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North American dance

The country/western two step, often called the Texas two step or simply the two step, is a country/western dance usually danced to country music in common time. "Traditional [Texas] two step developed, my theory goes, because it is suited to fiddle and guitar music played two four time with a firm beat [found in country music]. One two, one two, slide shuffle. The two step is related to the polka, the Texas waltz, and the jitterbug. As with other country/western dances, there are many different versions of two step across the United States, and there may be no one truly "correct" way to perform a particular dance. Even individual dance halls may have their own unique variations which they consider correct. Traditionally, Two Step includes three steps: a quick step, a quick step, and then a slow step. In modern times, this is also known as Texas Polka. It can be danced to music with either a 2/4 or 4/4 time signature. Modern styles however continued with the smooth style and added a slight "lilt." This same step pattern, step, close, step, with a timing of quick quick slow was given as the definition of Country Western Two Step in 1983. This Two Step was influenced by European and Mexican dances.

Originally called the Texas Shuffle Step (or Foxtrot step), at some point this became better known as Texas Two Step, in Texas, while just called, Two Step across the country which is now the most common dance with that name. Danced to music with 4/4 time signature, it consists of four steps with timing quick, quick, slow, slow, where the pattern of movement is often referred to as "Step together, walk, walk." The Two Step can be danced over a fairly wide range of tempos, from 130 beats per minute (bpm) to over 200 bpm, with anything over 185 bpm generally considered advanced. The United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC) lists competitive Two Step at 180 210 bpm, while the Country Western Dance International (CWDI) lists competitive Two Step at 160 192 bpm. Basic two step consists of two quick steps, followed by two slow steps (or alternately, two slow steps followed by two quick steps). Dancing may start with either the slow steps, or the quick steps, as the local custom dictates. However, patterns begin with the first quick and finish on the second slow. The leader begins by stepping forward with his or her left foot. The follower begins by stepping backward with his or her right foot. Formally, the quick steps are half strides, with one foot passing the other on each step while the slow steps are full strides. This allows dancers to move through space at the same rate while doing quicks and slows. However, many older dancers may close their feet on the second quick by bringing their feet together. This style has been passed down from generation to generation but does is not well suited for traveling turns and spins. This style has roots with the first level of Foxtrot and basic two step patterns are equivalent to those of many other progressive partner dances. More advanced figures can be syncopated, following other patterns such as QQSQQS or QQQQSS (where Q represents a quick step and S a slow step).

Other dance styles related to the two step exist.

In shadow dancing, a variation found in some country/western venues, the follower stands in front of the lead and both face down the line of dance. The lead places their right hand over the follower's midsection or belt buckle, and the follower places their right hand over the lead's hand. The lead takes the follower's left hand in their own and holds it loosely out to the left in a position similar to the one used in standard two stepping. The count is the same as for the non shadow two step. The follower uses the same footwork as the lead in this case, beginning on the left foot. The lead propels the follower down the floor, with bodies touching or close together, as though the lead were the follower's shadow. The pair will normally turn and weave, and the lead may turn the follower before returning to standard position. The lead may also bring the follower behind him/her, giving the appearance of having swapped roles but with the lead still in control, and the lead may then bring the follower back in front. The rhythm for the country shadow is not the same as that for the two step. The shadow is done to a swing or shuffle step which has the same footwork as the two step, but the timing of the steps is different. In two step, it's danced to a 4/4 time with one basic done in 3 counts (SSQQ) where each slow is 1 beat and each quick is 1/2 of a beat. The dancers end up on the same foot free each time so it takes 4 measures to get back to the first beat of the measure with the first dance step. In shadow, the timing is more shuffle where the music is most often a 6/8 time. This is essentially a swing step beat. The shadow pattern is the same as the two step (2 slows and 2 quick steps), but it's not the same timing. It's more closely counted as "shuffle, step, step" where the shuffle is 3 counts of exactly the same timing. One could argue that the patter from the QQS is the same as the shuffle, but since it's done to a different music timing, that is incorrect. Many people count it as if it were a two step (SSQQ or QQSS), but that doesn't mean they don't alter the timing to match the music which then becomes a shuffle step.

Double two step, also referred to as triple two step (and so designated by the UCWDC, which classifies it as a separate competitive dance style), is usually danced to slower music. The two slow steps are replaced by two sets of triple steps. By contrast, the two quick steps are now slow steps. One way to count double two step is "1 and 2", "3 and 4", step, step. The count is the same as that of triple count East coast swing. The leader steps forward with their left foot to begin the dance. The follower steps backwards on their right. The partners embrace each other as in the basic two step. Double two step is also referred to as "shuffle". Fort Worth Shuffle has the same pattern as double two step, except that the first triple step begins with the right foot.

Nightclub two step is a partner dance initially developed by Buddy Schwimmer in the mid 1960s. The dance is also known as "Two Step" and was "one of the most popular forms of contemporary social dance" as a Disco Couples Dance in 1978. It is frequently danced to mid tempo ballads in time that have a characteristic quick quick slow beat. A classic example is the song Lady In Red.