History of the Country Two Step
The origins of the Country Two Step are found in the “One Step,” a popular dance in the mid to late 1800s. The dance gained traction when the composer John Philip Sousa wrote “Washington Post March” in 1889. As jazz was introduced to the Southern region of the United States, people also became familiarized with the Foxtrot. Eventually, these two dances combined to create the County Two Step. Since then, it underwent several changes and decreased in popularity.
In 1980, the interest in the Country Two Step increased with the premiere of “Urban Cowboy” featuring John Travolta. Since then, it has been danced mostly in the southern United States, or in country western socials that also feature line dancing. It is also known as the “Texas Two Step,” and is often seen on the Juneteenth holiday.
About the Dance
The Country Two Step travels counterclockwise around the room. It is rarely danced with body contact, and features a couple of different holds, depending on where you dance it. The steps are very similar to bronze Foxtrot, so it is often recommended that dancers learn that first because Foxtrot has a slightly slower speed.
Recommended Music List for Beginners
- Uptown Funk, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
- Besame Mama, Mongo Santa Maria
- Guajira, Yerba Buena
- Mueve El Cuerpo, Rodolfo Guerra
- De Hombre A Mujer, Donato
- Oye Como Va, Santana
- Lolita, Giants of Latin
- Wabble Cha, Joe Cuba
- El Pollo De Carlitos, Latin Music 5
- Smooth, Carlos Santana