Quickstep

Quickstep is an International Style dance that follows a beat similar to a fast Foxtrot. If you can imagine the song Come to the Cabaret from the Cabaret movie, then you are thinking classic Quickstep. However, while the dance may remind you of a fast Foxtrot, the technique and the patterns are unique to itself. For a sample listing of the Quickstep syllabus, follow the external link [1].

The Quickstep evolved in the 1920s from a combination of the Foxtrot and the Charleston, as bands started to play music which was too quick to make large open leg movements to which the Foxtrot required. The Quickstep now is quite seperate from the Foxtrot: unlike the Foxtrot, the man often closes his feet, and syncopated steps are regular occurances. In some ways, the dance patterns are close to the Waltz, but are danced to 4/4 time rather than 3/4 time.

Quickstep Competitions

The Quickstep is a very impressive dance to watch in Dancesport competitions. Each round is short, lasting only for one or two minutes, since the dance is very energetic and fast. Watch for the couples rising and falling with the dance, with accents on the first and third beats of each bar.

Along with the Waltz, Cha Cha and Jive, Quickstep is one of the main team dances perfromed at