The Night Club Two Step can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.
This is a partner dance developed by Buddy Schwimmer in the mid 1960s. He developed this dance for the slow romantic ballads and the music continues to develop and be popular today. The basic step can be counted as one & two - three & four. There are two variations of the basic step – the Original, and the Smooth. All patterns can be done from either basic step. This is danced to slow music at 4/4 timing at a preferred 60-90 bpm.
Common patterns, music and related dances
How to dance Nightclub Two Step (part 1 of 6)
TIP 31 Nightclub Two Step - (Basic Concepts, start 0:00 end 2:52)
Beginning – Intermediate (Bronze) Nightclub Two-Step DVIDA Syllabus
Nightclub Two Step – first 5 basic step patterns by Clay & Mary
Nightclub Two Step - Buddy & Laurie Schwimmer
Nightclub Two Step – first 5 basic step patterns by Clay & Mary
How to dance Nightclub Two Step (part 2 of 6)
Nightclub Two Step - Buddy & Laurie Schwimmer
How to dance Nightclub Two Step (part 3 of 6)
TIP 31 Nightclub Two Step - Basic Concepts
Bonus Information:
History of the Nightclub Two Step, an excerpt from an article by Rick Archer at SSQQ Dance Studio, 2 Step 2 Dance Studio, accessed November 3, 2019
The Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.
When you first learn to dance the first dance should be Swing. Swing is the All-American good time dance. It developed in the 1920s in New York with Lindy Hop as the root of all modern swing dances. Today, there are many common swing dances – East Coast, West Coast, Country, Lindy Hop, Jive, Shag, Balboa, Hustle, etc. Swing dances are danced to 4/4 timing with a very wide range of tempo or beats per minute (bpm). Fast swing dances are often referred to as Jitterbug. This term became associated with swing dancers because, like the “jitters” of alcoholics, they were seen to be out of control. The two most useful and well-defined swing dances to learn are East Coast and West Coast Swing.
Here is a video describing these two swing dances.
The East Coast Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.
Sometimes called six count swing, this started in the 1940s as an offshoot from Lindy Hop and Jive. This should be the first swing dance to learn with Triple Time, Double Time, and Single Time Versions. The basic step changes for each of the three versions (Single Time, Double Time, and Triple Time) but the patterns are the same.
The Single Time Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.
This is the easiest to learn. Single time is usually danced to the faster songs (140-170 bpm) and is often referred to as Jitterbug.
Ballroom - Elvis Presley: All Shook Up – 152 bpm
The Double Time Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.
This has just a slight variation of the Basic step from Single Time swing. All the patterns are the same. Double Time is usually danced to songs that are about the same speed as Single Time and is also referred to as Jitterbug.
The Triple Time Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.
This has just a slight variation of the basic step from Single or Double Time. Triple Time is usually danced to songs that are slower (120-140 bpm) and because of this is not generally referred to as Jitterbug. If you start with Triple Time and you can’t keep up with the music, then switch to Single or Double Time. Once you learn the Basic footwork then all the patterns are the same as Single time swing.
The West Coast Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.
This is a partner dance with roots in the Lindy Hop. It was developed in the 1960s.This dance is considerably more complicated than East Coast swing. Modern West Coast Swing is in large part defined by an emphasis on musicality and connection. It is also a fundamentally improvised dance, and thus such defined figures are simply starting points for the skilled dancer. Additionally, West Coast Swing can be said to rely on the leader creating and redirecting the momentum of the follower in order to communicate how he wishes to lead the dance. The follower's step is different from the leader's; partners do not mirror each other. West Coast Swing can be danced to almost any music written in 4/4 time and is best with preferred speeds of 100-130 bpm. It is traditionally danced to slower, blues-style swing music, but many are dancing West Coast Swing to country, hip hop, R&B, and pop music.
The Waltz can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.
First waltzes were danced in the location of today's Germany and Austria, back in 13th century. The dance is to 3/4 time music and involves couples rotating around the dance floor. The preferred speed of the music is 80 -115 bpm.
Common patterns, music and related dances
Waltz dance steps for beginners – The box step
How to Waltz Dance for Beginners – Waltz Box Step
How to Waltz Dance for Beginners - The Progressive basic step
Waltz – Twinkle Social Waltz Basic Combo
Saddlebrooke Ranch Social Dance Club
...and Dance like no one is watching