Barn Dance
Choreographed by Dick Matteis & Geneva Owsley Matteis
Description: 32 count, beginner mixer dance
Music: Wild Wild West by The Escape Club [ 137 bpm ECS / CD: Wild Wild West ]
  Early In The Morning by Hank Williams Jr. [ CD: The Complete Box Set ]
Position: Moving LOD around dance floor, couples form the largest circle possible on the floor. When danced as a non-mixer, each dancer returns to the same partner. It can be danced by several couples on a large floor, by having the lead gentleman start the vine to the left and then join the last lady in the line with all other gentlemen moving up one lady (This may provoke more than a few laughs as the line gets longer). Gentleman faces outside edge of dance floor, lady faces center of dance floor. Originally choreographed for the closed western dance position, which would have the gentleman's right hand on the lady's left shoulder. The lady's left arm would be under the gentleman's right arm and she would place her left hand in the bend of his right elbow. Many North Carolina instructors teach the ballroom dance position; gentleman's left hand holds lady's right hand in full frame at eye level; gentleman's right hand on lady's left shoulder blade, her left hand on his right upper arm or shoulder
  Steps are different for the gentleman and lady
 
GENTLEMAN'S STEPS
1 Left foot step to the left
2 Right foot close to the left foot
3 Left foot step to the left
4 Right toe touch to close to the left foot
 
5 Right foot step to the right
6 Left foot close to the right foot
7 Right foot step to the right
8 Left toe touch to close to the right foot
 
9 Left foot step to the left-spin lady to the right-left hand leads her and right hand pushes lightly on her back to start, then drops to gentleman's right hip
10 Right foot close to the left foot
11 Left foot step to the left
12 Right toe touch to close to the left foot
 
13 Right foot step to the right-start spinning lady to the left back to original starting position
14 Left foot close to the right foot
15 Right foot step to the right
16 Left toe touch to close to the right foot, replace right hand on her left shoulder blade
 
FACE FORWARD TO LINE OF DANCE
17 Left foot step left ¼ turn to the left-you will now be facing the line of dance, gentleman's left hand still holds lady's hand, but the handhold is now waist high, the gentleman's right hand goes behind the lady's back to hold her right side at the waist
18 Hop/scoot on left foot, right foot scuff into low kick in front of the left foot aimed to the left
19 Right foot step forward
20 Hop/scoot on right foot, left foot scuff into low kick in front of the right foot aimed to the right-touching the lady's right foot
 
21 Left foot step forward
22 Hop/scoot on left foot, right foot scuff into low kick in front of the left foot aimed to the left
23 Right foot step forward
24 Hop/scoot on right foot, left foot scuff into low kick in front of the right foot aimed to the right-touching the lady's right foot
 
These vines are with a slightly forward movement in the line of dance in order that the gentleman leaves one lady and advances to the next lady forward in the line of dance
VINE TO THE LEFT
25 Left foot step left, dropping hands
26 Right foot step behind left leg to the left
27 Left foot step to the left
28 Right foot scuff into low forward kick in front of the left foot aimed to the left and clap
 
VINE TO THE RIGHT
29 Right foot step to the right
30 Left foot step behind right leg to the right
31 Right foot step ¼ turn to the right (face new partner and outside edge of the dance floor)
32 Left foot close-resume closed country/ballroom position with new partner who was one position forward in the line of dance
 
REPEAT
 
LADY'S STEPS
1 Right foot step to the right
2 Left foot close to the right foot
3 Right foot step to the right
4 Left toe touch to close to the right foot
 
5 Left foot step to the left
6 Right foot close to the left foot
7 Left foot step to the left
8 Right toe touch to close to the left foot
 
FULL TURN TO THE RIGHT
9 Right foot step to the right 1/3 turn to the right-drop left arm
10 Left foot step to the right 1/3 turn to the right
11 Right foot step to the right 1/3 turn to the right
12 Left toe touch to close to the right foot
 
FULL TURN TO THE LEFT
13 Left foot step to the left 1/3 turn to the left
14 Right foot step to the left 1/3 turn to the left
15 Left foot step to the left 1/3 turn to the left
16 Right toe touch to close to the left foot-put left hand on the gentleman's right upper arm or shoulder
 
FACE FORWARD TO LINE OF DANCE
17 Right foot step ¼ turn to the right-you will now be facing the line of dance, gentleman's left hand still holds lady's hand, but the handhold is now waist high, lady's left hand goes behind gentleman's back to hold his left side at the waist
18 Hop/scoot on right foot, left foot scuff into low kick in front of the right foot aimed to the right
19 Left foot step forward
20 Hop/scoot on left foot, right foot scuff into low kick in front of the left foot aimed to the left-touching the gentleman's left foot
 
21 Right foot step forward
22 Hop/scoot on right foot, left foot scuff into low kick in front of the right foot aimed to the right
23 Left foot step forward
24 Hop/scoot on left foot, right foot scuff into low kick in front of the left foot aimed to the left-touching the gentleman's left foot
 
¾ TURN TO THE RIGHT
25 Right foot step ¼ turn to the right
26 Left foot step ¼ turn to the right
27 Right foot step ¼ turn to the right
28 Left foot hitch to 6" off the floor
 
¾ TURN TO THE LEFT
29 Left foot step to the left-¼ turn to the left
30 Right foot step to the left-¼ turn to the left
31 Left foot step to the left-¼ turn to the left
32 Right foot close to the left foot-resume closed ballroom position with next partner
 
REPEAT