Quickstep – not the passion of Tango, not the aristocracy of Viennese Waltz, not the sexyness of Bolero – but Quickstep’s characteristics are quick, joyful, energetic, light-hearted, smooth, glamorous, flowing, cheerful, graceful, exuberant, playful, weightless, spontaneous, and carefree
The History
Music of the 1920s played the slow-Foxtrot too fast – thus Quickstep became the faster version
Roots lie in the strides of Foxtrot and the quickness of Charleston, but without the kicks
Quickstep is also influenced by dances Shag, Peabody, & One-Step, plus ragtime music
Quickstep called “the QuickTime Foxtrot and Charleston” at a 1927 dance competition
Performed in Ziegfeld Follies (Running Wild) in 1923
The Dance
Quickstep – the fastest tempo of all the ballroom dances
Appears dancers’ feet are barely touching the ground
Quickstep is danced in 4/4 time
Dancers stay in hold (no breaks)
The movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with syncopation
Quickstep moves across the floor with quick steps, quarter turns, chasses, hops, runs, pivots, tipples, fish tails, swivels
Quickstep and it’s music are both happy and lively
The Basics
Quickstep involves fast movement, but the basic pattern is easy to learn
The basic pattern progresses down the floor in a zigzag pattern
The basic rhythm is slow-quick-quick-slow or slow-slow-quick-quick
Repeating pattern: slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick quick, slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, etc
Quick is one beat, slow is two beats
Heel leads on forward steps important
Both the leader and follower should maintain an upright posture throughout the dance
The basic, but with a spin-turn for corners
Closing
Quickstep is not for everyone because it’s not an easy dance. However, there’s no doubt that the audience loves watching Quickstep at its finest.
Great videos (can’t see the first one in my country 😦 )
I love figure skating (as you love dance) and I was always pleased when the Quickstep was chosen for the dancers’ short program… So much fun to watch both on a dance floor and on the ice!
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Dale,
Dang it … the first video is a figure skater dancing … so go to YouTube, then search “Charlie White Sharna Quickstep” … so you may find it.
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I did find it, thanks… 😉 And, I shall share an old video of our Canadian champions Shae-Lynn Bourne & Victor Kraatz doing the dance on the ice! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY9kHRjCsrQ
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That’s awesome … thank you. Easy to see why Quickstep is a good fit for ice dancing.
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Indeed! Glad you enjoyed! Pretty much every dance has been adapted for figure skating dance. This one was always one of my favourites.
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Ice dancers also adopt the fun and carefree approach to the Quickstep.
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Absolutely! And the ice surface gives the added bonus of gliding. Then again, it also makes it that much harder to not trip!
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The ice enhances the gliding … Quickstep is perfect for ice dancing, whereas the slower, more elegant dances emphasizes more body styling.
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I do love when you write about dancing Frank! The first video also not available here, but the others that I chose to watch were wonderful – especially the one featuring all the different dances, and Anton Du Bek who is one of my favourites! This is an interesting and informative post – thank you! xoxo
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Pauline,
Knowing you enjoy them, I was very selective when picking the videos showing the basic steps. Did you try? The first video is from Dancing with the Stars – and who knows why it’s blocked. Go to Youtube to search “Charlie White Sharna Quickstep” to see what you get.
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I love watching them dance the Quick Step. Looks so effortless, but I know it’s not. Looks also like a very tiring dance! 🙂
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Jackie,
Great observations … looking effortless while going fast & furious is quite the skill – and one that I don’t have. Glad you enjoyed this.
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I have trouble catching my breath just watching this…..
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Cynthia,
Understandable because they are flying. The opening video is one thing, but the last one goes to another level!
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You and your wife actually dance that dance, Frank? Wow! I’m impressed. Milton and I can barely handle walking down the sidewalk. I could only play the first video. I got error messages on all the others. At first I thought the problem might have been my computer, but when I tried to access other YouTube videos, they played fine.
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Lame,
We only do this dance at the basic level … I just checked the post from this end, so no clue what to say about the videos. Too bad because the last one is fabulous!
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The Quickstep is always impressive to watch! It’s often a crowd pleaser on DWTS. I enjoy a nice “slow” foxtrot, but I don’t think I would be very graceful with the faster version. I never thought about putting the Quickstep we see today with the Charleston! That was an interesting piece to put together. 🙂
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Debra,
A crowd pleasure indeed … and I hope you saw the last video … Quickstep on steroids … well, meaning at the highest level … and the crowd loves it!
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Oh I just commented on your satire post thinking it was the latest one, but no, you’ve already done the quickstep one! I enjoyed the Charleston vs quickstep video there – always love the Charleston. There’s something childlike about the quickstep, I don’t mean simple, it just reminds me of carefree children somehow when I watch it – does that make sense?
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Vanessa,
Carefree & childlike are very good adjectives for Quickstep. I also found it the Quickstep and Charleston comparison to be interesting as they came from the same era and similar music.Glad you enjoyed it … and hey …. I had video from your famous ballroom at Blackpool. 🙂
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I love too when you are writing about dancing 🙂 Thank you dear Frank, have a nice day, love, nia
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Nia,
Glad you saw this one because I knew you would enjoy it. Hope you saw the last video.
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Some one blocked the first vid in our country, but the rest that I watched I enjoyed…
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Bulldog,
Blocking of videos is a frustration as I get some blocked as well. Nonetheless, glad you enjoyed the others.
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And now I know – THANKS!
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Tim,
So much more than the one you watched …. which was a slightly different style. See the last video … and I’m sure that will be one that Mrs. Director will enjoy.
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What joyous movement! I so love dance, watching it just makes me happy. That ya’ll are learning and doing, I am both envious and clapping my hands in delight. I think one of these days you must put up a video of you dancing.
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Val,
Fun it is … hard to do, but fun with music of joy. I hope you watched the last video of the dance at a very high level.
As for a video of us, relax … the odds of it happening are remote at best … only in a group …. if at all.
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I watched them all! I loved the last one. Just beautiful.
You are simply no fun at all Frank.
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Yep … No Fun Frank
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I don’t, of course, believe that for an instant. Maybe you just need encouragement to allow yourself to be videoed’ it isn’t like you will be nekkid or anything.
😉
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Odds of a video of my wife & I dancing are slim … but I did have the one of me with the Downs adults.
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I do see all the work going into learning the quickstep, but alas I am not a fan.
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Catherine,
Quickstep is fast and furious. Plus, I know you’re not a fan because you keep telling me.
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It looks really hard, Frank. But very fun to watch! I suspect one could work up quite a sweat doing the quickstep – all the while having to look poised and perspiration free!
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Cathy,
We do sweat during an evening of dancing and while practicing the Quickstep formation. It’s fast, but at our level, the steps are easier … but still fast. When making a mistake, it’s not easy to return to the place in the routine … and one must be carefully of others coming from behind.
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Yes, sounds like multiple car pile-ups could be a problem! 🙂
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Absolutely … when I stop because of getting out of sync, I go to the center … thus out of the way.
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Good to have a safe-zone
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I haven’t watched DWTS the last couple seasons–just not enough time–but I do remember that dance Charlie and Sharna did. So great. I imagine the quickstep is like good writing: if it looks effortless, it probably wasn’t. It probably required a lot of work to perfect.
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Carrie,
To me, your authoring example is right on! BTW …. There are some good dancers this season that are also likable.
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I’m sure there are. Maybe I’ll catch the last few episodes.
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I think two are eliminated next week.
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Good to know. Thank you. I’d like to see Bruce Willis’s daughter dance. I imagine she’s pretty good.
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She very good … a potential winner.
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That looks like so much fun!
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Elyse,
Fun it is …. basics aren’t too bad to learn … after that, it happens fast and if the couple gets out of sync, getting back on track can be a chore.
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The quick step is always fun to watch (and quite a challenge to make it look effortless) You’re a brave one, Frank!
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Mouse,
We amateurs do make it look a bit frantic.
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My goodness! My feet were tap tap tapping as I watched your videos and read your descriptions. I love all things dance and this just tickled my get up and go. It looks so fun and lively, it’s no wonder you both like it as a hobby. Quickstep. Added to my list of things to learn.
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Lenora,
Cheers to you for liking this post … and wow … even a desire to learn Quickstep! Fun and lively it is!
PS: Life a bit frantic at the moment, so I’ll be visiting more in time … after all, I’m a strong believer in reciprocating.
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I can definitely see why you like it so much, and I’m sure you enjoy the challenge! Your dedication is so impressive and inspirational.
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Kelly,
We enjoy the dance … but we are struggling with the formation aspect for a variety of reasons … but thanks for the positive vibes.
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I can only imagine how much practice it must require. I’m sure you will get there 🙂
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I hope so … but time is short.
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Is their a deadline you’re facing?
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Very much so.
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When is it? For a competition I presume?
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No … not a competition … just an in-house group performance. Maybe a post about the trials and tribulations.
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That would be interesting. An inside look into your dancing world!
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I will mull it over.
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OK. Have a great night.
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Dang Teach. Am breathless. Period.
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Calvin,
My breathing rate increases just watching the last video … so cheers to your breathless state with this post.
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A very neat dance, indeed!
“lol” I got exhausted just watching the energy.
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Resa,
Oh yes … lots of energy in this dance – especially at the highest levels.
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Wonderful share Frank.Such a lovely collection of videos… Most enjoyable.. 🙂
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Sue,
I’m glad you appreciated this post, which was also fun to put together.
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Have a wonderful week Frank and keep on ‘Dancing’ 😀
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Thank you Sue … and to you as well.
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Couple 105’s got nothing on me – LOL
Looks real smooth!
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RoSy,
Absolutely nothing on you for sure!
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Awww…Thanks 🙂
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