Not to be confused with laminate flooring or Formica tiles, the Quick Step is one of the five main ballroom dances. The Quick Step was a popular march around 1850, but it has nothing to do with the modern ballroom Quick Step, which was blended from a variety of dance styles such as the Charleston and more notably the Foxtrot, which could be danced at either a fast or slow tempo to a variety of musical styles. The Foxtrot was all the rage in the 1920's and is still highly popular today.
As the Foxtrot evolved and people began to distinguish different versions, the slower version became known as the Slow Foxtrot. Further variations developed, however, such as when the Slow Foxtrot was played too fast by many bands. The faster version was then known as the Quick-Time Foxtrot, and this was further simplified to the Quick Step in the late 1920's. Influenced also by the Waltz, which is danced in 3/4 time, the Quick Step is a 4/4 time dance with a speed of around 200 beats per minute. The movement is similar in many ways to the polka, as dancers move in a slow run using quick steps. The partners hold each other in a closed position, stepping swiftly around the floor in a syncopated dash that is punctuated with kicks, twists, foot crosses, hops, points and skips. It takes a lot of energy to do it right and is a lot of fun.
Perhaps no other dance has been influenced by so many different dances as the Quick Step, which eventually combined elements of the Foxtrot, Waltz, March, One Step, Peabody, Charleston, Black Bottom, and others. While the Foxtrot was all American, the definitive version of the Quick Step was actually developed over in England. American dancer G.K. Anderson brought the Foxtrot to London and partnered with Josephine Bradley in dance competitions, winning numerous trophies. The English favored new dances from America and put their own spin on them. In 1927, the Quick Step emerged as its own style when Frank Ford and Molly Spain danced together at the Star Dance Championships. Within a year it had caught on as its own dance craze.
The Quick Step follows a slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick pattern that requires rapid changes in balance to keep from landing horizontal on the floor. Your heel is on the ground during the slow moves, and the ball of your foot is on the ground during the quick moves. It takes a bit of coordination so you are not likely to be able to Quick Step and chew gum at the same time. You have to be very light on your feet and dance as if you have springs in your shoes. The Quick Step is one of the more energetic forms of ballroom dance, and it is enjoyed from London to New York.
If you ever wanted to bounce around with jubilation, The Quick Step may be the dance for you! So go out and learn this amazingly energetic and fun dance. It'll be worth it!
As the Foxtrot evolved and people began to distinguish different versions, the slower version became known as the Slow Foxtrot. Further variations developed, however, such as when the Slow Foxtrot was played too fast by many bands. The faster version was then known as the Quick-Time Foxtrot, and this was further simplified to the Quick Step in the late 1920's. Influenced also by the Waltz, which is danced in 3/4 time, the Quick Step is a 4/4 time dance with a speed of around 200 beats per minute. The movement is similar in many ways to the polka, as dancers move in a slow run using quick steps. The partners hold each other in a closed position, stepping swiftly around the floor in a syncopated dash that is punctuated with kicks, twists, foot crosses, hops, points and skips. It takes a lot of energy to do it right and is a lot of fun.
Perhaps no other dance has been influenced by so many different dances as the Quick Step, which eventually combined elements of the Foxtrot, Waltz, March, One Step, Peabody, Charleston, Black Bottom, and others. While the Foxtrot was all American, the definitive version of the Quick Step was actually developed over in England. American dancer G.K. Anderson brought the Foxtrot to London and partnered with Josephine Bradley in dance competitions, winning numerous trophies. The English favored new dances from America and put their own spin on them. In 1927, the Quick Step emerged as its own style when Frank Ford and Molly Spain danced together at the Star Dance Championships. Within a year it had caught on as its own dance craze.
The Quick Step follows a slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick pattern that requires rapid changes in balance to keep from landing horizontal on the floor. Your heel is on the ground during the slow moves, and the ball of your foot is on the ground during the quick moves. It takes a bit of coordination so you are not likely to be able to Quick Step and chew gum at the same time. You have to be very light on your feet and dance as if you have springs in your shoes. The Quick Step is one of the more energetic forms of ballroom dance, and it is enjoyed from London to New York.
If you ever wanted to bounce around with jubilation, The Quick Step may be the dance for you! So go out and learn this amazingly energetic and fun dance. It'll be worth it!
About the Author:
Tony and Melanie have been dancing, coaching, performing and creating amazing choreography for over thirty years. The own NYC's premier dance center If you want to learn more background of any dances make sure you check out their website. They are currently coachingdance lessons in NYC
