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| Learn to Dance :: Foxtrot - Online, in your area, DVD. |
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Timing: 4/4 (4 beats per bar) Tempo: 28-32 Bars per minute  Elegantly beautiful, suavely sophisticated and simply superb, the graceful Slow Foxtrot is the dance to which all Ballroom dancers aspire. It finds its roots in the Tin Pan Ally of the Twenties and now, as then, it can be enjoyed to the best of popular chart and easy listening music.Considered by many to be one of the most difficult of all the dances to master, with its flowing and continuous movemement, the Foxtrot offers challenges to all dancers. Often attributed to the vaudeville entertainer, Harry Fox the dance was recorded in a book called “Dance Mad” by dance instructor F.L. Clendened. It was given the name the Fox Trot in reference to Harry Fox. In 1914 Vernon and Irene Castle refined and popularised the foxtrot in their Broadway show “Watch Your Step” (1914-1916). Originally danced to ragtime style music, it later became attributed to the big band swing style of music, which stuck. All the way from its inception up to the 1940s the Foxtrot was one of the most popular dance style and this is reflected in the music of the time. The Waltz and Tango, which were also popular dances of the time, couldn’t come close to the popularity of this ‘new’ dance. In fact, during the 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll emergence the songs were often released as “Fox Trots”. Rock Around The Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets is potentially the biggest selling foxtrot of all time. Arthur Murray standardised the dance further and it has also been attributed to the Memphis Blues of W.C. Handy. The turbulent history of the dance takes nothing away from the elegance and grace of this dance. The ‘social foxtrot’ which is a basic version of the dance, introduces the dancer to timing and music of the dance. The foxtrot is sometimes referred to as the “slow” foxtrot or slowfox. The “quick” foxtrot, of course, is referred to as the Quickstep. American style Foxtrot differs from the international style, and is often categorised as American Smooth. The Foxtrot is one of the five dances danced in International Ballroom competitions and its elegance and beauty can be seen danced on the hit TV shows Strictly Come Dancing in the UK and Dancing with the Stars in the USA. Examples of Foxtrot Tunes: Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Mel Torme Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra Moondance - Van Morrison Pennies From Heaven - Frank Sinatra Haven't Met You Yet - Michael Bublé |
