What is paso doble?
Paso doble is a march-like Latin dance that stages a bullfight: the leader is the matador and the follower his cape. Strong posture, sharp flamenco-inspired arms, appels (stamps) and dramatic poses on musical highlights define it.
History
Paso doble ("double step") draws on Spanish marching music and the corrida. It was shaped in French ballrooms in the 1930s and is usually danced to España Cañí, whose fixed musical breaks dictate competition choreography.
Basic technique
- Sur place, appel, chassé and promenade
- Sixteen, huit and banderillas
- Hitting the musical highlights in España Cañí
Music & tempo
60–62 bars per minute in 2/4, about 120–124 BPM.
Songs for paso doble
| Song | Artist | BPM | Key | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Gipsy Dance | Patrick Siben & Stuttgarter Saloniker | 118 | F major | 2008 |
| BIZCOCHITO | ROSALÍA | 117 | F major | 2022 |
| Amigos para siempre (Friends for Life) | Los Manolos | 118 | C# major | 1992 |
| Corazón | Gipsy Kings | 118 | D# minor | 2013 |
| Me voy | Gipsy Kings | 118 | E minor | 2013 |
| Samba Samba | Gipsy Kings | 118 | E major | 2013 |
| Los marineros | Susana Baca | 118 | F minor | 2001 |
| Caramelo | Gipsy Kings | 118 | A major | 2013 |
| MOTOMAMI | ROSALÍA | 120 | D minor | 2022 |
| Lobo López | Kiko Veneno | 121 | E major | 1998 |
BPM as measured by audio analysis; some tracks read at half or double the danced tempo.
All 13 paso doble songs by BPM →
What to wear
Latin shoes; men often wear high-waisted trousers.
How to get started
Usually taught after the other Latin dances.
Key partner-dance terms
Recent research
- Effectiveness of dance interventions for falls prevention in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. — Age and ageing, 2024
- Dance Is a Healing Art. — Current treatment options in allergy, 2023
- Effect of Ballroom Dancing on the Physical, Psychological, and Mental Well-Being of Oncological Patients: A Pilot Study. — International journal of environmental research and public health, 2025
- "I Hear the Music and My Spirits Lift!" Pleasure and Ballroom Dancing for Community-Dwelling Older Adults. — Journal of aging and physical activity, 2023
- Body Posture and Low Back Pain: Differences between Folk and Ballroom Dancers. — Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2024
Books about paso doble
- Modern Ballroom Dancing by Victor Silvester (1935)
- Ballroom dancing by Alex Moore (1936)
- A complete practical guide to the art of dancing by Thomas Hillgrove (1863)
- MODERN BALLROOM DANCING by BRYAN ALLEN, Victor Silvester (1943)
- Dancing by Betty Lee (1926)
- Dancing and its relations to education and social life by Allen Dodworth (1885)
Frequently asked questions
What is the paso doble song?
España Cañí by Pascual Marquina is the standard competition paso doble.
What BPM is Paso Doble?
Paso Doble is usually danced to music between 116 and 124 beats per minute (60–62 bars per minute in competition). Browse 13 songs that fit on our Paso Doble music page.
How many calories does paso doble burn?
About 404 calories per hour for a 155-lb (70 kg) person, based on a MET value of 5.5 from the Compendium of Physical Activities. See calories burned paso doble for every body weight.
Related styles
Ballroom Tango
England and the United States, adapted from Argentine tango
World & Cultural DanceFlamenco
Andalusia, Spain (Gitano/Roma culture)
Ballroom & DanceSportSamba
Brazil
Ballroom & DanceSportWaltz
Austria and southern Germany (from the Ländler)
Ballroom & DanceSportViennese Waltz
Vienna, Austria
Ballroom & DanceSportFoxtrot
United States (New York vaudeville)
Ballroom & DanceSportQuickstep
England (from the fast foxtrot and the Charleston)
Ballroom & DanceSportCha-Cha
Cuba (cha-cha-chá music by Enrique Jorrín)
Last reviewed October 2026 · Editorial policy