The Paso Doble Dance
The Paso Doble is a dance that was invented in France, though everything about it seems Spanish in nature. This is because it is focused on the escapades of the average matador, or bull fighter, in Spain. The partner represents his cape. The movements are designed around those made by the matador as he gracefully works his way around the bull and eventually slays it. While there hopefully isn’t any slaying in your average Paso Doble dance, it is still very important to emulate the sheer skill and gracefulness. As a result, there are few dances that appear more passionate and dramatic. It takes a lot of effort to learn, but it is worth it.
Paso Doble has some of the most recognizable moves. Besides just seeing regular body movements of a bull fight, you can look for certain other things. The man will often stomp his foot on the ground, or pantomime the use of castanets. You will also see the man use the woman as a cape, and swing her around as if she was one. The “arpel” movement is when the man and woman walk away from each other dramatically. This is another popular move.
Paso Doble is a progressive dance. This means that as you do it, you can expect to move around all over the place. If you want to learn the Paso Doble so you can fit in at dance parties, then you should reconsider right away. Usually, the Paso Doble is performed more as an exhibition of the dancers’ talent, as entertainment or in some sort of competition. It is far too complex to work well as a standard social dance. But don’t let this deter your interest in the dance, since knowing it can prove to be challenging and rewarding.
Since Paso Doble is so complex, it is unrealistic to expect to be able to do it simply by reading the steps involved. If you really want to become graceful and excellent in performing the Paso Doble, you will need live instruction. You can take dance classes at any number of venues, since it is such a popular thing to do. Inquire around your city, and maybe at a local community college to see what they have to offer. These lessons are crucial, as they will give you personal feedback on what you are doing wrong, or right. So if you hold an interest in the Paso Doble, pursue that interest and get some lessons!
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