WESTERN ROOTS COUNTRY DANCING

WESTERN ROOTS COUNTRY DANCING

by Copper Cowgirl Magazine

Suzi Rose Is Keeping Montana’s Western Culture in Motion

In Bozeman — where the Gallatin Valley’s golden grasses meet the steady heartbeat of Montana heritage — Western Roots Country Dancing stands as a modern guardian of western tradition. Since 2019, founder Suzi Rose has led the charge in preserving the joy, connection, and culture of country dance, shaping Western Roots into a premier destination for high-quality instruction and authentic Montana experiences.

Suzi’s love for dance is woven straight from her childhood in Southwest Colorado. “I remember learning to two-step standing on my dad’s cowboy boots in the living room with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s ‘You Ain’t Going Nowhere’ on vinyl,” she shares, a memory filled with the warmth of western family life. With a musician father and a mother who “was always bebopping to a beat,” Suzi grew up knowing that movement wasn’t just entertainment — it was identity.

In 2017, dancing became her anchor during what she describes as “a brutal divorce,” offering connection, healing, and a sense of home. When the iconic SOB Barn and Mixers closed in 2019, leaving Bozeman’s dancers without a venue, Suzi acted on instinct and devotion. “Communities thrive when they have dancing… If we lose this piece, what do we have left?” she asked. Determined not to let western dance disappear, she stepped forward, found a studio, and Western Roots was born. 

Today, Western Roots offers line dancing, two-step, country swing, cha cha, waltz, public classes, private lessons, weddings, corporate events, and more — all with a level of professionalism that elevates western dance to an art form. Their home inside Prime Performance & Physio is a refined, intimate space where dancers of all ages and levels are welcomed. And their partnerships — Adult Swing at The Westerner, Boots & Bourbon at Bourbon, City of Bozeman classes at Story Mill, the Big Sky Country State Fair, and more — have redefined Bozeman’s country dance scene.

But it is Suzi’s vision that makes Western Roots truly extraordinary. “Our team serves from a desire to share and create collaborative joy… It’s a vibe you can feel when you walk in the door.”

One of her most cherished moments came while overlooking a dance floor at the Armory Hotel — teens in neon, couples in their seventies, seasoned dancers, complete beginners, all moving respectfully together. “Wow, we did it,” she thought. Unity, community, and western culture — all alive in a single song.

Suzi’s dream for the next five years is simple and strong: Grow. Dance. Thrive.

Learn more at www.mtcountrydance.com or follow @WesternRootsCountryDancing.