Time to release the breaks:.... its Quickstep time. For me Quickstep is the fun part of the five
modern dances, there are no limitations in speed, movement, rotation and last but not least,
to make fun on the competition floor. The quickstep for me is a great bottle of Champagne
which opens when the music starts to play.
It also a dance were we leave the "Feet Skimming" principle from the other dances, now sometimes
a full flight action through the air is allowed in the modern way of Quickstep. To do this
successfully with two people requires training and synchronisation.
Due to the speed your body needs extra toning and the feet and ankles need the right speed
to be able to dance a sharp contrast between the Slows and Quicks. The knees and legs are sometimes
just before you land more toned to capture your full body weight.
Best Regards
Piet Rullens
Attention: This Information,
may not be reproduced without our written permission
signed: © Piet Rullens, Rullens Dance Consultancy
1996 all rights reserved For reactions and messages send your mail to:
piet@rullens.com
The Quickstep is derived from the Foxtrot. During the twenties many bands played the Slow Foxtrot
too fast, 50 Bars/min, the large open steps from the Foxtrot could not be danced on this speed.
The English developed from the original Charleston a progressive dance without kicks and made a
mixture with the above mentioned fast foxtrot the called this dance "the Quicktime Foxtrot and Charleston".
The English couple Frank Ford and Molly Spain danced on the 'Star' Championships of 1927
a version of this Quicktime Foxtrot and Charleston without the characteristic Charleston
knee actions and made it a dance for two instead of solo. The figures were Quarter Turns, Cross Chassées,
Zig-zags, Cortes, Open Revers Turns, and Flat Charleston. In 1928/1929 the Quickstep was
definitly born with the characteristic chassées steps.
- Character: Lively, Alert and Twinkling, Pleasure
- Movement: Speedy, Tricksteps, mixture of Flight and Grounded Spatial movements
- Timing: 4/4
- Bars/min: 50 according the IDSF Rules
- Accent: On beat 1 and 3
- Competition: 1,5 - 2 minutes
- Rise and Fall: Com to rise e/o 1, Continue for 2 and 3, Up/Lower e/o 4
- Dynamics: Flow, Flight and Grounded motions
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Two bodies moving in the speed of the quickstep require first of all a high level
of synchronisation and common understanding about leg tension and usage of the ankles.
During execution of the "Tricksteps" both need the same toning of feet and legs, comparable
as in the "Jive".
To achieve the right musical interpretation the timing of the "Slows should be slightly extended
to force a sharp action in the ankles in the "Quicks. Floorcraft is required in this dance more
than in the others.
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I have found my personal favourites:
- Christopher Hawkins and Hazel Newberry
- Marcus and Karin Hilton
- Luca Barricchi and Loraine Barry
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The CD's that flow into my mind when writing this page are the following:
- "Nah Neh Nah" Vaya Con Dios.
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