What is the Foxtrot
The Foxtrot dance is one of the most famous ones. It was invented by actor Harry Fox as an alternative for those who were unable to perform the two-step. Its steps are reminiscent of the two-step, but it has its signature “trots” added, which are intended to stagger out the more complex movements, to allow more time to prepare. The dance is most frequently used to big band music, ragtime, or regular old rock and roll. Eventually, two distinct types of Foxtrot emerged. One kept the original title, and one graduated to become the Quickstep dance.
The Foxtrot filled a gap that was left in the other types of dances. While still following the 4/4 rhythm that was so popular at the time, it allowed dancers to learn a catchy and trendy new move without spending hours practicing. This was good news for ballrooms that were becoming overcrowded due to the enormous popularity of the pastime. It is often credited with being responsible for turning dancing into an accessible and social hobby, since its steps give a higher level of flexibility and entertainment to anyone performing it.
The Foxtrot is a very progressive dance, and that means that you will have to adjust well to changes in beat. If the song starts getting faster, you’ll have to take shorter steps in order to keep up your lively trot. But in its essence, you don’t have to learn very much to be able to do a basic Foxtrot. It basically involves walking forwards for a few steps, then walking backwards for a few steps. If you watch some experienced dancers doing it for a few minutes, you should be able to catch on, and get out onto the dance floor almost right away.
To learn the Foxtrot, the best thing to do is to watch videos, or attend lessons with live instructors. You can read about it all you want, but that won’t teach you the subtleties of the movements that you need. However, even if it takes a little bit of effort to learn the dance, that is an effort that you should put forth. No matter where you are dancing, it will probably come in handy at least once. And if “Rock Around the Clock” gets played, you’ll definitely need it! So if you are interested in learning the Foxtrot, contact a local teacher and arrange for lessons.
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