Country music thumps through the room as boots hit the hardwood floor in perfect unison. Lines of dancers move effortlessly, somehow all knowing the same steps, heel, toe, stomp, slide. The sound is crisp and rhythmic, echoing with every movement. You linger at the edge of the floor, tempted to jump in, to learn the dances and be part of the culture. Looking around, you see people of every background and age, but they all have one thing in common. Cowboy boots. By the end of the song, you want a pair of your own and have no idea where to begin.
Line dancing features choreographed routines performed in rows, matched to songs by counts. Cowboy boots are not required, but they have become the unofficial uniform of the dance floor. When buying a first pair, dancers typically consider toe shape, style, color, height, and fit.
Monmouth University gained a new club in Fall 2025 when senior Isabella Lemke founded Hawks ‘n’ Boots, now with 90 members. Lemke, the club’s president, has eight pairs of boots in her growing collection.
Outside of campus, students often attend country night at Jack’s Goal Line Stand in West Long Branch, held every Wednesday and instructed by Maureen Ryan-Hawkins, who has been line dancing for 40 years. She runs the dance company, Dancemaur, which specializes in line dancing, basic ballroom, and Latin dance styles.
When Ryan-Hawkins began line dancing in the 80s, she was attending lessons at the Yellow Rose, a country bar that was popular in New Jersey for its large dance floor. Inspired by the line dance community, Ryan-Hawkins decided to start a dance company in 1987, she said, “I got my friend and her boyfriend and made the three of us open up a dance company called the Rocky Top Dance Company… we started teaching people all these dances around, and they hired us for fundraisers and all of that, and that’s how we kind of started out.” During this time, Ryan-Hawkins began choreographing her own line dances.
Known by many as the mother of line dancing in New Jersey, Ryan-Hawkins helped popularize the dance across South Jersey and has taught at more than a dozen venues. Over four decades, she has also built a collection of 180 pairs of boots.
She said, “If they’re buying boots for the first time they should consider what they like color wise for starters. I recommend a good leather boot as it helps to dance in because it doesn’t get worn as much.”
Samantha Spano, a Monmouth County native and country singer known as the Coastal Cowgirl, works at Boot Barn in West Long Branch and owns more than ten pairs of boots. Spano advised, “It’s up to your preference. I think a lot of people will try and tell you how to shop for boots, but it’s all about what you like, and what your style is.
There is no one right way to wear or look for anything in them.” Spano has bought boots simply based on the colors she likes, even though they were uncomfortable, citing that sometimes beauty is pain, but probably not line dance material.
Annika Jantz is a junior communication major and the social media coordinator for Hawks ‘n’ Boots. She reflected on the first experiences she had as a line dancer, “I didn’t have boots when I first started going, so I always wore sneakers, which at first I thought really embarrassing, but it was actually very common for a lot of people to wear sneakers as beginners.”
Jantz said sneakers make certain movements difficult, sneakers don’t let you slip, which means you can’t spin as easily. “With boots, especially ones with leather soles, you can move more freely and flow through the dances.”
Grips are different on boots depending on the boots’ intended purpose. TJ Mirro has worked at Boot Barn for a year, and helped many customers buy their first pair of boots. He said, “When you’re doing line dancing, you want leather, you don’t want a rubber sole, that way you could do the spins … if you’re dancing, you want to go leather, or if you’re going out, you want to go leather. It’s more of a dress look.”
For beginners, toe shape can decide whether a dance feels smooth or clumsy, the most common line dance shapes are square and snip toes. Jantz said, “I bought my second pair of boots that were a snip toe and I really liked that style a lot more. They are just a lot easier to dance in, so then, I think going forward, I definitely always look for snip toes and I don’t know if I’ll buy another pair of square toes.”
Cowboy boots are available for a wide range of prices. Lemke, whose most expensive pair of boots retail for $350, were a pair she was not planning on buying, but couldn’t leave without. “I saw them in the store and they were gorgeous and they’re white with crystals on them. They were really tall like knee-high boots and they had a teal bottom. They are my favorite, most comfortable pair of boots, they’re perfect.”
However, Jantz opts for affordability and tries to buy boots that are under $200. She explained, “I know it’s so cliché, but the higher the price, typically the quality is a lot better. They’re gonna hold up a lot better if they’re pricier, so if you’re willing to spend more, then definitely do invest a good chunk.” Boot brands like Ariat, Durango, and Laredo often retail between $150 to $300 and are highly regarded for their durability and comfort.
A line dancer can own boots for years before wearing them out and Ryan-Hawkins opts to resole her boots when this happens. Reflecting on the first pair of boots she owned, Ryan-Hawkins said, “I started with one pair of black boots from the cowboy store on Route 22 up in North Jersey. Until the nails came through the piece, that’s how much I wore these boots. I resoled them two or three times.” Resoling a pair of cowboy boots typically costs between $60 and $180 for standard rubber and leather replacements. Ryan-Hawkins also advised that beginners buy slightly larger boots where they can add thicker socks as opposed to having boots that are too small which can be uncomfortable.
Boots are available for sale in western stores, or can be purchased online. Jantz said, “You can definitely order them online, just make sure that you’re checking reviews, checking by using social media and seeing how other people have had good experiences with them. I wouldn’t recommend Amazon though, as I prefer to buy my boots in person.”
Agreeing with Jantz, Lemke said, “My advice to someone buying boots for the first time would be not to waste money on a cheap pair.” She warned that buying boots off of Amazon may be low quality and could cause foot problems. Lemke line dances up and down the aisles when buying a new pair of boots to gauge comfort levels.
From the edge of the dance floor to gliding across it with confidence, Lemke’s first pair of boots carried her through every misstep, every rhythm learned, and every connection made. Lemke concluded, “My first pair of boots have been with me through all the ups and downs, and helped me find who I am through my love for country fashion, music, and dancing.”
For those still lingering at the edge of the floor, all it takes is a pair of boots, and a single step.
Editor’s note: As of Mar. 18, Jack’s Goal Line Stand ended its country night that ran every Wednesday since Oct. 1, 2025.
