Quickstep

What Is Quickstep?

The quickstep developed in 1920s England from a fast branch of the foxtrot, fused with the Charleston — originally billed as "Quicktime Foxtrot and Charleston" before being shortened to quickstep. It is widely said to have debuted in its modern partnered form at the 1927 Star Championship, when dancers Frank Ford and Molly Spain adapted Charleston movement (minus its characteristic knee action) into a couple format.

It is characterised by a light, bouncy quality, with progressive chassés, runs and hops alongside figures inherited from the foxtrot, danced at a fast tempo of around 50 bars per minute — making it the quickest of the five Standard dances, as its name suggests.

The ISTD codified quickstep's figures and technique in the 1930s, cementing its place in the competitive International Standard repertoire it still holds today.

Quickstep vs Foxtrot

Quickstep and foxtrot share the same technical roots — quickstep developed directly from a faster branch of foxtrot in the 1920s — but they feel like genuinely different dances today.

Benefits of Quickstep

Who Is Quickstep Suitable For?

Learning Quickstep in London

Quickstep is taught at ballroom studios across London as part of the International Standard curriculum. It is a popular competitive discipline and also enjoyed as a social dance at faster ballroom evenings.

Zoltan's Ballroom and Latin, led by former Hungarian formation-team champion Zoltan Szalontay, lists quickstep explicitly among its Standard programme, with taster sessions available from its Victoria studio. Dance Delight is co-founded by Anna Stovba, Ukrainian 10-dance champion and WDC European ballroom champion currently ranked in the UK's top 5, alongside professional competitor Nikita Lobchenko. Voxta Dance Club teaches with ISTD-qualified instructors across four London locations (Finchley Central, Ealing, Northfields and Greenford), from beginner level through to exam and competition preparation. Vera the Diva Ballroom & Latin, an ISTD member school running since 2013, teaches the full Standard programme through 7-week courses.

Quickstep classes in London are integrated into standard ballroom training programmes. Beginners learn the quarter turn, progressive chassé and natural spin turn before moving on to more complex choreography.

The dance rewards both precision and personality, making it one of the most entertaining styles to develop at all levels.

Quickstep FAQ

• Is quickstep a good dance for beginners or is it too difficult to start with? +
  Most schools introduce it after waltz and foxtrot rather than as a first class, since its speed and footwork build more easily once you have some Standard technique — but confident, coordinated beginners often pick it up quickly.
• What's the difference between quickstep and foxtrot? +
  Quickstep developed directly from a faster branch of foxtrot in the 1920s, fused with Charleston — it's the fastest, bounciest Standard dance, while foxtrot stays smooth and moderate-paced. See our Foxtrot guide for the full comparison.
• How long does it take to learn the basics of quickstep? +
  Most students with some existing Standard grounding feel comfortable with the basic quarter turn and chassé within a handful of lessons; building full syllabus figures at speed takes ongoing, regular practice.
• What tempo is quickstep danced at, and why is it considered the fastest Standard dance? +
  Around 50 bars per minute — noticeably faster than waltz, foxtrot or Viennese waltz — which is exactly where the name "quickstep" comes from.
• Do I need a partner to join a quickstep class in London? +
  Not for most group classes — many ballroom schools welcome singles and rotate partners during the lesson, though private lessons typically expect you to bring your own partner.
• What shoes should I wear for quickstep? +
  Suede-soled ballroom shoes are strongly recommended — regular trainers grip the floor too much for the chassés, hops and fast direction changes quickstep relies on.
• Is quickstep used in competitions or exams (ISTD/IDTA)? +
  Yes — it's one of the five official International Standard dances, present at every level from Bronze exams through to top international competition.
• Should I learn waltz and foxtrot before starting quickstep? +
  It's generally recommended, since quickstep shares its technical base with foxtrot — most schools introduce it once you have a grounding in the smoother Standard dances first.