Country-western two-step

The country/western two-step, often called the "Texas two-step"[2] or simply the "two-step,"[3] is a country/western dance usually danced to country music in common time. "Traditional [Texas] two-step developed, my theory goes, because it is suited to fiddle and guitar music played two-four time with a firm beat [found in country music]. One-two, one-two, slide-shuffle."[4]

The Texas two-step is the same step known to ballroom dancers as the international fox-trot. Except for the one-step, which is just that, most Texas dances are variations of a two-step, also called a half-step, which is simply a step-close-step. The Texas two-step is generally done with two long steps and a step-close-step to two-four time. Speeded up, it's a shuffle or double shuffle, but still a two-step.[5]

"Texas Two Step" redirects here. For information about the Texas Lottery game, see Texas Lottery.
Drum pattern known as the "Texas three-step" due to its association with the dance step[1] Play 

As with other country/western dances, there are different versions of two step. Even the same dance may go by different names depending on the area of the United States, and even in the particular dance hall. There may be no "correct" way to do a particular dance.[6] "Every dance floor presents a variety of styles. ... Every region, every village, has its own way of doing the waltz and two-step."[7] The two-step is related to the polka, the Texas waltz, and the jitterbug.[5]

Texas Two-Step

The two-step is a partner dance, consisting of a "leader" and a "follower." The leader determines the movements and patterns of the pair as they move around the dance floor. It is a progressive dance that proceeds counterclockwise around the floor. Generally, the man would lead the dance as the "leader." In the cases where they dance in the circle, the leader dances in the inside of the circle.

The partners generally begin in closed position with the leader facing the line of dance. The follower stands facing the leader. In a traditional "frame" the leader places his right hand over the partner's left shoulder. In the more contemporary styling, closed position is formed by placing the right hand under the follower's left arm, on their back. In either case, the leader holds the follower's right hand in their left hand at about shoulder height.

Other dance positions include:

  • Sweetheart: side by side, the lead's right hand on the follower's right shoulder, and the left hands together near the left shoulder.
  • Shadow: side by side, the follower's right hand on the back of their right hip, Lead's right hand placed in the Follower's, Lead's left hand at approximately hip level on the left side, Follower reaches their left hand across to place in the Lead's.
  • Wrap (cuddle): side by side, follow's left arm crossing their body and holding lead's right hand. Follower's right arm crosses over their left and Lead places their left in it.
  • Skater: side by side
  • Promenade: both facing line of dance
  • Reverse Promenade: both backing line of dance

QQS

The Deux Temp, also known as Two-Step, was described by Wilson in 1899. Her description can be read as step, together, change weight onto other foot.[8]

Traditionally, Two-Step includes three steps: a quick step, a quick step, and then a slow step. In modern times, this is also known as Texas Polka. It can be danced to music with either a 2/4 or 4/4 time signature.[6]

Older dance manuals specified the best effect is achieved when dancers have a smooth gliding motion in time to the music. For example, the 1939 book "Cowboy Dances" states that, "The real two-step should be smooth and beautiful to watch. But in a Western dance it is quite in kind to make it joyous and bouncy."[9][10] Modern styles however continued with the smooth style and added a slight "lilt."

This same step pattern, step, close, step, with a timing of quick quick slow was given as the definition of Country-Western Two-Step in 1983.[11]

This Two-Step is a dance with roots in European and Mexican dance history and appeared in Germany and Hungary in the 1800s. Similar steps danced at Mexican fandangos were also an influence.[12]

Dance positions include: an open position with the lead's right hand on the follower's left shoulder, a closed position with no space between the partners, and a closed overhand position in which the lead wraps their left forearm over the follower's right forearm and clasps their hand with the palm against the back of the follower's hand. A "side by side", "shoulder hold", "cape", or varsouviana position is also used.[6][12]

QQSS

Originally called the Texas Shuffle Step (or Foxtrot step), at some point this became better known as Texas Two-Step, which is now the most common dance with that name. Danced to music with 4/4 time signature, it consists of four steps with timing quick, quick, slow, slow, where the pattern of movement is often referred to as "Step-together, walk, walk."[12] This Two-Step has been taught as early 1983.[13]

The Two-Step can be danced over a fairly wide range of tempos, such as 130 bpm to over 200 bpm. Accomplished dancers can dance to tempos above 185 bpm.[14] The United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC) lists the Two-step at 180-210 BPM, while the Country Western Dance International (CWDI) lists the Two-step at 160-192 BPM.[15]

Basic two-step consists of two quick steps, followed by two slow steps (or alternately, two slow steps followed by two quick steps). Dancing may start with either the slow steps, or the quick steps, as the local custom dictates.

The leader begins by stepping forward with his left foot. The follower begins by stepping backward with her right foot.

Formally, the quick steps are full strides, with one foot passing the other on each step. However, in informal situations, particularly when the beat of the music is fast, the second quick step may be a shuffle, with the foot that's behind after the first quick step sliding up to, but not even with, the foot in front.

This style has roots with the Foxtrot and basic two-step patterns are equivalent to those of many other progressive partner dances.

More advanced figures can be syncopated, following other patterns such as QQSQQS or QQQQSS (where Q represents a quick step and S a slow step).

Variations

Other dance styles related to the two-step exist.

Shadow dancing

In shadow dancing, a variation found in some country/western venues, the follower stands in front of the lead and both face down the line of dance.[16] The lead places his/her right hand over the follower's midsection or belt buckle, and the follower places his/her right hand over the lead's hand. The lead takes the follower's left hand in his/her own and holds it loosely out to the left in a position similar to the one used in standard two-stepping.

The count is the same as for the non-shadow two-step. The follower uses the same footwork as the lead in this case, beginning on the left foot. The lead propels the follower down the floor, with bodies touching or close together, as though the lead were the follower's shadow. The pair will normally turn and weave, and the lead may turn the follower before returning to standard position. The lead may also bring the follower behind him/her, giving the appearance of having swapped roles but with the lead still in control, and the lead may then bring the follower back in front.

The rhythm for the country shadow is not the same as that for the two-step. The shadow is done to a swing or shuffle step which has the same footwork as the two step, but the timing of the steps is different. In two-step, it's danced to a 4/4 time with one basic done in 3 counts (SSQQ) where each slow is 1 beat and each quick is 1/2 of a beat. The dancers end up on the same foot free each time so it takes 4 measures to get back to the first beat of the measure with the first dance step.

In shadow, the timing is more shuffle where the music is most often a 6/8 time. This is essentially a swing step beat. The shadow pattern is the same as the two step (2 slows and 2 quick steps), but it's not the same timing. It's more closely counted as "shuffle, step, step" where the shuffle is 3 counts of exactly the same timing. One could argue that the patter from the QQS is the same as the shuffle, but since it's done to a different music timing, that is incorrect. Many people count it as if it were a two step (SSQQ or QQSS), but that doesn't mean they don't alter the timing to match the music which then becomes a shuffle step.

Other Two Steps

Rhythm Two Step

Another "two step" done almost exclusively in Arizona is also known as Rhythm Two-step, and is almost stationary. The rhythm is Step forward, Touch, Step backward, Touch, Walk Walk. Its music is in tempo between Triple Two-step and Texas Two-step.

Double two-step

Double two-step, also referred to as triple two-step (and so designated by the UCWDC,[17] which classifies it as a separate competitive dance style), is usually danced to slower music. The two slow steps are replaced by two sets of triple steps. By contrast, the two quick steps are now slow steps. One way to count double two-step is "1 and 2", "3 and 4", step, step. The count is the same as that of triple count East-coast swing.

The leader steps forward with his/her left foot to begin the dance. The follower steps backwards on his/her right. The partners embrace each other as in the basic two-step.

Double two-step is also referred to as "shuffle". Fort Worth Shuffle has the same pattern as double two-step, except that the first triple-step begins with the right foot.

Night Club Two Step

See Nightclub two step.

Historic Two Step

A form of Two Step unrelated to the current Two Step created a radical change in dance style at the end of the nineteenth century. It was often performed to the American music of John Philip Sousa's "The Washington Post" march. [18]

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References
  1. Strong, Jeff (2011). Drums For Dummies, p.111. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0471794110.
  2. Casey, Betty (1985). Dance Across Texas, p.106. University of Texas. ISBN 9780292715516. "The Texas Shuffle step was formerly called a foxtrot step and has erroneously been called Texas Two-Step. This error causes confusion because this dance is entirely different from the real two-step as danced in the forward-moving section of Cotton-Eyed Joe, Cowboy Polka (Jessie Polka), and other dances."
  3. Scheff, Helene; Sprague, Marty; and McGreevy-Nichols, Susan (2010). Exploring Dance Forms and Styles: A Guide to Concert, World, Social, and Historical Dance, p.222. Human Kinetics. ISBN 9780736080231. "The Texas Two-step is the most widely known and performed dance in North America. There are really two histories of what is called 'two step dance,' because the name jumped from one type of dance that is no longer done to another that is done, called the Texas Two-step or collegiate Fox-trot. The original Two-step was a simple dance that caught on with the public when John Philip Sousa came out with the 'Washington Post March' in 1891."
  4. Flemmons, Jerry (2000). Curmudgeon in Corduroy: The Best of Jerry Flemmons' Texas, p.67. TCU. ISBN 9780875652177.
  5. Chadwick, Susan (Aug 1985). "The Two-Step", Texas Monthly, Vol. 13, No. 8, p.128. Emmis. ISSN 0148-7736.
  6. The Official Guide to Country Dance Steps. By Tony Leisner. 1980. Chartwell Books. pages 16, 64, 70. ISBN 0-89009-331-8
  7. Plater, Ormonde; Speyrer, Cynthia; and Speyrer, Rand (1993). Cajun Dancing, p.39. Pelican. ISBN 9781455601769.
  8. Dancing. Marguerite Wilson. copyright 1899. The Penn Publishing Company
  9. Cowboy Dances. A collection of Western Square Dances. Lloyd Shaw. Cowboy Dances. Lloyd Shaw. 1939-1952. The Caxton Printers. page 46, 7. no ISBN
  10. http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/cowboy-dances/cowboy-dance%20-%200147.htm Retrieved 1.1.2010
  11. A handbook of novelty, country and western dances. Ray, Ollie M., 1983. Siddall and Ray Research Found. Charleston, Ill
  12. Dance Across Texas By Betty Casey 1985 University of Texas Press pages 16, 67, 111 ISBN 0-292-71551-X
  13. Country Western Dance Steps. Dee Pierce. Flower Drum Lounge. Portland, Oregon. 1983. page 31. no ISBN
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-05-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) This site no longer exists 1.1.2010
  15. The Pablo Stories. A Slice of the Country Western Dance Era. Paul McClure. 2008. BearManor Media. page 218. ISBN 1-59393-303-7
  16. Anthony Palombit (director) (2008). Out on the Dance Floor (Documentary).
  17. "The Whole Story - UCWDC.org". UCWDC website. United Country Western Dance Council. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  18. recreation of the dance

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