Paso Doble

Bronze/Student Teacher
1. Sur Place
2. Basic Movement
3. Chasse to Right and Left
4. Drag
5. Deplacement
6. Promenade Link
7. Promenade
8. Ecart
9. Separation
10. Separation with Lady's Caping Walks

Bronze/Associate
11. Fallaway Ending to Separation
12. Huit
13. Sixteen
14. Promenade and Counter Promenade
15. Grand Circle
16. Open Telemark

Silver/Licentiate
17. La Passe
18. Banderillas
19. Twist Turn
20. Fallaway Reverse Turn
21. Coup de Pique
22. Left Foot Variation
23. Spanish Lines
24. Flamenco Taps

Gold/Fellow
25. Syncopated Separation
26. Traveling Spins from Promenade Position
27. Traveling Spins from Counter Promenade Position
28. Fregolina (Farol)
29. the Twists
30. Chasse Cape, all endings

The name 'Paso Doble' in Spanish means 'Two Step', and may be distinguished from 'Paso a Dos' which means 'Dance for two'. "Two Step" refers to the marching nature of the steps, which may be counted '1,2' for 'Left, Right'. This may be contrasted with its description as the 'Spanish One Step', so called because only one step is taken to each beat of music.

The Paso Doble was one of many Spanish folk dances associated with various facets of Spanish life. In particular, the Paso Doble is based on the Bullfight. It portrays the Torero and his cape, and is danced to the characteristic march music used for procession at the beginning of a Corrida. Bullfights date back to ancient Crete, but only in the 1700s were they held in Spain. The dance itself became popular amongst the upper classes of Paris in the 1930's, and acquired a set of French names for many of the steps. The dance has still only limited popularity amongst English speaking society. The only places in Sydney where it is played regularly at social dances are the Italian and other European clubs.

The competition version of the Paso Doble is danced with a high chest, the shoulders wide and down, and with the head kept back but inclined slightly forward and down, ("keep watching that bull" urged my latin teacher). The weight is forward, but most forward steps have heel leads. Often it is choreographed to the tune 'Espana Cani' (the Spanish Gypsy Dance), which has three crescendos in the music. These highlights are usually matched in the choreography by dramatic poses, adding to the spectacular nature of the dance.


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