(Line) Dancing the Night Away

Although I grew up in quite the rural area I stayed as far away from country music as possible. I thought it was twangy, whiny and useless. And then my friend introduced me to the local country bar.

From the moment I stepped into the cavernous bar (seriously, it is massive compared to the college crapholes around the area) I was mesmorized by the music, the lights and especially! Especially by the lines of people on the airy dancefloor, stepping in time to country hits. Oh! How I longed to be one of those amazing-looking linedancers! They looked graceful, they looked happy, they looked so freakin' cool. I vowed to be one of them.

It took some time (and, um, alcohol) to work up the nerve to get my butt on the dancefloor. I wouldn't look as good as the other dancers! They looked like they'd been doing this for years! I merely set foot in there a couple of hours ago. I was going to look like a moron. However, when the opening strains of Copperhead Road came on I was entranced, both by the song and the dance. The song was unlike anything I had ever heard and the dance was equally as fascinating. The floorwork consists of intricate dance moves combined with some angled jumping and shouting "hut hut!" while moving in time to the song.

I. Wanted. In.

I watched the dance for a little while, noting the steps and sequences. After gulping a bit of my drink I grabbed my friend's hand and we both sequestered ourselves on a corner of the dancefloor. My feet moved in time--just like the others! I jumped at the right time and shouted "hut hut!" like the others! Suddenly, I was a linedancer--just like the others!

My first dance wasn't perfect. I bumped into a couple of people and shouted once at the wrong time. But when I moved in time with the other dancers and mastered the moves, I felt a huge rush. My head felt slightly dizzy, in a good way, and a huge smile took over my face as I danced with the others on the floor. The dance that had me mesmorized from the sidelines suddenly had me enchanted on the dancefloor. I didn't want the moment to end. I felt free, I felt beautiful, I felt like I was flying.