Quickstep is one of the six tournament standard dances. It owes its origin to foxtrot, of which it is the faster variety. This dance is characterized by lightness and smoothness of steps, and the figures in the quickstep give it grace and liveliness. Learn more about the genesis of this dance and its characteristics.

Quickstep is an extremely joyful dance that will delight everyone with its lightness and dynamics! The dancers during the quickstep almost float above the ground, and the figures and music in the quickstep make it lively. In the United States, where quickstep comes from, this dance was one of the most popular and popular at various banquets and galas. Find out more about this interesting dance!

Contents:

  1. Quickstep - the genesis of dance
  2. Quickstep - dance characteristics
  3. Quickstep - technique
  4. Quickstep - tempo and time signature
  5. Quickstep - basic steps and figures
  6. Quickstep - most popular songs
  7. Quickstep as a tournament dance

Quickstep - the genesis of dance

Quickstep is a ballroom dance from the group of standard dances. Quickstep comes from the United States. It was established in the 1920s. It appeared in Europe for the first time in the first half of the 20th century, more or less in the 1920s, and came to England. Quickstep is derived from the foxtail and is the faster version of its predecessor.

Quickstep - dance characteristics

Quickstep is one of the swing dances. They are characterized by alternating acceleration and deceleration, which are similar to the swing motion that gave the dance its name. Due to the faster pace of the quickstep, the swing action is less pronounced in this dance. A characteristic feature of the quickstep are the numerous jumps that make the dance light and fluid, as if the dancing couple were moving in the air. Thanks to this, quickstep is an extremely energetic and dynamic dance. Another significant feature of this dance are "kicks", i.e. dynamic kicking with legs.

Quickstep is considered an extremely joyful and lively dance. He is charmed by lively, energetic music and surprising steps - excavations, numerous turns and energetic jumps.

Quickstep - technique

All steps forward inquicksteps should be placed from the heel and steps backwards from the toes. Side steps, on the other hand, should be danced on the soles.

In this standard dance, the legs must be led relatively narrow, and the weight of the body should be transferred alternately - from one leg to the other. As for the posture of the dancers, it should be naturally upright, with the hips of the partners facing each other and their heads slightly turned to the left. The partner should keep his hand at the level of his partner's left shoulder.

Quickstep - tempo and time signature

The foxtrotter is settled in an even time signature, i.e. 4/4. Its tempo is 48 to 50 bars per minute, making it the fastest standard dance (2 to 8 steps per bar). The quickstep has 4 beats per measure, 1 and 3 of which are accented. A slow stride takes two strokes, a quick stride one strokes. Rhythmic quickstep settlement is slow, slow, fast, fast.

Quickstep - basic steps and figures

Basic step in quickstep - the basic step consists of two slow steps forward and two quick steps to the side. Describing it in a little more detail: slow step starts from the left leg forward and ends with the right leg forward, and a quick step consists of putting the left leg to the side and bringing the right leg to it.

The quickstep basic step is also performed backwards. Then the situation is as follows: the left leg goes back, then the right one follows it, and then we put the left leg back and put the right leg to it.

Worth knowing

Sample figures and quickstep steps are:

  • Progressive Chasse - a step in which the dancing couple appear to be floating above the dance floor
  • Tipple Chasse - a chasse crotch figure with a slight tilt of the torso to the sides
  • Cross Chasse - this step modifies the chasse step, in which the partner leads the partner along a diagonal line and often changes the path
  • Woodpecker - a step in which the legs are kicked vigorously with jumps
  • Rocket - is a complex figure that combines two elements: progressive chasse and woodpecker, i.e. dynamic movement on the dance floor with digging the legs
  • Spin - a centrifuge, which consists in making vigorous and rotating in different directions

Quickstep - most popular songs

Initially, the quickstep music was played at a rate of 30-32 bars per minute. It was only after 1924 that they started to play at 50 bars per minute. It was around that time that the quickstep dance developed and separated itself permanently from the foxtrot, from whichcomes.

Music for quickstep is extremely joyful, lively and energetic. Music for quickstep is jazz music, which includes instruments such as saxophone, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, cello, violin, piano, guitar, double bass, drums and bassoon. Female or male jazz vocals are also a great decoration of this type of songs.

The most popular songs for quickstep are:

  • Big Kahuna & The Copa Cat Pack - "Come On A My House"
  • Siesta Standard Orchestra - "Billy A Dick"
  • Gordan McRae - "One More Time"
  • Richard Kleinmayer - "No Strings"
  • Big Kahuna & The Copa Cat Pack - "Hey baby!"
  • Dimie Cat - "Glam"
  • Gaby Goldberg - "Sweet Sweet Smile"
  • Swing City Giant - "Heap Big Chief"
  • Swingpop - "Avenir"
  • Jazz Dance Rchestra - "Cheri Cheri Lady"

From radio tracks and songs to quickstep, known on a wider scale, you can successfully choose such compositions as:

  • Caro Emerald - "That Man"
  • Chelo - "Cha Cha"
  • Vaya Con Dios - "Nah Neh Nah"

Quickstep as a tournament dance

Quickstep is one of the six standard dances that are presented at tournaments. In dance tournaments, the quickstep is danced as the fourth dance after the Viennese w altz in dance classes E and D. In higher dance classes, the quickstep is presented as the fifth standard dance and is performed just after the foxstroke.

Category:

Dance