This past year, we’ve seen coffee raves, run clubs, mahjong tournaments and more eclectic events take over the city’s social scene. But now, Sydneysiders are swapping nightclubs, jeans and a nice top for cowboy boots, gingham and a hoedown.
If you had told me last year, in the midst of the run club and coffee rave frenzy, that the next big thing in Sydney would be line dancing, I’m not sure I’d believe you. Fast forward to mid-2026, and this “y’alternative” way of socialising has Sydney in a chokehold, with new events popping up across the city, promising a high-energy, boot-stomping good time on the dancefloor.
So, what’s behind Sydney’s adoption of this dance movement, which is usually reserved for the State’s deep south and Hannah Montana movies? We spoke to Connor, co-founder of Maple Social Club, one of the driving forces behind Sydney’s line dancing boom, as well as devoted line dancing fan, Lexy.
What’s behind Sydney’s line dancing obsession?
Connor co-founded Maple Social Club in November 2024 with the aim of creating accessible social events across Sydney, where people can meet, mingle and have fun without the pressure (or cost) of joining in. Since then, the club has hosted three line dancing events in Sydney, with more on the way.
So, why line dancing? For Connor, the idea was partly inspired by a trip to Arizona, where he found himself stepping onto the dance floor.
“It was ridiculously fun, even though I had no idea what I was doing.”
He quickly realised that line dancing could be a natural fit for Maple Social Club.
“With our events, they’re very low-pressure spaces, but a large part of it is: how do you get people to meet each other, talk to each other without it feeling forced?
A lot of the time, it’s easier for people to connect over things that they’re doing side by side rather than trying to get them to talk face to face.”
“The good thing about line dancing is you stand next to someone for a couple of hours, you’re both messing up the same moves over and over again. At some point, it’s really easy to say hello to someone next to you.”
The theory was quickly put to the test. For Maple Social Club’s first line dancing event, held at Heaps Normal Health Club in Marrickville, the turnout far exceeded expectations.
“People were spilling out onto the street and trying to follow the dances outside.”
They’ve since moved to the bigger space of Vic on the Park, where they’ve hosted two more events, which Connor confirmed were also “absolutely heaving”.
What does a line dancing event look like?
Maple Social Club teams up with line dancing pros Social Dance Company to bring its events to life.
“It’s a two-hour event,” Connor explains. “The first hour, you learn three or four dances, and they just take you through step by step to different songs. They’re relatively easy to pick up… it’s quite simple and fun”.
The club’s events are catered towards a younger crowd, with most attendees aged between 20 and 35, and its line dancing nights are no exception. The younger crowd is also embracing one of line dancing’s most entertaining traditions: cowboy attire.
“Oh, the outfits are killer,” says Connor. “You certainly don’t need to dress up, but I think that’s part of the fun of line dancing.”
I also spoke to keen line dancer Lexy, who is originally from Washington, D.C. She’s attended line dancing events across Sydney and is particularly fond of the weekly sessions at North Sydney’s Greenwood Hotel, held every Tuesday.
“It actually is so silly and funny to put on these silly little costumes and pretend to be a cowboy for a night on a random Tuesday,” she tells us.
“People sign off from their software engineer roles, and they put on their hat and boots and go out to a bar. It’s kind of like, you don’t have to be yourself.”
Greenwood Hotel’s line dancing sessions are Lexy’s favourite for two reasons: there’s no entry fee and, as she puts it, “It’s kind of socially acceptable to just watch people line dance”.
Like Maple Social Club’s events, there’s no pressure to join in, making it an easy activity for both confident dancers and those who would rather stay on the sidelines.
She explains that this sense of freedom is one of her favourite things about line dancing.
“My favourite thing about line dancing is that if you are a shy introvert and you’re thinking, oh my gosh, it’s going to be so intimidating. People are gonna be watching me. But you can kind of just blend in with your friends.
So you can hide yourself in the middle of the crowd and still get your steps in, get your exercise, go a little bit crazy, and nobody’s really watching you.
But then at the same time, if you’re like, oh my gosh, I can’t wait to be noticed and I’m an extrovert, I want to go crazy with this dance, then you can stay on the outside and do all your crazy moves.”
Is line dancing here to stay?
When Connor and I discuss line dancing, he keeps coming back to something beyond the dancing itself: the social connection. For many, these events are a chance to get out, meet strangers and have fun together, something that can feel increasingly rare in our current, digital-obsessed world.
“People want more fun in their lives,” Connor said. “My goal with the social club is to build and inspire a more connected generation.”
While the events themselves may vary, Connor says the real draw is the people they bring together.
“Yes, the events and the vibes change, but most of the value comes from, or where people have fun, is because of other people… we attract a very social crowd. It’s all about meeting new people, having fun and leading unique lives.”
Connor sees the rise of line dancing as similar to Maple Social Club’s coffee and DJ events, which helped introduce these experiences to a wider Australian audience.
“When we started doing it, lots of people wanted to come. It was awesome. But now that battle’s been fought and won. You can find DJs at every cafe on a Saturday morning now. So for us, it’s important to move on to the next thing.”
He believes line dancing is heading in the same direction, with the trend already spreading beyond Maple Social Club’s events.
“Over the last three events, lots and lots of people have now seen line dancing, and now there are plenty of pubs and festivals and stuff reaching out to us about doing line dancing, and that’s awesome.
“Rather than being an obsession, I think it’ll become like a part of everyday life, similar to how coffees and DJs did.”
And even if the line dance craze does fade, Connor believes that our desire for connection will stay, just through a different medium.
“People want to strike out and do fun new things. So I think that through line will stay. It’s just where those people will meet, where they’ll seek connection, where they’ll seek fun, that’ll continually change.”
Where to line dance in Sydney
If you desire social connection, are an avid line dancer, or just need an excuse to dress up in cowboy gear, here are some of the top-rated places in Sydney to line dance. Yeehaw!
Maple Social Club’s Line Dancing Events
If Connor’s words resonate with you, head down to Maple Social Club’s next line dancing event at Vic on the Park on Sunday, August 30th. Kicking off at 3pm and wrapping up at 5pm, the event is completely free to attend and the perfect place to meet new people, mess up some steps and have a great time. You can find out more about the event here.
Where: Vic on The Park, 2 Addison Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204.
When: August 30, 3pm-5pm.
Price: Free.
Greenwood Hotel Tuesday Line Dancing
Tuesday line dancing is now a staple at North Sydney’s Greenwood Hotel. With free entry, this honky-tonk tavern is a great option for both seasoned pros and beginners. Make the most of their food and drink deals too, which include $18 schnittys, as well as Thunderdonk specials to keep the night going.
Where: Greenwood Hotel, The Greenwood Plaza Rooftop, 36 Blue St, North Sydney NSW 2060.
When: Every Tuesday at 6:30pm.
Price: Free.
Saddle Club
Saddle Club is a queer line dancing community that hosts weekly line dancing workshops and social parties. They throw events all over the city, from Felons Barrel Room in Manly to Sydney Portugal Community Centre in Marrickville, so make sure to follow their Instagram here to keep up-to-date with future hoedowns.
Where: Events take place across the city.
When: Saddle Club hosts weekly events, with dance lessons scheduled every Tuesday in September.
Price: Tickets cost $20 for one line dancing class.
Line Dance Sydney
If you’re serious about upping your line dancing game, head to Line Dance Sydney, run by Joshua (JB) and Sally Talbot, who collectively bring 25 years of teaching experience to the table. They have their fundamental courses for beginners, as well as other casual classes for those who are a bit more seasoned. You can check out their class schedule here.
Where: Classes take place across the city.
When: Classes are held weekly.
Price: Casual classes start from $10.
