zapateado

dance step and cadence

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July 20, 2026

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The term "zapateado" refers to a Latin American dance characterized by rhythmic stamping or tapping of the feet. This dance style originated from Spanish folk dances like the fandango and seguidilla, which were introduced to the Americas by travelers.12

In these dances, partners maintained a distance and communicated through eye contact and expression. The zapateado rhythm is often in a 6/8 meter and is facilitated by a grounded body posture with flexed hips and knees. The word itself comes from the Spanish verb zapatear, meaning to strike or tap with the shoe. The related term "zapateo" is also used to mean zapateado.213

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Latin American dance
Folk and popular dances
…to the measure), called the zapateado (rhythmic stamping). The flexed hips and knees of the asentado body position made zapateado easier to do. The dance opened with a brief promenade around the dance floor. Then couples faced, with partners acknowledging each other as they waited for the music to signal…
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…to the measure), called the zapateado (rhythmic stamping). The flexed hips and knees of the asentado body position made zapateado easier to do. The dance opened with a brief promenade around the dance floor. Then couples faced, with partners acknowledging each other as they waited for the music to signal…
Read More