The need for a safe, social environment in which to linedance led my wife & I to sponsor dances through the various Park & Recreation Districts where we taught. I became the DJ, and my wife took over the task of assisting beginners at the dances
In 1996, the need for new line dances that appealed to my students led me into linedance choreography. I have created over 200 linedances over the years and am thrilled at the success that “Burlesque” has garnered, including being a Crystal Boots Award nominee for Intermediate Dance of the Year in 2010. I was inspired to do the dance after watching the credits to the movie Burlesque where Cher sang the song “Welcome to Burlesque”. Reflecting back, I was also driven by the music to choreograph “Sway Me Now” in 2005 after seeing the movie “Shall We Dance?” with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez. Other popular dances of mine include: "A Love Worth Waiting 4", "Behind Closed Doors", "A Country High", "A Kiss 4 Me" and "Aguardiente". In the Las Vegas Dance Explosion 2012 my dance "Amor de Rumba" placed 1st in the Beginner Division and "Amica Mia" placed 2nd in the Non-phrased Intermediate Division. In 2014, "Many Tears Ago" placed 2nd in the Beginner Division, and in 2015, "Going 2 Pot" placed 1st in the Phrased Intermediate Division. In 2014 my dance "Aguardiente" was voted the "Most Popular Dance of the Year" in Singapore. I have been published in Linedancer Magazine in both the First in Line and Steppin’ Off The Page sections and as a Crystal Boots Award nominee for Burlesque.
I have had the repeated privilege to be an invited instructor at the Pismo Beach Country Western Dance Festival, subsequently Clovis Western Days, Cambria Western Dance Festival, Central Coast Dance in Solvang, Boogie ‘til the Cows Come Home and have been the DJ for Scooter Lee’s “Dancing for the Dream” event in the Sacramento area from 2008 to present. In 2015 I was thrust into the role of being an Event Director hosting the annual OktoberWest line dance event in the Sacramento, CA area. I was the invited instructor to teach a special workshop in Mesa, AZ in January 2017.
Awarded World Champion status at UCWDC Worlds 2017 placing 1st in choreography competition in the Country Int/Adv division with the dance "A Country High". As a choreography competition winner in Las Vegas I was also invited to teach at the Las Vegas Dance Explosion in 2013 & 2016. My line dance choreography can also be found on other sites including Linedancerweb.com and my personal web page at wild-horses.us.
Norman Gifford has choreographed 184 dances, of which 7 have been co-choreographed. Their first published stepsheet on CopperKnob is Language Of Love from October 2007, with their most recent stepsheet of 1-2-3 Tequilas in January 2024.
Choreographer Stepsheets
64 Count 2 Wall Low Intermediate Music: High on a Country Song - Sam Riggs
32 Count 4 Wall Absolute Beginner Music: A Love Worth Waiting For - Bouke
64 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: Welcome to Burlesque - Cher
32 Count 4 Wall Beginner / Improver Music: Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi
64 Count 2 Wall Improver Music: A Love Worth Waiting For - Bouke
32 Count 4 Wall Beginner Music: Joy's Gonna Come in the Morning - Scooter Lee
64 Count 4 Wall Improver Music: Sway - The Pussycat Dolls
32 Count 2 Wall Absolute Beginner Music: Things - Billie Jo Spears : (Album: C'est la Vie - iTunes)
32 Count 4 Wall Improver / Intermediate Music: Something's Going On - Trace Adkins
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: Lost In Tears - Bouke
48 Count 2 Wall Improver waltz Music: Crowd My Mind - Brett Eldredge
48 Count 4 Wall Improver Music: Same Kind of Crazy As Me - Scooter Lee
32 Count 4 Wall Absolute Beginner Music: Someday - OneRepublic
48 Count 4 Wall Beginner / Improver Music: Hello Josephine - Jerry Jaye : (CD: One More Time)
32 Count 4 Wall Absolute Beginner Music: Storm of Love - Scooter Lee
32 Count 4 Wall Beginner / Improver Music: Jambalaya (On the Bayou) - Scooter Lee
48 Count 4 Wall Improver Music: It's Four in the Morning - Faron Young
32 Count 4 Wall Improver Music: Must Be the Whiskey - Cody Jinks
24 Count 4 Wall High Beginner / Low Improver Music: Only Make Believe - Bouke : (iTunes)
32 Count 2 Wall Improver Music: Work Boots - Cody Johnson
