Two step your way to the new Two Step Tavern

Alexis Nigro, News Editor

Put on your cowboy boots, grab some friends and hit the dance floor. Line dancing has risen in popularity in recent years, and now, the Clemson area will receive its own bar dedicated to just that.

Emma Bulman

Shannon Spadaro, a junior business management major with an emphasis in entrepreneurship, had no idea what line dancing was until her roommate introduced her. While she was initially hesitant, she went out dancing, and it “quickly became something empowering, social and fun,” she told The Tiger.

Spadaro initially had the idea to establish Two Step Tavern, a line-dancing bar, by considering how far line-dancing venues are from Clemson.

Clemson students often travel to Wendell’s in Anderson, The Foundry at Judson Mill in Greenville or Ink N Ivy in Greenville for line dancing. All of these options are over 30 minutes away from Clemson’s campus.

The modernized trend of line dancing was influenced by immigrants in the early 1800s, who brought dances such as reels, waltzes, polkas, and square dancing to social gatherings, per New Boots Line Dancing.

Line dances rose in popularity after the movie “Urban Cowboy” came out in 1980, where the dancing “made its mark on history,” according to New Boots Line Dancing.

On popular social media platforms, you might have seen the newer fusion of traditional line dancing with popular music, including dances to songs by Pitbull, Sabrina Carpenter, Beyoncé and more, per NBC News.

Spadaro is from the North, so line dancing was a foreign concept to her. She began practicing in her living room before taking her skills to the dance floor. This newly developed interest in line dancing ultimately led her to create TST.

“Two Step Tavern will be a vibrant line dancing bar located just minutes from campus,” Spadaro told The Tiger in an interview.

Spadaro noted that she wanted to close the gap between students having a “lack of accessible places to line dance.” Once the idea was put in place, she began to test engagement by creating pop-up events.

“These pop-ups aren’t just social events, they act as real market tests,” Spadaro continued. “Through them, we analyze attendance trends, drink preferences, pricing sensitivity, and overall interest while also building brand awareness and validating the demand for a permanent location.”

The venue will also feature live music, dance lessons, a game room dedicated to other social games and an “outdoor area designed for gathering, creating a welcoming hub where students and locals connect through country music, movement, and shared experiences.”

One of Spadaro’s main goals is to “promote active nightlife instead of just passive nightlife.”

TST’s mission is to create a space of inclusivity for students who are under the age of 21 and want to participate in “Clemson’s famous nightlife in a safe, welcoming, and judgement-free environment.”

When asked if there would be an age limit on the bar, Spadaro explained that it “will operate primarily as an 18+ venue, with Sunday nights designated as ‘Family Night,’ open to all ages.”

She wants the Two Step Tavern to serve both Clemson students and the Clemson community.

Where line dancing is the “centerpiece” of TST, the experience will extend beyond the dance floor. The bar will include a separate space for games such as pool and air hockey, televisions, lounge seating and an outdoor space for fire pits and yard games.

“By offering multiple different ways to enjoy the space, Two Step Tavern encourages groups of friends to attend together, regardless of whether everyone wants to dance,” Spadaro said.

Once TST has secured a location, it will market through social media, on-campus promotion and flyers. When the venue opens, there will be a grand opening that will feature “free line dancing lessons, a mechanical bull, food trucks, and giveaways,” Spadaro told The Tiger.

The bar plans to charge students a $6 cover fee, rather than the $10 charged at most line-dancing locations, to reinforce its “commitment to accessibility for Clemson students.”

TST will include full-service line-dancing nights from Thursday through Saturday with weekly themed nights such as “glow dance nights, cowboy karaoke, line dance battles, throwback country nights,” among others.

Every night will feature a wide variety of dance types, including beginner, advanced and swing. Tuesday nights will be dedicated to structured line-dancing lessons for beginners, intermediates and advanced dancers.

“Each level will have dedicated instruction time, incorporating song requests and guided by a trained Two Step Tavern instructor,” Spadaro said.

While explaining how TST will differ from the existing nightlife around Clemson’s campus, Spadaro emphasized the importance of inclusion and community. The establishment aims to be more than a “one-time nightlife stop,” and hopes to become a place where guests “feel recognized and valued.”

“Two Step Tavern isn’t trying to copy existing nightlife in Clemson; it’s building something entirely new, shaped by the students it serves,” Spadaro said.

She also noted that the current line-dancing options for students are farther away, tend to be overcrowded and are overall generic. Spadaro believes that bringing line dancing locally to Clemson addresses two main concerns: safety and accessibility.

“The nearest venues are over 40 minutes away, often lacking cell service or rideshare options, which creates unnecessary risks when alcohol is involved,” Spadaro said. She wants TST to offer a safer, local alternative to other options in neighboring towns.

Spadaro is competing in the 2026 Powers Pitch Competition, where she will present her idea for TST. The competition consists of two rounds: the first includes an initial pitch, judging and feedback, during which students will be selected to compete in the main competition. The second round will consist of judging and a chance for the students to win cash prizes. The judges base their decisions on four criteria: the content of the pitches, presentation quality, the quality of the questions and answers and the “wow factor” of the proposed idea.

“This pitch also doubles as the deck I use when speaking with prospective investors, as we explore the right investment partnerships to support the next phase of development,” Spadaro said.

The pitch process began with a business model template, meaning the contestants must turn each pitch component into slides supported by research, Spadaro explained. The most challenging part of the competition for her was the financial aspect.

“But with guidance from Clemson’s Launchpad, I refined my cost structure, revenue streams, and projections into a finalized pitch deck,” she said.

During her time at Clemson, Spadaro found that her finance and accounting classes were “critical in building accurate cost analyses and revenue projections.” Her entrepreneurial coursework helped her structure a pitch and clearly communicate “the value of the concept.”

Spadaro’s advice to individuals who are afraid to go out and try line dancing is to start small by learning some dances through YouTube tutorials, attending the Clemson Line Dancing Club and to “jump on the floor when you hear a song you recognize.”

She emphasized that “no one is judging” and that the line dancing community is “incredibly welcoming” and eager to help newcomers.

Upcoming events will be posted and updated on TST’s Instagram page, including its upcoming pop-up event on Feb. 21 at 356 Sushi from 8 p.m. through midnight.

On Oct. 29, TST hosted its first event, accumulating over 300 participants, as stated on the TST website. The post stated, “This is only the starting point. Every pop-up brings us one step closer to building the permanent line dancing bar right here in Clemson.”

Similarly, the Clemson LDC hosts multiple pop-up events, where students can have a night of dance lessons and free dance. The club also emphasizes that everyone is welcome regardless of their dance experience.

The organization meets regularly to learn and practice various line dances, including classical and modernized dances.