The Quickstep

The English are credited with developing and standardizing the Quickstep around 1927 from the Charleston and as a travelling dance. However the dance's basic origin started in suburban New York during World War I by African and Caribbean dancers who performed it. During the 'big band' era of the 1920's most bands played the slow foxtrot too fast and the Charleston also developed. The English merged the two as a progressive dance. In 1927 English dancers Frank Ford and Molly Spain dance the first Quickstep at the Star Championships.

Folklore says that the Quickstep was the English way of staying warm inside during winter as the energy expended to dance a Quickstep is similar to rung a mile.

Today Quickstep is one of the five main International Standard competitive dances and a popular social dance as well.