What Is The Texas Two Step Dance

The Texas Two Step dance is a country Two Step dance pattern that is popular in bars across the United States, especially in the South. A couple performs this dance to lively music, and dancers usually switch partners every song or two. For that reason, Texas Two Step dancing is especially fun for a mixer event or as a way to get to know people.

How did the Texas Two Step get started?
The first popular Two Step dance of the United States originated with the introduction of the "Washington Post March" by John Phillip Sousa back in 1891. This Two Step dance was celebrated at a time when quadrilles and reels were still all the rage.

However, this Two Step dance differed from today's Texas Two Step dance, which is most similar to the Foxtrot popular in the 1950s. There are several variations of the Texas Two Step, which is known for its quick, quick, slow, slow tempo. One of the most popular variations is the Dallas Two Step, which is more like a step, step, shuffle pattern.

What is it like to dance the Texas Two Step?
The Texas Two Step is easy to pick up and fun to try to master. Experienced dancers whirl around the dance floor, moving with a smooth, liquid fashion in perfect sync. The challenge is keeping your steps in tempo while not looking down and keeping your form perfect.

The music is country music with a tempo range of 155 to 200 beats per minute. This dance is performed on a hardwood floor and dress is usually casual. Women can wear jeans or a dress; men typically wear jeans and boots. Because it is such a wholesome dance, the Texas Two Step is popular at church gatherings and weddings in the South, especially in Texas.

If you watch serious dancers competing in the Texas Two Step, you'll see rather advanced moves borrowed from the Foxtrot and Swing dancing. If you're interested in learning these moves, sign up for dance lessons with your partner.