Double or Nothing Twostep is HANDS DOWN the best twostep lessons in Austin that I've taken (and I have tried several!). When I started dancing twostep in November, before I met Vanessa, I found the style to be inaccessible and confusing. I felt like a lot of the instruction out there is more concerned with theory than practice and it doesn't translate to the actual dance floors of Austin. Other instructors were more concerned with the rules and their certifications than actually preparing people to enjoy the FUN of social dancing. Vanessa can quickly take anyone from beginner to honkytonk ready. and brings a positive and encouraging attitude that reminds us that if we are having fun we are doing it right. I've done some free lessons with her at local bars, a few private lessons, and even had her come to my birthday party and teach a large group of my friends. All of the interactions have been really positive and I go away with more knowledge and growing confidence. I can truly say that she quickly took me from a total novice to someone who can hold my own as a follow or lead. Vanessa is incredibly well-loved by her students and within the dance community. I keep going back for more and I see a lot of other regulars at her lessons. She is also great to work with if you're queer or just want to explore a dance role that isn't traditionally associated with your sex/gender (e.g. teaching masculine people to lead). Whoever you are, whatever your background, Vanessa can help you achieve your goals and have a blast doing it. Vanessa, you're such a bright spot in the world, thank you for bringing so much joy to my life by rekindling my love of dance! read more

I recently had the pleasure of attending Vanessa's group 2-step dance class at Donn's Depot, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the experience. Vanessa's teaching style is exceptional, as she expertly broke down the intricate steps of the 2-step dance, making it incredibly easy for everyone to learn. What truly sets Vanessa apart is her infectious positivity and encouragement. Throughout the class, she radiated enthusiasm, creating a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere for all participants. Her passion for dance is palpable, and it's evident that she genuinely loves what she does. Vanessa's ability to make the learning process fun and engaging was truly remarkable. She not only taught us the dance steps but also infused the class with a sense of joy and camaraderie. It was evident that she cared about each individual's progress and made sure everyone felt included. After attending Vanessa's class, I am eager to continue learning and improving my 2-step skills. I can confidently say that I will be going back for more of Vanessa's classes, as her teaching style and positive energy have left a lasting impression on me. If you're looking for a fantastic 2-step dance instructor who combines expertise with a passion for teaching, Vanessa is the one to choose. read more

I highly recommend Double or Nothing Two-Step. Vanessa is a great teacher. Her public free lessons are super, but never seem to work with my schedule. I also realized that I needed some one-on-one instruction to really get it, so I booked a private lesson with Vanessa. I learned a lot in one lesson. She was great at seeing what I needed and tuning the lesson to what will help me the most. She is very friendly and easy to learn from and makes it fun, which is what dancing is all about. At the end of the lesson she records a video of her and I going through all that we did during the lesson, which is extremely helpful for somebody like me who thinks I've got it and then forgets half of it the next day. Watching the video lets me get everything out of the lesson that I learned. I'll be practicing for a while and then booking another lesson to learn more. Vanessa is a great dancer and a fantastic teacher!! read more

Vanessa has opened up the world of honky tonk 2-stepping to me and I am truly grateful. Her passion for dancing and her positive energy, even as I fumble through my steps, is refreshing and very inspiring. I took private and public lessons to prepare for an upcoming family reunion and wedding and I am walking away with a new found love of honky tonk dancing. If you've never dropped by Sam's Town Point in south Austin, you definitely need to check it out, especially if you're new to the greatest city in Texas. Every year we lose more and more of those hidden treasures like STP, so if you really want to support what makes Austin unique, then I urge you to drop by at 8:30pm on Mondays and 7pm on Thursdays for 2-step lessons with Vanessa, or anytime you're in their neck of the woods. Great people, awesome atmosphere, and you can't beat a bar tab around $20. I hope to see y'all there. read more

Double or Nothing Two Step has completely transformed my experience of living in Austin. Three months ago, I had never two-stepped before, and now it's become the best part of my week. Vanessa and Dalton are exceptional instructors who strike the perfect balance of energy, patience, and clear instruction. I've taken both their beginner and intermediate studio series, along with many public lessons, and every class feels welcoming, fun, and easy to follow. What really sets them apart is how much they care about their students -- they take the time to get to know everyone and it's so fun to see them out in the Austin community. These classes have done wonders for my confidence, expanded my social circle, and helped me discover a passion I didn't know I was missing. If you're thinking about learning to two-step, this is hands down the best place to start. read more

I am so glad that I stumbled upon a double or nothing two step lesson on a Thursday at Sam's! Through Vanessa teaching honky Tonk two step I have found a new hobby that I completely love. I came across Double or nothing two step through google showed up to class, and have been going ever since. I love how Vanessa breaks down ever piece to the basic steps, turns, and hand movements. The no dancer left behind policy sold me as well, because you always leave with new skills that you are confident about. Vanessa is so passionate about dancing that you can see it all over her face, and its very welcoming. She always flows at pace that everyone can catch on to the moves. I have also been to 3 Bootcamps that she has offerd as well. If you want a positive dance experience and welcoming community look no further! read more

Surprised my parents with family lessons as an early Christmas present and WOW! We were so impressed by their patience and kindness while they taught the 5 of us. My brother and dad were the most anxious, but they made us all feel comfortable and not embarrassed by our baseline "skills" (or lack thereof). They did an excellent job starting slowly and making corrections as needed. We had the best time and will be talking about this experience forever. My parents can't wait to continue dancing and take some lessons in the future! If you're on the fence, go for it - Josh and Vanessa are the very best! read more

Double or Nothing Two-Step is wonderful! I hosted a Two-Step birthday party with them and it was a blast. Vanessa was responsive and helpful with coordination in advance of the party. The event was a ton of fun! We had people at all levels attend. Vanessa adjusts to different levels to teach the advanced folks new moves and help the new folks try to stay on rhythm. I felt the instruction was the right mix of choreography-breakdown and songs to practice/just have fun. I highly recommend Double or Nothing Two-Step! read more

If you actually want to learn two step, Vanessa is a great instructor to learn from. She's very knowledgeable about the history and methodology of Austin 2 step. She emphasizes mastering the basic steps, ​keeping timing, and smooth ​transitions. When she moves onto the more advanced turns, she's able to break it down so you can actually follow along. Great instructions overall. On top of that, she's kind and patient, and loves telling silly fun jokes which keeps the atmosphere casual. read more

Vanessa's lessons are the best antidepressant I've ever tried! Her teaching style is accessible and encouraging. It's been really special to get to know the people she brings out - all kind and looking to learn something new. She offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced social lessons throughout the week at venues around town. Tip her! I can also highly recommend her private lessons. These have been valuable in polishing things up and gaining confidence. Time of my life:) read more

I've been to Vanessa and Josh's lessons as a first date, brought a bunch of friends the next week, and started taking private lessons with a friend of mine. Every time has been really fun and welcoming. I have two left feet, but I've enjoyed improving and learning so much. Vanessa and Josh are both fun, kind teachers and all-around cool people. After two lessons I was already out dancing by myself and meeting other dancers. Can't recommend them enough :) read more

My reluctant-to-dance husband and I started private lessons with Vanessa and it was the best lesson. We'd tried two other teachers in the past and they'd failed to resonate with my husband, but Vanessa's teaching style was the breakthrough--she's enthusiastic but down to earth, knew just when to give positive feedback and when to correct our movement. Learning was easy, well-paced, and fun. She gave us confidence and we left excited for the next lesson. read more

What an incredible experience this is! My wife and I love the Austin honky tonk scene and decided to gift each other a package of lessons with Vanessa to learn how to dance. We have had a great time learning some moves and enjoying great music and great fun. We have no prior experience other than loving the tunes. We also discovered the music of Ramsay Midwood which was worth the price of admission by itself. Highly recommend! read more

Vanessa and Dalton are awesome! Honky tonk two step started as a curiosity for me, but has quickly accelerated into frequent enjoyable activity for me thanks to what I have learned through both their dance hall based social classes, as well as their studio workshops. Incredible and knowledgeable teachers, and a great value for learning suck a fun skill! HIGHLY recommend! read more

Oh my goodness!!!! I can't say enough wonderful things about my dance lesson. Everything they went over was just perfect! Super easy to set-up my appointment, so encouraging, and just all around wonderful! After my lesson I felt confident and comfortable for my first time on the dance floor. I'm hooked and will definitely take another lesson. Highly recommend! read more

Vanessa was a super fun teacher and made it so easy to feel comfy jumping into the lesson at Donn's Depot! Found out about the Wednesday night lessons from a local article about dancing spots: https://austin.com/the-best-places-for-country-dancing-in-austin/ Hopefully next time I can catch the intermediate class on Monday! read more

I had a great time learning from Vanessa! the two private lessons I took vastly expanded my spectrum of moves on the floor. I'm confident that, with what i learned from D-O-N along with a little practice, I'll be a dominant force at country dives around the city. Would return. Would recommend. read more

Amazing classes! Vanessa is incredibly nice, fun, and knows how to keep the class engaging for everybody, regardless of experience or skill level. 10/10 recommend as a fun one-off activity or as the quickest way to get good enough to two step with the regulars at your local honky tonk read more

I've had two-step lessons with other studios around town. But none hold a candle to Double or Nothing Two-Step. Josh T. Pearson and Vanessa Vaught make every lesson a pleasure and a joy. And with them you soon find yourself dancing around the planets, the moons and the stars. read more