What Is the Origin of Quickstep?
Although the quickstep was originally considered a "wild" social dance, it is today one of the most elegant and refined styles of ballroom dance. The quickstep was inspired and influenced by a variety of cultures, making it a truly modern and international dance form.
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Cultural Roots
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The fast-paced rhythm of the quickstep grew out of 1920s jazz clubs in the United States, which borrowed musical stylings from Africa and the Caribbean. The English added refining touches.
Dance Blend
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The quickstep took its steps and holds from other dances including the foxtrot, the Charleston, the Peabody, shag, the one-step and the waltz.
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Name Origin
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The dance was first known as the "quicktime foxtrot" or "fast foxtrot," after U.S. jazz bands played the foxtrot so fast that dancers had trouble keeping up with the music.
Name Evolution
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When Charleston-style kicks were added and the dance began appearing in competitions, the name was lengthened to the "foxtrot, quickstep and Charleston."
English Influence
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English dance couple Frank Ford and Molly Spain helped standardize the quickstep by making it a partner dance instead of a solo and by taking out the kicks.
Winning Dance
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After premiering their new-and-improved quickstep, Ford and Spain won the 1927 Star Championships dance competition. The characteristic chasse, a series of side steps, was incorporated by 1929.
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