Gift Swap Contra
Choreographed by Taren Wilhelm🇺🇸
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Step Sheet
40 Count, 1 Wall
12/23/2025
Intro: Dance starts at the beginning of the first verse (0:06)
NOTE 1: The dance can be done with or without gifts. If not using gifts, just high-five instead!
NOTE 2: It is helpful to teach the dance steps for the entire dance, then practice once with high-fives representing the “swap” moments, then add in the gifts for the actual game.
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SEQUENCE: A A A A B A A A(½)
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SECTION A (the singing portion): CONTRA LINES w/ GIFT SWAPPING
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[ 1 - 8 ] Diagonal Step Touches to the Right [SWAP], Diagonal Step Touches to the Left
1, 2
Step R diagonally fwd (1), Step L closed next to R (2)
3, 4
Step R diagonally fwd (3), Step L closed next to R (4)
*when facing lines for contra style, dancers will start in windows and will meet on count 4 with the person from their oppositely facing line who is on their right side of the window to start. Dancers will high-five on 4 or SWAP GIFTS
5, 6
Step L diagonally fwd (5), Step R closed next to L (6)
7, 8
Step L diagonally fwd (7), Step R closed next to L (8)
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[ 9 – 16 ] Rocking Chair, [SWAP] Pivot ½, Stomp RL
1, 2, 3, 4
Rock R fwd (1), Recover on the L (2), Rock R back (3), Recover on the L (4)
5
Step R fwd (5)
Dancers will SWAP GIFTS with the person they are facing from the OTHER contra-line pairings
6
Pivot onto the L making a ½ turn over the L shoulder (6)
7, 8
Stomp R to collect (7), Stomp L in place (8)
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[ 17 – 24 ] (Side-Step) “Hitching U-turn” [SWAP in middle]
1, 2
Step R to side (1), Step L closed next to R (2)
3, 4
Step R to side with toes pointed to R to “prep” (3), Hitch L knee making a ¼ turn over Rt shoulder (4)
5, 6
Step L to side (5), Step R closed next to L (6)
Dancers will SWAP GIFTS with the person they are facing from the opposite contra-line (who’s “u-turn” also brought them to face in the middle)
7, 8
Step L to side with heel leading back (), Hitch R knee making a ÂĽ turn over Rt shoulder (8)
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[ 25 – 32 ] (Finish the side-step U-turn), Paddle Full Turn (“Party”: Rock around the Christmas Tree)
1, 2
Step R to side (1), Step L closed next to R (2)
3, 4
Step R to side (3), Step L closed next to R (4)
5, 6, 7, 8
Keeping L in place: paddle R 3x to make a full turn over L shoulder (5,6,7), Collect R next to L (8)
NOTE: Can opt to not turn and just “party” in place doing alternating knee bends…have fun with it!
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SECTION B (the instrumental portion): Turning Vines traveling LOD
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[ 1 - 8 ] R- Vine turn ½, L - Vine turn ½
1, 2, 3, 4
Step R to side (1), Cross L behind (2), Step R to side pointing toes to R to “prep” (3), Hitch L knee in a low hitch while turning ½ over the R shoulder (4)
5, 6, 7, 8
Step L to side (5), Cross R behind (6), Step L to side pointing toes to L to “prep” (7), Hitch R knee in a low hitch while turning ½ over the L shoulder (8)
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[ 9 – 64] Repeat counts 1-8 to continue doing turning vines around LOD within your contra line pairing rows
(Option to do extended weave without turning ½ after each vine)
NOTE: there is NO gift swapping during this portion and the distance traveled during the turning vines will vary based on venue size and length of stride for the dancers
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MESSAGE: Coming together to dance with friends AND even make new friends is part of what I love most about Line Dancing. This dance was inspired by the Christmas game White Elephant (aka Dirty Santa) and the idea to make a similar (speed) version of that game with dancing! On the day I created the dance, I had lessons that night and did not have a chance to pre-advertise my idea for everyone to bring their own gift for a dance game. So I just used whatever merchandise and prizes I had on hand to bring the idea to life and involve everyone. We had so much fun and I hope you do too in whatever version you try out! This dance is dedicated to the Gulf Coast Line Dance Community at Wild Greg’s, Pensacola, FL for #BootsOnTheBeachLessons : Keep dancing and high-fiving…and introduce yourself because this is social dancing afterall! ;)
Much Love, Taren
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