In 1914, Harry Fox danced his version of trotting on the stage of the Ziegfield Follies. Soon after it was popularized in New York in the 1930’s and became the more refined dance we know it as today when it traveled to England. The English smoothed out the dance and created an elegant form that borrowed style and patterns from Waltz. Danced in 4/4 time, Foxtrot is characterized by smooth, gliding steps and an easygoing look. The Foxtrot can be danced to many styles of music, but is typically danced to big band music which encompassed nearly all music released in the early years of Foxtrot.
At the beginning of the 20th century, African American musicians such as Scott Joplin began to compose syncopated ragtime music. Out of the music came many dances with entertaining names such as the Turkey Trot, Monkey Dance, Horse Trot, Grizzly Bear, Bunny Hug, and Kangaroo Dip. The dances used jerky movements because of the characteristics of ragtime. Many of the steps actually imitated the movements of wild animals.
In 1914, Harry Fox danced his version of trotting on the stage of the Ziegfield Follies. Soon after it was popularized in New York in the 1930’s and became the more refined dance we know it as today when it traveled to England. The English smoothed out the dance and created an elegant form that borrowed style and patterns from Waltz.
Danced in 4/4 time, Foxtrot is characterized by smooth, gliding steps and an easygoing look. The Foxtrot can be danced to many styles of music, but is typically danced to big band music which encompassed nearly all music released in the early years of Foxtrot. The social style retains more of the bounce from Foxtrot’s origins while the competitive style is smoother. The rise and fall in Foxtrot is not as embellished as in the Waltz since the emphasis in the dance is progressing down the floor. As the dance developed, slow and quick versions evolved within American Style and International Style versions of the dance.
Foxtrot was popular during World War 1 due to its accessible walking step for the basic step of the dance. It was easy for an inebriated soldier to dance it at a social gathering. Foxtrot remained popular through the 1940’s because it could be danced to swing music.
Today, Foxtrot is common at black tie affairs, wedding receptions, and is danced socially and competitively.
