Remember the early days of music television? It was typically regulated to late Saturday mornings after the cartoons were over but before the sports programs got going, or very late on weekend TV. If you wanted to learn what songs would be popular on the radio, you would tune in to Dick Clark and watch his American Bandstand. If you wanted to learn how to dance, though, you’d switch over to Don Cornelius and the Soul Train.
One of the highlights of the show (in addition to the funky animated train logo) was the line dance. Pairs of dancers would take turns dancing their way toward the camera while others stoof around, watched, and clapped while waiting for their turn to shine.
Not only could you learn the latest dances, you’d get to see what the club fashions were. It was essential knowledge for 9 year old white kids in upstate NY.
This video is a compilation of line dances from Soul Train spanning several decades. Great hair, great clothes, great moves.
