Do Paso
Starting formations
Right and Left Grand Circle, Thar, Squared Set, Infacing Circle Of 8, or a "turning
your partner left" formation (the dynamic formation obtained from a square plus all arm turn your
partner by the left an indefinite amount)
Starting formations
Right and Left Grand Circle; Infacing Circle Of 4, 6 or 8; or any formation
where you end up facing your partner and have your left hand available.
Command examples
Do Paso
Walk Around Your Corner; Partner Left Do Paso
Circle Left; Do Paso, it's Partner Left, Corner Right, Partner Left
Circle Left; Break it on up with a Do Paso
Ladies Star by the Right 3/4, Do Paso
Four Ladies Chain, Star them home for a Do Paso
Square Thru, but on your 4th hand Do Paso (from half sashayed facing lines)
Do Paso, turn partner left and corner right, Left Dosado your own
Do Paso, partner left, corner right, Turn Partner Left and Men Star Right
Put the ladies center back-to-back, men promenade that outside track; Get back home, Do Paso
Dance action
Left Arm Turn with partner until facing corner and release armhold. Right Arm Turn with
corner until facing partner and release armhold. If there is no further instruction, Courtesy Turn
partner to end facing the center of the set. Otherwise, follow the next instruction, which will start with
a Left Arm Turn with Partner, or with a left-handed Facing Dancer call.
Ending formation
Facing center of set if ended with a Courtesy Turn; otherwise, either turning partner
by the left, or facing partner with a left hand available as necessary for the additional call.
Timing 12
Styling
All dancers' hands in position for forearm turns, alternating left and right. When the Courtesy
Turn portion of the Do Paso is replaced by a different call, then the styling changes to styling of that
call.
Calling Tip
Variety can be achieved by using various preceding calls (e.g. Walk Around the Corner)
to lead into the Do Paso, however it is not required. Do Paso is a standalone call.
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In an Alamo Ring in which the men are facing out, the initial arm turn will be left 3/4 so that everyone can head to their corner.
Do Paso is used primarily with a directional style of calling, in which many of the calls have vague or flexible starting or ending formations, usually in circles, thars, and squares. Dancers are expected to blend smoothly into the next call. The call defines a general pattern, but the specific parts of the call are typically cued (e.g., "Do Paso; It's partner left, corner right, partner left and hang on tight, make an Allemande Thar with the men in the middle ..."). Variations can be cued, but the caller should draw attention to the fact that the typical pattern has been broken (e.g., "Do Paso, turn partner left, turn corner by the right, Don't Stop Yet! Partner left and corner right, hang on tight, Boys swing in to a Wrong Way Thar").
The combination Four Ladies Chain, Chain Them Back with a Do Paso is an example of blending. See the section "Part 4: Additional Detail: Blending one call into another".
While primarily a circle-type figure, Do Paso may also be started from 8 Chain Thru (half sashayed) and Left-Hand Ocean Waves (boys on end).
Do Paso may also be used from circles of 4 and 6 dancers. These applications have received insufficient use in recent years and will probably require a quick walkthru.