traditional paso doble

[Lockstep]

At ballroom party, to which I brought a Spanish friend, a Paso Doble came on, which I haven't studied yet. However, being Spanish, she dragged me onto the floor and did a spanish-style traditional paso doble with me...lots of spinning...pretty fun and cool, but rather different from the ballroom style I've seen...

To those that have done both styles...how similar do you find em? guess i don't have the paso doble-vocabulary to pose a more precise question, so just chatter away about anything remotely related to my story :)

[Lockstep]

oh and another question..is it just me or is 'Espana Cani' drastically overplayed...there have got to be more paso doble songs than that (although 2 different ballroom cds ive got only contain one paso doble: espana cani)

[Laura]

I had heard that Paso Doble was a popular social dance in Spain, but never ran across anyone who had actually done it there in the tradional social style. This is very cool! Sorry, I don't have anything else to add, just that I'd love to hear more about your experience.

[Lockstep]

Hmm, more details...?

Well, first, it was very musical...of course the paso doble music is pretty clear and emotional, but especially due to the lack of a clear choreography it felt very, well, musical :)

Of course, as she was kinda leading, we stuck to simple stuff, but me + audience seemed to like it anyway :) As I said,
quite a bit of extremely fast spinning for long periods of time (looks so nice to see backgrounds blur and only your partners face in focus, smiling...sigh... :) )

Anyway...too short an experience to say more about it really...I'll get her to do it w/ me again...and I'll be going to spain this summer so now I know what to look for...

[DancingMommy]

When I went to Barcelona in 1998, we went social dancing and they played a Paso Doble at least twice a night. And it was ALWAYS Espana Cani. It was played by a live band, no less. It was awesome.

I remember dancing it once or twice. It was interesting and not at all as flam-boy-ant as what is done competitively.

[DancingJools]

I did a social paso once with a French man. It was delightful, and totally unpretentious. Just stepping to the music in simple sequence, and a lot of underarm turns.

[Sagitta]

"El torrero" by orquesta guayacan. Great pso doble song. :cheers:

[Lockstep]

"El torrero" by orquesta guayacan. Great pso doble song. :cheers:

hmm the versions which i found switched to salsa after first 20 secs.....seems to be the more popular version but yes, i know its a great paso doble..heard it and pretty familiar...just cant find it :(

[Joe]

I had heard that Paso Doble was a popular social dance in Spain, but never ran across anyone who had actually done it there in the tradional social style. This is very cool! Sorry, I don't have anything else to add, just that I'd love to hear more about your experience.
I've always heard it as being popular in France, hence all the French names for steps.