Line dance tutorial

Lightning Polka

Danced to Sin Wagon by The Chicks.

Intermediate4 wall32 countPeter Metelnick

Predicted to play at Westwood, Jaxson and Hill Country

Tempo — start slow, build up

Run the whole dance to the music, top to bottom — full speed, no stopping. The real test.

Play to the music
Dancing to the track

Full dance, full speed, to the track. The real test.

Built for learning, not watching

Learn an 8-count, then stack it
BUILD UP
two downworking on this one

Get one 8-count down, add the next, run them together.

Loop the hard part
LOOP
full dancerepeating this bit

Pick the part you keep blowing and run it on repeat.

Keep track of what you've got
PROGRESS
3 Tequila Floor
Pieces to the Puzzle
The Wolf

Every dance sits in one of three buckets. Yours to move.

Bars that play it

Every bar has its go-to setlist

Here's where this one shows up.

Westwood
San Francisco · Wednesdays & Thursdays
Jaxson
San Francisco · Thursdays & Sundays
Hill Country
New York · Tuesdays

Also on those floors

The rest of their setlist

Lightning Polkathis page
PHATIntermediate
3 Tequila FloorIntermediate
High ClassIntermediate
Country Girl StompIntermediate
Browse all dances

More on the Lightning Polka line dance

How to do the Lightning Polka line dance

Full step sheet — all counts written out+
1-8

Counts 1-8

1-2rock out right, weave right behind and front
3&4continue weave right
5-6rock out left, weave left behind and front
7&8continue weave left, step forward
9-16

Counts 9-16

1&2shuffle forward right left right
3-4step forward left, half pivot over right shoulder
5-6left heel switch to right
7-8right heel switch to left, hook left leg
17-24

Counts 17-24

1&2shuffle forward left right left
3-4step forward right, half pivot over left shoulder
5-6right heel switch, left heel
7-8stomp right, quarter turn right, kick right
25-32

Counts 25-32

1&2coaster step: right back, left back, right forward
3&4shuffle forward left right left
5-6step forward right, half pivot over left shoulder to 9:00
7-8walk right left, or full turn over left shoulder stepping right left

Counts written by Walls from the tutorial above. Original choreography by Peter Metelnick.

Questions people ask

What song is the Lightning Polka line dance danced to?+

The Lightning Polka is most commonly danced to “Sin Wagon” by The Chicks. It's also danced to “BEAT UP CHANEL$” by Slayyyter.

How many counts is the Lightning Polka line dance?+

32 counts across 4 walls. The same sequence repeats, rotating 90° to face a new wall each time until you're back to where you started.

Is the Lightning Polka a intermediate line dance?+

Yes, the Lightning Polka is rated intermediate. If you're new to line dancing, get comfortable with basic grapevines and triple steps first, then drill it one 8-count at a time.

Do you need a partner to dance the Lightning Polka?+

No. Like every line dance, the Lightning Polka is danced solo in rows. Everyone does the same steps facing the same way, so you can join in without a partner.

How do I practice the Lightning Polka at home?+

Slow the tutorial to 70–75% speed and drill one 8-count at a time. Once each section feels automatic, chain two together, then run the whole dance to music. The player on this page lets you loop any 8-count and adjust speed without leaving the page.

What is a line dance?+

A line dance is a choreographed sequence danced solo in rows. Everyone does the same steps facing the same way, no partner needed. The Lightning Polka repeats the same 32-count sequence, turning to face a new wall each time through. Once the counts click, you can join in the moment the song comes on.