COWBOY CHARLESTON Line Dance


COWBOY CHARLESTON {A.K.A Charleston Tap, Charleston Cha-Cha}
Description:  18 Count, 1 Wall Line Dance
Choreographer:  Unknown
Music: New York, New York = ???
	 Wanting & Having it All = Sawyer Brown
	 Sold! = John Michael Montgomery
         Any Fairly fast Western Swing music, e.g., Asleep at the Wheel.
         "In the Mode" Club Mix

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Moderator Notes:  
    This dance posted by Erin Donnelly adapts the fun Roaring Twenties
Flapper Dance, the Charleston, into a great Country and Western Line
Dance. It is fairly unique in that it can be done to music which is fairly
fast.

It is sometimes done with a straight step forward and back pattern.
However, the most fun way to do it is with the real Charleston foot
pattern and arm movements as it is done in the Carolinas where the
Charleston originated, where needless to say, it is widely done.

The classic Charleston step includes moving the right foot forward and
out and around in a 1/2 circle to touch forward on Count 1.  At the
same time, the arms are moved first to the right to compensate for the
movement of the right foot out around to the front and back in to
touch forward.  When done fast, the arm movements are almost
unavoidable.

On the "& Count", one swings the right foot back out to the right and
to the back, shifting weight to the right foot on Count 2, with the
arms now going to left.

On the next "& Count", begin swinging the left out around and to the
back to touch on Count 3, with arms again going right.

On the final "& Count, one swings the left foot forward out to the
left and forward, shifting weight to the left foot on Count 4, with
the arms now going to left.


The Straight version given below makes a great beginner's dance.  The
4-wall Charleston-style version makes a great showpiece dance.  Both
can be picked up by experienced line dancers by just walking up and
trying it.

Try it both ways.  Both foot work styles are included below.
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Starting with weight on left, 

COUNTS            FOOT WORK

TWO CHARLESTON STEPS:
 1-4
   Charleston Style: Swing R around to touch forward.  Swing R back
       around and step R next to L, swing L around to touch to back,
       swing L around and step L next to R.
 
   Straight: Touch R toe forward, step R next to L, touch L toe
             behind, step L next to R.

 5-8
   Charleston Style: Swing R around to touch forward.  Swing R back
       around and step R next to L, swing L around to touch to back,
       swing L around and step L next to R.
 
   Straight: Touch R toe forward, step R next to L, touch L toe
             behind, step L next to R.

TWO RIGHT TOE TAPS TO RIGHT SIDE:
 9-10   Touch R toe to R side and touch twice.

DOUBLE GRAPEVINE LEFT (FIRST BEHIND THEN IN FRONT):
(Right Cross Behind, Left Cross in Front, Right Cross in Front - Sailor Step)
 11-13  Step R behind and next to L, step L in front of and to the left of R, 
        step R in front of and to the left of L.

TWO LEFT TOE TAPS TO LEFT SIDE:
 14-15  Touch L toe to L side and touch twice.

GRAPEVINE RIGHT (FOR 1-WALL VERSION):
(Left Cross Behind, Right Cross in Front, Together - Sailor Step)
 16-18  Step L behind and next to R, step R in front of and to the right
        of L, step L next to R.

                           BEGIN AGAIN.


4-WALL VERSION: The COWBOY CHARLESTON is a 4 Wall Line Dance, so use the
following for steps 16-18.

GRAPEVINE RIGHT AND 1/4 TURN RIGHT:
 16-18  Step L behind R, R foot step to the right making 1/4 pivot
        turn, L foot step next to right, and prepare for next Charleston
        right forward step

+===============================================================+

Steve -

I've made a few changes and added some information Eileen Haxton sent to me
regarding this dance that I had sent her the description to.  I think it is
now a little clearer.  If not, let me know.

Erin

Erin P. Donnelly
USGS Library-Cartographic Information Center
edonnell@igsrglib01.er.usgs.gov
+===============================================================+


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