Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Coffey.
Beth, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Texas is not merely a geography; it is a rhythm, one that has pulse-beat through eight generations of the Coffey family. Born in San Angelo and raised amidst the vast horizons of West Texas and the family ranch in Marfa, Elizabeth “Beth” Coffey was an heir to a specific kind of cultural shorthand. Her mother’s Czech heritage meant that every milestone was punctuated by dance—a tradition where the accordion and the fiddle provided the soundtrack for community and celebration.
She followed the siren call of the arts to Angelo State University, earning a degree in Theatre Arts with a minor in Journalism, but the true trajectory of her life was altered twenty years ago on a West Texas road. A near-fatal car accident left Beth with a broken neck, a trauma that would have silenced the movement of a lesser spirit. She moved to Austin not just to live, but to heal, and she found that the most effective medicine was found on the hardwood floors of the city’s honky-tonks.
During her recovery, dance became a nightly ritual. She immersed herself in the syncopation of Cajun and Zydeco, the energy of Brazilian Samba, and the foundational grace of the Texas Two-Step. What began as a personal reclamation soon caught the eye of the wider world. By 2008, the Smithsonian Institution recognized her as a primary carrier of Texas culture, hiring her to give lecture demonstrations at the Folklife Festival. The universe was signaling that her path was no longer just about her own healing, but about the preservation of a disappearing human connection.
For over fifteen years, the East Austin institution known as The White Horse became the center of her universe. It was there she established a residency that would define a decade of Austin nightlife, teaching thousands of locals, tourists, and even NASA astronauts how to find their footing. It was also where the rhythm of her personal life fell into place when she met her husband, musician Joe Jerkins. Together, they became a formidable duo of Texas tradition, appearing in everything from Tecovas commercials to music videos for Hayes Carll and Mike and the Moonpies.
Her career has since spanned the heights of American stage and screen, from choreography for films like The Lost Husband to performing for the Kennedy Center and appearing on NBC’s Today Show. Yet, her most enduring work remains in the advocacy of the dance itself. In early 2026, Beth took her mission to the halls of power, coordinating with the Texas House of Representatives to pass a resolution designating the Texas Two-Step as the official State Dance of Texas.
Today, as the founder of Dancin Austin, Beth Coffey looks toward a global horizon. She is no longer just a teacher in a neon-lit room; she is a cultural diplomat bringing the “Dance is the Answer” philosophy to international audiences from Amsterdam to London. Her life stands as a testament to the idea that dance is not merely a series of steps, but a way to stay human in an isolated world. For Beth, the music never stopped playing; she simply learned how to make sure everyone else could hear it too.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Fear is only in your mind, it’s time to challenge yourself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The pulse of the Texas Two-Step is not just a dance; it is a cinematic legacy written in dust and neon. To understand Elizabeth “Beth” Coffey is to track a career that has moved seamlessly from the hardwood floors of East Austin to the high-wattage sets of Hollywood. Her accolades are not merely trophies; they are the marks of a woman who became the primary choreographer of the Texan spirit.The screen credits began to mount as filmmakers realized that to capture authentic Texas, they needed the woman who lived it. Beth stepped onto the set of the feature film The Lost Husband, working hand-in-hand with Hollywood directors to ensure the rhythm of the Heartland was captured with precision. Her influence extended to the small screen, where she collaborated with the directors of Walker, Texas Ranger, shaping the movement of a modern Western legend. In the halls of television royalty, she shared her craft with icons like Sylvester Stallone on the set of Tulsa King and worked with Ben Affleck for the high-profile SXSW premiere of The Accountant Part Two.The world of celebrity has often come to her door seeking the “secret sauce” of Texas soul. She has choreographed and performed in music videos for the titans of the honky-tonk scene, including Hayes Carll, Paul Cauthen, and Robert Kraft. When Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson brought their storied chemistry to the screen for their television projects, Beth was there to guide the movement. Her talent even reached the stars, quite literally, as she was tasked with the unique challenge of teaching NASA astronauts how to find their footing in a Two-Step, proving that the dance is a universal language, even for those who spend their lives in zero gravity.The accolades followed the work. In 2015, the world watched as she took the televised Two-Step Dance Contest at the legendary Gruene Hall, an event broadcast to millions on The Bachelorette. She has been a featured guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, dancing alongside Willie Nelson during his historic live taping at the Long Center. More recently, she brought the Austin sunshine to a national audience on NBC’s Today with Hoda and Jenna, cementing her status as a household name for traditional dance.Her contributions have been immortalized in print and honored by the city she calls home. The Mayor of Austin officially recognized her as the city’s Ambassador of the Texas Two-Step, and by January 2025, she graced the cover of Austin Monthly Magazine, a tribute to her fifteen-year partnership with The White Horse. From the lecture halls of the University of Texas to the prestigious stages of the Smithsonian Institution and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Beth Coffey has been awarded the greatest honor a Texan can receive: the responsibility of being the keeper of the flame. She has transformed the “Official State Dance” from a historical footnote into a living, breathing, global phenomenon.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
start today
Pricing:
- available upon request
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dancinaustin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancinaustin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DancinAustin/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethcoffey/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCglYlm0sRf8-G9Nl4dQQT-A
