Paso Doble

Paso doble is a dynamic and theatrical Spanish dance, whose name means "two steps", because it is always danced in double beat. It is danced to the rhythms of Spanish marches (music played during fights during the matador's entry into the arena (paseo) or during passages just before the murder (faena)) and has been known since the 1920s, and today's form was developed in France, where it was initially danced by ballet artists.

Paso doble is a dance through which a bullfight is shown, ie a fight with bulls, in which the dancer takes on the role of a bullfighter, and the dancer of the red cloak with which the bullfighter seduces the bull. The dancer and the dancer move around the imaginary bull together, performing stylized figures with flameco elements, and the whole dance is reminiscent of the famous fight in the arena. This is a dance where a man has his show. He dances proudly, his back straight, his shoulders back and his head raised. His steps are sharp, progressive and are performed on the principle of heel-foot, in the form of a march. The frame is wider, the posture is firmer, and, unlike most Latino dances, there is very little, or even little, movement of the hips. A woman plays a less important role - she mostly symbolizes his cloak. She moves fluttering on the podium, and together with the man, around an imaginary bull. Determination and elegance are expected from a dancer as a matador, and a conscious distance, characteristic flexibility and a kind of speed from a dancer. This dance requires great concentration, passion and an inviolable sense of rhythm. The steps are performed by tightening the entire muscle structure. In that way, a recognizably short, fast movement and performance of controlled poses is achieved. The leg that is the support in the dance is always slightly bent. The culmination of the dance is reflected in the part where the bullfighter kills the bull.

Paso doble is a choreographic dance, which is mostly danced at competitions. As a social dance it was not particularly popular. The music with which they dance originated from a kind of Spanish gypsy music, which has breaks in specific places during the song and thus gives it dynamics and tension. The introductory part of the song with which this dance is performed is a marching rhythm that is very reminiscent of famenko rhythms. “España Cani” is the most commonly used music to perform this dance. Paso doble is learned only after mastering simpler dances. He got his current form in France, and he was classified as a competitive dance in 1959.