Tom Fromm writes:
17. DO PASO: Starting formation -circle of two or more couples. Each dancer faces partner or directed dancer and does a left arm turn half (180°) to face in the opposite direction. Releasing armholds and moving forward, each dancer goes to the corner for a right arm turn half (180°). Each returns to the starting partner to courtesy turn to face the center of the set or to follow the next call.

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 logical basic, then the styling reverts to that basic. TIMING: SS from start to finish of courtesy turn, 16 steps; to the next call, 12.

When it comes time to teach this move, it is almost a review with me. When broken down, it is a combination of arm turns and a courtesy turn. I have already been dancing them through this call, by breaking it down. As far as the teach, I will tell them the name of the call, and the definition for a straight (ending with a courtesy turn) Do Paso. I will then walk them through it from a SS, by having them face their partner. We will walk through it a couple times, from a SS. I will then tell them that it flows together real good if we are moving into the move. I will have the ladies star by the right, all the way back to their partner. I will then "cue" them through it, ending with a courtesy turn. I will tell them that later, we will work a different type of ending to this move, but this is a complete Do Paso. I will "cue" the move a few times, and wean them off of that crutch. As an attention getter, I will call it from a SS, but only to point out that it is the PARTNER by the left to start.
I will wait a few weeks, making sure they understand how this move really ends, before showing them "into another move". I will explain to them what we are doing as a different ending to Do Paso, and why it is important to listen to the next call, if there is one that requires something different. I will then walk them through a Do Paso, and tell them that instead of the courtesy turn, to turn the partner with a left arm turn, then you are looking at your corner, walk around the corner, ... See Saw, AL, and Promenade. I will use it this way, at least a week before I teach Thars. I figure, why make the habit so early. I also need to do what I can, to NOT make a habit.
In the definition, it says: Starting formation -circle of two or more couples. Can anyone help me understand about starting with a circle of two couples? It seems awkward, the way I think about it. I think about it as: Heads square thru, throw in a do sa do for flow (what there is of it), Do Paso. Do they face the partner and turn by the left, then turn to face the corner, turn by the right, then courtesy turn the partner they started with? If so, wouldn't this be a zero? Don't get excited, I didn't teach this way. I have never danced this way and would never try to teach something I don't understand. Or think I understand. .:)
Jim Penrod writes:
Tom, I have never, never heard DO Paso used in the sequence you mention above. ie, H sq. Thru, Do Sa Do, DoPaso. Logic tells me that it can't be done. First, they are not in a circle. Second, they are not facing their partner for the left hand turn; therefore, they must do a U turn back. Body flow AHHHHHHHHHHH. Now it would might be possible with the above sequence it the caller got those four dancers circling (just the 4 of them) then call Do Paso. If the dancers ended the call with the courtesy turn, it is no telling what shape the formation would be in since one circle may turn or work faster than the other. I would suggest to forget this idea unless someone else thinks of something that I am not seeing.
Juergen R. Weissenborn writes:
Yes, from a ZERO Box the centers will start with the person beside them, the ends will start also with the person beside them. (eg. Heads Square Thru - Do Pa So - #1 man with #3 lady, #4 man with #4 lady). It will be a ZERO.

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