5 Foxtrot

The first written reference to the fox-trot was an ad dated July 26, 1919, in the New York Times. C. Hepburn Wilson offered dance lessons at his studio in the new dance. For a short time, Arthur Murray was a teacher of Hepburn’s who later went on to design a new “Magic Step” in the fox-trot rhythm. In reality, the fox-trot originated in the summer of 1914 by a vaudeville actor, Harry Fox. He held leadership jobs ranging from a circus performer to a professional baseball player. A music publisher heard him sing and liked his lyrics. He was then given a job singing in a vaudeville theater in San Francisco. Harry came east after the San Francisco earthquake and fire in 1906, finally settling in New York. While in New York, Harry started his show–Harry Fox’s Merry’s–and even found time to appear in two musicals. In 1914, the new theaters used vaudeville acts as fillers between shows. Harry’s new act included Yansci Dolly and her girls. His company of “American Beauties” was hired to dance between shows. Later, the roof of the New York theater was converted to the “Jardin de Danse,” and a nightly revue by the Dolly Sisters was the highlight. It was here that the fox-trot was born. Harry Fox was using trotting steps set to ragtime music downstairs between shows and then taking the steps up to the dance club on the roof. The dance was named “Fox’s Trot,” the club leadership promoted it on the theater roof garden. The fox-trot was a very significant dance development for 3 ballroom use. Including quick and slow steps, the dance exhibited much more style and flexibility than the monotonous one and two steps. Because of this variety in slow and quick timing, it is also one of the hardest dances to learn.

The Foxtrot, a dance of unparalleled elegance, is a smooth and graceful ballroom dance. Its defining feature is the long, continuous, flowing movements that traverse the dance floor with a captivating allure. Here are the key elements that embody the elegance of the Foxtrot dance style:

Timing and Rhythm: The Foxtrot dances to music in 4/4 time, with a smooth, flowing rhythm. The basic timing is usually slow-slow-quick-quick, but it can also be danced slow-quick-quick depending on the step pattern.

Movement and Flow: The Foxtrot involves smooth, gliding steps that focus on maintaining continuous motion. Dancers aim to cover a lot of ground, gracefully moving across the floor with long, sweeping steps.

Rise and Fall: The Foxtrot features a gentle rise-and-fall action, similar to the Waltz but more subtle. This rise and fall contributes to the dance’s smooth and flowing character.

Posture and Frame: Proper posture and a strong dance frame are essential in the Foxtrot. Dancers maintain an upright, elegant posture with a firm connection between partners. The frame should be relaxed but structured to facilitate smooth movement and clear lead and follow.

Footwork: The basic footwork of the Foxtrot includes a combination of forward and backward steps with a gliding motion. The lengthy and controlled steps emphasize keeping the feet close to the floor.

Style and Expression: The Foxtrot, a dance of sophistication and style, is often described as refined and elegant. With their smooth and effortless movements, dancers exude a captivating and inspiring style.