FAQs ✨

Honky-Tonk Two-Step is Austin’s unique, regionally specific style of two-step. It blends traditional progressive Texas Two-Step with swing.

Since many Austin dance floors are small and packed, the dance naturally evolved into a more in-place, jitterbug-style version that includes a heavy dose of four-count swing.

It's fast, fun, casual, and deeply tied to Austin’s live music culture.

No partner? No problem! You can join solo, and we’ll rotate partners during class. We also offer private one-on-one lessons, and you’re always welcome to show up solo to any of Austin’s honky-tonks.

Looking to book an individual one-on-one private lesson with our instructors? Click here to learn more!

Absolutely. We specialize in teaching total beginners. We’ll literally start with “step on your left foot, step on your right foot.” Our beginner-friendly format breaks the dance into two easy parts (the two-step and the swing), and connects them at a pace that’s fun and stress-free.

Wear clothes you can move in—and maybe layers, because you’ll probably break a sweat dancing in Austin. You don’t need boots, but leather soles on a wooden dance floor are a dream combo. Until then, sneakers or foam-soled shoes are just fine.

Muscle memory begins around 300 to 500 reps. Once you can two-step and talk at the same time, you're golden. Many students take our beginner two-step class 3–5 times to feel confident, but others enjoy repeating it up to 20 times. The more time you spend dancing, the more it’ll click!

Why Yes! 

You are invited to attend our social lessons and learn the role opposite the one you’re used to dancing!

In our experience, this provides a wildly more in-depth comprehension of the overall dance itself and what it takes to be a good lead and/or follow! 

Find our lesson calendar here!

What we dance at the honky-tonks in Austin is not ballroom dancing. We lovingly call it Barroom Dancing™—a social, casual blend of two-step and swing. It’s more jitterbug than progressive Ballroom Country Two-Step or Texas Two-Step, and way more about fun than formality.

Great Question!  Even locally, you’ll find several definitions & Variations! 

According to Wikipedia:

The Texas two-step is the same step known to ballroom dancers as the international fox-trot.

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.

We're grateful for the opportunity to share what we’ve gathered from many thousands of hours and many ridiculously fun years on Austin’s Honky-Tonk dance floors.

According to Google:

The definition of a Honky Tonk is 'the name given to a type of bar that provides country music for entertainment to its patrons’.  This name has also been applied to a variety of music genres centering around a country theme.

While you can find honky-tonks in most cities that know what the heck they’re doing, ours are world-famous for a reason. 🐐