Tap dancing is high energy and full of life, making it an ideal match for many western songs. Tap dance and its sister style of clogging go so well with country that many dance studios across the nation have adopted a country and western theme for entire recitals over the years. There are many songs that will suit a tap routine well, but the association runs deep with a few favorites, such as "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band, "Life Is a Highway" by Rascal Flats and "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton.
Lyrical and contemporary dance aims to evoke emotion out of an audience as dancers execute fluid and expressive movements that encompass the entire body. The tear jerkers of country and western music stand firm as options for contemporary pieces since they feature plenty of love ballads and lyrics about past regrets and goodbyes. Some contemporary dance western music options include "I'll Stand By You" by Carrie Underwood, "Back to December" by Taylor Swift and "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts.
Of course, western music is mostly associated with line dancing. From exercise classes to night clubs, line dancing has taken the world by storm and continues to sustain its popularity all across the nation. Line dances are popular in part for their extremely simple choreography, allowing people of all levels of ability (and sobriety!), to participate. With that being said, the simple, catchy rhythms of western music is a perfect match for the steps. Some classic country songs continue to be used on a regular basis, including "Elvira," "God Blessed Texas," "Cotton-Eyed Joe" and "Tropicana Parking Lot."
With younger generations of line dancers, more recent and relevant songs reign supreme when dancing country style. Many school physical education programs now require some dance instruction, and line dancing is a frequent choice. To keep kids interested and motivated to learn, teachers often select songs that they may be hearing on the radio or on TV. Some current hits in line dance music, both with these kids as well as some adults, include "Hoedown Throwdown" by Miley Cyrus and "Story of Us" by Taylor Swift.