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The Shuffle basic is essentially a Foxtrot "Two and One," a step which has been danced continuously since the 1910s, and became particularly popular starting in the 1920s. It's likely that this version of the dance developed side-by-side with Country music, which also began to emerge in the 1920s. As Swing dancing became popular in the decades that followed, travelling Swing moves were incorporated.
In Shuffle, you dance the Basic in closed, then break out into a variety of Swing moves while continuing to travel along LOD, using whatever footwork is comfortable. Then you come back to the Basic in closed.
Shuffle also incorporates lots of Dips and Tricks (see Country Swing below for some examples).
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Progressive Two Step is another version of the dance based on a basic step that backs the Follow straight along LOD instead of zig-zagging.
In contrast with the controlled chaos of Shuffle's traveling swing moves danced with flexible timing, Progressive has defined variations that keep the QQSS timing throughout.
If you visit a Country bar in Texas, you'll see Progressive and Shuffle sharing the floor. Depending on which bar you're in, and where those dancers have learned,* one version or the other may have the edge, but both are fun in their own ways. For example, Shuffle is infinitely adaptable, while Progressive has defined variations that aren't often seen in other dances (like Pop Turns and the Wrap).
It's interesting to note that, despite their differences, the two versions are more closely related than it might initially appear. Both are danced in QQSS timing, and the side step of Shuffle and the forward/back step of Progressive are simply two different points on a continuum from 0° to 90° of diagonality, all of which are danced by someone somewhere. (If Progressive is 90°, Shuffle is < 90°, and Rhythm Two Step, danced in Arizona, is 0°.)
* As an oversimplification, if you learned in a studio, you dance Progressive, and if you learned on the dance floor, you dance Shuffle.
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Country Swing is an on-the-spot version of Country, which focuses entirely on the Swing moves and dips and tricks. While it can be danced anywhere, its natural home is on sheets of plywood in the parking lots of country music festivals.
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When the music is too fast to comfortably Two Step, you can downshift to One Step, simply taking one step per beat.
Just as Country Two Step is a descendant of the early 20th century Foxtrot, Country One Step is a descendant of the early 20th century One Step.
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Country Waltz is essentially Country One Step in slow waltz time.
When the music is a fast waltz, in-the-know Country dancers choose Rotary Waltz, since that is what was (and is) danced alongside Country Two Step in the historic dance halls of Texas.
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Rhythm Two Step is a totally different version of Country Two Step that is danced in Arizona.
Country is a closely related family of dances that developed alongside country music.
While other dances (e.g., West Coast Swing, Nightclub Two Step, Cross-Step Waltz, Rotary Waltz) can be danced to many Country songs, there's also a version of Country dancing that can be danced to any Country song.
Prior to 1980, Country was primarily danced in Texas (hence the alternate name of Country Two Step: Texas Two Step). With the release of John Travolta's Urban Cowboy (1980), filmed at Gilley's Club in Pasadena, TX, interest in Country music and dancing exploded, and the dance spread around the world.
Here are some of our favorite Country songs, organized by dance and arranged by tempo:
In the Country Waltz playlist, the Silent Track denotes the tempo above which Rotary Waltz is the better choice.
© 2016-2024 Nick Enge
If you or your community is interested in learning Country, .
For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.
For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.
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