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Paso Doble

Dance
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A dramatic Spanish dance modeled on the pageantry of the bullfight.

Detailed Definition
Paso doble is a Spanish dance whose name means “double step” and whose theatrical style often draws on the imagery of the bullring. The partners may enact roles associated with matador, cape, crowd, or confrontation, using sharp poses and commanding movement. In poetry, the paso doble can suggest ritualized conflict, pride, seduction, and danger. Its clipped rhythm and striking gestures make it useful for scenes of ceremony where emotion is expressed through controlled display.
Example
Example in poetry:
A poet can invoke paso doble to suggest drama, precision, and the theatrical tension between bullfighter and bull; In a poem of confrontation, “we entered the room in paso doble” can imply stylized courage and mutual challenge; Sharp enjambments and emphatic stresses can imitate the march-like drive of a paso doble; A speaker may use the red cape imagery associated with paso doble to portray temptation, anger, or a dangerous public performance
Additional Notes
Paso Doble means “double step” in Spanish and dramatizes the spectacle of bullfighting, with one dancer often representing the matador. Its sharp poses and bold rhythm can suggest pride, conflict, or theatrical display.
Also Known As
Pasodoble Spanish Two-Step
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