How to Dance the Foxtrot
Harry Fox, a Vaudeville actor, created the foxtrot in 1914. It is a dance in which the partners face each other, in the classic ball room position (man's hand on the woman's hip, woman's hand on man's shoulder, the other hands clasped and held to the side). As the man moves forward and the woman backward, it is the man who steers them in the direction they shall go. When the man steps forward with his left foot, the woman steps back with her right and so on. It is danced to 4/4 time (music that has four beats per measure), with the emphasis placed on the first and third beats. Read this eHow to learn how to dance the foxtrot.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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Basic Step Forward
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1
Begin the foxtrot by stepping forward slowly with the left foot if you are the man, and step forward slowly with the right foot. The right foot will pass the left foot before being placed, just as if you were walking forward.
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2
Move the left foot quickly to the left, and quickly place the right foot beside it.
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3
Do the opposite of the man when you are the female partner. You will move your right foot slowly back, then step back slowly with your left. When the man steps quickly to the left, you will step quickly to the right, being careful to stay before him at all times.
Basic Step Back
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1
Proceed backward in the foxtrot by stepping back slowly with the left foot when you are the male partner, then step back slowly with the right foot.
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2
Finish the movement by stepping left quickly, then placing the right foot quickly beside the left.
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3
Remember to step forward for this movement if you are the woman. When the man moves his left foot slowly back, you will step forward slowly with your right foot, then step forward slowly with your left foot. When he steps quickly to the left, you will step quickly to the right. Make sure you remain before him at all times through the dance.
Left Rock Turn
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1
Turn in the foxtrot by stepping slowly with your left foot when you are the man, then step back slowly and to the side with your right foot. Your body will now be facing the middle of the dance floor.
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2
Keep your body still facing the middle of the dance floor and step quickly to the left and place the right foot quickly beside it.
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3
Stay with the man during the turn if you are the female partner. You will start the turn with your right foot, and stay before him throughout the turn.
Moving Forward
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1
Progress forward as the man by stepping forward slowly with the left foot then stepping forward with the right foot.
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2
Step to the side quickly with the left foot, then place the right foot quickly beside it. Repeat.
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3
Mirror the man in reverse as the woman. Stay before him throughout this movement.
Promenade
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1
Promenade in the foxtrot by turning so that the man's body faces the center of the floor, and the woman's body faces the wall (she will still be directly in front of the man).
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2
Keep the man's left foot turned toward the center of the floor as he moves it slowly to the side. Cross the right foot slowly before the left foot.
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3
Bring the left foot quickly behind the right foot, then place the right foot quickly beside it. Repeat.
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4
Do the opposite as the man, facing him all the while, if you are the female partner. You will step slowly to the right with your right foot, slowly cross the left foot before the right foot, then step right quickly with your right foot, and quickly place your left foot beside it. Repeat.
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