Paso Doble

A dramatic Spanish march in 2/4 built around slip steps, a bold change of edge and a run of deep cross rolls at a fast tempo.

dance

Not checked yet. The mechanics on this page are a first draft by a non-expert, and no coach has seen them yet. Read them as a starting point and check them with a coach. Corrections are very welcome.

The dance

Paso Doble in 2/4, 112 beats a minute. The hold is outside, then closed from step 16, outside from step 18, open from step 21. The partners skate different steps. 29 steps and 32 beats to one pattern.

Steps for the lead the follow

One sequence on a 60 x 30 metre rink, drawn upright as the rulebooks draw it, starting at the dot and travelling anticlockwise. The two partners skate side by side on one track; the switch shows where each one's steps fall and on which edge. Rinks vary, and on a smaller one the pattern shrinks to fit. Measured from the diagram in U.S. Figure Skating 2026-27 Rulebook, page Dance-49, the lead's diagram, and the follow's from page Dance-50, the follow's diagram.

Step	Hold	Lead	Follow	Beats
1	Outside	LFO	RBO	1
2		RFI-Pr	LBI-Pr	1
3		LFO	RBO	1
4		RFI-Ch	LBI-Ch	1
5		LFO	RBO	1
6		RFI-Ch	LBI-Ch	1
7		LFO	RBO	1
8		RF-Lff Slip Step	LB-Rff Slip Step	1
9		LF-Rff Slip Step	RB-Lff Slip Step	1
10		XF-RFO	XB-LBO	1
11		XB-LFIO	XF-RBIO	0.5 + 0.5
12		XF-RFI	XB-LBI	1
13		LFO	RBO	1
14		RFI-Pr	XB-LBI	1
15		XB-LFO OpCSt	RBO	1
16	Closed	RBO	XF-LBI	1
17		LBI	RFI	2
18	Outside	RBO	LFO	1
19		XF-LBI	XB-RFI	1
20a		RBO	LFO	1
20b	Changing		RFI-Ch	1
21	Open	LFO	LFO	1
22		RFI-Ch	RFI-Ch	1
23		LFO	LFO	1
24		RFI-Pr	RFI-Pr	1
25		LFO	LFO	1
26		CR-RFO	CR-RFO	1
27		CR-LFO	CR-LFO	1
28		CR-RFO-SwR	CR-RFO-SwR RFI OpCSt	3

The steps are in the rulebook's own notation: foot, direction and edge, with Pr for a progressive, Ch for a chassé, SwR for a swing roll, XB and XF for a cross step behind or in front, 3 for a three turn, CSt and SSt for C and S steps, Op for open and Cl for closed. From the step chart in US Figure Skating's 2026-27 rulebook.

The Paso Doble draws on bullring music, and US Figure Skating asks for strong body control and precise footwork. It opens in outside hold with a progressive and two chassés, then reaches its oddest moment: steps 8 and 9 are slip steps, skated on the flat with both blades on the ice while the free foot slides past to full extension, knees bent or straight.

The rulebook singles out the change of edge on step 11, which should push the pattern into a clear outward bulge, and calls the cross rolls on steps 26 to 28 the hardest part of the dance, since deep edges need supple knees at this tempo. The follow partner restarts with a quick open C step on the “and” count.

British Ice Skating lists the Paso Doble at National 8, one of five dances to choose from. US Figure Skating tests it at Pre-gold.

Appears in

No test syllabus recorded yet.

Where it sits in one country's grades is on that country's copy of this page: UK, USA, Australia or New Zealand.