The World Line Dance Newsletter prohibits that the number of counts in a dance for a Level One Novice will not be greater than 24 and the dancer will not face more than one wall. Each step is a single count step; there are no turns or complicated combination steps that fall on an awkward rhythm or an unstressed beat. Typical steps performed in novice level one line dancing include Grapevines, where the fourth step is a stomp, scuff or merely a touch of the foot to the ground, walking forward or backward and Step-Togethers, which are stepping one foot to the side, then stepping it back to meet the opposite foot in place.
For a Novice Level Two, the counts of the dance cannot be greater than 32. Although the dancer can face a maximum of four different walls during the dance, a Novice Level Two should begin by facing two walls. They also cannot exceed more than two quarter turns. The steps appropriate for this level are a knee hitch, heel splits, Triple Steps or cha-chas in place and more complex Grapevines. There cannot be Tags, Bridges or Restarts.
The Beginner Level dance cannot be greater than 36 counts for the new beginner and 48 for the slightly more experienced beginner. Although there are no longer restrictions on the number of turns allowed at this level, it is recommended by the World Line Dance Newsletter that the number of turns in the dance not exceed the skill level appropriate to those dancing it. Steps included in this level of line dance are pivot quarter and half turns, turns that turn against the general direction of the dance, half turn triple steps, backward toe struts and a forward shuffle, among others.
The Advanced Beginner Level dance will not include more than 48 counts. Caution is recommended to the amount of turns placed in the dance based upon the skill level of the dancers, although the amount is limitless at this stage of line dancing. Tags and Restarts are acceptable at this level; however, Restarts are not permitted after the first section for those new to this skill level. Some of the steps associated with the Advanced Beginner Level include half and full Vaudevilles, forward diagonal shuffles, turning shuffles, rolling Grapevines and full turn Triple Steps.
The Intermediate Level of Line Dancing can reach 64 counts in a dance. This level includes jumps and kicks, such as Mule Kicks, and encourages that the step combinations show increasing variety and decreasing repetition of steps and sequences. The dance at this level becomes more visibly complicated with the allowance of either two Tags and one Restart, three Tags and no Restart or one Tag with two Restarts. A Bridge no greater than 16 counts is permitted, but only if there are no Tags in the dance. Steps associated with this level include Apple-jacks, full turns within a single count and Cross and Unwind combinations.
Advanced Level Line Dancers are permitted to use up to 108 counts, although it is noted by the World Line Dance Newsletter that the exceptionally advanced line dancers are not bound by count limitations, they are free to dance as many counts as the dance holds, even exceeding 240 counts, which is the estimate of a four minute piece of music. An Advanced Level Line Dance may have many Restarts and Tags and the phrased dances can be have multiple sections, exceeding three.