Foxtrot

Definition of Foxtrot

The foxtrot is a traveling dance. Hitting the streets of New York City in the 1920’s, the Fox Trot emerged as a lively, bouncing dance which America’s youth went wild over. The Fox Trot was popularized by Harry Fox, a young vaudeville comedian who incorporated a bouncy, trotting step nicknamed the Fox Trot. The energy of the dance was what teenagers were looking for, and subsequently the only truly American ballroom dance spread like a forest fire across the states. Today, the Fox Trot has evolved into a dance of social elegance, characterized by smooth, graceful and gliding movements and enjoyed by people of all ages. It remains America’s best loved dance.

The Moves

Fox Trot's rhythm and form is written in 4/4 time, will help you to pick up other dance steps with ease. In the Fox Trot, the first and third beats of every measure are more strongly accented than the second and fourth.

The basic footwork pattern It is danced in combinations of slow and quick steps, the most popular rhythms being slow-slow-quick-quick and slow-quick-quick. Each slow step counts for 2 beats while each quick step counts for one.

It is danced in combinations of Slow (S) and quick (q) steps, with each Slow (S) step being long and graceful, and each quick (q) step being short and lively.

Some teachers call out the timing as typically performed in two different rhythms: Slow-quick-quick (Sqq) occupying one measure, and used in the Box Step, and Slow-Slow-quick-quick (SSqq) occupying one and one-half measures, and used in the progressive moves.

The basic step is easy. Once you feel comfortable with the basic counts of the Fox Trot, begin practicing the variations. Movements in the Fox Trot should be graceful and smooth with long, reaching slow (S) steps and lively quick (q) steps. There should be no motion above the hips. Only the legs should move. Slow steps should be led with the heel of the foot while quick steps should be taken on the ball of the foot. The faster the music is, the shorter the step. Remember, the Fox Trot is for walkers, not runners!
<< Back to top

The Music

The foxtrot is typically danced to big band swing-style music written in 4/4 time. The music tempo is 120 to 136 beats per minute. Foxtrot music is often suitable for swing dancing as well as for foxtrot dancing.
<< Back to top

History

Named after its inventor, entertainer Harry Fox, the foxtrot was first developed in the United States in the 1920’s. The foxtrot is often associated with the style of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Behind the waltz, the foxtrot would become the second most popular ballroom dance in history. The Foxtrot was refined and further developed by the British to yield the version we dance today.
<< Back to top

Tips & Info

Here are some "universal tips" for learning how to dance a partner dance such as bachata.

First, acquire a few audio CD's of the music and play the music over and over in your home or automobile.
Next, count the step timing in time to the music. This you can do sitting down, perhaps while driving. For example, for waltz, call out the 1,2,3 1,2,3 step timing in time to the music. For foxtrot, call out the step timing using slows and quicks. For cha cha and rumba, it's important to recognize the first beat of each measure. Otherwise you may dance on the incorrect beat. If necessary,
Have your instructor assist you in learning to count the step in time to the music. Dancing in correct time to the music is absolutely essential. Continue this "sitting down and listening" exercise for as long as necessary until you can easily and automatically count the step in time to the music. The 18 Dance Practice CD sold by 18Dance Store might be a helpful
tool.
Next, practice the basic step, including the step timing, until the step is automatic - like tying a shoe. Using east coast swing as an example, practice the triple step, triple step, rock step basic until it's automatic. Next, practice this basic to music until it becomes automatic. Many basic steps can be practiced without a partner.

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ News ] [ Salsa ] [ Casino Reuda ] [ Bachata ] [ Merengue ] [ Zouk ] [ Bar Top Dance ] [ Club Dance ] [ Sensual & Exotic ] [ Belly Dance ] [ Hip Hop ] [ Ballet ] [ Tap ] [ Argentine Tango ]