The music has 2 (or 6) beats to the bar and about 62 bars per minute - ie Marches. Count 1, 2 to a bar for most step groups or figures.
The hold may be high and therefore closer than other latin dances. For figures in promenade or counter-promenade position, a more open double armhold is used. In contrast to normal ballroom convention, the man starts with his right foot and the lady her left. Steps are on the ball of the foot, pressing into the floor.
The Paso Doble is allegedly based on bull-fighting - the man being the matador and the lady his cape!
These are small steps forwards or backwards. They may also curve slowly to the left or right.
| Forwards Basics to close (FP, CH) | Backwards Basics to close (FP, CH) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
| Man | |
RF | | LF | |
RF | | LC | |
RB | | LB | |
RB | | LC | |
| Lady | |
LB | | RB | |
LB | | RC | |
LF | | RF | |
LF | | RC | |
These are steps on the spot. They may turn slowly to the left or right and are used to link together other figures.
| Sur Place (FP, CH) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | 2 | |||
| Man |  |
RC | | LC | |
| Lady |  |
LC | | RC | |
This is a stamp, used to signal the start of a moving figure. During the Appel the man's lead will depend on the figure to follow.
| Appel (FP, CH) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | ||
| Man | |
RC stamp | |
| Lady | |
LC stamp | |
These are side-closes to the left or right. Elevations are side chassés in either direction, stretching up for the first 2 side-closes and lowering down for the next 2. Left elevations may end by turning to promenade on the down side step, stepping forwards and across and then closing square to partner again.
| Left Chassé (FP, CH) | Right Chassé (FP, CH) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
| Man | |
RC | | LS |  |
RC | | LS | |
RS | | LC | |
RS | | LC | |
| Lady | |
LC | | RS |  |
LC | | RS | |
LS | | RC | |
LS | | RC | |
This is a way to turn a corner (other than simply turning basic steps). It is rather like the change of direction in foxtrot or social dancing.
| Deplacement (FP, CH) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| Man | |
RF |  | LF |  |
RFS-2 |  | LC | |
| Lady | |
LB |  | RB |  |
LBS-2 |  | RC | |
The man pushes the lady away from him and then draws her back in while he dances sur place. It begins with an Appel. The lady's first step back is a long one as the man lowers his arms to push her away before releasing hold with his right hand. Her other steps are short.
| Separation (FP, CH-LRH-CH) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||
| Man | RC stamp | | LF | |
RC | | LC | |
RC | | LC | |
RC | | LC | |
| Lady | LC stamp | | RB | |
LB | | RC | |
LF | | RF | |
LF | | RC | |
This is a close from promenade position to facing partner. It begins with an Appel.
| Promenade Link (PP-FP, CH) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Man | RC stamp |  | LdF |  |
RXF-1 | | LC | |
| Lady | LC stamp |  | RdF |  |
LFX-2 |  | RC-1 | |
This figure begins in promenade position after a side step. The man steps across and then dances sur place while leading the lady from side to side. She dances outside swivels.
| The Eight (PP-OLP-ORP-FP, CH) | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
| Man | |
RxF |  | LC+1 | |
RC | | LC | |
RC | | LC | |
RC | | LC | |
| Lady | |
LxF |  | RFS-2 |  |
LSF-1 | | RFX+1 |  |
LFS+2 |  | RSF+1 | |
LFX-1 | | RC-1 | |
This figure begins with an Appel turning to promenade and pushing the lady slightly away. Then the man steps across and in front of the lady in a natural turn (like Tango) to get to the outside of the room. Finally he leads the lady in outside swivels - the same as The Eight figure.
| The Sixteen ... (FP-PP-FP-ORP, CH) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||
| Man | RC stamp | | LDF-1 | |
RFX+1 | | LFS+2 | |
RB | | LBX+1 | |
RC+1 | | LC | |
| Lady | LC stamp | | RDF+1 | |
LXF+1 | | RF | |
LF | | RFX+1 | |
LFS+2 |  | RSF+1 | |
| ... (OLP-ORP-FP, CH) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||
| Man | RC | | LC | |
RC | | LC | |
RC | | LC | |
RC | | LC | |
| Lady | LFX-1 |  | RFS-2 |  |
LSF-1 | | RFX+1 | |
LFS+2 | | RSF+1 | |
LFX-1 | | RC-1 | |
While on the outside of the room, the man can lead right chassés to move along the line of dance. At a corner, the man would be facing the new LOD. Otherwise use Sur Place steps to turn for the next figure.
