# Two-step (dance move)

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Two-step_(dance_move)
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Two-step_(dance_move).md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-step_(dance_move)
> Source revision: 1250814469
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Dance move}}
{{split|date=October 2024}}
[[File:Two-step drum pattern.png|thumb|[Drum pattern](/source/Drum_pattern) associated with the two-step.<ref>Strong, Jeff (2011). ''Drums For Dummies'', p.111. John Wiley & Sons. {{ISBN|978-0471794110}}.</ref> {{audio|Two-step drum pattern.mid|Play}}]]

The '''two-step''' is a step found in various dances, including many [folk dance](/source/folk_dance)s. 

A two-step consists of two steps in approximately the same direction onto the same foot, separated by a joining or uniting step with the other foot. For example, a right two-step forward is a forward step onto the right foot, a closing step with the left foot, and a forward step onto the right foot. The closing step may be done directly beside the other foot, or obliquely beside, or even crossed, as long as the closing foot does not go past the other foot.

The two-step is often confused with the [country/western two-step](/source/country-western_two-step).<ref>Casey, Betty (1985). ''Dance Across Texas'', p.106. University of Texas. {{ISBN|9780292715516}}.</ref> "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](/source/Cotton-Eyed_Joe), Cowboy Polka ([Jessie Polka](/source/Jessie_Polka)), and other dances."<ref>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}}</ref> "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 first caught on with the public when John Philip Sousa came out with the '[Washington Post March](/source/Washington_Post_March)' in 1889."

==Europe==
In Europe the two-step became popular from around 1900 until the 1910s, when the [one-step](/source/One-Step) and the [foxtrot](/source/foxtrot) took over.<ref>Richardson, P.S.J. (1960). ''The Social Dances of the Nineteenth Century in England''</ref> Other examples of two-step marches include Louis Conterno's ''Red Clouds March Two Step'' and Nellie Beamish's ''Thirteenth National Regiment March and Two Step''.<ref>[https://doi-org.lonlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.28662 Norton, Pauline (2001).'Two-step (Fr. deux temps)'], in ''Grove Music Online''</ref>

==See also==
*[Triple step](/source/Triple_step)
*[Lock step](/source/Lock_step_(dance))
*[Dance move](/source/Dance_move)
*[One-step](/source/One-Step)
*[Foxtrot](/source/Foxtrot)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Dance}}
{{Scottish folk music}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Two-Step (Dance Move)}}
Category:Social dance steps

{{dance-stub}}

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Two-step (dance move)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-step_(dance_move)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-step_(dance_move)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.