Texas Two-Step
Basic Position: The man holds lady in his
RIGHT arm with his hand on her shoulder blade,
almost reaching her spine. She drapes her
LEFT arm along his right, with her hand on
the inside of his shoulder blade. With his
LEFT hand, he holds her RIGHT hand in a clasp-grip.
He should hold her slightly to his RIGHT
side, so that his LEFT foot can slide forward
without hitting her feet. Offset your feet.
Men always lead with the LEFT foot forward
on the Quick Step (ladies first step is Right
foot back). Slide your feet. Walk straight
ahead, not side to side. Every step should
be smooth and flowing, not short, choppy
or sideways. Each step should pass up the
previous one by at least a few inches.
The cadence is Quick Quick Slow Slow, where
the quick steps each get 1 beat of music,
and the slow steps get 2 beats of music.
Therefore, the slower steps will be bigger
than the quick steps. The first quick step
is always with the man's LEFT foot, whether
he is dancing forwards, backwards or sideways.
If you count your steps, the first quick
step is #1. Some men do a Start Step consisting
of 2 Slow steps in place (swaying LEFT, then
RIGHT), which serves to alert the lady which
foot to have ready, and when to take her
first Quick step.
Traffic flows in a counterclockwise
direction
around the dance floor. The man always
leads,
and always 'directs traffic', even
if he
is dancing backwards with the lady
facing
forwards. She can check his blind spot
for
him (over his RIGHT shoulder); he should
be looking over his LEFT shoulder.
Forward 1/2 Turn (Clockwise)
| Quick Quick Slow, Twist |
Twist the lady 45° to your RIGHT (clockwise,
i.e. outside). |
| Pass the lady, back |
Cross her path, turning backwards. |
| Quick Quick Slow Slow |
Man now dances backwards. |
Backward 1/2 Turn (Clockwise) From man dancing
backwards
| Quick Quick Twist, Together |
Twist LEFT foot in, then bring RIGHT foot
to it, i.e. outside. |
| Quick Quick Slow Slow |
Now the man is dancing forward again. |
Flirtation Move
| Quick Quick Slow, Check |
His RIGHT arm releases her shoulder, while
he replaces to his RIGHT foot. |
| Quick Quick, Turn Around |
Her Quick steps are in place, his pass her;
his LEFT hand turns her COUNTERCLOCKWISE. |
| Quick Quick Slow Slow |
Standard footwork, he is dancing backwards,
she is dancing forwards. |
| Exit #1: |
|
| Backward 1/2 Turn Clockwise |
She dances into his arms, then he uses the
Standard Back Turn |
| Exit #2: |
|
| Waist-wrap |
With his LEFT arm at his waist, he turns
90° on Quick Quick (moving to outside
lane), allowing her to pass him. On 1st Slow,
he steps back on his LEFT foot, facing LOD
(line of dance), which 'sling-shots' her
around him, into his RIGHT arm which catches
her as he steps up to his RIGHT foot on the
2nd Slow. |
Full Clockwise Turn (360°)
| Quick Quick Slow, Twist |
Twist the lady 45° to your RIGHT (CLOCKWISE),
i.e. outside. |
| Step Together Cross, Pivot |
Block her path on 1st Slow, pivot 180°
to 2nd Slow. |
| Quick Quick Slow Slow |
Now man is dancing forward again. |
From Country & Western Dance Syllabus,
Round Rock Independent School District.
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