Country Line Dancing and Two-Step Group
based in the twin cities, MN
What do people wear?
Many folks enjoy dressing in country style—whatever that means for them, often including a cowboy hat. Most people opt for jeans, while shorts are popular in the summer months. You might see a few women wearing dresses, and overall, some attendees choose to dress up while others keep it casual.
What type of shoes are recommended for dancing?
The key feature for footwear when two-stepping is a smooth sole that allows for easy swiveling. This is why cowboy boots are a popular choice for dancing. For those seeking additional comfort or support, dance shoes or other comfortable shoes are also great options.
In wet weather, and even in any weather, it's best to wear different shoes to the dance venue and switch to your dance shoes once inside. This helps prevent street dirt and water from getting onto the dance floors, ensuring a clean and safe dancing environment.
May I bring a water bottle?
At Twin Cities dance venues with bars, bringing in outside water bottles is generally not permitted due to liquor license restrictions. Specifically, the St. Croix Event Center and Hamel VFW do not allow any outside beverages. HYLTN asks for your cooperation to ensure we do not jeopardize the licenses of our host venues.
May I bring food?
You are welcome to bring snacks to the St. Croix Event Center. At the Hamel VFW, you can bring meals and snacks or have food delivered directly to the venue.
May I enjoy my drink on the dance floor?
All dance venues kindly ask that you refrain from bringing drinks onto the dance floor to ensure safety and maintain a pleasant environment for all dancers.
What payment types are accepted for the entrance fee?
card, Venmo, and cash
What payment types are accepted at the bars?
Both the St. Croix Event Center and the Hamel VFW accept cash, credit and debit cards, as well as Apple Pay.
How is the dance floor organized for different types of dancers?
On a large dance floor, we typically designate two lanes: the outer lane for faster two-steppers and the inner lane for those moving at a slower pace. The center area is typically reserved for line dancing. However, during two-step lessons, this space is used for two-step practice. When a two-step song is playing, line dancers are encouraged to dance closer together to make room for the two-step lanes, as long as the dance floor is spacious enough to support this setup.
How do I find a dance partner if I arrive without one (for lessons or for dancing)?
To find a dance partner, we encourage you to ask fellow attendees. If someone declines, please don’t take it personally—just keep asking around!
Are the roles of lead and follow in two-step dancing restricted by gender?
No, they are not. You are welcome to learn and dance either or both roles.
Do line dancers have to dance in a grid?
While it’s not mandatory to dance in a grid format, it is a common practice in line dancing to maintain a structured grid when space allows. HYLTN encourages dancers to be mindful of aligning with the grid as it enhances the visual harmony of the dance floor and contributes to an organized group appearance.
How can I learn the line dances if I can’t see the instructor clearly?
We’re actively working on adding more tutorial videos to our Step Sheets page to assist you in learning the dances. In the meantime, you can use the ‘step sheet’ link on the Step Sheets page to access the Copperknob page, where you’ll likely find tutorial videos created by others.
How should I submit a song or line dance request?
The best way to get a request to James is to comment on Facebook on the Discussion tab for the event.
Where should a beginner position themselves in the line dance grid?
Since most line dances involve turning to face different walls, anyone on an edge will be at the front at some point, and there’s no true “back” to be less visible in. If you prefer to be less visible, consider positioning yourself in the middle of the grid.