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RHYTHM AND LATIN · SPOTLIGHT BALLROOM

Paso Doble Lessons in Sacramento

Dramatic and theatrical: a bullfight told in ballroom steps

Paso Doble classes in West Sacramento: Level 3-5 Ballroom/Latin Technique, Mondays at 7:15 pm, which works on Paso Doble among other dances. Ask us about lessons with an instructor.

  • 2/4 time
  • 120–124 beats a minute
  • travels around the room
See upcoming Paso Doble classesFeel the count
A Latin couple strikes a dramatic pose, her in a red top and ruffled skirt.
Paso doble is a progressive Latin dance: its marching basic moves around the room along the line of dance.[10][11]

About Paso Doble

Dance Vision calls paso doble a dramatic Latin dance of strong, bold movement and a powerful mood. Instead of continuous flow, it relies on striking arm and body shapes and controlled, assertive gestures.[6]

It tells the story of a Spanish bullfight: the leader is the matador, projecting strength through the arms and upper body, and the follower is the cape, moving like fabric. It is often danced to España Cañí, whose musical accents shape the choreography.[6]

How Dance Vision describes Paso Doble, summarised in our own words. Dance Vision’s own article: How to Dance Paso Doble

Feel the count

Paso doble is counted numerically over a strong, march-like pulse, and figures commonly run over counts 1–4 or 1–8. NDCA counts two beats to the bar.[4][5][3]

  1. 1
  2. 2

Time signature 2/4. WDSF competition tempo (2018 rules): 60–62 bars a minute (about 120–124 beats a minute)[1]. The slider runs from a slow practice speed (60% of the low end of that range, a way to learn a new pattern, not a rule) up to the fastest. The click sounds only after you press play.

  • NDCA lists 55 bars a minute (110 beats).[3]
  • Dance Vision writes it in 4/4 at 116–124 beats a minute.[6]

Upcoming Paso Doble classes

From the studio schedule, in Pacific time. Confirm a class with the studio before you come.

No class scheduled for this dance right now.

Private lessons are always an option: a free half-hour introductory lesson is a good place to start.

Try a free introductory lesson See every class

Also covered in

General classes that include Paso Doble among their dances. Each week can cover a different dance, so ask the studio which week is Paso Doble.

Songs to practice to

  • España cañí Pascual Marquina Narro (composer)[7]
  • Spanish Gypsy Dance Joe Loss Orchestra[8]
  • Bamboleo Gipsy Kings[9]
  • Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood Santa Esmeralda[9]

Titles only, taken from dance-music lists that teachers and DJs have matched to this dance. Use the slider above to hear the tempo first.

Where it comes from

The music comes from the Spanish military march tradition, and its bullfight association became prominent in the 1800s.[2]

The ballroom dance is described as emerging among the upper classes in 1930s Paris, drawing on the look of Spanish bullfighting. Its step names are still in French.[12][7]

The ISTD’s first Latin syllabus, in 1947, included a Spanish paso doble.[13]

Where it appears: International Latin[1]

Where people dance it

Paso doble is one of the five International Latin competition dances, and WDSF has a special music-length rule for it: the music plays to at least the second and at most the third musical highlight.[1]

It is mostly a competition and studio dance, less common socially than rumba, cha cha, salsa or swing.[4]

In Spain the pasodoble is played at popular celebrations, street festivals and weddings, and in the bullring.[2]

International and American versions

Ballroom paso doble is highly choreographed and competitive, while Spanish versions are more improvised and social.[2]

NDCA lists paso doble in International Latin at 55 bars a minute, and again at that figure in its Nightclub group.[3]

Sources for this page (15)
  1. WDSF Competition Rules (status: June 17, 2018 WDSF AGM, updated 01.09.2018), Rule E.3.2 tempi table and Rule M.1 Smooth Dance table Read 2026-09-23.
  2. Pasodoble - Wikipedia Read 2026-09-23.
  3. NDCA Rules & Regulations, July 2026 edition (National Dance Council of America), Section IX.B Approved Tempi Read 2026-09-23.
  4. Paso Doble Dance Guide: Music, Timing, Character & Beginner Tips | Ballroom Pages Read 2026-09-23.
  5. Paso Doble Music: Count, Tempo, Songs & Playlists | Ballroom Pages Read 2026-09-23.
  6. How to Dance Paso Doble (Dance Vision blog) Read 2026-09-23.
  7. What is International Latin Dance Style? (Dance Vision blog) Read 2026-09-23.
  8. Paso Doble - The music of Dancesport (George and Wendy's Dancesport Music Database) Read 2026-09-23.
  9. Songs for Ballroom Dancing, Part 6: Paso Doble - Collection (Lyrics Translate, community-curated) Read 2026-09-23.
  10. Paso Doble (Victoria Ballroom Dance Society) Read 2026-09-23.
  11. Library of Dance - Paso Doble Read 2026-09-23.
  12. Paso Doble: the Spanish dance from France (Delta.Dance) Read 2026-09-23.
  13. Latin American - Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Read 2026-09-23.
  14. DVIDA Directory | Dance Vision Read 2026-09-23.
  15. Dance Vision home page Read 2026-09-23.

Everything on this page is paraphrased from these sources, each read on September 23, 2026; nothing is copied.