Line Dancing – that’s my hobby and has been for at least the last 12 years.  It started – I thought – as a passing fad, just a bit of exercise to nice music, with a group of friends, but I am afraid that over the years it has become an all-consuming passion.  There is a name for this disease; it’s called CLDS (Chronic Line Dance Syndrome).  I have become so enthralled with this hobby that I have even ended up teaching it to other people.
One of the advantages of Line Dancing is that no partner is needed, so if your husband or wife doesn’t like the idea, it’s one kind of dancing which can be done singly.  Another advantage is that there is no age limit whatsoever.  In one of my earlier classes the age range was huge – from a young girl of 12 to the oldest lady of 84!  Obviously the older you are then perhaps you would do less of the faster dances but there are dances to suit every age range and ability.
The image of Line Dancing has always been one of Stetsons, jeans/dungarees and cowboy boots but now – although quite a few people still dance in boots (mainly for comfort), the dress code ranges from trousers and T-shirts to skirts and sparkly tops.  The music also started out as mainly Country and Western orientated but over the years Line Dances have been choreographed to almost every kind of music, including pop, Latin, Irish and even Christmas music at the appropriate time of the year. So you could say that there is something for everyone.

Apart from the enjoyment of the music, the exercise is a fantastic way to keep fit, so much more fun than treadmills and exercise bikes at the gym. Another benefit is keeping the brain active as most line dancers will hold up to 150 dances in their memory with new ones being added continually.
I would thoroughly recommend Line Dancing as a hobby to everyone (male and female) for all the reasons mentioned and also a way to make new friends and get out a little more, away from the monotony of the TV – it’s great fun, great exercise and totally addictive!
Christine Heath