The Two-Step is a fairly young dance and truly inspired by American heritage. Originally a version of the Waltz adopted in the mid-1840’s, The Two-Step gained popularity as music in the western parts of the U.S. changed to better suit it. It was an offspring of the minuet and they danced it as QQSS. In the old Western days when women were not allowed to dance with men, men danced together and that is the reason for the hand on the shoulder holding a can of beer and the other hand to the side. The only women who eventually danced with these men were Indian Squaws and that is where all the turns came about, because Indian women loved to spin. Two-step is a Western dance whose popularity has spread all over the United States. Today, the most popular and notable version of the Two-Step was perfected in Texas in the early 1900’s and spread like wildfire to country western music-loving communities throughout the country.
MUSIC
Alan Jackson- Don’t Rock the Jukebox
Alabama- Forty Hour Week for a Living
George Strait- Ocean Front Property
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band- Fishing in the Dark
Reba McEntire- Fancy
WHAT TWO STEP TEACHES
Two Step is known for being a thrill ride on the dance floor. Leaders get to learn how to navigate smoothly on a crowded floor while followers develop their quick turns and spins. As a partnership you learn how to have a strong connection with one another, which allows for every trick to be fun and flawless!
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a spectacular event that is enjoyed by many Texans! For those who love a good concert, the rodeo brings some of the hottest artists to our great city for us to enjoy. Here are 10 music hits from some of those artists that will be performing and the dances you can do to them.
1. Think of You- Chris Young ft. Cassadee Pope (COUNTRY POLKA)
2. Tonight Looks Good On You- Jason Aldean (COUNTRY TWO STEP)
3. We Are One- Pitbull (MERENGUE)
4. Country Girl Shake It For Me- Luke Bryan (CHA CHA)
5. Love Done Gone- Billy Currington (E.C. SWING)
6. Los Huracanes del Norte- Amarte Es Hermoso (NIGHT CLUB TWO STEP)
7. When the Sun Goes Down- Kenny Chesney (POLKA)
8. Boondocks- Little Big Town (COUNTRY TWO STEP)
9. Get Your Shine On- Florida Georgia Line (W.C. SWING)
10. Country Nation- Brad Paisley (COUNTRY TWO STEP)
It’s Showcase Time!! To start the year off, we will be attending the Austin Showcase on March 5th! Many have already started to prepare for the event and are getting anxious for the big day. After you have signed your name to the board and have decided the dances you will be executing, the worry of doing everything right starts to set in so much that we tend to forget what a Showcase is meant to do for our dancing.
What is an Arthur Murray Showcase?
A Showcase is a one-day event where students present personalized dance routines. These routines make an exciting addition to your learning because they allow you to develop showmanship and musical expression along with your social dance skills. Every Showcase has a dinner and special floor show performed by some of the top dancers in Arthur Murray and the world.
What is Gained in Your Dancing?
Dancing in front of people is the one thing you will allows encounter on a social dance floor, so a Showcase helps to desensitize the fear and gain the one thing all dancers want: Confidence!
One Thing To Remember…Don’t Seek Perfection!
Perfection does not exist in dancing. Your teacher doesn’t believe in it and neither should you. What you should always seek is growth and betterunderstanding of your self and your dancing. The mere fact that you will be dancing with different couples on the floor gives you an entirely new obstacle. The best thing you can do is to not get frustrated if someone bumps or nudges you. Remain calm and shake it off.
One of the BEST benefits at an Arthur Murray Studio is the Group Classes offered to all levels of students. Its a great way to be introduced to new patterns or dances and also have some fun with your fellow dancers. Here are some tips for how to make your Group Class a learning tool…
1. Show Up
This one is pretty self explanatory. If you are not taking advantage of your Group Classes, you are missing out. Newer students can become nervous or anxious before attending their first class, but don’t let that stop you. You were brave enough to come into the door and start taking lessons so Group Class will be a piece of cake!
2. Rotate Partners
I’ll let you in on a little secret. Your instructor did not become a great dancer because he/she is more talented. They are great dancers by dancing with multiple partners all the time. Rotating partners in Group Class does just that. Dancing with the same partner or instructor all the time prohibits you in growing your skills. Getting to practice with new partners lets you know if you are being a clear leader and a sensitive follow.
3. Take Notes
Trying to remember what was taught in Group Class is not always easy. That’s where having a note book or using your binder comes in hand. Your personal instructor wants to know if you learned anything fun or have questions about what you learned in group class so that they can help to further break it down for you.
4. Don’t Seek Perfection
This tip is for the beginners and advanced. Group Class wasn’t created to master any step or concept. It is truly meant to introduce new steps and give you some practice on some steps you possibly already know. It can feel frustrating when you don’t understand a step, but don’t beat yourself up about it. Go in to each Group Class with the idea of this is meant to introduce me to something new and to have some fun. The more you seek to enhance your enjoyment of dancing, the more you will get out of Group Class!
Considered the mother of present day dances, the Waltz began in southern Germany in the seventeenth century and made its way from England to the United States. The popularity of the Waltz grew with the music of Johann Strauss and eventually blossomed in the 20th century. It is the basis for many dances and is popular today all over the world.
MUSIC
The Waltz is written in 3/4 time and has a slow to medium tempo with the musical accent occurring on the first beat of each measure. The basic count for Waltz is 1,2,3. Faster tempo Waltz is called Viennese Waltz. Here are some popular Waltz songs…
Moon River- Andy Williams
Are You Lonesome Tonight- Elvis Presley
Take It To The Limit- Eagles
Come Away With Me- Norah Jones
WHAT WALTZ TEACHES
Waltz teaches you how to use your feet and body to create all the smooth, graceful movements that makes Waltz so beautiful. As you can see from the clip from “Shall We Dance” it’s a wonderful dance to learn how a partnership works to make dancing look effortless.
