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Progressive-Two-Step
Progressive two step is a very fun and fast paced country dance. Danced to 4/4 timing this energetic dance is usually counted slow slow quick quick. The basic step is just walk, walk, shuffle, and step. Although the basic may not sound very difficult due to the brisk pace of this dance it is very easy to get off time.
Many dances carrying the name two step have existed since a little before halfway into the 19th century. In this more recent century the two step was known as a cowboy dance. These particular two steps use what we now call a triple step, triple step rhythm. The more recent two steps such as progressive and rhythm two step have only been added to ballroom syllabi in the last 30 years. Although the progressive two step has been danced for much longer than that, it is commonly known as the Texas Two Step.
So why did the older dances all refer to themselves as two step?
Around the early 1800's there was a dance known as "valse a deux temps" (the two beat waltz). This particular form of waltz never gained much popularity because many people thought it was "jerky" in the way it moved. The two beat waltz was done to a slightly pressed tempo of 88 measures per minute where as the "valse a trois temp" (three beat waltz) was danced at around 66 measures per minute; the "troise temp" is a variation of what we call waltz today.
In a book written by Henri Cellarius in 1847 he expressed his regret that this dance was called "duex temps" he believed that if the dance had been named "duex pas" or two step, a term that would better describe the dance it may been accepted. Subsequent to Cellarius's use of the term "two step", many other authors also adopted the term. There has yet to be found an earlier usage of this term.
The two step that is now most widely used was probably originated in Texas, however it is unclear as to the exact history of this dance we are certain that it has a strong tie to Foxtrot due to the quick quick slow slow rhythm.