Designating the Texas two-step as the official State Dance of Texas.

The text as introduced · 442 words

90R1660 BK-D

By: Darby
H.C.R. No. 17

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Lone Star State has long been defined by its rich

tapestry of cultural traditions, and among these, the Texas

two-step stands as a preeminent expression of the state's unique

heritage as well as Texans' enduring connection to music and

community; and

WHEREAS, Distinct from stationary or performance-oriented

dances, the Texas two-step is a traveling social partner dance

characterized by its "quick-quick, slow-slow" rhythm, with

participants moving continuously around a shared floor; the origins

of this dance are as diverse as the state, blending European

influences such as the polka, which was introduced by German and

Czech settlers, with the foxtrot and other American dances; the

Texas two-step drew on these influences but developed into a

simpler, more practical style that was tailored to crowded dance

halls rather than formal ballroom settings; and

WHEREAS, The evolution of the two-step is inextricably linked

to the rise of Western swing, a musical genre pioneered by such

figures as Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys beginning in the 1930s;

featured at legendary venues such as the Crystal Springs Dance

Pavilion in Fort Worth, the music of Wills and other Western swing

performers was explicitly composed to be danced to, rather than

merely heard; and

WHEREAS, In the 1950s, Ray Price, another native Texan,

further defined this tradition with his 4/4 shuffle rhythm, which

emphasized a beat favored by dancers; that dance-driven style lives

on in the work of a multitude of present-day country artists whose

music continues to pack dance floors throughout the Lone Star State

and far beyond; and

WHEREAS, The two-step is accessible to participants of all

backgrounds and is ubiquitous in thousands of Texas dance halls and

community venues; the dance fosters a sense of unity through its

structured yet flexible form and provides dancers with a way of

moving together fluidly in settings both large and small; and

WHEREAS, While Texas currently recognizes the square dance as

its official folk dance, the Texas two-step uniquely represents our

state's multicultural identity and remains a vibrant part of life

in the Lone Star State; from the expansive floors of historic dance

halls to the intimate settings of neighborhood honky-tonks, the

Texas two-step has proven to be a remarkably adaptable working

tradition that is very much alive and evolving today; and

WHEREAS, The Texas two-step has brought Texans together for

generations, and this aptly named dance deserves to be recognized

as a cornerstone of the state's cultural legacy; now, therefore, be

it

RESOLVED, That the 90th Legislature of the State of Texas

hereby designate the Texas two-step as the official State Dance of

Texas.