Types of Dance ✦ Ballroom & Smooth
Light, bubbly and bursting with energy, the Quickstep is the happiest dance in the ballroom. Dancers seem to skim across the floor with hops, runs and quick chasses, all while keeping the elegance of a classic ballroom dance. At VM Ballroom Dance Studios, we break the Quickstep down so you can enjoy the speed without feeling rushed.
Prefer to talk? Call (321) 477-9959 or text (689) 334-0707
The Quickstep was born in 1920s England when bands began playing the Foxtrot faster than dancers could manage. Dancers blended the quicker Foxtrot with the lively Charleston, creating a new dance that was standardized in the late 1920s. Today it's one of the five International Standard ballroom dances.
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Getting to know it
Quickstep music is fast and upbeat, in 4/4 time at roughly 200–208 beats per minute. It's usually swing, big-band or jazzy pop. Steps are counted in slows and quicks, and the signature figure is the chassé, a quick side-together-side movement.
The Quickstep is fast, so it's usually learned after a dancer has some comfort with the Waltz or Foxtrot. That said, the basic quarter turns and chassés are simple, and many students find it the most fun dance they learn.
On the playlist
The basic is the quarter turn: a series of walks and chassés (side-close-side steps) that turn gently around the floor, counted slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.
Both are danced to 4/4 music, but the Quickstep is nearly twice as fast and adds hops, skips and runs. The Foxtrot is slower and smoother.
Yes. The Quickstep is one of the most aerobic ballroom dances and is great for cardio, coordination and stamina.
It helps but isn't required. Many students learn the Foxtrot first because the frame and footwork carry over.
It's a show-stopping choice for an upbeat first dance or a surprise routine partway through a slower song.
Learn it with us
Book a Quickstep lesson at VM Ballroom Dance Studios in Lake Mary, FL. Call 321-477-9959.
New to the studio? Ask about our introductory offer for new students. And if you enjoy the Quickstep, you may also like the Foxtrot and Jive.
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Get your intro offer when you sign up — $79 for (2) private ½-hour lessons.
