Hickory Hoedown

A bronze-level country-western set pattern dance with mirrored chassé and slide sequences, skated in optional position before closing up around the end of the rink.

dance

Not checked yet. The mechanics on this page are a first draft by a non-expert, and no coach has seen them yet. Read them as a starting point and check them with a coach. Corrections are very welcome.

The dance

Country-Western (Hoedown) in 4/4, 104 beats a minute. The hold is optional, then closed from step 18. The partners skate different steps. 25 steps and 40 beats to one pattern.

Steps for the lead the follow

One sequence on a 60 x 30 metre rink, drawn upright as the rulebooks draw it, starting at the dot and travelling anticlockwise. The two partners skate side by side on one track; the switch shows where each one's steps fall and on which edge. The faint half is the same steps skated again. Rinks vary, and on a smaller one the pattern shrinks to fit. Measured from the diagram in U.S. Figure Skating 2026-27 Rulebook, page Dance-18.

Step	Hold	Lead	Follow	Beats
1	Optional	LFO	LFO	1
2		RFI-Ch	RFI-Ch	1
3		LFO	LFO	2
4		RFO	RFO	1
5		LFI-Ch	LFI-Ch	1
6		RFO	RFO	2
7		LFO	LFO	1
8		RFI-Pr	RFI-Pr	1
9		LFO	LFO	2
10		CR-RFO	CR-RFO	1
11		LFI-slCh	LFI-slCh	3
12		RFO	RFO	1
13		LFI-Pr	LFI-Pr	1
14		RFO	RFO	2
15		CR-LFO	CR-LFO	1
16		RFI-slCh	RFI-slCh	3
17a		LFO	LFO3	1
17b		RFI-Ch		1
18	Closed	LFO-sw	RBO-sw	4
19		RFO3	LBO	1 + 1
20		LBO-sw	RFO-sw	4
21a		RBO	LFO	1
21b			RFI-Ch	1
22		LFO	LFO	1
23		RFI-Pr	RFI-Pr	1

The steps are in the rulebook's own notation: foot, direction and edge, with Pr for a progressive, Ch for a chassé, SwR for a swing roll, XB and XF for a cross step behind or in front, 3 for a three turn, CSt and SSt for C and S steps, Op for open and Cl for closed. From the step chart in US Figure Skating's 2026-27 rulebook.

The Hickory Hoedown takes its music from square dancing, and US Figure Skating wants it light, carefree and full of country-western flair. Partners choose their position for the first seventeen steps, then close up for the run round the end.

The pattern is largely symmetrical: two quick chassés, a progressive and a slide chassé off a cross roll, then the same sequence the other way. The rulebook singles out the three-beat slides at Steps 11 and 16, where the free leg reaches forward and then folds so the foot travels back to the skating knee. Round the end the follow partner skates a three-turn at once, while the lead partner turns after a four-beat swing.

British Ice Skating lists the Hickory Hoedown at National 4, where it is one of the dances to choose from. US Figure Skating tests it at Bronze.

Appears in

In the USA's grades

None of the American level lists in this guide name it.