El Paso Soul Circle Dance June 19, 2021 Line Dance Social
Effort Never Equals Zero Smooth Line Dancers, Jun 19, 2021
Our first line dance social warms up with a lively circle
dance, "El Paso Soul"
Just Fine (Remix) by Mary Blige
Instructor William Scott at The Durango Hills YMCA in Las Vegas, NV.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uphEr_2e3do
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Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest update- August 9, 2026
This pancocojams post showcases seven* YouTube video examples of African American single file line dances (also known as "circle line dances" and "Trail ride versions")
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 that are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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ESTABLISHING EARLY DATES FOR "SINGLE FILE" AFRICAN AMERICAN LINE DANCING (UPDATE)
As of August 8, 2026, the earliest date that I have found for the style of African American line dancing that I refer to as "single file line dancing" is Nov. 16, 2011 (video given as Showcase Video #7. [I just came across that video on that date after I had published the original edition of this post].
Please share any early dates that you know for this type of African American line dancing along with demographic information and/or online links.
I'll amend this post with earlier dates if credible citations are available. Thanks!
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GENERAL REFERENTS FOR THIS TYPE OF LINE DANCING
"Single file line dances" is my general referent for a small subset of (African American) line dances. The referent refers to the formation of those line dances in what I believe is a clearer, less confusing way than the term "circle (line) dances that is currently being used.
The term "trail ride version" is also used in a number of titles of YouTube videos as a referent for these types of African American line dances. However, I believe that term is also confusing because line dances at African American trail ride gatherings have in the past and are still performed in the traditional (horizontal line) formation as well as in the much newer single line formation. Besides, both of these types of African American line dances have been and still are performed apart from trail ride gatherings/events
.
1. [the title of the song] followed by the words "circle (line dance)"
or
2. [the title of the song] followed by the words in parenthesis (trail ride versions).
I'm using the term "single file line dances" because I believe that both of the referents given above are problematic. I discuss the problems that I have with those referents in rhis pancocojams post: "What Are "Trail Ride" Line Dances & How Are They Different From Some Other African American ("Soul") Line Dances?"
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/what-are-trail-ride-line-dances-how-are.html
The "single file line dance" style of African American line dancing appears to be relatively new. The earliest year that I have found for this type of African American line dancing online rhys far is 2011 (given as Showcase Video #7 below)..
Also, these single file line dances have the same winding, circular movement patterns as the Cuba originating Conga lines and as the historically Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority strolls. However, the dance routines that are performed for Conga lines and historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities aren't the same as the dance routines that are performed for trail ride versions of line dances.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THESE SHOWCASES VIDEOS
As of August 8, 2026 I have only come across seven different song titles on YouTube** for African American single file lines dances. (The titles of African American line dances are almost always the same as the titles for the record that is played for that particular line dance.)
1.This is the earliest example of single file ("circle") African American line dance that I've found as of this August 2026 publishing date.
"El Paso Soul" Just Fine line dance is performed to that song which was recorded by Mary J. Blige.
Here's an excerpt from Ai Overview:
"Mary J. Blige released the official remix to "Just Fine" (featuring Lil Wayne and incorporating Chubb Rock's "Treat 'Em Right"), which is widely used for the popular El Paso line dance, on February 18, 2009. The original solo track debuted earlier on October 16, 2007."
-snip-
According to AI Overview, this song by Mary J Blige is categorized as part of the R&B/dance pop genre.
Here's a comment from a Houston Soul Line Dance Facebook post asking about that line dance:
ImStephanie Brown, 2025
"I learned this dance from the creator of the the dance
"the General" Leigh Williams and it was to Mary J's Just Fine.
#thegeneralleighwilliams
#nclargestlinedanceparty
https://youtu.be/3aYYpJSTlNU?si=dAzeBIPp_a6tIjAL
I have found some traditional African American examples (i.e. horizontal line formations) and some single file examples in the 2020s on YouTube with the title "El Paso" or with the title "Just Fine" by Mary J. Blige..
**
2. "Kang Wit It" (also known as "The K-Wang" is a Hip Hop song (track) by Khia that was first released in 2002. That track was performed by African Americans in Tampa and in other cities in Florida as a stand alone dance. (How that dance is performed is described in the record's lyrics.)
However, "The K-Wang" / "Kang Wit It" is best known among African Americans in certain cities throughout the United States, but especially in the South, as a traditional African American line dance that is performed different ways depending on one's city.
3. "Follow Me" is a House music genre record by Aly-US that was first released in 1992.This song was originally performed as a stand alone partner dance. I've come across a lot of single file videos of this line dance on YouTube. However, I haven't come across any traditional (horizontal lines) African American line dance videos for "Follow Me".
**
4. "Just Let Me Ride" by Ms.
**7. Jody was first released on January 8, 2013 and Ms. Jody released a popular remix version in 2014. "Let Me Ride" is categorized as a Southern Soul/Blues record.
Quoting AI Overview: ["Let Me Ride"] "is a staple in the Southern Soul and line-dancing community, often accompanied by specific dance slides"...
I've only come across one example of traditional (horizontal formation) line dance video and one other single file line dance video of this song. However, given that AI Overview, there may be other line dance examples of this song on YouTube.
**
5. The song "Trailride Sailing" is a R&B /Soul' Southern Soul/Line Dance song that was first released in 2023 by Meechie. A number of traditional (horizontal line) African American line dance videos of "Trailride Sailing" were published before videos of the single file line dance versions of that dance.
Some line dance videos of "Trailride Sailing" are also given with the title "Sailing".
**
I haven't come across any other videos of that line dance, but that may be because the song is new.
**
7. This video is titled "El Paso"/ Mary J Blidge Soul Line Dance. The music is given as "So Fine/Treat 'Em Right Remix / Artist: Mary J. Blige/Chubb Rock/Feat. Lil Wayne / Album: Single - Mary J. Blige".
This is the same record that is used for Showcase #1 in this pancocojams post.
The line dance class that is shown In Showcase #7 is from Hempstead, NY.
This 2011 YouTube video is the earliest date that I've found on YouTube for these single file line dances. Notice that the location is in New York state.
That location outside of the Southern states that are the usual sites for Black American trail rides (as well as the formation/circular movement similarities to the Conga line and to historically Black fraternity/sorority strolls) suggests that the single file line dance didn't originate in African American Southern trail ride gatherings. Instead those Southern trail ride gatherings adopted this dance formation from other sources and added their movment routines, hand held fans, and whistles to that dance style. .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfgmYdBTE6k
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ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE YOUTUBE VIDEOS
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2- Kwang wit it! #dance #linedanceparty [also known as "The K-Wang"]
@irufus83, October 21, 2024
https://youtube.com/shorts/fe1xd1QDPEA?si=RnqKrwDsHIfhVEi0
****SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Follow Me (Circle) Line Dance
Tomika Brooks, May 19, 2025
Song: Follow Me (Club Mix)
Artist: Aly-Us
Performed by: Hallback's Dress&Cover Crew and Off The Wall Soul Line Dance Team of Lakeland, FL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfL6WKhSQ8g&t=10s
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 -Just Let Me Ride Line Dance
@dime journey, January 9, 2025
https://youtube.com/shorts/PDLrZCMzOHA?si=CWtUsxeMdMOsac_t
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5-Sailing Line Dance [Song title- "Trailride Sailing]
@irufus83, January 28, 2025
https://youtube.com/shorts/nvff1DOo-LI?si=frL-MR67UUMkL_fa
****SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 - Soul Train Line
Tomila Brooks, July 10, 2026
Choreographed by: Terressa Fields
Song: Soul Train Line
Artist: Tee Doe Brown
Performed by: Off The Wall Soul Line Dance Team of Lakeland, FL
Instructor: Gwen Cooper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8y0yJ2gGtA
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #7 - El Paso / Mary J. Blige - Soul Line Dance
Stacey,Nov 16, 2011
Easy Beginners Line Dance with DJ Passion. Every Thursday at
7:00pm American Legion Hall / Hempstead, NY.
Song: Just Fine/Treat 'Em Right Remix / Artist: Mary J.
Blige/Chubb Rock/Feat. Lil Wayne / Album: Single
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