by Angilina

Created on: July 26, 2009   Last Updated: July 31, 2009

Brief History:

The Foxtrot is believed to be originated by an American Vaudeville actor with the name of Harry Fox in 1914. The Foxtrot originated in the Jardin de Danse on the roof of New York's theatre, and since then the name to this dance was given as Fox's Trot.

Description:

Foxtrot has been developed as one of the most popular ball room dances. It is considered to be a versatile social dance, performed on both, the fast-western type and the slow tango music. Foxtrot is a smooth progressive dance which is characterized by the flowing or swing movements across the floor.

Styles:

American Style:

The American style of Foxtrot has many forms.

Bronze Foxtrot:

It is the original Harry Fox version of the dance which is a combination of walks and chases. It requires closing of the feet after side steps.

Silver American Foxtrot:

There is more movement and the fluidity.

Gold level Foxtrot:

It involves side by side movements.

International Foxtrot:

The International Foxtrot is also called as the Modern or Standard dance. There are two Foxtrots in the International style; the Fast and the Slow. The fast style is nowadays called as Quick step and is considered as a separate entity.

Foxtrot Music:

Foxtrot is an extremely versatile dance, but is usually danced to 4/4 music at a tempo of 30-34 measures per minute in Bronze style and 29-30 measure per minute in Silver style. The first and the third beats of music are more heavily accented. It is danced in combination of slow and quick steps, with each slow step taking two beats and each quick step one beat of music.

Foxtrot Dance Movements:

Foot work:

Forward walking steps are usually taken with the contact of the heel to the floor with the lowering of the toes; while the Back steps are taken with the toes first with the lowering of the heels. Side steps and the chases use the toes first.

Rise and fall:

In Bronze style, the rise and fall action is very slight as compared to the Silver and other levels, where the body rise and fall is quite consistent.

Contra body movements:

These movements are usually meant to start the rotational moves.

Sway:

Sway, which is the inclination of the body either to the right or left, is also present in Foxtrot, more particularly in the Silver and above levels.

Continuity:

A continuity step is usually made by three or more passing steps of the feet without any closing action. This movement is present only in the Silver style of Foxtrot.

Dance Position:

Foxtrot is danced with the normal ball room dancing

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