Latin Paso Doble Dance: The Bullfights in Ballroom

Latin Paso Doble dance identifies a dance with a basis on music that is commonly played during bullfights especially during the paseo (bullfighters’ entrance) and during the faena (passes) prior to the kill. The dance leader plays the matador’s part while the follower plays the general part of the cape, or the role of representing a flamenco dancer or the bull. The origin of Paso Doble can be dated backwards to a military march namely”Paso Redoble“which was performed by the French. This march was rather fast paced hence attributing to the fast pace of this Latin American dancing style. The modeling of the dance was put to effect after the bull fight in Spain.

Paso Doble is similar to Samba in that it is an internationally progressive Latin dance. The Latin Paso Doble dance is the one that most resembles the International style, in regard to the forward steps which are usually taken using the heel’s lead, while consisting of a wider frame that has to be firmly kept up and a significance reduction and difference in hip movement. Paso Doble is a name that means two steps in Spanish and is differentiated from the name ‘Paso a Dos’ which refers to a dance for two. “Two Steps” is used in reference to the steps’ marching nature which is commonly counted ‘one, two’ for ‘Left and Right’. The name’s alternative description as a ‘Spanish one Step’ contrasts this notion and it is so called owing to the fact that for each music beat, only a single step should be taken.

The dance’s popularity is relatively limited amongst the English speaking people. In Sydney, the only place where the Latin Paso Doble dance is regularly played during social dances is at Italian clubs as well as various European clubs. Paso Doble’s competition version is danced while positioning the chest high, shoulders wide but down, and the head slightly kept aback but somewhat inclined forward but downwards.

The weight has to be kept forward, although a majority of the forward steps comprise heel leads. Usually, the dance is choreographed in regard to the Espana Cani’s tune which is a Gypsy dance of the Spanish, and comprises three music crescendos. The highlights are generally matched using dramatic poses for the choreography through an addition to the spectacular nature of the Latin Paso double dance.

A considerable number of these songs are modifications of Espana Cani and the song consists of breaks in the song’s fixed positions of two breaks per syllabus levels and three breaks with a relatively longer song for the Open levels. Traditionally, the routines of Paso Doble are choreographed in a bid of matching these breaks and the music phrases. Consequently, most of the other ballroom tunes for Paso Doble make use of similar breaks when being written while those that lack this are basically avoided during most competitions. Due to its intrinsic and choreographed tradition, ballroom Latin Paso Doble dance is largely danced for competition purposes only, very rarely socially-whilst at least sticking to a certain sort of routine, previously-learned.

In Spain, Vietnam, France, Colombia as well as certain Germany parts to the western side of River Rhine, it is socially danced in the manner of a lead but not a choreographed dance. This dance involves one person taking the role of the bull or the cape while the other person becomes the person comprising the cape or the matador. The Latin Paso Doble dance generally entails possessing power, aggression, anger and force.