You know I was an advid hater of country music. I say was cause I grew up with guardians who listened to the 40s and 50 country. But I met a girl recently who is in to Country. I really like her and we hang out a lot. And so I've been listening to a lot of newer Age Country she's got me into. Luke Bryan and Easton Corbin and the first time we danced and this was a couple months ago she wanted to 2 Step. And I had no idea what I was doing she still kissed me though so win win. But she has yet to dance with me again and I'm always feeling intimidated like I'm going to suck again. I really want to impress her and this was very informative. Thank you so much for teaching me the little things like hand movement directions foot step. And you really inspiring me to really push harder. So even though that was a long story I'm learning to step to impress a girl
I've been searching for dance videos and Shawn Trautman's looks like a winner!!! I really like how he explains so much and doesn't rush the instructions! Thank you for sharing this video on UA-cam!
@106508379249179359084 :) Your comment certainly made me smile... this video is a 7 minute introduction to Two-Step and intended to set people up for success while showing a brief sample of my instruction style (and yes, I personally uploaded it and was aware of the reasoning). The full Two-Step Series is about 20 hours of lessons broken down into manageable pieces that all stack on top of one another. This sample is NOT part of the overall series and is nowhere near the depth of what's covered in the full Two-Step Master Collection. Thanks for watching! ~ Shawn Trautman (www.shawntrautman.com/product/country-two-step-master-collection-14-dance-lessons/)
I LOVE YOU BOTH!!! YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL!! My boyfriend took me out to a Country Bar this last weekend for my Birthday and I could not get this down at all, I was so lost. Of course our strides are different as well, he stand 6'2" and I am 5'3" so that is a little problem that we can fix, but he is going to be so happy cuz now I am going to be able to actually get out and quick step with him at the very least :) next lesson, 2 step!!! THANKS YOU TWO LOVE IT!
OMGosh Tyler, I was thinking to myself I had been doing it wrong all these years starting with my left. LOL That being said, the video is a good teaching tool. :-) Much better than some of the others.
THANKS FOR EXPLAINING THE BEAT . I NEVER COULD FIGURE IT OUT .I TRIED TO COUNT 4 & YOU LET ME KNOW IT IS 6 ! YOU ARE A GOOD TEACHER. I ALSO LIKED THE WAY YOU EXPLAINED THINGS BY GIVING SOME RATIONALE..
Lovely video! I teach swing dance and am going to take a class in country two step but wanted to see what it's like. I like your teaching method: clear, articulate, various angles. Good Job! I am now Subscribed.
Shawn is correct here. It's counted QQSS. The first SLOW *starts* right after the QUICK, so yes you're KINDA doing 1,2,3, gap. I'll add to how you wrote it: (1) (2) (3,4) (5,6) = (Q) (Q) (SLOW) (SLOW) The SLOWS are bigger steps and therefore take more time. 2 Qs = 1 S. You wont shuffle your feet quickly during a SLOW like you do in the QUICK-QUICK. You won't do Q-Q-Q-freeze-Q-freeze. That would be awkward. The QUICKS are quick and the SLOWS are slow. That gives dynamics to the dance.
I've had this question come up a couple of times over the years in live classes as it confuses some people. No worries, I'll try to explain further. As the first slow starts on 3 and the second is on 5, it would still be 'quick quick slow slow' as the slow takes 2 beats. If it were the three quicks then a slow it would make it only a 5 count dance, and that would never work with the structure of the music. You would step quicks on 1, 2, 3, then your slow would start on 4 and end on 5.
Ha, I was thinking the same thing Shawn. QQSS is the basis for all country 2 step just as you are doing here. I have seen some "bar dancers" make a left, left, right lateral motion which is fine if they want to do it but it's not correct. QQSS is always correct moving forward in line of dance as you know. :-)
This is an interesting comment and I'm certainly puzzled. I'm standing up right now trying to do what you're saying and I get stuck when you say "two lefts". How do I take two lefts? After I step with my left, my weight is on my left... unless, of course, I do a stutter step or I just tap with my left first (or do I tap second?). Then what? I just step with my right one time then start over? Please help us understand how this works! Maybe you could post your own two-step video and show us?
He's referring to a common different pattern, left-together, left-together, right-together, repeat. Depending on what the pacing of the song is it can be a better pattern.
So the steps he's referring to go by the beat of the song. With the first two beats come the two lefts, in between the two beats is a stutter step with the right foot to keep you moving forward. Then on the third beat comes the step with the right foot. The left leg then follows and you begin the series again on the fourth beat of the song. Hope that makes sense.
if you understand that a slow starts with a step and then has a 'gap' as you state, sure, it's the same. But be careful calling it quick quick quick as it doesn't work & will do more harm than good. There are some folks & instructors that say it like this "one, two, three, slow" and that's the same as well. Ultimately, it's whichever way works best for you to get it into your long-term memory and not have timing problems. Where it really comes to play is when you get past the basics though..
Agreed. Especially when teaching basic turns, most of those my teacher and myself would get people going by saying we turn on the quick quicks. It helped to organize it in their minds. Of course in intermediate or advanced turns many are done during any step but that came later. I find it easier to use QQSS because it split the steps down the middle. I knew the turn would be on QQ not QQQ. Mmm not sure I expained that well...:-)
Technicaly true...but in reality most teachers use QQSS instead of QQQS. I think the reason is because the last two steps are taken while skipping a music beat while the first 2 are taken without skipping a beat. I prefer qqss because it prepares the dancer for the slowing down and skipping the 1 beat.
How does the two step work in a 4/4 or 2/4 timed song? It seems like these steps play more like a Waltz (3/4) or a 6/8 timed song. Example is QQ S S. 2Q =S so its 2Q (1) + S (1) + S (1) = 3. In 2/4 or 4/4 time there needs to be three (or six) measures before the left foot lands on a down beat. 4 beats per measure X 3 measures=12. But in a Waltz the steps match perfectly with each measure of music. Where is the other step?
There are only 6 counts to the foot work pattern, so each time the pattern repeats it won't necessarily be at the same time as the start of the musical phrase. This sounds weird I know, but several dances do this - such as swing dances and a couple of ballroom dances do it too. If you think about it musically, you still catch up with the musical phrasing every 4 moves, as that would be 24 counts of music - which is 3 phrases of 8 counts. One advantage of dances which do this allow for more freedom of musical expression, as the breaks/pauses of the music can potentially occur at any point in the move, not just at the end of a move.
I read your comment again and realised that that wasn't your question... The answer is: the quick steps are not a half beat, they are a whole beat, and the slow steps are two beats long. It is a six count phrase.
Okay, so it can be seen as this? 1 2 3 gap 5 gap = quick quick quick gap slow gap Interestingly in actual practice for me, the idea of quick quick slow slow resulted in frequent mis-timing issues with my partners, whereas with the idea of quick quick quick slow it's been problem free, girls who've never done two-step pick it right up,whereas when the quick quick slow slow way was done,it was frequent timing problem, just didn't flow with that understanding.It'showthemind processes the words.
I gotta tell you people and I'm 84 yrs old and this is not a 2 steps. Still its a 4 steps.I was so popular back in the 40's and early 50's did square dances, jitterbugs, 10 pretty girls dance, brown jugs, etc and again this not a two steps dance.
‘Ladies look over the guys shoulder’... Um sir, I’m 5’1” ... I can’t look over anyone’s shoulder. Haha! Awesome lesson though ☺️
You know I was an advid hater of country music. I say was cause I grew up with guardians who listened to the 40s and 50 country. But I met a girl recently who is in to Country. I really like her and we hang out a lot. And so I've been listening to a lot of newer Age Country she's got me into. Luke Bryan and Easton Corbin and the first time we danced and this was a couple months ago she wanted to 2 Step. And I had no idea what I was doing she still kissed me though so win win. But she has yet to dance with me again and I'm always feeling intimidated like I'm going to suck again. I really want to impress her and this was very informative. Thank you so much for teaching me the little things like hand movement directions foot step. And you really inspiring me to really push harder. So even though that was a long story I'm learning to step to impress a girl
I've been searching for dance videos and Shawn Trautman's looks like a winner!!! I really like how he explains so much and doesn't rush the instructions! Thank you for sharing this video on UA-cam!
Little did they know they'd end up on UA-cam for free!
@106508379249179359084 :) Your comment certainly made me smile... this video is a 7 minute introduction to Two-Step and intended to set people up for success while showing a brief sample of my instruction style (and yes, I personally uploaded it and was aware of the reasoning). The full Two-Step Series is about 20 hours of lessons broken down into manageable pieces that all stack on top of one another. This sample is NOT part of the overall series and is nowhere near the depth of what's covered in the full Two-Step Master Collection. Thanks for watching! ~ Shawn Trautman (www.shawntrautman.com/product/country-two-step-master-collection-14-dance-lessons/)
Little did u know to look above and notice he uploaded it himself lol. Great job on the lesson!
+Shawn Trautman awesome!!
I LOVE YOU BOTH!!! YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL!! My boyfriend took me out to a Country Bar this last weekend for my Birthday and I could not get this down at all, I was so lost. Of course our strides are different as well, he stand 6'2" and I am 5'3" so that is a little problem that we can fix, but he is going to be so happy cuz now I am going to be able to actually get out and quick step with him at the very least :) next lesson, 2 step!!! THANKS YOU TWO LOVE IT!
This was VERY helpful. I like how you taught where the hand movement should be. VERY informative!
OMGosh Tyler, I was thinking to myself I had been doing it wrong all these years starting with my left. LOL That being said, the video is a good teaching tool. :-) Much better than some of the others.
THANKS FOR EXPLAINING THE BEAT . I NEVER COULD FIGURE IT OUT .I TRIED TO COUNT 4 & YOU LET ME KNOW IT IS 6 ! YOU ARE A GOOD TEACHER. I ALSO LIKED THE WAY YOU EXPLAINED THINGS BY GIVING SOME RATIONALE..
Good class. You made it to follow. Thanks👍🏼
Great instruction. Thanks for posting this!
Great video and instructions.
Ahhh finally my sister takes me to clubs and I dont dance at ALL!!! This was very informative and easy to understand. Def gonna be practicing this.
👍🏽👏🏽great teach, thank you!
Lovely video! I teach swing dance and am going to take a class in country two step but wanted to see what it's like. I like your teaching method: clear, articulate, various angles. Good Job! I am now Subscribed.
what a Great way to break it down easy.. Thanks
Thanks for this video! Now I unterstand how to dance the two step!
Shawn is correct here. It's counted QQSS.
The first SLOW *starts* right after the QUICK, so yes you're KINDA doing 1,2,3, gap. I'll add to how you wrote it:
(1) (2) (3,4) (5,6) = (Q) (Q) (SLOW) (SLOW)
The SLOWS are bigger steps and therefore take more time. 2 Qs = 1 S. You wont shuffle your feet quickly during a SLOW like you do in the QUICK-QUICK. You won't do Q-Q-Q-freeze-Q-freeze. That would be awkward. The QUICKS are quick and the SLOWS are slow. That gives dynamics to the dance.
I've had this question come up a couple of times over the years in live classes as it confuses some people. No worries, I'll try to explain further. As the first slow starts on 3 and the second is on 5, it would still be 'quick quick slow slow' as the slow takes 2 beats. If it were the three quicks then a slow it would make it only a 5 count dance, and that would never work with the structure of the music. You would step quicks on 1, 2, 3, then your slow would start on 4 and end on 5.
Ha, I was thinking the same thing Shawn. QQSS is the basis for all country 2 step just as you are doing here. I have seen some "bar dancers" make a left, left, right lateral motion which is fine if they want to do it but it's not correct. QQSS is always correct moving forward in line of dance as you know. :-)
it's 1-2-3-5! easy peassy!
This is an interesting comment and I'm certainly puzzled. I'm standing up right now trying to do what you're saying and I get stuck when you say "two lefts". How do I take two lefts? After I step with my left, my weight is on my left... unless, of course, I do a stutter step or I just tap with my left first (or do I tap second?). Then what? I just step with my right one time then start over? Please help us understand how this works! Maybe you could post your own two-step video and show us?
You mean I have to stand up to dance!?? But thattss soooo much work
thank u so much
excellent!
He's referring to a common different pattern, left-together, left-together, right-together, repeat. Depending on what the pacing of the song is it can be a better pattern.
So the steps he's referring to go by the beat of the song. With the first two beats come the two lefts, in between the two beats is a stutter step with the right foot to keep you moving forward. Then on the third beat comes the step with the right foot. The left leg then follows and you begin the series again on the fourth beat of the song. Hope that makes sense.
I like very much this dance...
if you understand that a slow starts with a step and then has a 'gap' as you state, sure, it's the same. But be careful calling it quick quick quick as it doesn't work & will do more harm than good. There are some folks & instructors that say it like this "one, two, three, slow" and that's the same as well. Ultimately, it's whichever way works best for you to get it into your long-term memory and not have timing problems. Where it really comes to play is when you get past the basics though..
I have those exact boots
Agreed. Especially when teaching basic turns, most of those my teacher and myself would get people going by saying we turn on the quick quicks. It helped to organize it in their minds. Of course in intermediate or advanced turns many are done during any step but that came later. I find it easier to use QQSS because it split the steps down the middle. I knew the turn would be on QQ not QQQ. Mmm not sure I expained that well...:-)
Technicaly true...but in reality most teachers use QQSS instead of QQQS. I think the reason is because the last two steps are taken while skipping a music beat while the first 2 are taken without skipping a beat. I prefer qqss because it prepares the dancer for the slowing down and skipping the 1 beat.
super danse
How does the two step work in a 4/4 or 2/4 timed song? It seems like these steps play more like a Waltz (3/4) or a 6/8 timed song.
Example is QQ S S.
2Q =S so its 2Q (1) + S (1) + S (1) = 3.
In 2/4 or 4/4 time there needs to be three (or six) measures before the left foot lands on a down beat.
4 beats per measure X 3 measures=12.
But in a Waltz the steps match perfectly with each measure of music. Where is the other step?
so many numbers :S
There are only 6 counts to the foot work pattern, so each time the pattern repeats it won't necessarily be at the same time as the start of the musical phrase. This sounds weird I know, but several dances do this - such as swing dances and a couple of ballroom dances do it too.
If you think about it musically, you still catch up with the musical phrasing every 4 moves, as that would be 24 counts of music - which is 3 phrases of 8 counts.
One advantage of dances which do this allow for more freedom of musical expression, as the breaks/pauses of the music can potentially occur at any point in the move, not just at the end of a move.
I read your comment again and realised that that wasn't your question... The answer is: the quick steps are not a half beat, they are a whole beat, and the slow steps are two beats long. It is a six count phrase.
Since ur talking in song bars u should tell me when is the perfect song for the beat so I can get a rythem
Dustin Cribb Harrington Valley two step or any fiddle two step works well
Okay, so it can be seen as this?
1 2 3 gap 5 gap = quick quick quick gap slow gap
Interestingly in actual practice for me, the idea of quick quick slow slow resulted in frequent mis-timing issues with my partners, whereas with the idea of quick quick quick slow it's been problem free, girls who've never done two-step pick it right up,whereas when the quick quick slow slow way was done,it was frequent timing problem, just didn't flow with that understanding.It'showthemind processes the words.
Well i came here to learn how to shuffle so....
NOT the way I learned the 2 step 40 years ago. 4 steps and then 2, not 2 and 2.
I gotta tell you people and I'm 84 yrs old and this is not a 2 steps. Still its a 4 steps.I was so popular back in the 40's and early 50's did square dances, jitterbugs, 10 pretty girls dance, brown jugs, etc and again this not a two steps dance.
sounds like you're too quick quick for someone slow slow-lol-good nail
That's really 'quick quick quick slow', not 'quick quick slow slow', that's what 1,2,3,..5 means: quick quick quick slow, - three quicks, one slow