A second-half brace from Omang Dodum guided India to a convincing 3-0 victory over Pakistan in their opening Group B match of the SAFF U20 Championship, securing a semifinal berth on Thursday. Dodum scored in the 64th and 88th minutes after Vishal Yadav had given the Blue Colts an early lead in the
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has drawn a parallel between her party's fight against the BJP and the epic battle of the Pandavas and Kauravas. She expressed confidence in public support even if President's rule is imposed. The Election Commission is preparing supplementary voter lists
Meta, YouTube negligence: Years of evidence underpins Big Tech addiction fineThe bulk of the internal documentary evidence presented at trial related to Meta. Updated on: Mar 27, 2026 6:21 AM IST By HT Correspondent Share via Copy link New Delhi : A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Meta and
Deepak Tijori questions CBFC's logic behind ‘half-muted’ cuss words in Dhurandhar The Revenge: ‘Who are we protecting?’Deepak Tijori criticised the CBFC's half-muting of cuss words in the adult film Dhurandhar: The Revenge, questioning the rationale behind such censorship. Mar 27, 2026
Posters have surfaced across Lucknow comparing the Samajwadi Party’s rule in Uttar Pradesh to Pakistan’s “Lyari Raj", targeting Akhilesh Yadav with a reference to its depiction in the film Dhurandhar. The development comes days after a separate political jibe by Parvesh Verma
Google India and BCCI are joining forces for IPL 2026, integrating AI-powered Search Mode to revolutionize fan engagement. Cricket enthusiasts can now access real-time tactical analysis, historical data, and AI-generated summaries of key moments directly through Google Search and broadcasts
She hired workers to fix her roof, then allegedly reported crew to ICEThe Maryland resident called ICE on a crew of Guatemalan immigrants who were fixing her roof. Six workers aged between 18 and 40 were detained. Published on: Mar 27, 2026 7:07 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link A woman
Samantha Ruth Prabhu dreams women negotiating contracts across film industries becomes 'most boring headline' somedaySamantha Ruth Prabhu shared how women adjust, sacrifice and apologise in their careers. The actor expressed her dreams for women in cinema. Mar 27, 2026
NEW YORK — When Tre Little two-stepped in his cowboy boots at the BET Awards preshow this summer, he was overcome with joy and gratitude. “I used to watch this on TV every year, and I'm now performing,” said the 22-year-old Atlanta-area resident. “I started crying … tears of joy.”
NEW YORK — When Tre Little two-stepped in his cowboy boots at the BET Awards preshow this summer, he was overcome with joy and gratitude.
“I used to watch this on TV every year, and I'm now performing,” said the 22-year-old Atlanta-area resident. “I started crying … tears of joy.”
He joined Southern soul singer 803Fresh to perform his massive viral hit, “Boots on the Ground.” Released in December, the trail ride-inspired song and accompanying line dance have become an anticipated moment at African American gatherings, like family reunions, weddings, graduations, parties and cookouts.
The “Boots on the Ground” dance, which includes the rhythmic clacking of folding hand fans as the South Carolinian belts “Where them fans at?,” was created by Little during a work lunch break. After hearing a snippet on TikTok, he played around with a routine and posted it, without much thought.
“I usually get my little six views from my family … I took a nap and when I woke up, it was at 100K,” said Little, who is now in demand nationwide teaching line dance classes and hosting events. He has even been approached to create new dances. “It's bringing people together to do a dance and share laughter.”
Beyoncé incorporated the dance into her record-breaking “Cowboy Carter” tour, and former first lady Michelle Obama and Shaquille O'Neal have publicly participated. Popular line dances are not a new phenomenon, but several factors made this song, which hit No. 1 on both Billboard's adult R&B airplay and R&B digital song sales charts, spread at an unprecedented pace.
“With the new energy toward country music and trail ride music and African Americans' presence in it, I think that opened up America's eyes to what we've been doing down in Louisiana and Texas and Mississippi and Alabama for years,” said recording artist Cupid, known as the Line Dance King and creator of the popular “Cupid Shuffle” song and choreography.
“Their eyes have been opened to line dancing and the unity that it brings,” he said.
Line dancing features individuals gathered to perform synchronized, repetitive dance moves, generally in lines, and is popular for both socializing and exercise. A major appeal is that there is no age limit or skill requirement, and dances can be learned in real time.
There is no consensus on the origins of line dancing. Some historians trace it to African celebratory tribal dances, which extended to enslaved Black Americans who sang or moved in unison during field work. Other scholars trace it to European immigrants who brought traditional folk dances from their native lands. The country western style is performed to country tunes, while soul line dancing is backed by R&B, soul and hip-hop.
Along with the “Cupid Shuffle,” routines to DJ Casper's “Cha Cha Slide” and V.I.C.'s “Wobble” are canonized in soul line dancing, as well as the most recognized 1972 song, “Electric Boogie ” by Marcia Griffiths. But “Boots on the Ground” has introduced trail ride line dancing to many Americans outside of the Southeast.
Trail rides are socialized horseback processionals traveling to a designated location. In Black Southern culture, it is a party atmosphere with food and dancing, including niche music genres like zydeco and Southern soul, which blends R&B, blues, gospel and country.
“People didn't really know about it. … When something is trending, it makes everybody get on the bandwagon,” said 28-year-old Jakayla Preston, who goes by the handle @_itsjakaylaa on TikTok. A professional dancer, the Houstonian began teaching line dance classes this year after persistent requests from her followers, which intensified following the “Boots on the Ground” boom. Leading classes across the country, she discovered attendance was about more than foot-taps and turns.
“I have people who are struggling and battling with a lot of things … they'll even sometimes cry and thank me for hosting the class there, or just giving them the experience to be able come and express,” she said. “It's a feeling that's indescribable.”
“ Beyoncé probably had a lot to do with that, as far as her ‘Cowboy Carter album,'” said Preston, referring to the attention on trail ride line dancing.
The Grammy's reigning album of the year sparked conversations about African American contributions to country music and Black cowboy culture, with “Cowboy Carter” tourgoers frequently dressing the part. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, one of the city's marquee events, broke its attendance record this year, and while there were several factors, many first-timers and social media users said they visited Queen Bey's hometown to experience what she sang about.
“I never seen — ever — that many people that was out there line dancing,” said Preston, who grew up attending the rodeo. “It's an amazing sight to see.”
Sharlene Sinegal-DeCuir, chair of African American and Diaspora Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans, said Beyoncé's impact extends beyond music.
“Country western music: the sound, the banjo, the violin, all those things are African instruments,” said Sinegal-DeCuir, who grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana, line dancing and listening to zydeco. “She's bringing it to the world to let the world know, no, we're not just getting into country — we are country.”
Sinegal-DeCuir believes the political climate may have indirectly contributed to the success of “Boots on the Ground” and interest in line dancing. She notes the 92% of Black women who voted against President Donald Trump, whose policies are disproportionately affecting Black Americans, including eliminating DEI programs, federal agency mass layoffs, and cuts to SN benefits, Medicare and Medicaid.
“We know how to survive these things because we lean on family, we lean on community, and this joy,” said Sinegal-DeCuir. “The world is burning down, and we're sitting here learning a new line dance because we're tired of the political atmosphere … it's a form of resistance.”
Cupid remembers a pivotal moment during the social justice movement, sparked by the 2020 killing of George Floyd, a Black man who was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. He saw a video of a tense exchange between protesters and law enforcement at a rally, and “Cupid Shuffle” began playing to ease tensions. More social videos were uploaded during that era showing his song played at protests across America.
“I realized the importance of it, as far as connecting two people that don't even see eye to eye,” said the “Flex” artist, who is readying a new album next month that he says will be the first all-line-dance album. “If you had to pick three songs that could bring people on two opposite sides of the fence together for a moment, then line dancing is definitely those types of songs.”
“I don't think there's any other genre more powerful than line dance,” he added.
Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Beyonce stuns in a custom Manish Malhotra outfit at Cowboy Carter Tour in Paris El Matador' Hangs Up His Boots India Leads As The Only Major Economy Beating Its Pre-Covid Growth Trend Texas Longhorns star RB Tre Wisner enters NCAA transfer portal after leading tea Trendy Winter Boots for Women That Deliver Comfort Why ‘Doing Less’ Is Quietly Becoming The Most Aspirational Lifestyle Trend Modi Govt Kicks Off Mega Dam Project On Chenab After Pausing Indus Treaty With Pakistan Boots to Elevate Your Winter Wardrobe Bale left big boots to fill - will Wilson fire Wales to World Cup Trump's bet on Iranian regime change could be his biggest gamble yet
A $100 crude scenario could trigger deep earnings cuts across Indian stocks UBS lists Tata Motors, IndiGo and OMCs as most vulnerable UBS highlights Indian stocks facing biggest earnings risk in a $100 oil scenario India sits among the markets facing pressure in a $100 per barrel oil world
59 minutes ago
The interruption of oil and gas supplied through the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israel war with Iran has dramatically pushed up global energy prices. Petrol has gone up already and UK domestic heating bills are almost certain to follow. But it's not just fuel that's been impacted by the
59 minutes ago
Meet the A-list lawyer Luka Doncic is counting on to win his legal battle with Anamaria Goltes Updated on: Mar 27, 2026 7:28 AM IST Edited by Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan Share via Copy link Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball down court during the second half against the Indiana
59 minutes ago
Fasting can offer several health benefits, but knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing when to start. “People can gain health benefits from fasting, but they must understand both the right time to begin and the right time to end it," says Dr. Sameer Bhati, Public Health Analyst
59 minutes ago
The campaigning in poll-bound West Bengal is in full swing, and amid the preparations, Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dilip Ghosh on Thursday promised a complete transformation and “Uttar Pradesh-style encounters" against criminals if the saffron regiment comes to power in the state
59 minutes ago
Iran on Thursday rejected the US’ proposal to end the war, referring to it as “one-sided and unfair". The proposal was “reviewed in detail on Wednesday night by senior Iranian officials and the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader," reported Reuters, citing an official
59 minutes ago
The initiative builds on existing SEBI measures, including validated UPI handles and a whitelist of stockbrokers’ mobile applications maintained by exchanges. New Delhi: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey launched the Verified App Label Initiative on
59 minutes ago
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday fielded the mother of the doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital and Medical College in August 2024 as a candidate for the West Bengal Assembly elections. The mother of the doctor will contest the polls from the Panihati constituency
59 minutes ago
Not every Bollywood story is glamorous, and Aarti Chabria is saying it as it is. The actor recently spoke about how several of her roles were reduced or removed from films, calling it a part of industry realities she had to deal with during her career.Not every Bollywood story is glamorous
59 minutes ago
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned that the consequences of the escalating conflict in West Asia could be difficult to predict and may end up having a global impact comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking amid growing international concern over the Iran-US-Israel conflict
59 minutes ago
PMC to expand healthcare network even as existing facilities remain underutilisedPMC has announced plans to expand its healthcare network with new cancer and multi-specialty hospitals, even as many of its existing facilities continue to remain underutilised Published on: Mar 27
59 minutes ago
The latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 confirm India’s growing strength on the global stage. This year, 12 Indian institutions have secured 27 positions in the global top 50 across various subjects – more than double the number in 2024
59 minutes ago
US president Donald Trump says he will meet Chinese president Xi Jinping in China on 14-15 May, after delaying the landmark trip amid the US-Israel war with Iran. This would be the first visit to China by a US president in nearly 10 years. Trump is also set to host Xi in Washington DC later this
59 minutes ago
US mortgage rates jump to 6.38% as Iran war rattles housing marketBorrowers with a $1 million loan would now pay about $6,242 per month, not including insurance and taxes. That is up from $5,983 in late February. Published on: Mar 26, 2026 10:51 PM IST Bloomberg Share via Copy link US mortgage
59 minutes ago
Nemom constituency is not stronghold of any party: V SivankuttyCPI(M) legislator V Sivankutty faces tough competition in Kerala's Nemom from BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Congress's KS Sabarinadhan in upcoming polls. Published on: Mar 27, 2026 7:04 AM IST By Vishnu Varma
59 minutes ago
Who is Ana Montana? Inside LaMelo Ball’s relationship, the 'toxic' post, and parenthood rumors Published on: Mar 27, 2026 7:13 AM IST Edited by Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan Share via Copy link Ana Montana is a successful model with over 3 million followers on Instagram
59 minutes ago
A former Indian Supreme Court Justice has informed the UK High Court about the risks faced by Nirav Modi. Justice Deepak Verma stated that Modi faces prolonged interrogation and a significant risk of custodial torture in India. This opinion was provided in response to Modi's plea to reopen his
59 minutes ago
Vaccination is often associated with childhood, but experts say protection against infections must extend far beyond the early years. From safeguarding newborns to protecting ageing adults, immunisation plays a critical role across every stage of life.Vaccination is often associated with childhood
1 hours ago
Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi's former company, Firestar Diamond International, is set to auction its precious inventory of gems and jewellery on April 27. The e-auction, under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, will feature natural loose diamonds and finished pieces
1 hours ago
American Coco Gauff cruised past Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her first Miami Open final. The Florida-born 22-year-old dropped only two games to triumph 6-1 6-1 in one hour and 30 minutes. Having been broken in the first game, Gauff won 10 games in a row to take control of the match
1 hours ago
The day before Wales faced Bosnia-Herzegovina in their World Cup play-off semi-final, their head coach said: "Do not get involved in chaos. A chaotic game will not suit us, it suits them." When the moment came to pass, when Wales had control, they did not heed those words
1 hours ago
This is the second part of a debate on whether Hindi or English are weakening other Indian languages and constricting linguistic diversity. Read the first part here. English has done remarkable damage to India’s linguistic progress by stifling other Indian languages. Instead
1 hours ago
When Ranvir Singh Yadav was sacked in 1976, he was a young bus conductor in Delhi with two sons to raise. The reason? The courts vindicated him four decades later, but not before he and the system had spent nearly ₹5 lakh in legal fees over a trivial sum.When Ranvir Singh Yadav was sacked in 1976
1 hours ago
Royal Challengers Bengaluru is a prominent IPL team. They are recognized for their strong fan base and talented players. The team plays at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. They are known for their aggressive batting style. Rajat Patidar leads the team this season
1 hours ago
The directive has been issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which has termed the practice an “unfair trade practice” under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. New Delhi: In a major relief for consumers, the government has directed hotels and restaurants to stop adding
1 hours ago
Comedian Kunal Kamra took to his social media and took a jibe at YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia. While reacting to Ranveer’s long post, he called him a “stupid guy" and asked him to stop “pretending to be the nice guy." He also called Ranveer a “contraceptive for creativity
1 hours ago
Ananya Panday turns heads at The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment soirée in a sculpted Maticevski Saucy Minx dress paired with Aquazzura pumps Ananya Panday delivers a masterclass in understated glamour at The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment soirée
1 hours ago
