Today we’d like to introduce you to Tangie Collins.
Hi Tangie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hello! I am the founder and lead instructor of Boots & Beats Line Dancing LLC, a North Alabama-based entertainment company dedicated to bringing people together through the joy of dance.
My love for line dancing began when I was 18 years old. For my birthday, my mom took me line dancing for the very first time. The style was completely different from the hip-hop dancing I was accustomed to, and I was fascinated by it. I was amazed by the music, the movement, and the energy on the dance floor—and I was instantly hooked! More than 30 years later, that love for line dancing is stronger than ever.
I have now been professionally teaching for over five years. With a passion for creating welcoming, high-energy experiences, I teach dancers of all skill levels—from complete beginners taking their very first steps to seasoned dancers ready to hit the floor.
At Boots & Beats, we believe line dancing goes far beyond one style of music. Our events feature everything from the classic dances of the ’90s to today’s hottest music across country, pop, rock, hip-hop, Latin, and more. Our motto says it best: Line Dancing to All Genres!
Under my leadership, Boots & Beats has become known throughout North Alabama for engaging instruction, lively social dance events, themed dance nights, private and corporate events, workshops, guest teaching appearances, and community involvement through local events and parades.
My mission is to spread the joy of line dancing throughout North Alabama by bringing lessons and social dance experiences to a variety of venues and communities across the region. I also love connecting with dancers beyond North Alabama through YouTube tutorials and dance videos shared across our social media platforms.
More than anything, I want every person who joins us to feel welcome and included. Whether you arrive with a group of friends or walk through the door by yourself, there is a place for you on our dance floor.
Because dancing is about so much more than learning the steps. It’s about building community, meeting new people, creating lasting memories, and dancing our lives away!
“You’ll never regret learning a line dance!”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of our biggest challenges has been finding venues in North Alabama with enough open floor space to accommodate the size of our crowds. Our line dance nights regularly draw around 200 people, so we need much more than just a traditional bar or restaurant space.
Over the years, we’ve seen a number of local bars and restaurants open and close for a variety of reasons. When a venue closes, it doesn’t just mean finding another place to dance; it means finding a space with the right combination of capacity, open dance floor, parking, location, atmosphere, and willingness to host a large weekly line dancing crowd. Finding all of those things in one venue can be surprisingly difficult.
Most recently, the closing of our Monday night venue had once again left us searching for a new home base. Our Monday nights have grown into an important weekly gathering for the Boots & Beats community, so finding a space that can accommodate approximately 200 dancers—and allow us room to continue growing—is especially important. (Don’t worry, the day we found out the location had to shut it’s doors I found us a new location within hours!)
While those transitions can be challenging, they’ve also taught me to be adaptable and persistent. Boots & Beats has never been about one building or one venue—it’s about the community of people who show up week after week to dance. Wherever we land next, my goal remains the same: to create a welcoming place where people can learn, connect, have fun, and keep dancing our lives away!
We’ve been impressed with Boots & Beats Line Dancing LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Boots & Beats Line Dancing LLC is a North Alabama-based line dance entertainment company specializing in creating fun, welcoming, high-energy dance experiences for people of all ages and skill levels. We provide line dance instruction and entertainment for weekly social dance nights, private parties, corporate events, workshops, community events, concert pre-shows, parades, and other special events throughout the region.
What really sets Boots & Beats apart is our belief that line dancing is for everyone. While many people immediately associate line dancing with country music, our motto is “Line Dancing to All Genres.” Our playlists and dances span everything from country and the classic line dances of the ’90s to pop, rock, hip-hop, Latin, and today’s current hits. We also incorporate partner dance styles such as two-step, country swing, trailride-style dancing, and West Coast Swing into some of our events.
We are especially known for creating an environment where beginners feel comfortable. You don’t have to already know how to dance, come with a partner, or even come with a group. We teach throughout our events and continue helping dancers from the microphone once the social dancing begins. At the same time, we offer enough variety to keep experienced dancers challenged and entertained.
Our line dance nights regularly bring together crowds of approximately 200 people, and that is one of the things I am most proud of. We haven’t just built an event—we’ve built a community. People who may never have met otherwise have formed friendships through Boots & Beats, and watching those relationships grow has been one of the most rewarding parts of building this business.
Another thing that sets us apart is that we provide a complete entertainment experience. Boots & Beats can provide the instructors, line dance DJ, professional sound system, microphones, lighting, music, and entertainment needed to transform a space into a line dance event. We also customize our music and instruction based on the audience, skill level, theme, and type of event rather than offering the exact same experience everywhere we go.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that Boots & Beats has become associated with inclusion, community, and fun. I want someone who has never danced before to feel just as welcome on our dance floor as someone who has been line dancing for 20 years. There are no expectations to look a certain way, dress a certain way, listen to a particular type of music, or already know the steps. Just come ready to have fun.
Ultimately, Boots & Beats is about much more than teaching people dances. We’re creating opportunities for people to get out of the house, move their bodies, meet new people, laugh, make friends, and create memories together.
That’s why one of my favorite sayings is, “You’ll never regret learning a line dance!” And at Boots & Beats, we’re “Dancing our lives away!”
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was always very outgoing and social. I loved being around people, performing, and anything that involved music and movement. Looking back, dance and choreography were a part of my life long before I ever imagined they would become part of my career.
I started cheerleading when I was seven years old and continued all the way through college. Some of my favorite memories are of my sister and me choreographing routines together. We created dances for our cheer squads as well as routines for our school’s air band competitions. I loved the creative process of hearing a song, putting movement to it, teaching it to other people, and then watching everything come together in a performance.
Dance was also a big part of my life outside of cheerleading. I grew up learning hula and Polynesian dancing, while hip-hop was another style I loved. Right out of high school, I began teaching hip-hop and hula classes, so teaching dance actually became part of my life at a pretty young age.
It’s funny to look back now and realize how much of what I loved growing up is reflected in what I do today with Boots & Beats. I still love choreography, music, teaching, performing, bringing people together, and creating an experience where everyone is having fun. The style of dance may have changed over the years, but those parts of my personality really haven’t!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bootsandbeatslinedancing.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bootsandbeatslinedancing
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/boots&beatslinedancing
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/bootsandbeatslinedancing
- Other: https://tiktok.com/bootsandbeatslinedancing
