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Paso Doble

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Definition

Paso Doble

Thisdance article(double-step isin aboutSpanish) refers to a style of a ballroom dance included in a DanceSport categories of competitive dances, taking its history from 16th century Spain, based on the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish dance and musicPortuguese genre. For the German NDW band, see Paso Doble (band). For the song by Ringo Starr, "Pasodobles" bullfight.

Contents [hide]
This article is about the Spanish dance and music genre. For the German NDW band, see

Introduction

Paso Doble (band).(or For the song by Ringo Starr, "Pasodobles"

Pasodoble, or paso doble, (literally double-step in Spanish)) is a Spanish light music, with a binary rhythm and moderated movement, probablypresumably based inon typical Spanish dances of the 16th century. The traditional couple's dance was originated in France and then adopted in Spain and Portugal.

History

During the 18th century itPaso Doble was incorporated to comedies and was adopted as a regulatory step for the Spanish infantry, with a special feature that makes the troops can take the regular step: 120 steps per minute. The music was introduced in bullfights during the 19th century. It is played during the bullfighters' entrance to the ring (paseo) or during the passes (faena) just before the kill. It corresponds to the pasodoble dance (traditional and ballroom dance).

Pasodoble is a lively style of dance to the duple meter march-like pasodoble music. It is modelled after the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish and Portuguese bullfight. The traditional couple's dance was originated in France and then adopted in Spain and Portugal.

Famous bullfighters have been honouredhonored with pasodoble tunes named after them. Other tunes have been inspired by patriotic motifs or local characters.

Famous Spanish pasodobles

Traditional

Pasodoble is based on music played at bullfights during the bullfighters' entrance (paseo) or during the passes (faena) just before the kill. The leader of this dance plays the part of the matador. The follower generally plays the part of the matador's cape, but can also represent the shadow of the matador, as well as the flamenco dancer in some figures. The follower never represents the bull, althrough it is commonly thought this way. Its origin dates back to a French military march with the name "Paso Redoble." This was a fast paced march, which is why this is a fast-paced Latin American dance modeled after the Spanish bullfight. Bullfighting was well known around this time.

Ballroom

A significant number of pasodoble songs are variations of España Cañi. The song has breaks or "highlights" in fixed positions in the song (two highlights at syllabus levels, three highlights and a longer song at Open levels). Highlights emphasize music and are more powerful sounding than other parts of the music, usually, dancers have decoration trick and then the position that is to be held to the end of the highlight. Traditionally pasodoble routines are choreographed to match these highlights, as well as the musical phrases. Accordingly, most other ballroom pasodoble tunes are written with similar highlights (those without are simply avoided in most competitions).

Because of its inherently choreographed tradition, ballroom pasodoble for the most part is danced only competitively, almost never socially, or without previously learned routine. This said, in Spain, France, Vietnam, Colombia, Costa Rica and some parts of Germany it is danced socially as a lead (not choreographed) dance. In Venezuela, pasodoble is almost a must-have dance in weddings and big parties, being especially famous by the song "Guitarra Española" by Los Melódicos.

In competitive dance, modern pasodoble is combined with other four dances (samba, enter cha-cha-cha, rumba and jive) under the banner International Latin. Modern pasodoble dance consists of two dancing parts and one break in between for dancers of class D and of three parts and two breaks in between for dancers of class C, B, A, according to the IDSF classification. Dancers of lower than D-class usually perform only four official dances of Latin-American Program.


Quick Facts

  • Famous bullfighters have been honored with pasodoble tunes named after them. Other tunes have been inspired by patriotic motifs or local characters.



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