Texas Two-Step: Quick, Quick, Slow, Slow
A country social dance from Texas where couples travel the floor to a quick, quick, slow, slow rhythm and add an underarm turn and promenade position. Students work on rhythmic partner travel, floor awareness, and getting to know dances from other cultures.
How to play
- Put 4 cones at the corners of the floor. Each student walks counterclockwise alone with the quick, quick, slow, slow rhythm, counting out loud (3 minutes).
- Partners in closed position: the lead travels forward and the follow travels backward with short, gliding steps, no bouncing. On the whistle, switch roles (5 minutes).
- Underarm turn: on the two quicks the lead raises the hand, and on the two slows the follow turns right while the couple keeps traveling (5 minutes).
- Promenade position: both face forward side by side holding hands, travel 2 basics, and return to closed position (4 minutes).
- Mixer: with continuous music, each time a couple passes a corner cone they may change figures; on the whistle, switch partners (4 minutes).
- Half the floor dances while the other half checks that steps glide and the rhythm holds, then switch (3 minutes).
Rules
- All couples travel the same direction; pass only on the outside lane.
- Steps glide low with no bouncing so nobody gets stepped on.
- The lead is responsible for watching the space ahead of the couple.
Variations
Easier
Dance without a partner in one long line traveling around the floor to the rhythm.
Standard
Partner basic, underarm turn, and promenade with a partner change on the whistle.
Harder
Add a turn for the lead and a free sequence of 3 figures chosen by the couple.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a student in a wheelchair travels beside the partner holding hands and marks the slows with the free hand; the partner does the turn.
- Hearing impairment: reinforce the rhythm with 2 fast claps and 2 slow claps the whole class does to start each round.
- Fitness level: students who tire dance the slows in place for one round.
Learning goals
- Travel with a partner to the quick-quick-slow-slow rhythm.
- Coordinate turns and position changes without leaving the line of dance.
- Recognize the two-step as a social dance from the US country tradition.
Equipment for a class of 25
- music
- portable speaker: 1
- cones: 4
Teacher tip
The most common mistake is bouncing; ask students to let their soles brush the floor. A mid-tempo country song keeps the slows from speeding up.
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