Side

21-22. Left foot step in front of right leg to the right, right foot step forward to the right, left foot step in front of right leg to the right

Full Turn CCW (From slightly behind partner on the right to regain original position.)

23-24. Right foot step forward, left foot step to left in half turn CCW, right foot step to left in half turn CCW

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