For details of your nearest class or any further information contact Sandy at sandy@linedancing.biz or 052 545 7713

Folk Dancing-Salsa-Ballroom Dancing - we've got it all. Almost... Now, thanks to former n.w. Londoner Sandy Leigh of Herzliya, Israel, you can try your hand - and your feet- at line dancing. Everyone can do it. Just get in line and follow the dance steps with Sandy to the tunes of country and pop music.

Line dancing, offers a new and different experience according to Sandy, who moved to Israel seven years ago. Pictured here are her three young boys (Adam 14, Natan 11, Tomy 6)

"Any age, shape or size can enjoy dancing," says Sandy. "The advantage is that you don't need a partner and there is no holding of hands. The dances are set to formations with repetitions of such dance steps as Grapevine, Shuffle, Jazz Box and many more, each forming their own unique dance routine. The pace is slightly faster than the standard Israeli folk dancing. With line dancing, you get a good low-impact aerobic workout without getting into an "aerobic sweat."

In 1995 after becoming "hooked" on line dancing herself with her mum Judith Swerin, Sandy began teaching courses in England and entering competitions (to which she is the proud holder of a gold cup for one of her team's winning performances at a major line dance competition in the UK). She also performs at private and public events around Israel, teaching old classics and the hottest dances on the circuit.

"I have been very lucky to have danced alongside some superb dancers such as Maxine Elias and Fiona Rose and instructors such as Jackie Berg. Without these wonderful people in my life I wouldn't have had the courage to open the first club here in Israel - *Step-In Line*"

"After coming to Israel and realizing how much Israelis like to have fun while also keeping fit," says Sandy, "I realized that line dancing is the kind of activity that would attract those who may not be comfortable with other kinds of group dancing - and for those who are - it's another challenge."

Sandy plans to offer line dancing courses at all levels. Beginners will learn basic dances with full instructions being called out throughout the evening. The dances will be set to various kinds of music at various tempos, with lots of repetition so the fundamentals of each dance may be easily learned. "I love teaching beginners and watching them achieve their own goals on the dance floor. One dancer confessed to having 11 left feet when I first opened *Step-In Line* in May 2003, she is now the proud owner of 2!"

"I guarantee," says Sandy, "that you will soon be as passionate about Line Dancing as me, whilst having a great time, make new friends, and before long you will also be hooked, line and sinker!"

Why Line Dancing?

You don't need a partner to do line dancing - although we don't mind if you bring one!
It is very easy to learn. You'll soon be dancing even if you've never danced before. If it's your first evening, a New Beginner class, simcha or a social event, I guarantee you'll be dancing within 5 minutes of starting to learn your first line dance!

It is a good form of general keep-fit and as much (or as little) exercise as you want to put into it. It is now recommended by many doctors for gentle heart and lung exercise, for keeping you supple and exercising those muscles. This is particularly beneficial if you do no other form of exercise. You can put as much or as little energy into your dancing as you like - and remember to smile while you dance!

Also it is excellent for exercising your memory when learning the dances as well as exercise for your legs. The dances aren't long at all but learning a new dance and brushing up on old ones and reviewing recent ones all help.

It is the second most popular recreation in the US and the UK, only beaten by Bingo with 1 in 25 of the population line dancing (according to figures given on BBC Radio 4 in February 2002)
Because it is so popular the dances we learn will be done at other clubs abroad too. So when you go on holiday abroad or visit another part of the UK, you can almost certainly find a class near you. And you'll probably already know some of the dances they will be doing.

There are always new line dances being written to a new country album or a great dance track in the pop charts. On most evenings you'll learn one or two new ones and everyone is at the same stage when it comes to learning a new dance. Your instructor will choose a new beginner dance and a new beginner/intermediate dance to learn each evening. But we'll also be able to enjoy a good dance to our old familiar favourites.

Beginner dances take a short while to teach before we are actually dancing them to music.
Line dance to great music! We use anything from soul, R&B, country, new country and country rock to this week's pop and album chart-toppers together with music from around the world including Irish, Latin, Salsa ... and more!

... oh yes ... and did I say it's great fun!!!

Come and meet new people and maybe make some new friends too. If you are new, do go up to someone you don't know and say hello and introduce yourself. I'll be available during the small breaks to meet and greet you all.

Line dancing has proved to be something all ages can enjoy with no upper age limit! I remember one lady who had two crutches and yet she still managed to join in and do a few grapevines.

New to Line Dancing and want to learn?

Try a Beginner's class to start with and expect to spend a few weeks getting used to the style of dance and getting in some practice.
A Beginner's Class will include dances for those who have done no line dancing before and want to learn both the basic steps (such as the grapevine, the shuffle and the pivot turn) and some great dances that everyone can do right from the first evening.

Each week, expect to learn one dance new to everyone (newcomers and older-hands alike), review dances taught in the last few weeks so you'll be able to learn them if you missed a week and there will also be a reminder for older and more familiar dances that have been taught and reviewed before.

When you start line dancing....
Don't expect to be able to do ALL the dances on your first evening! Do one or two (ask the instructor which ones are best tackling if you are new). Sit out and watch. You can learn a lot from watching others.
Wear the right shoes, ones that have some "slip" on a wooden floor. You can't dance in trainers unless the dance floor is very slippery!! Wear shoes with a smooth sole or a leather sole.

Remember to drink something during the evening as all forms of exercise, including dancing, will make you warm. If the venue does not have a bar, take something to drink. Non-alcoholic drinks are better for quenching your thirst and even just plain water tastes great when you are warm.
Come back a second week and it'll seem more familiar. It usually takes a few weeks just to get used to line dancing and to get those brain cells into gear too - especially the ones that tell your feet what to do! But by then you'll know the names of some steps. Learning the names of dances takes a few more weeks!!

Absolute Beginners progress to Beginners pretty quickly. If you start attending a Beginner's class, don't expect to learn every dance in your first few evenings!
Many people are happy to attend just the Beginner's Hour because the dances are easy to learn, not difficult, so you can soon enjoy dancing them to the music.

Beginners-Intermediates, sometimes called Improvers or a Step Further is a continuation of the Beginners hour and includes some more dances progressing to the next level up from Beginner. This part of the evening is especially for those at beginner/intermediate and intermediate level dancers - which is the level the vast majority of line dancers are at. Dances beyond Intermediate level (Intermediate/Advanced or Advanced) are quite rare.