How to Sign up for Two Step Dance Lessons

The two step is most often associated with country music. Two step was adapted from the foxtrot, which emerged from ragtime swing dance and has since been applied to pop and funk. With its side-by-side position and vertical movements, two step takes on the most bass-heavy and foot-stompin' beats for the ultimate dance club experience. Find out why two step is as popular today as it was in the barn dance era and sign up for lessons.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dude duds or baggy pants for country or hip hop dance wear

Sign up for Fun

1. See what all the fuss is about and go check out two step and line dancing in local dance clubs.

2. Try a free or affordable intro class at a nightclub. Many bars and music clubs let you sign up for lessons an hour or two before the regular dance program begins. This is a great way to learn the basic moves at a beginner's pace.

3. Grab a partner and start learning two step at home or even outdoors. A DVD such as "Two Step for Beginners" at Amazon will walk you through the basic steps (see Resources below).

4. Practice all you want with specially selected two step music. For country aficionados, "Two Step Fever" at Amazon will set the hoe-down scene (see Resources below).

Sign up to Compete

5. Find a dance studio near you and sign up for two step lessons with a professional instructor. Street, Latin and country music are all options. You'll go beyond the basics to learn complex turns and combination steps that will catch a judge's eye at your next competition.

6. Hit the upper levels of dance competition by attending lessons and maintaining a practice and exercise schedule. Get a recent selection of energetic pop music, such as "One, Two Step" at Amazon and go to town (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Forget notions of "square dances." Two step has come a long way, although some of the basic moves, such as promenade and allemande, remain.
• Watch your dance floor etiquette. Two step can be fast-paced and aggressive, so be sure to move counter-clockwise with your partner and leave the outside lane for the faster dancers.

Resources

• Ground-floor instruction on DVD
• Country fiddle music on CD
• Street and pop music