Pasodoble

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Spanish language

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Pasodoble (Spanish: double step) is a dance that emulates the movements of a bullfight. Although Pasodoble is rooted in Spanish traditions, it is believed to have been created in Southern French culture during the 1930s. The Pasodoble was a way for the French to portray the techniques that are used in Spanish bullfights. The Pasodoble contains march-like steps to resemble the bullfights, and it is known as one of the fastest Latin Ballroom dances because dancers make around 120 to 130 beats/steps per minute. With a binary rhythm and moderated movement, the Pasodoble was likely based on typical Spanish dances of the 16th century. During the 18th century, it was incorporated into comedies and adopted as a regulatory step for the Spanish infantry, with a special feature that makes the troops 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 the passes (faena) just before the kill. It corresponds to the pasodoble dance (traditional and ballroom).

The Pasodoble has both Spanish and French characteristics. The steps often contain French terms, but the dance resembles the nature of the bullfight. The man portrays the matador in the dance, and the woman portrays the bull. There are also flamenco-like qualities throughout the dance as the man and woman challenge each other. Pasodoble is a lively style of dance to the duple meter march-like music. It is modeled after the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish and Portuguese bullfight. The traditional version of couple's dance originated in France and was later adopted in Spain and Portugal. Its original form as a Spanish military march is still interpreted nowadays in the context of the Moor and Christian festivals, in the southeast region of Spain, and is the major focus of current pasodoble productions.

Famous bullfighters have been honored with pasodoble tunes named after them. Other tunes have been inspired by patriotic motifs or local characters. The Pasodoble is more well-known and used today for dance competitions.

Video Pasodoble

Famous Spanish pasodobles

Amparito Roca
El Beso
La Entrada
El gato montés ("Wild Cat") from the opera with the same name
El Relicario
Agüero
España cañí ("Gypsy Spain")
Islas Canarias named after Canary Islands.
La Gracia de Dios
Feria de Manizales (unofficial hymn of the Colombian City, Manizales)
Manolete, named after Manolete.
La Morena de mi Copla
Plaza de las Ventas
Paquito el Chocolatero. The tune has a dance of its own.
Sombreros y Mantilles
Suspiros de España
Que Viva España
Valencia
La Virgen de la Macarena
Pasodoble hace salir el sol (The Pasodoble makes the sun come up)

Mexican pasodobles

El Piti, El Charro Cárdenas, El 11-81, San Antonio de Triana, Fermincito, Lorenzo Garza, El abuelito, El banderillero, María Caballé, El Berrendito de San Juan, Tarde de toros, Por tapatías, Toros en San Miguel, Rodolfo Gaona, Joselito Huerta, Toros de Llaguno, La Macarenita.

By Agustín Lara: Silverio Pérez, El Novillero, Fermín.

Maps Pasodoble

Dance

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, although 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 match, which is why it 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. That 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.

This dance is modeled after the Spanish bullfighting. The name means Two-Steps and this is due to the marching nature of the steps. This dance can involve role-playing. This two-person dance form involves the man as the bullfighter and the woman as the cape. This dance is based on the Flamenco dancing. History: This dance originated from France, and it gained popularity in the US in 1930. The steps usually have French names, because of its origins. In France, it is called "Paso Redoble" meaning the bullfighter vs. the bull. Paso Doble takes up a lot of space. It is performed at events such as exhibitions, competitions, and performances. The reason it did not catch on in America is that it is not a dance you can easily learn. All moves of the dance are sharp and quick. Paso Doble is considered as one of the most dramatic Latin dances.

In competitive dance, modern pasodoble is combined with other four dances (samba, 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 the Latin-American Program.