Feet on the Path: Transitioning from TikTok Trends to Traditional Trail Riding

When Tre Little performed in cowboy boots at the BET Awards preshow, he wasn’t just showcasing his talent—he was at the forefront of a cultural movement. Along with southern soul singer 803Fresh, Little created the viral hit “Boots on the Ground,” a trail ride-inspired song and dance that spread across African American gatherings around the country.

The dance routine, including signature fan clacks, was created spontaneously during lunch. After posting it to TikTok, Little gained 100,000 views overnight, transforming him into a popular dance instructor. “It’s about bringing people together to dance and share joy,” he noted.

That communal spirit is key to the enduring appeal of line dancing, as pointed out by Cupid, the Louisiana artist famous for the 2007 hit “Cupid Shuffle.”

Cupid, recording artist: “The renewed interest in country music, trail ride music, and the African American influence in these genres has opened America’s eyes to the line dancing tradition in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama. It shows how line dancing can unite people.”

Line dances like the “Cha Cha Slide” and “Wobble” have long been popular at events such as weddings and barbecues. However, “Boots on the Ground” introduced trail ride culture, blending horseback parades, zydeco, southern soul, and R&B, to a national audience. Even Beyoncé incorporated the dance into her highly successful “Cowboy Carter” tour, while figures like Michelle Obama and Shaquille O’Neal joined in publicly.

For Cupid, the essence of line dance transcends the beat:

Cupid, recording artist: “It’s about unity and connection … There’s no stronger genre than line dance because it brings people together regardless of differences.”

The dance’s unifying power was evident during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, where activists and law enforcement used the “Cupid Shuffle” to ease tensions.

Cupid, recording artist: “A turning point was during the protests when people and police did the Cupid Shuffle to ease the tension. That’s when I understood its real value in bridging divides.”

With “Boots on the Ground” topping the Billboard R&B charts and trail ride culture gaining popularity, the Southern tradition that once thrived in close-knit Black communities is now becoming more mainstream, one line dance step at a time.