Newcomer Waltz & Foxtrot

About Fox Trot

The Fox Trot is undoubtedly America’s best loved dance form. It is a smooth progressive dance characterized by continuous flowing movements. The original Harry Fox versions, which is a combination of walks and chasses is the Bronze level Fox Trot. The Silver American Fox Trot adds continuity while the Gold level features open, apart, and side by side movements, which were the made famous by the invincible dancing duo of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

A basic understanding of the Fox Trot’s rhythm makes it easier to pick up other dance steps. The first and third beats are accented more than the second and fourth. The dance features a combination of slow and quick steps with the most popular being slow-quick-quick and slow-slow-quick-quick. Every slow step counts for 2 beats and each quick step for one. The Slow step is long and graceful while the Quick steps are short and lively. 

The posture for the dance is upright. In order to maintain a lively trot and balance with your partner, you need to shorten your steps as the tempo of the music increases. It is always prudent to practice individually and then move into Closed Position.

About Waltz

Simply graceful and elegant, those are words that describe the Slow Waltz. The smooth progressive dance has been danced to slow ballads and instrumental music in 3/4 time since the early 1800s when it was introduced into the English ballrooms.

This was the first time a man and woman held a close dance position, which raised eyebrows at a time when society was not so forgiving or lacked a modern outlook. However, it was the criticism that made the Slow Waltz more appealing, a dance form that is here to stay. The Slow Waltz was in the International Standard category of ballroom dance forms although it is now officially termed as the Waltz.