Understand the path.
See what comes next.

Dance Assessment Resource Guide February 2026 Copyright © 2026 Skate Canada 74 STAR 9 STAR 9A – Paso Doble Music Tempo Pattern Inventor Paso Doble 2/4 • 56 measures of 2 beats per minute • 112 beats per minute Optional Reginald J. Wilkie and Daphne B. Wallis First Performed London, Westminster Ice Rink, 1938 Description The Paso Doble is a dramatic and powerful Spanish dance requiring good body control and precise footwork. It can be expressed in terms of its origins from the music of bull fighting or in Flamenco style. Steps 1 to 15 are skated in outside hold with skater a (the follow) to skater B’s (the lead’s) right. The dance starts with a progressive sequence followed by two chassé sequences. Steps 8 and 9 are most unusual slip steps, (sometimes called “slide steps”) for both skater A (the follow) (skating backward) and skater B (the lead) (skating forward). They are skated on the flat with both blades on the ice and with the free foot sliding closely past the skating foot to full extension. There are two optional ways to perform these steps: one option is to skate with the knee(s) of the weight bearing leg(s) bent as they slide across the ice, and the other option is to skate with the knee(s) of both of the weight bearing legs straight On step 10 the free foot must be lifted distinctly from the ice. The following change of edge on step 11 should be boldly skated to produce a pronounced outward bulge of the pattern. Skater B (the lead) crosses in front on step 12, then skates a progressive sequence leading into a cross behind open C step. Skater A (the follow) skates a series of cross steps to coordinate with skater B (the lead). After skater B’s (the lead’s) C step the partners assume closed hold. Step 17 is the first 2 beat edge of the dance. Skater B (the lead) extends their free leg in front and skater A (the follow) extends their free leg behind. Skater B (the lead) then skates a backward edge, a front cross step, then a 2 beat back edge before stepping forward into open hold for chassé and progressive sequences. Meanwhile the partner skates a cross behind chassé followed by two chassés and a progressive sequence. The first of skater A’s (the follow’s) two chassés is skated while skater B (the lead) pauses 2 beats on step 20. Steps 21 to 24 are performed together. Care must be taken to ensure that the partners remain in closed hold to the end of step 20. Probably the most difficult portion of the dance is the cross rolling movement on steps 26 to 28. The deeper these outside edges are the better, which necessitates very supple knee action owing to the fast tempo of the dance. On the last cross roll, the free legs are swung to the front and both partners remain on the right forward outside edge. Then only as they bring their free legs back to the heel, (for the lead to prepare to push, and the follow to execute a quick open swing C step on the “and” between counts 4 and 1), they change to a very short RFI edge. This places the follow in an outside hold again for the restart of the dance. The overall pattern of the Paso Doble is approximately elliptical, distorted here and there by outward bulges. The opening progressive is on a curve, but the next few steps are rather straight. The change of edge produces an outward bulge followed by steps 12 to 25 that form a curve. The cross rolls cause a deviation in the pattern and there is a final bulge before the restart of the dance. Suggested Introductory Steps Skater B (Lead): LFI (2), RFI (2), LFO (1), RFI-Pr (1), LFO (1), RFI-Ch (1), LFO (2), RFO (2) Skater A (Follow): LFI (2), RFI (2), LFO (1), RFI-Pr (1), LFO3 (1+1), RBO (2), LBO (2)