Cowboy Charleston
Choreographed by Unknown

Description: 18 count, 4 wall line dance
Alias: Charleston Tap; Charleston Cha-Cha; Charleston Cowboy
Music: New York, New York by Frank Sinatra
(This Thing Called) Wantin' And Havin' It All by Sawyer Brown
Sold by John Michael Montgomery
In The Mode (Club Mix) by Asleep At The Wheel
Any fairly fast western swing music
Note: This dance adapts the fun Roaring Twenties Flapper Dance, the Charleston, into a great Country and Western Line Dance. It is fairly unique in that it can be done to music which is fairly fast
Note: It is sometimes done with a straight step forward and back pattern. However, the most fun way to do it is with the real Charleston foot pattern and arm movements as it is done in the Carolinas where the Charleston originated, where needless to say, it is widely done
Note: The classic Charleston step includes moving the right foot forward and out and around in a ½ circle to touch forward on Count 1. At the same time, the arms are moved first to the right to compensate for the movement of the right foot out around to the front and back in to touch forward. When done fast, the arm movements are almost unavoidable
Note: On the "& Count", one swings the right foot back out to the right and to the back, shifting weight to the right foot on Count 2, with the arms now going to left
Note: On the next "& Count", begin swinging the left out around and to the back to touch on Count 3, with arms again going right
Note: On the final "& Count, one swings the left foot forward out to the left and forward, shifting weight to the left foot on Count 4, with the arms now going to left
Note: The Straight version given below makes a great beginner's dance. The 4-wall Charleston-style version makes a great showpiece dance. Both can be picked up by experienced line dancers by just walking up and trying it. Try it both ways. Both foot work styles are included below

TWO CHARLESTON STEPS:
1-4Charleston style: swing right around to touch forward
Swing right back around and step right next to left
Swing left around to touch to back
Swing left around and step left next to right

Straight: touch right toe forward, step right next to left
Touch left toe behind, step left next to right

5-8Charleston style: swing right around to touch forward
Swing right back around and step right next to left
Swing left around to touch to back
Swing left around and step left next to right

Straight: touch right toe forward, step right next to left
Touch left toe behind, step left next to right

TWO RIGHT TOE TAPS TO RIGHT SIDE:
9-10Touch right toe to right side and touch twice

MODIFIED SAILOR STEP
11-13Step right behind and next to left, step left in front of and to the left of right, step right in front of and to the left of left

TWO LEFT TOE TAPS TO LEFT SIDE:
14-15Touch left toe to left side and touch twice

GRAPEVINE RIGHT AND ¼ TURN RIGHT:
16-18Step left behind right, right foot step to the right making ¼ pivot turn, left foot step next to right, and prepare for next Charleston right forward step

CHARLESTON TAP VERSION:
MODIFIED SAILOR STEP
16-18Step left behind and next to right, step right in front of and to the right of left, step left next to right

REPEAT