Boston Two-Step
Position: Partners stand side by side facing L.O.D., lady on right of man, and
holding inside hands. 

Bars    
2 Man starting with left, lady with right foot, both pas-de-basque outwards,
  then inwards. 
2 Both take 3 steps forward, turning on the 4th count to face in the opposite
  direction, changing hands at the same time. 

4 Repeat pas-de-basque outwards and inwards and 3 steps against L.O.D. On the
  4th count, turn a quarter turn to face partner, closing feet to a parallel
  position and joining both hands. 

2 Man starting with left, lady with right, both dance one pas-de-basque step
  each way.  

2 Step along L.O.D., man with left, lady with right and close the other foot
  up.
  Repeat in same direction. 

4 Take ballroom hold and dance waltz or rotary chasse turns, opening out to the
  commencing position on last bar. 
16 Bars 

Notes: This is one of the most popular of the Old Time dances from the
Edwardian era set to march tunes. The American composer John Philip Sousa
started this trend to march music with his 'Washington Post March' which
quickly became popular in 1891, and in 1894 a dance, the Washington Post, to
this music was all the rage. It was the fore-runner of the Two-step and many
other dances in march tempo. Composed in 1908, the Boston Two-Step was still
popular in Australia in the 1930s. 

Music: Any of the lively 6/8 tunes in 16-bar sequences played like marches. The
tempo recommended by Tom Walton who created this dance was 52-56 bars per
minute. Suitable tunes include Liberty Bell, Washington Post March, New Jersey
March and Raindrops.
---

Version from Ralph Page Legacy Weekend 2004


Boston Two-Step
Formation: couple dance
Music: Boston Two-Step, composed in 1908 (see page 13)
Taught by: Sylvia Miskoe

Bars 1-4

Holding inside hands, balance away from partner and then toward (4)
Starting on outside foot, take 3 steps and turn (trading hands) to reverse
direction (4)

Bars 5-8 

Again balance away and toward (4)
Take 3 steps and turn to face partner, taking two hands (4)

Bars 9-10 

Balance (left, then right for man; right, then left for woman) (4)

Bars 11-12 

Take 2 sliding steps (step, close, step, close) in line of direction
(i.e., man's left, woman's right) (4)

Bars 13-16 

In ballroom position, do four measures of 2-step
(step-close-step-close) to get once around (8)

named for Boston, England, not Massachusetts.