Paso doble figure separation explained: appel, parting from your partner and returning to hold in eight counts. Build-up, common mistakes and load on the feet.
The honest answer to “What is the separation in paso doble?”: it is a figure of eight counts in which the couple parts after an appel and returns to hold at the end. The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) catalogue lists it as figure no. 8 with the timing “1234 5678” [2]. In the description of the Roundalab standard, an American round-dance rulebook, it starts in closed position, changes to an open facing position at step 3 and is closed again at step 8 [1].
Important up front: the Roundalab rulebook is a round-dance standard (Phase IV), not a competition syllabus; competition schools and associations describe the separation slightly differently in detail [1][2]. Ask your teacher which version you dance. This guide explains the principle.
The paso doble is the “bullfight dance”: many figures have French names, the music is based on Spanish marching music from the bullring, and the man often shows “his cape” – the woman – while he marks time [1]. What makes the entry special is the appel: a single step in which the appropriate foot is placed firmly and flat on the floor [1]. It starts many figures.
And the effort? In a simulated Latin competition with 18 top dancers, the average heart rate in the paso doble was 182.5 beats per minute, the maximum 191.4; jive (184.3) and cha-cha-cha (179.1) were at a similar level, samba clearly lower at 165.3 [3]. That means even a short figure shows how demanding the dance is – for top dancers who dance several dances in a row. As a beginner you do not dance it non-stop but in small portions.
How hard is it really? With a partner the figure is roughly learned in an hour or two; until it looks calm and striking takes longer (experience value, no source).
The Roundalab standard describes sur place as four steps in place on the balls of the feet, normally in hold [1]. The appel is a single step: the foot is placed firmly and flat, usually the man's right foot and the woman's left; loud stamping is common but not necessary [1]. Milestone: you place the appel in a controlled, quiet way without losing your upper body.
Stand facing each other in hold and agree how far you part. In a study of 20 professional Latin dancers, they had a flexible spine and a forward-tilted pelvis; the study also analysed the paso doble posture itself [4]. So posture is part of the dance. Milestone: you know the frame and the distance.
In the Roundalab standard the figure runs like this: the man places the appel, steps forward, closes, steps in place; then he steps four times in place. The woman places the appel, steps back twice, closes, and takes four small steps forward to return [1]. That is two times four counts. Milestone: you say “1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8” and are back in hold at 8.
Play marching music and repeat. The march beat is clear in the paso doble [1]. Milestone: five repetitions that stay calm.
Watch footwork, upper body and that you do not stamp. Milestone: a video in which the figure looks calm.
The separation is not a risky figure, but Latin is hard on the feet. In a study of 198 elite adolescent dancesport athletes, 49.5 percent had already sprained an ankle and 45.1 percent had chronic instability; most sprains (88 percent) were on the medial side, and the most common mechanisms were turning and jumping (46.9 percent each) [5]. In a Dutch survey, 80.7 percent of active dancesport athletes had at least one injury, most often foot, ankle and lower leg [6]. Warm-up, suitable shoes and breaks are therefore not optional extras. If you feel pain: stop and involve your teacher or a doctor. This guide explains and motivates but does not replace supervised training.
A study with 56 ballroom dancers (20 novices, 18 recreational, 18 professionals) found for the rumba box and the cha-cha basic: the more experience, the smaller the ground force and the more even the values [7]. That was not the paso doble, so it is a transfer – but it explains why experienced dancers look “quieter” and calmer. Practise your appel deliberately without thumping; loudness is no goal according to the standard [1].
The appel is a single step in which the foot is placed firmly and flat on the floor, usually the man's right foot and the woman's left. It prepares many figures; loud stamping is common but not necessary [1].
It lasts eight counts, so two bars, with the timing 1234 5678 [2]. In the Roundalab description it starts in closed position and ends closed again at step 8 [1].
Yes, once your sur place is secure. It is listed as no. 8 in the WDSF catalogue [2] and in the Roundalab standard Phase IV [1], but only sensible to learn with a partner and a teacher.
In the simulated Latin competition, the average heart rate in the paso doble was about 182 beats per minute and the perceived exertion 7.4 on the study scale (jive 8.3, rumba 5.2) [3]. As a beginner you dance in portions and with breaks.
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