Paso Doble Promenade 

by Harold & Meredith Sears

In closed position, appel R (woman L), step side L to semi-closed position (SCP), thru R beginning to turn right-face, side and back L to closed position (CP) man facing reverse; back R with right shoulder back continuing to turn, back L turning (woman forward R in banjo position), side R to CP, close L having turned a total of 1/2 right-face; (qqqq; qqqq;) 

This is our dance position at each step: 

1. CP
2. SCP
3. SCP
4. CP
5. RSCP (reverse semi-closed position; aka counter promenade)
6. RSCP
7. CP per RAL, SCP per ISTD
8. CP 

Roundalab and ISTD both agree that the Promenade starts and ends in CP and that it turns one-half. But maybe more often than not, round-dance choreography will call for the Promenade to make a full rather than a half turn, and to end in SCP rather than CP. Sometimes the modification will be indicated on the cue sheet and will be cued: "Promenade to Semi" or "Overturned Promenade" or "Promenade to Semi Line," but sometimes we just have to learn the figure for a particular dance.

More Paso figures here, or go to index.

this article was published in the
Dixie Round Dance Council (DRDC)
Newsletter, November, 2009