History of PasoDoble

opendoor

opendoor

Forum Master
Hi, is someone around who has information on the history of the PasoDoble beyond the articles of wiki ?

I have already started a thread on the history of Fado, when I saw Carlos Sauras movie Fados. Now that I saw his film Bodas de Sangre I am interested in the history of the PasoDoble, as well. Shown is a (choreographed) dance scene with people dancing PasoDoble from 1:10 on. And, as you can clearly see, they dance something between east-european Polka and early american RagTime. Thus, no bull fighting or flamenco styling elements, at all:

So, do you know how the original PasoDoble evolved?

There is already a related thread here on DF on the music of Enrique Rodriguez (1901-1971), an argentine composer of catchy PasoDobles f.i Japonesita, and FoxTrots f.i La Colegiala.

Thanks in advance
OD

compare Bodas de Sangre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vZY3i8TOLI
 
looks more like a merengue with paso flare to me. My mother is Portuguese and we have a dance similar to this at Portuguese socials.
 
It doesn't mention partner dancing as far as I can tell.

One thing is does say about dancing is that the early paso doble dance was influenced by military marches, but I think that probably refers to non-partner dancing.

Take this with a grain of salt as I am not quite fluent in spanish.
 
How to contact Alan Tornsberg?

Hi, does someone know the email address of Alan? I was told that he once was busy with PasoDoble.

Happy New Year for all of you, then!

OD
 
Geofrey Fells wrote about the history of Paso Doble (http://dnotp.blogspot.com/2010/01/paso-doble.html) as follow:
"Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Paso Doble
The Paso Doble originated in Spain with the basic steps being essentially a type of march, or one-step which was composed to embody the color and excitement of the bull ring. Nevertheless France is where the Paso Doble developed in the ordinary social ballrooms. A simple version was danced in various parts of France but particularly in the southern region bordering on Spain. It then migrated to England. So naming of the figures is tri-lingual and being comparatively modern there is very little mystery about its origin apart from the exotic names in the syllabus.
Many of the syllabus figures have French names such as: Sur Place (on the spot); Deplacement (an abrupt movement); Huit (French for eight); Appel (to call - the Matador's call to the bull); Ecart (from the French word 'ecarter' meaning to separate); La Passe (to pass); Coup de Pique (the word 'pique' in French has several meanings, one of them being the injection of fat into cooking meat by way of a long hollow needle, a similar action to the final thrust of the sword into the bull on step 1 and its rapid withdrawal on step 3!).
Then we have English names such as: Sixteen (sixteen steps); Link (to join); Chasses (to move sideways); Chasse Cape (caping action using the chasses); Fallaway Slip Pivot as well as Open Telemark (taken from the Ballroom Syllabus).
And some Spanish names such as: Banderillas (hooked sticks used to goad the bull); Fregolina (the cape being whipped quickly behind the Torero).
Each figure tells a 'story'. The whole dance tells the story of the bullfight. It is a character dance and it must be danced with great style and great precision of footwork. The bullfight is a matter of precision - precise movements - and is a matter of life and death and this must be portrayed in the dance.
The gentleman portrays the Toreador, or the Matador or the Picador. The lady is a Flamenco Spanish dancer and often acts as the Matador' cape (she is never the 'bull').
Both dancers must adopt a very proud-looking and strong stance with a high arch of the back. The head is held in an upright position with the chin tucked in so the eye line is down toward the bull and its horns (the bull is never 6 or 7 feet tall especially when lowering its head to charge). The feet should be used firmly, with the knees very slightly flexed and there must be full control over the muscles of the legs. Footwork is usually heel flat for forward steps, ball flat for backward steps, and ball of foot or ball flat for side steps and closing steps. The hold is closer and higher than in Rumba and Samba but it is widened when dancing promenade figures.
Posted by Geoffrey Fells at 8:01 PM"
 
contracheck said:
Geofrey Fells wrote about the history of Paso Doble .......The gentleman portrays the Toreador, or the Matador or the Picador. The lady is a Flamenco Spanish dancer and often acts as the Matador' cape (she is never the 'bull').
Click to expand...

It's too bad more persons won't read this. As an adjudicator, one of the things that I detest about contemporary PD, is how the ladies fight the gents for strength, hardness, and power... like a bull. Capes do not display the types of hard and angry snarls and such that we so often see, now do they?
 
opendoor said:
Hi, does someone know the email address of Alan? I was told that he once was busy with PasoDoble.

Happy New Year for all of you, then!

OD
Click to expand...
AllanTornsberg has his own website (http://www.tornsberg.com) where you can find his contact info. He teaches at Dance Time Square. IMHO, he is a great all-out Paso dancer and a choreographer. He chopreographed Eugene Katsevman's famous Paso routine.
 
Rufus Dustin gives a wonderful lecture on Paso Doble. If you get a chance to hear him speak, I really recommend it. He has a special way of explaining and inspiring.
 
Thanks for replying

Oh thanks to all of you for these really interesting and helpful informations, links and hints !!
 
worldwide dance connections

Since I regularly spend my vacations on the canary islands (an spanish outpost in the atlantic near the african coast) I found that PasoDoble (as a folk dance) is still alive there, so watch the video. Also found that a version of Güajira is played and sung at the Canary Islands. Think you will know that Güajira also is a cuban folk song, that influenced the cuban Son and later on the ChaChaChá. This is quite understandable because a lot of Palmeros and Gomeros emigrated to Cuba. At the island of el Hierro (in the west of the canary archipel) also a Tango Herreño is danced.

The canarian PasoDoble youtube.com/watch?v=fV2KuBiMGKE[/url]
 
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