Rachael Reed, Dec 24, 2024
Websites: Tbdbpublishing.com RachaelReed.com
#trailriding #trailride #steppers
Music: Follow Me (Club Mix)
Aly-Us
Strictly Tiefschwarz (DJ Edition - Unmixed)
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Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision - August 29, 2025
This is Part I of a pancocojams series on the differences between contemporary African American trail ride line dancing and some contemporary and older "soul" line dances.
This post showcases the five YouTube videos of contemporary African American trail ride line dancing. That post also includes selected comments from a Facebook page about trail ride line dancing
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/comments-from-discussion-threads-of.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post showcases five YouTube video examples of African American contemporary trail ride dancing. Selected comments from the discussion threads for four of these videos are also included in this post. The comment feature is turned off for Video #3. Instead of comments, an excerpt of a 2021 article about African American trail rides is given after that video..
The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and all those who are featured in these showcased videos. Thanks to all the singers and choreographers of the songs that are featured in these showcased videos. Thanks also to all the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
It's important to emphasize that with regard to this post, "trail ride" line dances and "soul" line dances are types of African American line dances (with "line dance" being one of the referents that African Americans use for these types of group dances that are performed in a line. Other African American referents for this type of group dances from various parts of the United States are "hustles" "slides", "two-steps", and "stepping". Read more about those referents below and in this pancocojams post's comment section.
The same song can be danced in a trail ride line dancing style or in a soul line dancing style.
Also, it should be noted that African American (also known as "soul") line dances can be danced by people who aren't African American or any other person who isn't of Black descent.
**
Disclaimer:
I'm not a line dancer (except occasionally). I also am not a dance historian and I have never been to a trail ride.
The information that is compiled in this post is gleaned from my internet searches. Additions and corrections are very welcome.
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COMMENTS ABOUT TRAIL RIDE LINE DANCES AND HOW THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM SOUL LINE DANCES
From https://www.facebook.com/groups/164844910212525/posts/9708047532558834/ "Why make a distinction between trailride and line dances?" UniverSOUL Line Dancing
·
Numbers added for referencing purposes only.
All of these comments are from January 2025
1. Regina Thomas
"I have a question.
Why make a big deal between trailride dances and line
dances?
Doesn't it all bring us together to have a good time? If you
can't do one dance..slide over to the other one. Just dance"
**
2.Angie Causey Fnp
"There isn't a difference as long as people SPACE is
respected I'm cool just split the floor.
**
3. Barbara Baylor
"Yes. You're right. We are all dancing to have fun. The
question was is there a difference between Trailriders and line dancing. Things
do evolve over time as has line dancing (country, R&B, soul/urban line
dancing, hip-hop, etc.). Even before these there was African (not African
American) line dances that used a stomp upbeat steps with drums and
instruments. My sense is that Trailriders seems to be a bit more upbeat, peppy
and bouncy with a bit of stomp in the step which appeals to a younger audience,
while seemingly, traditional line dances uses chassee, slide and glide style
steps. Our very own, loveable Big Mucci created Trailriders Shuffle in 2019 in
dedication to the Trailriders and Saddleback club Riders( persons who ride
horses and engage in Mountain Bike riding).
I think all styles can be used in line dances. After all,
what is line dancing? Dances done in a group, mostly lines, with everyone doing
the same steps. The clicker is doing the steps as they work for you. So while
we are all having fun dancing and exercising remember, some of us have back,
knee, hip and weight challenges that will not allow for fast upbeat steps. So,
we all have to choose to do what we can and cannot do. But have fun while doing
it.
**
3. Lorrie Wallace
"Barbara Baylor Best explanation I’ve ever read."
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4. Regina Thomas
"Barbara Baylor I. Absolutely. Love. Your.
Response. Thank you. Thank you"
**
5. Denton Elisha
"Barbara Baylor the best comment I ever seen on line dancing
period. I have back and knee issues, and I am an instructor, so I only teach
what my body allows me to do. Trail ride dancing is different from line
dancing. I gave up on the first dance, it is for the younger crowd. The only
question I have is, because of the way they move, are they claiming a line
dance already created?"
6.
"Barbara Baylor lots of bouncing in trail ride. I like smooth"
**
7. Charlene Tilghman
"Barbara Baylor facts. People are trying to monopolize line
dancing and take the fun out of the fellowship aspects. Dancing should be fun,
energizing, and done with your own limitations."
**
8. Ejaya Johnson
"TOMATO TOMÂTO"
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9. Leslie Marie
"We do both.. All Things evolve ..
I'm proud of the young cats! They got the pulse of line
dancing right now! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽"
**
10. Nicole Timberlake-Lynch
"Do what make you feel good. People say all we do is
Linedancing. We don’t do regular dancing (man&woman) together. U have
Steppers. U have trailriders. If you DONT like anybody’s dance don’t do it.
Everyone grown do what you like and do it 😂😂Regina I agree
what you saying if it brings people together just do or sit down wait til a
song you like then dance."
**
11. Charlie Robinson
"I didn't know there was controversy. I need to get out more.
😂"
**
12. Carah Herring
"Charlie Robinson same!"
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13. Tiffani Drinks
"I need some trail riding 👢 fast, they do dance
different, I need that Country Girl jawn🤣🤣🤣✅✅❤️🖤💚💯"
**
14. Hope It'sLisa Buckner
"I don't think it's a big deal, as far as
the dancing goes. Where I have seen the division is when a linedance that has
been created years prior, is reintroduced as a trailride dance, giving no
credit to the original dance and choreographer. I do and teach both in my urban
class; however, I let my students know the difference. Trailride dances have
always been around, but they have become super popular recently.
I love dancing period, so I'm good with
all of it! I say: do what pleases you!
I'm not up to debating with anyone; just
speaking my truth.
# let's all dance"
**
15. Jamiylah Miller
"Hope It'sLisa Buckner Valid point!!!"
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16. DeMeria SeGuan
"Hope It'sLisa Buckner and the over emphasis on them as if
that’s the best thing smoking…then it’s the damn fan combination for me."
**
17.Frankeisha Franscreationz Hill
"Facts"
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18. Cheresse Harris
"I love the high energy from both!"
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19. Mitzi Berryan
"I do them both ❤️❤️"
**
20. Eureka Bennett
"I love them both and teach both. I ask my classes which one
they like if there is a song with a dance for both, then that's the one I will
teach. Trailrides are becoming easier to learn and teach because most line
dances are becoming a whole dance routine😂, with 3 and 4 parts
with a bridge lol."
**
21. Akili McLamore
"I really don't see the difference."
**
22. Hester Mitchell
"Like I have said before, there is a difference. With
trailriders in their moves they mostly all do the same move. They move back and
forth with the rock of the upper body, they stomp their feet a little harder,
and when they do a turn instead of a 123, or a cha cha cha they pick up their
foot and just swing it around. I just don't believe they count as we do in line
dancing. Out here in Texas as I said the trailriders use to hate to see us
coming, because we line danced to everything to whereas they only had a couple
dances they could dance to. So in saying all of that I have taught some of the
real trailriders dance that they have come up with."
**
33. Regina Thomas
"Hester Mitchell they've evolved. Just like line dance has
over the years. Which is a good thing. That's why they're joining us on the
cruise"
**
34. Hester Mitchell
"Regina Thomas can't be beat them might as well join them.
That's what they said, because they had to realize how big the line dancing
community is. Can't wait!"
**
35. Theresa Ross
"I love both."
**
36. Lucy Lu J.
"What is a Trailride dancer"
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37. Regina Thomas
"Lucy Lu J. Barbara Baylor gives the absolute best
explanation of a trailrider/dancer"
**
38. Odette N. Bell
"Lucy Lu J. I wondered the same. Never heard of that. I even
Googled it, but that didn't help. I'm assuming it might be like having steppers
and ballroomers on the floor at the same time. I don't know. 🤷🏾♀️"
**
39. Kim Jones Cummings
"Trail rides is more country (music like blues or more
southern songs & clothing like boots, hats, fans, shorts) hence trail ride
like a cowboy.
Hustle is more of a northern term with more R&B, pop,
rap songs & usually at a faster pace.
They all are line dances cause you get in a line with
repetitive steps."
SHOWCASE VIDEOS OF TRAIL RIDE LINE DANCES
(These videos are given in no particular order. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.)
This video is found at the top of this pancocojams post.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 -
Big Mucci, Oct 1, 2020
Big Mucci The King of LineDance Music & Rico C brings
you the Official Video for the TrailRiders Shuffle LineDance. a Mixture of
Southern Soul and Trailriders Music
Song: Trailriders Shuffle
Artist: Big Mucci Ft. Rico C
Visuals by: Mr. Kap Bugsy of THEKAPXTC Visual Production
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3-
#30Talk,
""EPIC" 2025 Boots on the ground Trail Ride
in NC.
SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 -
Tonio Armani, May 20, 2025 SPARTA
Tonio Armani Live In Sparta, Georgia
#TonioArmani #CountryGirl #LineDance
Song : Country Girl
Artist : Tonio Armani
Video Shot By @iamyungnina
SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 -
Buck Tv, Mar 26, 2025 SOUTH
CAROLINA
The energy was off the charts at the tour kickoff! Watch 803 Fresh deliver an electrifying live performance of his #1 Billboard R&B hit, "Boots on the Ground," produced by T Da Wizard and Snake Eyes Music Group. Featuring special guest DJ CLEVE and the legendary TNT Steppers, this unforgettable night marks the beginning of an epic tour. Don't miss out on this exclusive performance only on Buck TV Network!
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Here are two statements from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-eTq9n9fPA "Big Mucci Breaks Down the Line Dance Culture War: Trail Riders, Steppers & Soul Dancers Unite! # 5" published by The A.Y.E. Team, May 7, 2025
ReplyDeletetime stamp: 12:56
Big Mucci -"When I came out, it was only Cleveland- well Ohio, Michigan, well like the Chicago area, and Philly. We were like the only ones that did line dancing. The whole country wasn’t on it."
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's note: Here's what I believe Big Mucci meant by the words "When I came out" = "when he began recording soul line dance songs, choreographing line dances for those songs, and promoting those line dance records online and at different events."
**
time stamp 26:20
Big Mucci" "We call it line dancing, mainly on the East Coast but if you go to Michigan, they call it hustling.…But then, if you move a little further, if you go to Chicago, Milwaukee, Minnesota, St. Louis, they call it “slide”. “Hey Mucci, I love you slide, man. When are you gonna come up with a new slide?” So you got slide, hustle…
We call it "line dancing". Tennessee, they call it "twines". You know what I’m sayin?. And, then some like when I was out in Cali, this was before it really got big and I know like James and Jackie could probably say something on this one- they probably was callin it "two steppin" back then. But now with the steppers doing it, they just calling it “steppin”."...
-snip-
Notice how some commenters in discussion threads for trail ride videos in the American south refer to the dancers as "steppers".
In Chicago, Illinois the term "steppers" refers to partner dances that have their source in Bop and Lindy Hop dancing. (Chicago Stepping)
And in Black American communities throughout the United States, "stepping" ('steppin') is usually taken to mean the synchronized, percussive movement art that originated with and is still mostly associated with members of university based historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities.
Here's a quote from a Facebook page that answers the question "When did Big Mucci begin making music"?.
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/reel/619503974317291
April 28, 2000 [quoting the caption on a video clip]
"People ask Big Mucci how Long have you been making Line Dance Music? I tell them I started in 1996 with Boodie Bounce Line Dance and my follow up is the Cleveland Shuffle in 1997 and been creating Line Dances and Line Dance Music 4 Ever! Here is a Classic Throw Back from the year “2000” wayyyy before a lot of people even started Line Dancing. I been real in
the field.Lol #bigmucci,#linedance, #clevelandshuffle, #boodiebounce, #71north"
-snip-
That information adds background to Big Mucci's comment given above that "When [he] came out, people in only a few states were line dancing.
Here's another comment from line dance choreographer Big Mucci about this subject:
DeleteFrom https://www.facebook.com/reel/1137984873520542
"Other words For Line Dancing 1. SLIDE 2. SHUFFLE 3. BUS STOP 4.SHUFFLE 5. TWO STEP" from Big Mucci [audio file and text] Shared with Public
"Line Dancing comes in different names depending on your Location. Mostly Up North, the East Coast and different parts in the South call it Line Dancing, In Michigan mainly calls it Hustle, In the Mid West like Illinois , Wisconsin, Missouri, Utah call it Slide, Some places on the West Coast and South call it Steps or 2 Steps or Stomp, Older Folks in the South mainly around the Georgia area calls it Bus Stop, and because of me (Big Mucci) a lot of places scattered throughout the USA use my word Shuffle. You also have people who don’t know anything about Line Dancing and they call everything the Electric Slide. (Smh) lol
That’s why you hear song titles, Like The Cleveland Shuffle, The Bikers Shuffle, The Cha Cha Slide, The Turbo Hustle, Same Ole 2 Step, The Bus Stop, The Love Slide, The Flex Line Dance, The Mississippi Stomp.
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#linedance #linedancing #bigmucci #linedancemoveme"