The music has 2 beats to the bar (or 6 in compound time) and about 48 bars per minute. Count 1, 2 (SS) or 1 a 2 (SaS) to a bar for most step groups or figures.
These are the usual forwards (or backwards) steps - opposite partner or side-by-side.
| Walks Fwd (FP, CH) | Walks Back (FP, CH) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| Man | |
LF | | RF | |
LB | | RB | |
| Lady | |
RB | | LB | |
RF | | LF | |
| Walks Fwd (SRP, RLH) | Walks Back (SRP, RLH) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| Man | |
LF | | RF | |
LB | | RB | |
| Lady | |
LF | | RF | |
LB | | RB | |
There may also be points forwards and backwards without weight being transferred.
This is a short jump step (jeté) to the side (2nd pos.) where the foot moves in a bit of an arc on the way (demi-rondé). Then the other foot is closed to it but slightly in front (3rd/5th pos.) and on the ball only while the heel of the first foot is released from the ground and the knees bend a little (plié). Weight is replaced on the heel of the first foot again and the second foot lifted to its toe ready for the next step.
| Pas de Basque (SRP, RLH) | Pas de Basque (SRP, RLH) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | a | 2 | 1 | a | 2 | |||||||
| Man |  |
LS |  | RCf |  | LCb | |
RS | | LCf | | RCb | |
| Lady | |
RS | | LCf | | RCb | |
LS | | RCf | | LCb | |
Turns in a two-step are quite likely to be Polka or Old-Time Waltz ones.