The Most Difficult Line Dance, Ranked

Choose the line dance you think is the most difficult!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 24, 2024 06:40
In the lively world of dance, mastering complex moves often becomes a badge of honor among enthusiasts. The challenge of conquering the most intricate line dances not only tests physical prowess but also elevates a dancer's confidence and standing within the community. Hence, pinpointing which dances stomp the competition in complexity can be both a fun and inspiring endeavor. Here, every enthusiast’s opinion shapes the ongoing rankings, reflecting a collective judgment on the toughest routines. Casting your vote helps clear the floor for others to see which dances demand respect and perseverance. Engage in this dynamic tally to contribute to a comprehensive guide that benefits dancers at all levels of expertise.

What Is the Most Difficult Line Dance?

  1. 1
    49
    votes

    The Electric Slide

    Ric Silver
    The Electric Slide - considered one of the classic line dances, the Electric Slide can be challenging due to its fast pace and intricate footwork.
    The Electric Slide is a popular line dance that originated in the mid-1970s. It is a 22-step dance routine performed in sync with the music, typically set to the song 'Electric Boogie' by Marcia Griffiths. The dance has gained widespread popularity and is often taught at social gatherings, weddings, and parties.
    • Music: 'Electric Boogie' by Marcia Griffiths
    • Number of Steps: 22
    • Difficulty Level: Intermediate
    • Style: Line dance
    • Tempo: 120-130 beats per minute
    The Electric Slide in other rankings
  2. 2
    17
    votes

    The Tush Push

    Jim Ferrazzano
    The Tush Push - known for its quick footwork and syncopated steps, the Tush Push can be challenging for beginners.
    The Tush Push is an advanced line dance that originated in the United States. It is known for its fast-paced footwork and intricate choreography, making it one of the most difficult line dances to master.
    • Difficulty level: Advanced
    • Tempo: Fast-paced
    • Number of counts: 32
    • Number of walls: 4
    • Level of footwork complexity: High
    The Tush Push in other rankings
  3. 3
    24
    votes
    The Cowboy Cha Cha is a popular country line dance that combines elements of the cha cha and the two-step, the Cowboy Cha Cha can be challenging due to its unique rhythm and syncopation.
    The Cowboy Cha Cha is a popular line dance that originated in the United States. It is known for its fast pace and intricate footwork, making it one of the most challenging line dances. The dance incorporates elements of traditional country and western dances, including the cha-cha, two-step, and shuffle steps. It is typically performed to country music with a lively tempo.
    • Difficulty Level: Advanced
    • Number of Steps: 30
    • Tempo: Moderate to Fast
    • Musical Genre: Country
    • Dance Style: Line Dance
  4. 4
    29
    votes
    The Boot Scootin' Boogie - another classic country line dance, the Boot Scootin' Boogie requires fast footwork and quick turns.
    The Boot Scootin' Boogie is a popular line dance that originated in the United States. It is danced to the song 'Boot Scootin' Boogie' by Brooks & Dunn.
    • Difficulty Level: Intermediate
    • Number of Steps: 32
    • Style: Country Line Dance
    • Formation: Single Line
    • Footwork: Heel, Toe, and Stomp
    The Boot Scootin' Boogie in other rankings
  5. 5
    20
    votes

    The Watermelon Crawl

    Sue Lipscomb
    The Watermelon Crawl is a popular line dance at country bars and festivals, the Watermelon Crawl can be challenging due to its complex footwork and quick turns.
    The Watermelon Crawl is a lively line dance that originated in the United States. It is known for its energetic and fun movements that mimic the crawling motion of a watermelon vine. The dance incorporates various turns, kicks, and grapevines to create a unique and entertaining routine.
    • Difficulty Level: Advanced
    • Music Genre: Country
    • Number of Steps: 32
    • Formation: Single-line
    • First Created in: 1996
  6. 6
    22
    votes
    The Memphis Soul Stew is a funk-inspired line dance, the Memphis Soul Stew can be challenging due to its intricate footwork and quick tempo.
    The Memphis Soul Stew is a highly energetic and intricate line dance that originated in Memphis, Tennessee in the United States. It is known for its fast-paced footwork, intricate formations, and syncopated movements, making it one of the most challenging line dances to master.
    • Difficulty level: High
    • Music genre: Soul/R&B
    • Number of steps: Over 40
    • Tempo: Fast
    • Formation: Line formation
  7. 7
    4
    votes

    The Wobble

    V.I.C.
    The Wobble is a popular party line dance, the Wobble can be challenging for beginners due to its fast pace and complex footwork.
    The Wobble is a popular line dance characterized by its energetic and rhythmic movements. It is often performed in social gatherings and line dance events. The dance involves a combination of simple steps and synchronized swaying, making it accessible to dancers of all skill levels. The Wobble is known for its catchy music and high-energy atmosphere.
    • Difficulty level: Moderate
    • Number of steps: Approximately 24 steps
    • Music genre: Hip-hop
    • Tempo: Medium to fast pace
    • Core movements: Swaying, shaking, bouncing
    The Wobble in other rankings
  8. 8
    3
    votes

    The Cupid Shuffle

    Bryson Bernard (Cupid)
    The Cupid Shuffle - another popular party line dance, the Cupid Shuffle can be challenging due to its fast pace and intricate footwork.
    The Cupid Shuffle is a popular line dance that is commonly danced to the song 'Cupid Shuffle' by Cupid. It is known for its energetic and catchy moves, making it a favorite choice at parties and events. The dance is performed in a group formation, with participants lined up facing the same direction.
    • Song: 'Cupid Shuffle' by Cupid
    • Formation: Line dance, participants lined up facing the same direction
    • Difficulty Level: Easy to intermediate
    • Number of Steps/Moves: 4 main steps/moves
    • Pattern: Repetitive sequence of steps/moves
    The Cupid Shuffle in other rankings
  9. 9
    5
    votes
    The Harlem Shake
    Christopher Clabaugh · Public domain
    The Harlem Shake is a viral dance craze that originated in the early 2010s, the Harlem Shake can be challenging due to its freestyle nature and fast pace.
    The Harlem Shake is a viral line dance that became popular in 2013. It involves a group of people dancing to the song 'Harlem Shake' by Baauer. The dance typically starts with one person dancing alone while others in the background are seemingly oblivious to the music. After a short intro, the beat drops, and suddenly everyone joins in with wild, eccentric and comical dance moves.
    • Year of popularity: 2013
    • Song: 'Harlem Shake' by Baauer
    • Style: Viral line dance
    • Starting solo dancer: One person
    • Number of dancers: Group dance
    The Harlem Shake in other rankings
  10. 10
    2
    votes

    The Macarena

    Los del RĂ­o
    The Macarena is a classic party line dance, the Macarena can be challenging for beginners due to its unique rhythm and syncopation.
    The Macarena is a line dance that became popular worldwide in the mid-1990s. It is characterized by a repetitive series of steps and arm movements performed to the song 'Macarena' by Los del RĂ­o. The dance is often performed at parties, weddings, and sporting events.
    • Year of Creation: 1993
    • Tempo: 103 beats per minute
    • Difficulty Level: Easy
    • Number of Steps: 8
    • Arm Movements: Right arm outstretched and then bent at the elbow, left arm outstretched and then bent at the elbow, hands on the hips
    The Macarena in other rankings

Missing your favorite line dance?

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Ranking factors for difficult line dance

  1. Number of steps
    The more steps a line dance has, the more difficult it is to learn and remember. A dance with many intricate steps, turns, and movements will naturally be harder to master than one with simple, repetitive steps.
  2. Complexity of steps
    A line dance with complex, intricate, or unusual steps and movements will be more difficult to learn and perform. These might include technical footwork, syncopated rhythms, quick directional changes, and challenging body and arm movements.
  3. Speed
    Fast-paced line dances can be harder to learn and perform, as dancers need to maintain proper form, execute steps, and stay in sync with the music's tempo.
  4. Styling
    Some line dances incorporate specific style elements to its movements, requiring dancers to add their own flair and attitude to the steps, making the dance more challenging to master.
  5. Formation changes
    Dances that require dancers to change positions or formations while dancing can be more difficult to learn, as dancers need to be aware of their positioning in relation to others and move smoothly between formations.
  6. Synchronization requirements
    Line dances in which dancers must be perfectly in sync and coordinated with each other can be more challenging than those that allow for individual variations in style and timing.
  7. Choreography
    Line dances with intricate or complex choreography, where dancers have to remember the exact sequence of steps and movements, can be more difficult.
  8. Physical demands
    Some line dances may be more physically demanding, requiring agility, balance, coordination, and endurance, making them more challenging to perform and learn.
  9. Adaptability to different skill levels
    Some line dances are more adaptable to dancers of varying skill levels, while others may be especially challenging for beginners.
  10. Familiarity with line dance terminology
    If a line dance incorporates steps and movements that use unfamiliar terminology or have nuances specific to that dance style, it may be more difficult for someone without prior knowledge of those terms or concepts.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult line dance. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or line dance is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 7827 views
  • 179 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each line dance once every 24 hours. The rank of each line dance is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most difficult line dance

Line dancing has become a popular form of dance across the globe. It involves choreographed steps performed in unison by a group of dancers, usually in a line formation. While some line dances are relatively simple and easy to learn, others can be quite challenging and require a lot of skill and practice to master. When it comes to the most difficult line dance, opinions vary. Some dancers may find the intricate footwork of the Wobble or the fast-paced steps of the Electric Slide to be the most challenging, while others may struggle with the complex moves of the Cowboy Cha Cha or the Boot Scootin' Boogie. Regardless of which line dance is considered the most difficult, one thing is for sure - line dancing is a fun and engaging way to get moving and connect with others who share a love of dance. So whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner, there's a line dance out there for everyone to enjoy!

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