Have Dancers Gotten Completely Out of Line? : Musicians, club owners and others complain of harassment, vulgarity and attempts to dominate the floor. Some blame instructors.

You can’t dispute the popularity and aerobic benefits of line dancing. But not everyone’s a convert. Doug Supernaw, Academy of Country Music’s top new male vocalist nominee, told me recently: “I’m from Texas. And in Texas, cowboys don’t line dance. They call it ‘barroom aerobics.’ And cowboys want to save their energy for later,” he said with a wink.

With Supernaw, it’s just personal preference. But some folks closer to home would argue that the only good line dancer is a dead line dancer--or at least a little hamstrung. That’s because in their collective zeal, line dancers have managed to alienate many people around them. And critics--in general--think that practitioners of Tush Push have crossed the line.

When I asked one club owner about offering line dance lessons, the response fired back was: “Hell, no. I don’t need no water-drinking line dancers in here. I can’t make any money off them.”

“Most line dancers don’t tip or drink,” said one of several musicians who asked not to be identified. “But some of them come out eight nights a week for the lessons and dominate the dance floor. Then they all do the same thing--kind of bug-eyed--like Moonies. It’s like a cult.

“I think they intimidate the average guy who wants to bring his girl out once a week and dance intimately. I see ‘em chasing couples--who might spend more money--off the dance floor.”

Many musicians complain that they are sick of “being harassed” by what one guitar player called “Fascist line dancers who fanatically insist that every song be played just like the cover version. But if you go to Santa Barbara clubs, they teach different line dances than here, like Pink Cadillac.”

Another musician said: “They call different songs to certain dances, especially for slappin’ leather. And if some dancers don’t hear the song they expect to associate with the line dance, they get critical. And some dance instructors will also come up and tell us, ‘You’re playing it too slow,’ or ‘You’re not on tempo for this dance.’ ”

In an attempt to placate dancers, one musician told me: “We programmed the drum machine to exactly the same tempo of the line dances on the CD. I know guys who have quit playing at certain places because of the harassment.”

A local industry insider, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “The line dancers are completely out of control. And I blame the dance instructors. Many think they are the only reason people come to a club. They often take too much time to teach a dance, while people who know it are bored and waiting on the sidelines. And they tell the dancers they can only do a certain dance to one song.”

There are many qualified professionals among the ranks. But some instructors bark orders, leave early or teach silly, complicated dances that are never done again.

Still others, including Patsy Swayze, who choreographed dancing in the film “Urban Cowboy,” complain about what they consider revealing fashions and the vulgarity of some line and couples dances, like Spanish reggae and El Paso.

Don’t shoot me. I’m just the messenger. But if you think that you might be part of the problem, try to become part of the solution. Country is here to stay, so let’s make it better for everyone to enjoy.

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Chances are that country-Western dance teachers Dave and Esther Howells of Camarillo don’t consider themselves trendsetters. But thanks to their persistent efforts during the last 18 months, the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District now offers several line and couples courses.

Many are held during the day, which appeals to older people who want to avoid crowded clubs. But Howells said he wants to avoid age divisions. So the classes are usually open to anyone age 13 and older.

And as a bonus for their students, the couple started a series of smoke- and alcohol-free family-oriented dances at the Camarillo Community Center. The next dance will be held Saturday. Dave Howells will teach a dance lesson, and the Rhythm Rangers band will provide live music.

Other park and recreation districts are following their example. The next monthly family dance sponsored by the Conejo Recreation and Park District at the Borchard Community Center in Newbury Park will be May 7. And the district will inaugurate a similar program at the Thousand Oaks Community Center on May 6.

A family dance held a few months ago at the Barranca Vista Center was so successful that the Ventura Community Services Department will hold another May 7. Coincidentally, the Ventura County Special Olympics will hold a family hoedown the same day at Peter’s Arabian Ranch in Moorpark for developmentally disabled adults age 18 and older.

Esther Howells said that at first the park district had been skeptical about offering country dance classes. But enrollment in their first line dance course in January, 1993, swelled and had to be closed at 65 people.

Details

* WHAT: Country-Western Family Dance.

* WHERE: Camarillo Community Center, 1605 E. Burnley St.

* WHEN: 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday.

* COST: $5 per person, $8 per couple.

* FYI: Dance lessons by Dave Howells at 7 p.m.; the Rhythm Rangers Band plays at 8 p.m.

* ETC.: Call 482-1996.