The origin of the foxtrot is attributed to Henry Fox, a vaudeville performer from the early 1900s. In a 1914 show in New York, Fox showcased trotting steps set to ragtime music in what quickly became known as "Fox's Trot." The dance was an instant hit and was smoothed and altered by various people over the years to gain the look that it is popular today.
The foxtrot uses a combination of quick and slow steps that allows for more flexibility in performance than other dances. The dance is performed to music in 4/4 time. It's commonly seen in competition, but also at weddings and in clubs.
Characteristics of the foxtrot include smooth, gliding movements that can travel around or remain in one spot. The movements are set to various slow and quick rhythms, allowing for the use of syncopated rhythms as needed.
Variations of the foxtrot include American, International, Quickstep, Peabody and Roseland.
Common basic steps include the left corner turn, promenade, promenade with a spin, grapevines, hesitations, swing step, swing step with a spin, chasse, right corner turn, zig zags and box timing.
-Swivels
-Twinkles (including forward, back, and walkaround)
-Promenade/Counter Promenade
-Basic step back
-Right Box
-Change Steps