Ballroom dancing: Fox Trot Steps

Fox Trot: Learning the Steps and Dance Position

The primary steps contained in the Foxtrot include those involving the: footwork; rise and fall; contra body movements; sway, sway; and continuity.

The footwork includes putting the heel first in forward walking steps, then lowering the toe as the body moves over it. The toe is placed first in backward walks, with the heel then lowering as the body moves over it. At the same moment, the toe of the forward foot must release from the floor as the body moves away. The toe is generally used first with side steps and chasses.

In Foxtrot, the rise & fall is a much subtler movement than it is in the Waltz. The Bronze level has a slight rise & fall movement with most chasses. In Silver levels and above, the rise & fall is evident in a more constant three-step cycle. However, it is still more subtle than the Waltz due to the constant lengthwise passing of the feet.

The Contra-Body movement is characteristic of the standard ballroom dances, due to its smoothness in which the contra-body movements are done to accomplish the rotational movements.

Sway sway is the direction of the body when swings to the right or left with accompanying side movements. Sway is very evident in Foxtrot, especially in the Silver and higher levels because the movements are full and very sweeping. With Bronze Foxtrot, the Chasse movements utilize a more subtle sway.

Continuity is described as the constant passing of the feet as they move from one step to another without closing or chasse movements. There are normally a sequence of three or more passing steps that form this continuous action. These continuity movements are almost entirely lacking, or may even be prohibited, at the Bronze level, but are found at the Silver and above levels.

Getting Down the Dance Position

The dance position of the Foxtrot is normal ballroom-style, yet with a closed position dance hold. Thus there may not be any body contact, and if so, it is a more relaxed semi-closed hold position, sometimes used for leaning positions, or in social dances. With the closed position, the man and woman stand in front of each other and offset a little to the left. An upper hand clasp is done by joining the woman's right hand with the man's left hand at the eye level of the woman. The man places his right hand on the woman's shoulder blade and the woman's left arm gently rests on the man's right shoulder. This position should be firm, yet relaxed so there is so evidence of strain or tension.
 

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