When you take Foxtrot dance lessons at Arthur Murray in Virginia Beach, you'll come to learn that it provides a good foundation for all dances; it's often called the “get-acquainted” or “first impression” dance.

History of Foxtrot dancing

In 1913, Harry Fox a vaudeville comedian, introduced a trot to a ragtime song in the 1913 Ziegfeld Follies that pushed other trots into the background. It became America’s most popular dance and remains so to this day as the standard of social dances.

Music for Foxtrot

Foxtrot music is written in 2/4 or 4/4 time. The first and third beats are accented in 4/4 time. The range of Foxtrot tempos makes it possible to consider Foxtrot as though it were three dances: Slow Foxtrot; Medium Foxtrot; and Fast Foxtrot, also called Society Tempo. Foxtrot has two major teaching rhythms: Magic Rhythm – Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick (SSQQ) and Box Rhythm – Slow, Quick, Quick (SQQ).

Characteristics of the Foxtrot dance

The basic components of Foxtrot are walking steps and side steps. Crowded dance floors or night club conditions require that all three tempos be expressed with short steps. In larger ballrooms the slow Foxtrot is characterized by longer smooth, gliding steps, demanding ease of movement and control in order to give this dance an unhurried appearance.

Foxtrot songs and artists include

New York New York – Frank Sinatra
My Baby Only Cares For Me – The Brian Setzer Orchestra
It Had To Be You – Harry Connick Jr.
Fever – Michael Buble