Tennessee Walk - A Stroll Dance - With Option

Music: Here in the Real World by Alan Jackson, Can't Help Myself From Loving You by Patty Loveless, Burn One Down for Me by Clint Black, or other slow tempo four beat songs
Choreographer: Don and Chrissy Stagner
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 hand in his right hand slightly to the right of her right shoulder
Comment: When couples completely form a circle around the dance floor, it is important to agree on the steps in order that the pattern be similar and safe for all dancers. Standard steps for gentleman and lady are identical—hand holds are different. Time or slipped memory has shifted this dance's starting point and changed a few steps in many clubs. Note that the starting point and several steps are different enough to change the style of the dance.

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.

Mid-90s North Carolina Club Version

Forward Cha-Cha Steps (Very Smooth but to Syncopated Rhythm)

1-2. Right foot step forward, left foot step forward, right foot step forward

3-4. Left foot step forward, right foot step forward, left foot step forward

5-6. Right foot step forward, left foot step forward, right foot step forward

7. Left foot step forward

8. Right foot step forward

9. Left foot step forward with 1/4 turn CW (now facing outside of floor)

Bow/Curtsy With Arms Extended

10. Right foot step backward (the right heel should be pointed forward toward the line of dance) and to the left behind left foot and as in a curtsy—the left knee will be slightly bent/twisted and right knee deeply bent—the right hands are held at full arm extension to the right and close to the floor—the left hands are held at full arm extension to the left and high in the air (like the wings on an airplane—form the straight line from left hand to right hand, but at a very steep angle)—bodies will almost be facing dancers behind them

11. Right foot step right 1/4 turn CCW (now facing line of dance), bodies straighten up to resume promenade position

12. Left foot step backward

Walking Full Turn CW

13. Right foot step back 1/4 turn CW (beginning full turn CW), then drop left hand hold

14. Left foot step in front of right leg to the right 1/4 turn CW (now facing reverse line of dance), continuing turn CW

15. Pivot on toes/balls of feet 1/2 turn CW, completing turn

16. Left foot step to close to right foot and resume promenade position

Repeat Counts 1 to 16 until the end of song.

Option - Original Choreography as Posted from the Midwest

1. Left foot step forward

2. Right foot step forward

3. Left foot step forward with 1/4 turn CW (now facing outside of floor)

4. Right foot step backward (the right heel should be pointed forward toward the line of dance) and to the left behind left foot and as in a curtsy—the left knee will be slightly bent/twisted and right knee deeply bent—the right hands are held at full arm extension to the right and close to the floor—the left hands are held at full arm extension to the left and high in the air (like the wings on an airplane—form the straight line from left hand to right hand, but at a very steep angle)—bodies will almost be facing dancers behind them

5. Right foot step right 1/4 turn CCW (now facing line of dance), bodies straighten up to resume promenade position

6. Left foot step backward

7. Right foot step back 1/2 turn CW (beginning full turn CW), then drop left hand hold

8. Left foot step forward (now facing reverse line of dance)

9. Right foot step back 1/2 turn CW (beginning full turn CW)

10. Left foot step forward and resume left hand hold

11. Right foot stomp to close to left foot

12. Right foot stomp in place

13-14. Right foot step forward, left foot step forward, right foot step forward

15-16. Left foot step forward, right foot step forward, left foot step forward

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

19. Weight rocks backward

20. Weight rocks forward

Repeat Counts 1 to 16 until the end of song.

 

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