Paso Doble

Paso Doble is the dramatic, march-like dance of the Latin program, inspired by the Spanish bullfight. The man suggests the matador and the lady his cape, and the couple shapes their routine around fixed highlights in the music.

At a glance

Styles

International Latin

Time signature

2/4

Tempo

60–62 bars per minute (120–124 beats) · WDSF rules 55 bars per minute (110 beats) · NDCA rulebook WDSF publishes a range for each International dance. The NDCA publishes one figure for each dance it lists and lets the music director move it by one bar a minute (two for Nightclub dances). Where neither publishes a tempo, the range is typical, not a rule.

Hold

Closed hold

Competition levels

Bronze, Silver and Gold syllabus, then Open and Championship, for amateur, professional and Pro/Am couples

Origin

Spanish music; ballroom dance commonly credited to France Early 20th century (accounts differ)

The music is Spanish. The pasodoble, meaning double step, is a lively march named for its quick marching pace, and Spanish scores in the form go back to the late 18th century. It later became the music of the bullring and a popular Spanish dance and song form, often in a march-like two-four time.

The ballroom dance, however, is usually credited to France. Accounts differ on the details, but it is commonly said that French dance teachers shaped the bullfight imagery into a partner dance in the early 20th century, which is why many of its figures carry French names, such as Sur Place, Appel, Ecart and Deplacement. French ballroom schools helped carry it abroad in the 1930s.

The ISTD included the Spanish Paso Doble in its first Latin American syllabus in 1947, and it has been one of the five International Latin dances ever since. The history of DanceSport explains how the Latin program came together.

Paso Doble is proud, strong and theatrical. It is danced with one step to each beat, with sharp marching action, heel leads, strong shapes and very little hip movement compared with the other Latin dances. The man's chest is lifted and his posture arched, while the lady's swirling movement around him suggests a cape, or sometimes a flamenco dancer.

Couples dance mostly in closed hold and promenade position, traveling around the room. Flamenco influences show in stamps, taps and arm styling, and because the music has fixed highlights, Paso Doble routines are usually choreographed to a particular arrangement rather than improvised.

Basic count

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Time signature

2/4

Tempo

60–62 bars per minute (120–124 beats) · WDSF rules 55 bars per minute (110 beats) · NDCA rulebook

Hold

Closed hold

Under the WDSF Competition Rules, Paso Doble is played at 60–62 bars per minute (120–124 beats per minute in two-four time), and the music must run at least to the second highlight and at most to the third. Dancers count in eights, one step to each beat, and phrase figures to the music. The NDCA lists a slower 55 measures per minute for International Paso Doble at its events.

Highlights are the big accents in the standard competition arrangement, and a well-built routine arrives on a dramatic line or pose exactly as each one hits. Judges look for strong posture, clean footwork, sharp shaping and how precisely the couple matches the musical phrases and highlights.

Basic figures

• Sur Place
• Basic Movement
• Chasses to Right and Left
• Drag
• Deplacement
• Promenade Link
• Promenade
• Ecart
• Separation
• Huit

Figure names are given as the syllabi write them, in English.

Paso Doble is the fourth of the five International Latin dances, between Rumba and Jive. It is danced at amateur, professional and Pro/Am events, though beginner Bronze students often meet it later than Cha-Cha-Cha and Rumba; levels and categories explains how the levels work. There is no Paso Doble in American Rhythm, and the NDCA also lists it as a Nightclub dance.

Paso Doble is rarely danced at social parties because its routines follow the music so closely. In Spain and parts of Latin America, though, the popular pasodoble is a social dance in its own right, often a simple, cheerful march danced at weddings and village festivals.

1. Stand tall with a lifted chest and weight slightly forward; posture is half the character of the dance.

2. Count in eights and step on every beat. Paso Doble rewards precision more than speed.

3. Use a clear heel lead on forward walks and a firm press of the foot on the Sur Place.

4. Learn the highlights in the standard music so you know where the big moments come.

5. Keep the movement sharp and decisive, then let the stillness of a held line speak.

Ballroom Paso Doble is danced to Spanish pasodoble: march-like music in two-four time with brass, a strong pulse and clear dramatic accents. Most competitions use a small set of well-known arrangements built around fixed highlights, and some events now use modern arrangements with a Spanish or flamenco flavor.

• Samba

  Ballroom Samba explained: its Brazilian roots, the WDSF tempo of 50–52 bars per minute, the samba bounce, the 1 a 2 count and the first figures to learn.

• Rumba

  Rumba explained: Cuban roots, the official competition tempos, why International Rumba starts on 2 while American Rumba uses a slow, quick, quick box.

• Tango

  Ballroom Tango explained: its Río de la Plata roots, Standard and Smooth tempos, basic figures, and how it differs from Argentine Tango.

• Jive

  Ballroom Jive explained: its swing roots, the WDSF tempo of 42–44 bars per minute, the basic rock and chasses, and how it compares with East Coast Swing.

• Cha Cha

  Cha Cha explained: Cuban origins, the official competition tempos, why Latin and Rhythm both break on 2, and how the two styles differ in hold and figures.

1. WDSF Competition Rules 2026, Rule E.3 Music (tempo table and highlight rule)
2. NDCA Rule Book, July 2026: Section IX.B Approved Tempi and Appendix 1 International Paso Doble figures
3. ISTD: Latin American faculty history (1947 syllabus, Spanish Paso Doble)
4. Wikipedia: Paso doble (music origins and ballroom dance)

What this page was written from. DanceFlow is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sanctioned by any of these organizations.

Last checked against its sources on November 3, 2026.

Teaching or running classes in this dance?

DanceFlow plans lessons, classes and practice rounds, and keeps every student's figures and progress in one place.