The Foxtrot A Dance For Everyone Foxtrot Music

The Foxtrot: A Dance For Everyone!

Foxtrot Music As you learn how to foxtrot, I thought it would be fun to listen to some music you would dance the Foxtrot to. Here a couple songs you may be interested in: • Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald • Ella Fitzgerald- Cheek to Cheek • Frank Sinatra- Our Love is Here to Stay • Frank Sinatra- You Make Me so Happy

Dancing, an act everyone can do, but many shy away from because they don’t know the steps. Well, now you do or will, so embrace the music and put on your dancing shoes! Join me as I explain the basics of the Foxtrot; a simple and easy dance for impressing the ladies or enjoying a moment with someone special! Back

You’ll Need… 1. 2. 3. 4. A Partner These instructions Enthusiasm Patience Back

What is the “Foxtrot”? �Created by Harry Fox, a Vaudeville performer. �Couldn’t find a capable dance partner to perform the two-step (found in a lot of folk dancing – polka, Texas Two-Step). �Harry Fox decided to add trotting steps to ragtime music; a slow, quick, quick rhythmic pattern in 4/4 time or 1, 2, 3, 4. Back

First Step: The Starting Position 1 st: Face other with shoulders parallel, feet offset from your partners (your right foot pointed in between your partner’s feet). Men’s position Click me Women’s position Click me Hint – keep resistance in your arms by keeping shoulders, wrists, & elbows firm. Otherwise it will be difficult to sense which direction to go & what move to do next. Back

Men’s Position 2 nd: MEN -> Extend your right arm away from your body, bent at the elbow slightly to the side at a 90 degree angle and place right hand below the woman’s shoulder blade. (HINT: a. Your h t it w s i h allows right arm is the main support for the woman Tand ike the l k o o l can man to lead w/control, comfort, & east. ) The left arm is extended from away from your body, elbow is bent at 90 degree angle and your hand is cupped holding the woman’s right hand. Back to First Step

Women’s Position 2 nd: WOMEN -> Your right arm is extended away from your body t it a and slightly to the side at a 90 degree angle. Your right hand is h w his is k like T slightly cupped w/fingers together and placed in the man’s o oleft can l hand. (HINT: Allows for the man to lead w/his fingers and the heel of his hand. ) The left arm is extended away from your body slightly to the side and bent at a 90 degree angle and placed on the man’s right upper arm. Your left hand is slightly cupped and placed just below the man’s shoulder. Back to First Step

Second Step: The Simple Footwork Forward walking steps w/ the heel hitting the floor 1 st and the toe lowering as the body moves over it. Backward walking is the opposite, the toe hits the floor 1 st w/ the heel lowering as the body moves over it. The Complicated Footwork Forward Basic Backward Basic Left Box (Reverse) Turn Promenade (Traveling) Back to First Step

Forward Basic (Traveling) A combination of two walks followed by a side step to the count of 1, 2, 3, 4 or CLICK ME! Quick. Slow, Quick, Men’s Forward Back to 2 nd Step Click me Women’s Forward Click me

Men’s Forward Basic Count – style – footwork 1 – Slow – Left foot forward. 2 – Slow – Right foot forward. 3 – Quick – Left foot side & slightly forward. 4 – Quick – Right foot closes to left foot. Back to Forward basic

Women’s Forward Basic Count – style – footwork 1 – Slow – Right foot Back 2 – Slow – Left Foot Back 3 – Quick – Right foot side & slightly back 4 – Quick – Left foot closes to right foot Back to Forward basic

Back Basic Step: The reverse of the Forward basic; a combination of two walks followed by a CLICK side step to the count of 1, 2, 3, 4 or ME! Slow, Quick, Quick. (The man is moving backwards and lady forwards. ) Men’s Back Click me Back to Forward basic Women’s Back Click me

Men’s Back Basic Count – style – footwork 1 – Slow – Left foot forward. 2 – Slow – Right foot forward. 3 – Quick – Left foot side & slightly forward. 4 – Quick – Right foot closes to left foot. Back to Back basic

Women’s Back Basic Count – style – footwork 1 – Slow – Right foot forward 2 – Slow – Left foot forward 3 – Quick – Right foot side & slightly forward 4 – Quick – Left foot closes to right foot Back to Back basic

Left Box (Reverse) Turn: For a little more movement during the dance add a turn. Left Box Turn is borrowed from the Waltz, but with the subtle rise & CLICK fall action of the Foxtrot. The turn happens to the Left by. ME!the Man over 6 steps; Slow, Quick, Slow, Quick; 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2 Men’s Left Box Click me Back to Back basic Women’s Left Box Click me

Men’s Left Box Turn: Count – style – footwork 1 – Slow – Left foot forward. 2 – Quick– Right foot side. 3 – Quick – Left foot closes to Right foot. (up to 3/8 turn to left between 1 -3 count) 4 – Slow– Right foot back. 5 – Quick – Left foot side. 6 – Quick – Right foot closes to Left foot. (up to 3/8 turn to left between 4 -6 count) Back to Left Box Turn

Women’s Left Box Turn: Count – style – footwork 1 – Slow – Right foot back 2 – Quick– Left foot side 3 – Quick – Right foot closes to Left foot (up to 3/8 turn to left between 1 -3 count). 4 – Slow – Left foot forward. 5 – Quick – Right foot side. 6 – Quick – Left foot closes to Right foot (up to 3/8 turn to left between 4 -6 count) Back to Left Box Turn

Promenade (Traveling Step): Another addition to your basics. The “V” shaped dance position where the man & lady travel in the same direction, toward the open end of the “V”. CLICK ME! Both man and woman take two walks forward facing the same forward direction to Slow, Slow. Then turn and face each other in closed position and finish w/ side step to Quick, Quick Men’s Promenade Click me Back to Left Box Turn Women’s Promenade Click me

Men’s Promenade: Count – style – footwork 1 – Slow – Left foot side & slightly forward in promenade position. – Facing diagonal wall, traveling along line of dance (1/8 turn to Left between previous step 1). 2 – Slow– Right foot forward & across in promenade position CBMP? – Facing diagonal wall, traveling along line of dance (begin to turn Right). 3 – Quick – Left foot side – 1/8 turn to Right between 2 -3 count. 4 – Quick – Right foot closes to left foot – end in closed position, facing wall. Back to Promenade

Women’s Promenade: Count – style – footwork 1 – Slow – Right foot side & slightly forward in promenade position – facing diagonal center, traveling along line of dance (1/8 turn to Right between previous step & 1). 2 – Slow – Left foot forward & across in promenade position and CBMP? – facing diagonal center, traveling along line of dance (begin to turn to Left). 3 – Quick – Right foot side – 1/8 turn to left between 2 -3 count. 4 – Quick– Left foot closes to Right foot – end in closed position, facing center. Back to Promenade

Put it all together… The Basics have been explained and now practice is in order. Someday, you and your partner may even look like this: Check it out! Back to Promenade

Now, let’s test you’re Foxtrot knowledge!

What is the count for the Foxtrot’s forward basic step? A. Quick, Slow, Quick B. Slow, Quick, Slow, Quick C. Slow, Quick, Quick D. Quick, Slow, Quick

Where should the woman’s Left Hand rest while dancing the foxtrot? A. Lower Back B. Right upper arm C. Hand D. Back of the neck Back

What is one example of a Traveling step? A. Promenade B. Forward Basic C. Back basic D. Dance Positioning Back

Congratulations! Back

Congratulations! Back

Congratulations! Back

Not Quite. Back Harry Fox decided to add trotting steps to ragtime music; a slow, quick, quick rhythmic pattern in 4/4 time or 1, 2, 3, 4.

Not Quite. See here 2 nd: MEN -> Extend your right arm away from your body, bent at the elbow slightly to the side at a 90 degree angle and place right hand below the woman’s shoulder blade. (HINT: Your right arm is the main support for the woman Back and allows the man to lead w/control, comfort, & east. )

Not Quite. Promenade = traveling step Forward Basic = traveling step Back

See you on the dance floor! My dad and I dancing the Foxtrot at the Viennese Ball in Eau Claire, WI 2008 Back

Videos • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=HEIf 2 y. P_P 8&feature=related • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=w. GNG p. Sz. TLFY&feature=related Back

Resources • http: //www. ballroomdancers. com/Dances/dance_overv iew. asp? Dance=AFX • http: //www. ballroom-dancing-online. com/learn-how-to -foxtrot/ • http: //www. centralhome. com/ballroomcountry/foxtrot_ steps. htm • http: //www. dancing 4 beginners. com/learn-how-to-dance -foxtrot. htm • http: //www. dancetv. com/tutorial/foxtrot/index. html Back