This step description is the exact wording of the original step sheet, as signed and distributed by the original Choreographed by. Notes at the end were added to cover variations that have crept in since it was choreographed in 1978
PIGEON TOE (HEEL SPLITS)
1-2Swivel heels together, swivel heels to center
3-4Swivel toe together, swivel toe to center
SIDE STEPS
5-6Touch right to side, step right together
7-8Touch left to side, step left together
9-12Repeat 5-8
FLOOR TAPS
13-14Touch right heel forward, touch right heel forward
15-16Touch right toe back, touch right toe back
SLAPPING LEATHER
17Touch right toe forward
18Touch right to side
19Flick right back
Slap right foot behind you with left hand
20-21Repeat 18-19
22Touch right to side
23Turn ¼ left and hook right over left
Slap right foot in front of you with left hand
24Flick right back
Slap right foot behind you with left hand
GRAPEVINE
25-26Step right to side, cross left behind right
27-28Step right to side, hop right to side
Lift left heel up beside your right knee
29-30Step left to side, cross right behind left
31-32Step left to side, hop left to side
Lift right heel up beside your left knee
33-34Step right back, step left back
35-36Step right back, hop right back
Lift left heel to your right knee
37-38Step left forward, step right forward
39-40Step left forward, stomp right together
REPEAT
CHICAGO VARIATION: Dance begins on beat 5, with a foot pattern of RRLL instead of RLRL, and putting beats 1-4 at the end of the dance. Also, replace the steps done on beats 19-24 with just three steps, which happen to be the steps shown above in beats 19, 24, and 23, in that order. To make the dance come out even, the hop on beat 36 is done twice instead of once
SHORTER VERSIONS: In some places, the dance is shortened to 38 counts by leaving out counts 20-21. In some places, the dance is shortened to 36 counts by leaving out counts 19-22
OTHER VARIATIONS: In fact, this dance has seen more local variations than probably any other dance. Other variations that have taken hold over the years in various places include toe taps instead of heel taps, touches to the front instead of the side, putting the ¼ turn in at a different place, and starting at various places in the dance. If you travel to different places throughout the world, expect to see this dance done several different ways
PIGEON TOE (HEEL SPLITS)
1-2Swivel heels together, swivel heels to center
3-4Swivel toe together, swivel toe to center
SIDE STEPS
5-6Touch right to side, step right together
7-8Touch left to side, step left together
9-12Repeat 5-8
FLOOR TAPS
13-14Touch right heel forward, touch right heel forward
15-16Touch right toe back, touch right toe back
SLAPPING LEATHER
17Touch right toe forward
18Touch right to side
19Flick right back
Slap right foot behind you with left hand
20-21Repeat 18-19
22Touch right to side
23Turn ¼ left and hook right over left
Slap right foot in front of you with left hand
24Flick right back
Slap right foot behind you with left hand
GRAPEVINE
25-26Step right to side, cross left behind right
27-28Step right to side, hop right to side
Lift left heel up beside your right knee
29-30Step left to side, cross right behind left
31-32Step left to side, hop left to side
Lift right heel up beside your left knee
33-34Step right back, step left back
35-36Step right back, hop right back
Lift left heel to your right knee
37-38Step left forward, step right forward
39-40Step left forward, stomp right together
REPEAT
CHICAGO VARIATION: Dance begins on beat 5, with a foot pattern of RRLL instead of RLRL, and putting beats 1-4 at the end of the dance. Also, replace the steps done on beats 19-24 with just three steps, which happen to be the steps shown above in beats 19, 24, and 23, in that order. To make the dance come out even, the hop on beat 36 is done twice instead of once
SHORTER VERSIONS: In some places, the dance is shortened to 38 counts by leaving out counts 20-21. In some places, the dance is shortened to 36 counts by leaving out counts 19-22
OTHER VARIATIONS: In fact, this dance has seen more local variations than probably any other dance. Other variations that have taken hold over the years in various places include toe taps instead of heel taps, touches to the front instead of the side, putting the ¼ turn in at a different place, and starting at various places in the dance. If you travel to different places throughout the world, expect to see this dance done several different ways
