From the Life! section today.

"Not toeing the line"
- line dancing is no longer just about country. It's swaying to pop, salsa and R&B music as well.


Finally! Someone has pointed out that line dancing is not only about country and a simple 'step to the right, step to the left' thing! For too long line dancing has been misunderstood to be 'granny's dancing' where u just move leisurely around. Even TV programmes that feature line dancing somehow only choose to show the 'subdued' kind of dancing (which unfortunately are mainly country songs). In fact for a long time already, pop, R&B and Hip-hop styles have been very popular among alot of line dancers. I can tell u, after one session of line dancing, u feel like u've had a good workout.

And hey, they interviewed Joe and Anne! Hahaha... Joe is used to be our instructor (my parents and I). Now my parents are still learning under him and he's very much like a family friend. Anne is also a close family friend. Actually, she and her husband have been interviewed many times by different types of media. Seen them being interviewed on TV before as well. Heehee... just exciting to see people whom I personally know appear in the media.

Btw, I dun belong to the purists. I enjoy pop dances much much more than most country dances. That aside, it's sad that line dancing is not how it used to be. Many changes has occured since it gained popularity. Whether they are for the better or worst, I can't judge. Newcomers to the hobby probably won't sense it that much, but for old-timers like us, we still enjoy the good ol' days when the line dancing culture was simple and all about having fun. The community nowadays is too scattered and isolated, unlike 3 to 4 years ago when the entire line dancing community in Singapore line danced to the same tunes and at a same venues (Downtown East, Hougang Mall, Riverside...) so everyone knew everyone and there was a nice 'family' atmosphere to it.

It would be too long to relate the entire history of the line dancing scene in Singapore. But being in it for almost 6 years now, I can say I've seen alot.