History

The Foxtrot is a slower version of the Quickstep that was made popular by an actor called Harry Fox. It was originally danced to music associated with big bands but after the release of Rock around the Clock in the 1950’s it was associated with the music of rock and roll. It later was divided into two distinct forms with the quicker version known as the Quickstep and the slower version the Foxtrot.

The dance originally had both slow and quick steps but now includes chasses and twinkles.

The dance

The Foxtrot is a smooth dance that moves around the dance floor in a walking action that contains rises and falls. The International dance code has a closed position while the American version can have open and closed dancing positions. The dance has a similar style to a waltz but is danced to a 4/4 beat instead of the waltz and its ¾ beat.

The steps are in combinations of quick and slow danced to 4/4 time with accents on the first and third beats. Every slow step lasts for two beats and the fast steps are one beat each.

The styles

There are today three recognised styles of the Foxtrot:

• The rhythm or social foxtrot that is suitable for people to learn first
• The International style Slow Foxtrot
• The American style Foxtrot

Dance moves

Dance moves include:

• Back twinkle
• Twinkle
• Forward basic
• Back basic
• Grapevines
• Left box turn
• Right box turn
• Hesitation right and left turns
• Progressive turns
• Promenade pivot
• Promenade
• Side sway