The line dancing you see today evolved from the social contra dances of the 19th century. Contra dances often involved couples taking turns performing choreographed dance steps in between a line of men and a line of women. As social dances became less oriented toward couple dancing with the rise of disco in the 1970s, dancers began performing dance steps old and new in lines rather than with partners. Dances like the "hustle" and the "electric slide" were among the first widely-practiced line dances.
In the 1980s, country music fans began adapting certain elements of disco line dances to suit the country western style. Borrowing steps from square dances, contra dances and other folk dances, country western dancers choreographed routines that could easily be performed in dance halls and music venues. The "Tush Push" choreographed by Jim Ferrazzano is the earliest known modern country line dance. Ferrazzano brought country line dancing to national popularity with his easy and memorable routine to Billy Ray Cyrus' song "Achy Breaky Heart" in 1992.
Line dances new and old remain popular into the present day. The "Electric Slide" and its country western cousin the "Boot Scootin' Boogie" are frequently danced at weddings, proms and other parties especially as a way to get hesitant dancers on the dance floor. The country line dance classic, the "Cotton-Eyed Joe," is nearly ubiquitous at dance halls, especially in the southern United States. Other popular dances include the "Cha Cha Slide" and the "Chicken Dance" which is often performed in a circle rather than a line.
Organizations like the United Country Western Dance Council host line dancing festivals and competitions around the world. Line dancing enthusiasts rehearse, perfect and perform set choreography with a group at regional, national and international levels. These competitions strive to promote line dancing as an art and competitive sport rather than simply a social activity. Dance competitions invite line dancers to compete in groups against other dancers, while festivals offer dancers of many ability levels the chance to perform non-competitively.