Students gather in a small Irving Gym classroom early Tuesday morning as Professor Emeritus Ya'akov Eden writes Country Walkin', Electric Slide and Rebel Strut on a movable dry erase board.
Students will be practicing these three dances to songs such as "Don't Be Stupid" by Shania Twain and "I Feel Lucky" by Mary Chapin Carpenter.
The country western line dance class is part of the dance education minor, which Eden said is being phased out.
Some older students who pursued the dance education minor are upset that the minor is being discontinued.
Jessica Bluemke, senior literature major and dance and anthropology minor, said the dance minor provided her with a chance to challenge herself physically after being challenged academically.
"I think I'm going to use this in life as much as I will my math class," Bluemke said. "I took it because it's a little more low pressure than my other dance classes and it's fun."
The class has a light, upbeat atmosphere, which can partially be attributed to Eden's attitude, Bluemke said.
The first time she was late to class she said Eden told her the class had decided anyone who came in late had to belly dance.
"He cracks me up," she said. "He takes his class seriously without taking himself seriously, which I think is a mark of a good teacher."
Eden, a retired professor, specializes in International Folk Performance. Despite retiring three years ago, Eden said he teaches part-time at Ball State University and IU East in New Castle.
Eden said he studied country western dance for a few years before deciding to teach.
Eden owned The Garden of Eden Dance Studio in downtown Muncie, which specialized in ballroom and country western dance, until about four years ago.
"I was teaching full time at BSU, and the studio was so popular that I did not have the time to be there," Eden said.
Although Eden's studio is closed, a few places in Muncie give line dancing lessons, such as Hollywood Lounge, Moose Lodge and American Legion.
However, for those who want to skip right to the dancing, there are two country western-themed bars in Indianapolis: 8 Seconds Saloon, located at 111 Lynhurst Dr. and Stables Nightclub at 6125 Southeastern Ave.
The dances and steps taught in Eden's country western dance class can be done to any type of dance, he said.
"What I really want for them is to learn the basic steps so when they go somewhere they can look at a dance and recognize the basic steps and in a second they can step in and pick up any new dance," Eden said.
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