Nightclub Two Step
(Club Two Step,
Nightclub, NC2S)
Description
Nightclub Two Step was invented in the mid-1960s by a teenage Buddy Schwimmer, as way of dancing to the popular slow ballads of the time.
It still remains one of the best dances for this purpose today, as it can be danced to nearly 1/3 of all songs on the pop charts today.
Variations
Basics
»
Basic
»
Flip Flops
Spot Turns
»
Follow's Spot Turn
»
Lead's Spot Turn
»
Follow's Spot Turn to Flip Flops (to Spot Turn)
»
Lead's Spot Turn to Flip Flops
»
Dishrag Sunburst
»
Crossed-Hand Matador
»
Chained Spot Turns
»
Inside Spot Turn
»
Chained Inside Spot Turns
Flip Turns (Half Turns, Couple's Turns)
»
Right Turn
»
... with Outside Turn
»
... with Double Outside Turn
»
... with Quadruple Outside Turn
» ...Over the Elbows (see "Over the Elbows")
»
Left Turn
»
... with Inside Turn
» ...Over the Elbows (see "Over the Elbows")
Swing Moves
»
Waist Slide
»
Lead's Underarm Turn
»
Inside Turn
»
Inside Turn (from Two Hands)
»
She Goes, He Goes (Richard's Version)
»
She Goes, He Goes (Nick's Version)
»
Double Dishrag (Outside, Inside)
»
Chained Inside Turns (Loop-de-Loops)
Around the World
»
Around the World
»
... with Pivaloop Outside Turn
»
... with Free Spin
»
... with Rollaway
»
... with Waist Slide
»
... with Barrel Roll
»
Matador Around the World
»
... with Pivaloop Outside Turn
» or any of the other exits above
»
Around the World as the World Turns
Orbiting Turns
»
Lead's Inside Turn
»
Follow's Arch Turn
»
Lead's Inside to Follow's Arch
»
Follow's Arch to Lead's Inside
Lead's Cradle
» Lead's Cradle
»
... to Inside Turn (Bar 2)
»
... to Inside Turn (Bar 3)
»
... to Inside Turn (Bar 4)
»
... to Double Inside Turn
Sweetheart and Windows
»
Sweetheart
»
... with Mixmaster Exit
»
Windows
»
... with Face Loop Exit
»
... with Doubled Face Loop Exit
»
Waist Slide to Crossed Hands and ...
» Windows, Valentino Dip (see "Endings")
Shoulder Catch and Cradle
»
Shoulder Catch
»
... to Inside Turn
»
... to Double Inside Turn
»
Cradle Bounce
»
... to Inside Turn
»
... to Double Inside Turn
»
... to Double Dishrag (Inside, Outside)
» Cradle Side Dip (see "Endings")
Multiple Turns
»
Double Outside Turn
»
Double Inside Turn
»
Triple Outside Turn
» ... Over the Elbows (see "Over the Elbows")
»
Triple Inside Turn
» ... Over the Elbows (see "Over the Elbows")
Spin Turns
»
Spin Turn
»
Rotary Outside Turn
Cross-Body Lead
»
Cross-Body Lead, Pivaloop Outside Turn
»
Cross-Body Inside Turn, Pivaloop Outside Turn
1928 Lindy
»
Swingout, Lindy Circle
»
Swingout, Shoulder Slide
»
Repeated Swingouts
Pivots
»
Pivot (3 Steps)
»
Continuous Pivots (6 Steps)
»
Reverse Pivot (3 Steps)
»
Reverse Continuous Pivots (6 Steps)
Follow's Solo
»
Follow's Solo with Free Spin Exit
»
Touches Styling
»
Kicks Styling
»
Follow's Solo with Around the World Exit
»
Cross-Body Cradle Follow's Solo
Crossover Breaks
»
Parallel Breaks
»
... with Spot Turn Exit
»
Spot Turn to ...
»
Cross Promenade Rollaway or:
»
Cross Promenade Pivaloop
»
Cross Promenade Free Spin
Over the Elbows
» Right Turn Over the Elbows
»
... with Outside Turn
» Left Turn Over the Elbows
»
... with Inside Turn
»
Triple Outside Turn (Over the Elbows)
»
Triple Inside Turn (Over the Elbows)
Endings
»
Dip
»
Windows, Valentino Dip
»
Cradle Side Dip
Other Stylings
»
Jedi Two Step
Other Timings
»
Rock Step First
»
Swing Waltz (Waltz Swing)
Transitions
»
Transition from Rumba
» Transitions to and from Cross-Step Foxtrot
Music
Here are a few of our favorite Nightclub Two Step tunes, arranged by tempo.
Related Dances
Cumbia
Cumbia is a Latin version of Nightclub Two Step. All variations in Nightclub Two Step can be adapted into Cumbia and vice versa.
Swing Waltz
Swing Waltz is Nightclub Two Step in 3/4 timing. All variations in Nightclub Two Step can be adapted into Swing Waltz and vice versa.
Cross-Step Foxtrot
Cross-Step Foxtrot is Cross-Step Waltz in slow-quick-quick timing, and anything in Cross-Step Waltz can be added to Nightclub Two Step through Cross-Step Foxtrot.
Rutscher
The Rutscher is Rotary Waltz in slow-quick-quick timing, and anything Rotary Waltz can be added to Nightclub Two Step through the Rutscher.
© 2016 Nick Enge
If you or your community is interested in learning Nightclub Two Step, .
For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.
For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.
For help crafting a life you love, visit: Project Quartz.
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