Quickstep - Quickstep Dance

- 13.20

Strictly Come Dancing 2013 Final: Abbey Clancy's seaside-themed ...
photo src: www.unrealitytv.co.uk

The quickstep is a light-hearted member of the standard ballroom dances. The movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with syncopations. The upbeat melodies that quickstep is danced to make it suitable for both formal and informal events. Quickstep was developed in the twenties in New York and was first danced by Caribbean and African dancers. Its origins are in combination of slow foxtrot combined with the Charleston, a dance which was one of the precursors to what today is called swing dancing.


How to Dance Fishtail in Quickstep? / Ballroom Dance - YouTube
photo src: www.youtube.com


Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews



History

The quickstep evolved in the 1920s from a combination of the foxtrot, The Chase G Chug, Charleston, shag, peabody, and one-step. The dance is English in origin, and was standardized in 1927. While it evolved from the foxtrot, the quickstep now is quite separate. Unlike the modern foxtrot, the man often closes his feet and syncopated steps are regular occurrences (as was the case in early foxtrot). Three characteristic dance figures of the quickstep are the chassés, where the feet are brought together, the quarter turns, and the lock step.p126

This dance gradually evolved into a very dynamic one with a lot of movement on the dance floor, with many advanced patterns including hops, runs, quick steps with a lot of momentum, and rotation. The tempo of quickstep dance is rather brisk as it was developed to ragtime era jazz music which is fast-paced when compared to other dance music.

By the end of the 20th century the complexity of quickstep as done by advanced dancers had increased, due to the extensive use of syncopated steps with eighth note durations. While in older times quickstep patterns were counted with "quick" (one beat) and "slow" (two beats) steps, many advanced patterns today are cued with split beats, such as "quick-and-quick-and-quick, quick, slow", with there being further steps on the 'and's.


Quickstep Dance Video



Style

The quickstep is elegant like the foxtrot and should be smooth and glamorous. The dancers should appear to be very light on their feet. It is very energetic and form-intensive. The quickstep is danced to 4/4 music of 48-52 measures per minute.


Caroline Flack & Pasha Quickstep to 'We Go Together' - Strictly ...
photo src: www.youtube.com


Syllabus

The two International Style syllabi of ISTD and IDTA for quickstep differ very little.

The American Style dance competition program does not include quickstep, but a limited version of the dance is taught and danced socially in some American dance venues.

Pre-bronze

  1. Quarter turn to right
  2. Natural turn
  3. Natural turn with hesitation
  4. Natural pivot turn
  5. Natural spin turn
  6. Progressive chassé
  7. Chassé reverse turn
  8. Forward lock
  9. Heel pivot (quarter turn to left)

Bronze

  1. Closed impetus
  2. Back lock
  3. Reverse pivot
  4. Progressive chassé to right
  5. Tipple chassé to right
  6. Running finish
  7. Natural turn and back lock
  8. Double reverse spin
  9. Zig-zag, back lock, and running Finish
  10. Cross chassé
  11. Change of direction

Silver

  1. Quick open reverse
  2. Fishtail
  3. Running right turn
  4. Four quick run
  5. V6
  6. Closed telemark

Gold

  1. Cross swivel
  2. Six quick run
  3. Rumba cross
  4. Tipsy to right
  5. Tipsy to left
  6. Hover corté

Source of the article : Wikipedia



EmoticonEmoticon

 

Start typing and press Enter to search