House dance is a style that took root in the 70s and 80s, starting in the underground clubs of Chicago and New York. Essentially, house dancing is all about freedom and release. There are no rules, and it’s all about moving your body the way the music tells you to.
In this article, we’re going to teach you the basics of house dance. Our free video lessons provide detailed explanations from professional instructors. Let’s get started!
In house dancing, there are a few key factors to consider before trying any moves out:
There are a number of moves often associated with house dancing, though none of these moves are limited to this style of dance. In this article, we’re going to teach you how to do three of the most popular house dancing styles: The Swivel, The Box Step, and The Shuffle Step.
Let’s move forward with the basics of each dance move, keeping in mind that house dancing isn’t about following rules, but about following where the music leads you.
For the sake of this article, we’re going to focus on the Lindy Swivel. This is a somewhat complex eight-step move, done with a partner. The Lindy Swivel does have a focus on the female partner, who is going to have more complex foot movements. Let’s break it down:
Male / Lead Steps
Female / Follow Steps
The Box Step is another popular house dance move and is simpler to pull off than the Lindy Swivel. You’re basically just making a square with your feet. Here’s a breakdown:
The Basic Steps
Tips to Add Style
We’ll end with the Shuffle Step, which is a very common dance style for fast music. You’re basically just shuffling your feet underneath yourself. Here’s how to do it:
The Basic Steps
Keep in mind that the Shuffle Step is very smooth, meaning that your head won’t be bobbing up and down.
We hope you enjoyed learning how to do popular house dance moves with us! We know that some of these are pretty tricky at first glance, but keep practicing and don’t give up. We hope you feel more confident now to get out there and start dancing.
To help you on your way, Howcast has tons of short but detailed videos on how to dance. Whatever your favorite dance style, know that we have the perfect how-to videos for you. Explore Howcast’s collection of free dance videos.