Cowboy Charleston
Count: 16
Wall: 4
Level: Beginner
Choreographer: Jeanette HALL & Tonya MILLER – October 1995
Music: New York, New York – Frank Sinatra
Alt. music:
Devil Dancing by George strait
Christmas Cookies by George Strait
This dance 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, and where 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.
TWO CHARLESTON STEPS:
Charleston Style
1 Swing right around to touch forward
2 Swing right back around and step right next to left
3 Swing left around to touch to back
4 Swing left around and step left next to right
5 Swing right around to touch forward
6 Swing right back around and step right next to left
7 Swing left around to touch to back
8 Swing left around and step left next to right
Option: Straight Style
1-2 Straight: touch right toe forward, step right next to left
3-4 Touch left toe behind, step left next to right
5-6 Touch right toe forward, step right next to left
7-8 Touch left toe behind, step left next to right
TWO RIGHT TOE TAPS TO RIGHT SIDE, MODIFIED SAILOR STEP
9-10 Touch right toe to right side and touch twice
11&12 Step right behind and next to left, step left in front of and to the left of right, step right in front of and to the right of left
TWO LEFT TOE TAPS TO LEFT SIDE, SYNCOPATED VINE RIGHT AND ¼ TURN RIGHT
13-14 Touch left toe to left side and touch twice
15&16 Step left behind right, right foot step to the right making ¼ pivot turn, left foot step next to right, and prepare for next Charleston right forward step
Charleston Tap version: modified sailor step
15&16 Step left behind and next to right, step right in front of and to the right of left, step left next to right
REPEAT
