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The cotton-eyed Joe is a popular country dance song. It is also a timeless dance that people will still be doing ten years from now - so it is a wise one to learn. This dance is usually done in the wheel style - with people making a circle and going counter clockwise on the dance floor.
The dance begins with a repetition of the same step eight times alternating feet. We start standing with the feet together. Bring the right foot forward and put the ball (part near your toes) of your foot down and shift your weight onto it. Now without moving your feet - rock you weight back on to the ball of your left foot. Still with feet planted rock you weight back to you right foot ball. Count this out - 1, 2, 3.
Your weight should be on the ball of your right foot. Bring you left foot forward in a normal stepping motion (it should now be in front of your right foot). Rock your weight onto the ball of your left foot. Now keeping feet planted rock it back to your right foot. And then rock it back to you left foot ball. You have completed the second step. We call it 2,2,3 as we count it out.
To do the third step repeat the first step but count it out as 3,2,3. It is important to count the steps as you are going to have 8 steps before we switch what we do. Continue alternating feet with 4,2,3. 5,2,3. 6,2,3. 7,2,3, and 8,23.
You should finish 8,2,3 with your weight on your left foot in front. Here is where the dance changes. Keeping your weight on your left foot, cross your right ankle in front of you left ankle (like crossing a t). This move is called up. Now kick your right foot out in front of you a little. This move is called out. Return your right ball foot to where you picked it up from. It should be in the behind position. Rock your weight onto your right foot ball. Now rock your weight to your left foot ball (keeping feet planted). Rock your weight back to your right foot ball.
You should have your left foot in front and right in back. Pick up your left foot and cross your right ankle with it. This is up. Then kick it in front of you for out. Now place your left leg down in a backwards step and rock your weight onto it. The rock your weight onto your right ball. And back to the left.
Repeat with right leg crossing and then again with left leg crossing. When you have finished a series of 4 up, out backwards steps you are ready to repeat from the beginning. Step forward with your right foot.
Keep practicing - you will get it.
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