By 
It’s 90 degrees on one of the hottest March days Los Angeles has ever experienced. As the sun goes down, a pleasant breeze rolls in. On a Hollywood rooftop with sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills and downtown Los Angeles, veteran line dancing instructors Mike Bendavid and his wife, Diana, lead a three-hour Friday night lesson. Country favorites like “Copperhead Road”, “Two Step”, and “Good Time” are among the songs that echo across the rooftop that evening. This day, the usual dance floor was reserved for special event, so we took the lesson outside.
People laugh, they stumble, “no drinks on the dance floor please,” says Mike repeatedly.
During the 10-minute breaks, songs for advanced line dancers begin to play. “If you don’t know the dance, please step away,” he says.
Every week, Mike starts with the same spiel: “We have the Hollywood Hills on that side. That’s downtown LA, and over there (signals to the right) you can even see the ocean sometimes.”
He asks the crowd if anyone has flown in or if there’s a birthday in the house. A girl from South Africa raises her hand, followed by a guy from Mexico. We clap welcoming them.
We line dance to “Bar Song” by Shaboozey, which scored three awards in 2024. “Does anyone here know who Shaboozey is? He comes here quite a lot!” says Michael.
Growing up in Madrid, it was hard to bond with people over American pop culture, let alone country music. In 2006, no one in my class had heard of American Idol’s breakout star Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, or curly-haired blonde Taylor Swift, who released her debut album that fall.
I had already been to Desert 5 Spot in May 2025 for the Aly & AJ Silver Deliverer album release party, but it wasn’t until February of this year that I came back with my hiking group on a Saturday. Mesmerized by the catchy songs and the crowd swaying in unison, I’ve been going back to Desert 5 since mid-February.
Opened in 2022 by Ten Five Hospitality Group, Desert 5 Spot’s first location in Hollywood is a desert wonderland, with tinges of my favorite place on earth, Joshua Tree, and the charming Western town of Pioneertown. Decked out in tasteful Americana, a jukebox greets guests at the end of a corridor before they take the elevator to the rooftop, which features a desert-inspired garden and vintage country memorabilia.
Above the wooden dance floor, a dazzling pair of cowboy boots hovers, shimmering like a disco ball, while floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the Hollywood Hills and downtown LA.
When I walked into Desert 5 Spot that Saturday night, my thoughts were: “Did anyone attend the same party? How does everyone know the dances?”
After going repeatedly, I notice that the same songs are played every week. I go home and learn two to three dances a week on Youtube. The more dances I learn, the more familiar I become with line-dancing jargon — steps like the grapevine, coaster step, sailor step, jazz box and shuffle.
The songs range from traditional country to country pop and bro-country. Something that will surprise most people is that Pitbull is the king of line-dancing songs. In fact, his songs are played so often in country bars that he was invited to perform at Stagecoach Festival, the largest country music festival in the United States. Favorites include “Damn, I Love Miami” and “Fuego“.
After a month, things were getting serious. I drove to Zapateria La Bailarina in San Fernando, a Western store operating since 1997 for my first pair of cowboy boots (and soon my second).
Another crowd-favorite is “Honky Tonk Way“, a line dance to the song “I See Country” by Ian Munsick. When certain lines of the song come on, everyone shouts in unison, stomping their boots as the lyrics invite playful pantomime. On the line “Can’t get enough of the whiskey we’re drinkin’,” one dancer bends down and pretends to drink while others mime pouring whiskey.
Whenever a song for a dance I’ve learned that week comes on, I feel the same rush as someone who has spent hours rehearsing for a play. I learn the dances at home from various YouTube instructors, then practice the demos over and over. At first, I play the videos at a slower speed until I get the steps right, and once I do so on all four walls, a wave of instant gratification surges through my body. I can’t wait to do it all over again.
In the weekly classes, I meet Jill, who is originally from Switzerland. Jill also started coming to the classes around the same time I did. She says:
“What I love about line dancing is how you can move with everyone while also staying unique and true to your style! I love that you can let loose while also being in the structure of a choreography. And of course, I love the boots and the cowgirl fits!” She continues: “Desert 5 is such an incredible place with lots of genuine people and amazing energy!”
Mona, a Los Angeles native who started visiting Desert 5 last summer, says:
“I love line dancing because it’s the perfect combination of fun, fitness, and mental challenge. Each dance pushes me to learn new steps, improves my coordination, and keeps both my brain and body active. It’s also an incredible cardio workout that never feels like exercise because it’s so fun.”
“Beyond the physical and mental benefits, I love the sense of community it creates, and at the same time, it’s something that you can totally take on and do on your own. It always leaves me feeling energized, accomplished, and happy. Line dancing is one of the few hobbies that combines movement, music, learning, and socialization all at once, and I love that. Plus, I get to experiment with fun Western outfits, and as a fashion lover, I love a theme!”
About Desert 5 Spot: “I especially love line dancing at Desert 5 because it’s not your typical country bar. The music and dances have a more modern vibe, and the DJs and line dancing instructors there are great. It attracts a fun, diverse crowd, and as one of Hollywood’s most popular rooftop bars, it draws people from all backgrounds – not just country music fans or line dancers.”
Larry, also from Los Angeles, grew up in the San Fernando Valley surrounded by country music, but he never paid attention to it until a year ago, when he started coming for the live shows.
He says: “I love line dancing because it combines exercise, rhythm, and social connection in a way that’s hard to beat — it’s rewarding to see yourself improve over time.”
“This year, I set a goal for myself to learn a new skill and I found line dancing to be mentally engaging. Learning new choreography challenges my memory and concentration, giving my brain a workout, too!”
Every week, we bond over the new songs we’ve learned.
Another regular at Desert 5 is Brice. Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Brice grew up in Paris. He’s been living in LA for 10 years and is currently planning a documentary about country music. He doesn’t join us on the dance floor, but every week he watches us from the sidelines with delight.
There’s something primal about connecting with people through dance. We all come from different backgrounds and may not know each other very well, but on the dance floor, we move in sync.
While there isn’t a single place to pinpoint its origins, line dancing can be traced to European folk dances that evolved through cultural exchanges with Native American communities and early settlers. In the 70s, line dancing gained wide popularity in disco dance floors across the U.S., reaching its peak in the 90s — but by the 2000s, it dwindled.
Beyoncé and Sabrina Carpenter. Photos: Julian Dakdouk (left) & Sabrina Carpenter IG (right)
When most people think of line dancing, they picture an older crowd dressed in Western attire taking small steps. However, in the 2025 BBC article “How Line Dancing Became Cool Again – From Village Hall to TikTok Craze,” author Catriona Aitken credits the resurgence of line dancing to country artists such as Shaboozey, Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, and Megan Moroney, as well as Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning Cowboy Carter era.
Combined with viral TikTok dances like Dasha’s “Austin,” Hannah Montana’s “Hoedown Throwdown,” Sabrina Carpenter’s duet with Dolly Parton on “Please Please Please,” and the line-dancing bridge in “Manchild”, line dancing and country music have found a new audience among younger generations. In fact, many of the young women at Desert are Gen Z.
On my Instagram feed, line dancing events seem to pop up constantly, from Pilates classes followed by line dancing to country-themed happy hours. At the same time, queer line dancing events have surged in popularity. During a recent press tour for her album Middle of Nowhere, Kacey Musgraves said, “One of the biggest compliments, hands down, that I’ve ever gotten in my career was a gay country fan saying, ‘You know what? You have made me feel like I’m finally invited to a party that I’ve never been invited to. And that killed me in the best way possible.’ “
During the song “Burn it to the Ground” by Nickelback, a girl eagerly joined the dancers. Brice and I unsuccessfully tried to get her attention before she could get hurt by the high-knee kicks. She looked up at them, beaming, trying to copy every step.
Some dances took days to master. “Rude Dude”, with its dizzying turns, initially left me wondering which wall I was supposed to face. Now, it feels like second nature. To learn “3 Tequila Floor”, I practiced with an instructor from Montreal, a reminder that line dancing is also big in Canada, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
For many, if you learn the “Fake ID” dance, seen in the movie Footloose, you’ve graduated in the line dancing world. This is one of the hardest line dancing songs to learn due to the amount of turns and tags. Additionally, every country bar has its own version. Surprisingly, “Fake ID” was much easier to learn than “Stetson”.
The sensual song “Baby Slow Low” by Jason Derulo is one of my favorites to line dance to. The dance incorporates elements of the Brazilian dance Lambada, often called “the forbidden dance.”
On the other hand, the fast-paced line dance “Lightning Polka” danced to “Sin Wagon” by The Chicks, draws from polka. As you can see, line dancing is a beautiful amalgamation of musical styles and dance traditions.
On one of my last visits, as I left, a guy who traveled from San Diego said in the elevator: “Wow, this didn’t feel like you were in LA!” He was visiting town for a wedding.
Derek Viveiros, manager of Desert 5 Spot Los Angeles, shared the ins and outs of line dancing and what makes it so addictive.
Hello Derek, why do you think people get hooked on line dancing?
People often think line dance choreography is hard, so when family or friends encourage them to learn a dance, it becomes instantly contagious because it’s fairly easy and fun. It becomes even more addictive when the songs are more modern, like a Beyoncé or Post Malone number.
What do you think of the rise of country music? Have you seen a surge in people coming to Desert 5 for line dancing recently?
I don’t think there’s a rise in country music, per se, but more of a crossover, with different artists adding different visibility.
Yes, I’ve seen a big surge at Desert 5 Spot with our line dancing program. I’ll piggyback on my first answer. Artists like Beyoncé, Post Malone, and Lana Del Rey have definitely brought country to a larger demographic. I love it because country music can get a bad rap, but it comes in all styles.
The same goes for line dancing. I’ve been to a few other country bars, and they don’t have the swagger that Desert 5 Spot has. We give it that Hollywood flare.
When did you start line dancing?
I started line dancing in July 2024. My first dance was to “Bar Song” by Shaboozey.
Are there any misconceptions people have when it comes to line dancing?
Yes, some people think it’s lame or only for middle-aged white people. I kept that misconception in mind when updating our existing line dance program. We’re in the heart of LA, and I want our program to reflect that with modern song swapping and added flair.
How does the music selection at Desert 5 Spot work? Does the DJ have full authority over what songs are going to be played?
This is a great question, and I’m going to be fully candid with you, since this topic recently came up with one of my DJs.
The DJ does have full authority over what we play, but at Desert 5 Spot, we’re very careful to protect the brand. We can’t go off the rails playing pop, rap, or other genres, because it confuses the clientele who ultimately go there for country.
Desert 5 Spot is a rare place in Hollywood. It’s a melting pot of ages and races. We’re as successful as we are because we create a house-party atmosphere, which means making sure no one feels excluded; that goes for our music selection. Our DJs know the drill. I’ve worked closely with each of them on a nightly formula that keeps everyone entertained: experienced line dancers, novice dancers, and people who just want to have a good time.
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Line dancing lessons at Desert 5 Spot are held on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7 p.m. Stay tuned to their website and Instagram for updates on their exciting weekly events! 🤠
Desert 5 Spot: Website and Instagram
Address: 6516 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, California 90028
