The Two-Step Tradition
“Now, divorce!”
Patrons shuffle to their left and find a new partner upon the call.Though most of them have just met, the rookies join hands and intimately twirl and sway to the beat of old country songs. This is no ordinary dance class – it’s Texas Two-Stepping. Tucked away in a small tavern on Burnet Road, The Little Longhorn Saloon is adorned from floor to ceiling with historical autographed photos, fluorescent lights, Texas flags, and homages to beer - fittingly. Locals play checkers outside of the bicycle auto shop beside the bar, bobbing their head to the fast country tunes that escape from the lessons happening behind the bar’s back door. Men and women young and old come together to learn how to dance like a true Texan.
The Saloon has served as the center of Austin’s honky-tonk scene for decades. Wednesdays at the Saloon are dedicated to 'swing' dance classes taught by Hill Country Two Step’s Wyatt Gauss, who sports a cowboy hat, bandana, and microphone. Gauss began learning partner dancing when he was four and is passionate about sharing the traditional Texas dance style with Austinites. According to Hill Country Two Step’s website, their philosophy is that “the focus should be on the students, Texas history, and dance, not on the instructors.”
Though the steps of swing dancing aren’t too difficult, the dance style is stooped with Texas history, marking its prominence in the state. Country-swing bands originated in Texas, so Texans were the first to dance to these complicated beats with an odd danceable rhythm.
Instructor Rachel Markle found solace in two-stepping following her father’s passing. “It brings me so much joy and happiness. I started doing this after my dad passed,” she said.“My dad taught me (how to two-step) once, years ago, and I moved to Texas and fell into it and it’s kind of a way for me to connect with him.”
“ You here to dance, sweetheart?” Gauss said into his microphone as a familiar face walked in. She was, indeed, there to dance. The woman found a partner, and, without hesitation, began stepping to the beat.
