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Step 1
Listen to the beat of the music in each style. The foxtrot is patterned with 4 beats per measure of music while the waltz beat is 3 beats per measure.
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Step 2
Watch videos of the 2 dances. This can be one of the best ways to tell the difference between the foxtrot and the waltz. You can visit the Dance Crazy website for video clips on the 2 styles (see Resources below).
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Step 3
Notice the level of elegance exhibited in each dance. The waltz is known to be more graceful than the foxtrot. If you take a look at the steps performed by waltz dancers, their movements are smoother and more fluid than those in the foxtrot.
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Step 4
Notice the footwork in both dances as you try to tell which one is which. You can tell a waltz by the open turns the partners make, as opposed to the closing of the feet during each turn in the foxtrot.
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Step 5
Pay attention to how long it takes to do a turn in each style. Whereas the waltz takes 2 bars of music to do a 3/4 turn, dancers require more than 2 bars or measures of music to accomplish this turn in the foxtrot.
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Step 6
Listen for syncopation or the unaccented notes that fall outside of the downbeats of each measure. If you hear a little bit of syncopation, the music is probably meant for the foxtrot, not the waltz.
