Country/Western Line Dancing; The First Step To The Two-Step; Hot Country Aerobics; Line Dancing With Christy Lane

In case you haven't noticed, we're currently living in the midst of a country music renaissance, and interest in all things country and western has reached a zenith. (This, of course, is the price one pays for back to back Republican administrations.) Naturally, this interest has given rise to a whole slew of video­cassettes related to the subject. Country/Western Line Dancing and The First Step to the Two-Step are both taught by Wayne and Yvonne Conover, a pair of accomplished dancers who have appeared on the Tennessee Nashville Network. The First Step to the Two Step offers lessons in basic step patterns, turns, pivot steps, passes and more, in addition to a few of the more complicated moves (such as the "conversation walk" and "sweetheart position"). The presentation is a little awkward since Wayne does all the talking and Yvonne, when she is not demonstrating a step, just stands there looking somewhat uncomfortable. On top of that, the program contains a handful of video dropouts and a low audio background hum. These technical drawbacks also plague the Conover's other video Country/Western Line Dancing, which teaches the following dances: "The Cowboy Boogie," "The Electric Slide," "Alabama Swingin'," "The Country Line Cha-Cha," "The Texas Twist," "Chocolate City Hustle," "Reggae Cowboy," "Ghostbusters," "Slappin' Leather," "The Tush Push," and "Achy Breaky Heart." On this last, Wayne Conover says: "If you don't know "Achy Breaky Heart," you've probably lived in a cave." Actually, I'd heard of it, I just hadn't heard it. And, wonder of wonders, it sounds exactly like a million other country songs. The plus, instruction-wise, in this program, is that the Conover's demonstrate the dance steps with their backs to the audience, first, which is the easiest way for people to learn. However, technical problems, and the massive copyright infringement on the music (the credits report that "licensing for the music has been applied for," which is kind of like telling a police officer who's pulled you over that plans have been made for you to go apply for a driver's license), make these unsuitable choices. Line Dancing With Christy Lane, Vol. 1 features dance video veteran Christy Lane (Hot Dancin' With Christy Lane, reviewed in our May 1991 issue; Fun & Funky Freestyle Dancing, reviewed in our October 1990 issue) at a Palm Springs, CA nightclub demonstrating five country line dances--"The Freeze," "Electric Slide," "Tush Push," "Slappin' Leather," and the "Alley Cat." The actual filming is fairly amateur, with some poorly framed shots (occasionally the shot will rest on Lane's upper body for a long time, leaving viewers a little lost as to the footwork) and occasional mirror glare from the full-length narcissistic dancing aid for the clientele. However, insets are sometimes used, especially during the second half of the program, to better display the footwork. If you are familiar with line dancing at all, then you know that line dancers do not get down, get loose, or get funky; on the contrary, they often dance with their hands in their pockets. Which is why Lane's energetic approach doesn't really work. After showing viewers the basic steps for each of the line dances, she offers a "funky" version. In the funky version all resemblances to line dancing are dropped (in fact, the moves look very similar to those performed on earlier Lane tapes on jazz dancing); too, anyone who danced the "funky" version on the floor would stand out like Alice Cooper on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. The last tape, Hot Country Aerobics , with trainer Ruth McGinnis, gets off to a good start as McGinnis and guest star Kathy Mattea talk about the importance of a balanced fitness and nutrition program. But, immediately after demonstrating proper posture, the tape goes straight to a perfectly run-of-the-mill low impact aerobics session and that's it. The difference here is that the synthesizer is replaced by the slide guitar (not necessarily a welcome difference) and McGinnis does part of the routine while playing the violin at the same time (this has a lot more to do with circus gimmickry than useful fitness instruction). Unless people are clamoring for Hot Country Aerobics, it's not a necessary purchase. Neither are the other three programs reviewed here. (The First Step to the Two-Step and Country/Western Line Dances are available from: Learn How Now, Inc., P.O. Box 5484, Winter Park, FL 32793; (407) 894-8817.) (Line Dancing With Christy Lane is available from: Let's Do It Productions, P.O. Box 5483, Spokane, WA 99205; (509) 235-6555.) (Hot Country Aerobics is available from most distributors.)