Let's talk about foxtrot.

[HothouseSalsero]

I didn't find any threads specifically on foxtrot, and I wanted a place where I can put down random thoughts about it.

First of all, I didn't stick with it long enough to become proficient at it, but I'd like to get back to it--eventually.

I took some private lessons in foxtrot with my salsa instructor. Ironically, considering the trouble some people have finding the beat in salsa, I had a little trouble finding it in foxtrot. That didn't last very long, but initially I just didn't hear it.

My x-girlfriend had been an Arthur Murray instructor briefly* and she was willing to teach me more about the foxtrot, but I didn't like the fact that she was less demanding than my regular instructor, which put me in an awkward situation. What she showed me was fine for dancing around my apartment, but I wanted to learn something more rigorous.

Much as I love salsa, I do like foxtrot as a change of pace, and it's definitely easier to make a smooth transition from foxtrot to hugging and kissing than it is to do so from salsa. Yes, much as I hate to admit it, foxtrot makes better foreplay.

*Can a salsero and a ballroom dancer find true love? Maybe not for very long.

[HothouseSalsero]

Let me add a question: how many basic types of foxtrot are there?

[Sagitta]

Okay.

What exactly did you learn? And what do you want to learn now? I think I know the two basics (qqs, ssqq), twinkle, follower cw turn, ssqq going forward (country dancing, I think it is), and the hesitation step.

Much as I love salsa, I do like foxtrot as a change of pace, and it's definitely easier to make a smooth transition from foxtrot to hugging and kissing than it is to do so from salsa. Yes, much as I hate to admit it, foxtrot makes better foreplay.

I know you wnat this to be a foxtrtot thread, BUT you brought up salsa. What about bachata. I think that it is perfect for foreplay. For the non-latin dances I would say NC2S. :|

[HothouseSalsero]

I think I learned ssqq.

The big thing that was missing when my x- was teaching me was that she was less picky about footwork than my teacher had been. My teacher was making sure that I pushed away, and so forth. Also there was something more interesting about the way my teacher was teaching me to turn.

I guess you're right about bachata.

(I'm not really serious about the true love thing, incidentally. I just don't like to use smiley faces very often.)

[Sagitta]

If you learnt only ssqq, then do sqq in a box, like the waltz. Once you are doing this you can translate a lot of waltz moves into foxtrot, thus adding to your repertoire. Make the slow the slightly longer step and quick quick, short step to side, feet together...

[Phil Owl]

If you learnt only ssqq, then do sqq in a box, like the waltz. Once you are doing this you can translate a lot of waltz moves into foxtrot, thus adding to your repertoire. Make the slow the slightly longer step and quick quick, short step to side, feet together...

Thanks for that tip Saggita! Foxtrot is something I don't do super often but I do enjoy it for a change of pace, with a good partner it's great fun!

[pygmalion]

Hmm. Foxtrot. The easiest and most difficult of the dances. HothouseSalsero, it sounds like your x-girlfriend was teaching you short-term, social dance style foxtrot, which isn't very demanding in terms of footwork. It's a lot like walking. Higher level foxtrot, the kind that can feel and look like flying or floating, requires the kind of footwork your salsa teacher was demanding -- pushing through the feet, contact with the floor, using the supporting leg, etc. The problem with that type of foxtrot is that it takes a long time to develop. A LONG TIME. But once you get there, it's a beautiful dance, to do or to watch. I mean really beautiful. The couple steps you've been learning are a great way to start. The basic step, box step, hesitation, left and right turns, are, I'm pretty sure bronze 1 - 5, meaning the generally accepted first half of the bronze syllabus. If you add an underarm turn for the lady, you have all you need to navigate a dance floor and give the lady some styling opportunities too. Also, most people who do any sort of foxtrot will be familiar with those patterns. Then you can work technique, starting with the footwork your salsa teacher has taught you.

[HothouseSalsero]

I think my attitude toward dance is a little schizoid: I don't really believe there is a right way or wrong way (except maybe for some basic things that depend on the laws of physics) to dance, but I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO DO IT RIGHT!

Also, I like a challenge if I like the dance to begin with. (I had a some group classes in AT, which was definitely a very big challenge, but I didn't take to the rhythm and feel of tango music.) I generally don't want to learn the "dumbed down" version.

I want to be a social dancer, but a damn good one.

[pygmalion]

I want to be a social dancer, but a damn good one.

I can relate to that. Being a damn good social dancer is my goal, too. Then here's what I think. Work on the footwork, but be patient with yourself. It absolutely will not come to you over night. But when it does, bam! Your dancing will be on a whole new level. And there's no reason you can't do the footwork and styling as a social dancer. You may be limited in terms of the length of your stride if your social dance partners aren't doing the footwork properly, but you can still do your part, regardless of whom you're dancing with.

[HothouseSalsero]

To clarify what I mean: "right" and "wrong" in dancing is almost mostly a matter of convention, although there are some matters of technique that probably go beyond convention (e.g., things like how to place your hand so that you help your partner remain in balance when she turns).

[HothouseSalsero]

pygmalion, Thanks. For now I am not even taking any classes in foxtrot (or anything else for that matter--except I am, at a very late age, learning how to drive, something that I do not find nearly as much fun as learning how to dance).

[Taita]

Well, if you like challenges, this is it. As pygmalion mentioned, Foxtrot is a paradox. It is both the easiest and the most difficult of all the ballroom dances. Teachers will often teach foxtrot as a means for beginners to 'get on the floor'.

However, this is often where the disconnect occurs. Many people stay away from it because they think it's 'boring'. Since it takes a considerably long time to master, very few dancers are able to do it well. Consequently, relatively few dancers see it done well (or even recognize it when they see it! :shock: ). When done well, it is a smooth sophisticated dance full of grace and elegance that is a true wonder to behold.

[HothouseSalsero]

What's interesting is that I've never been especially enthusiastic about challenges that required regular practice. I was never very interested in sports and had no interest in becoming really good at any of it, never learned to play a musical instrument, never learned a second language, etc. Now, as an adult, I've discovered the joy of pursuing an activity that requires practice. This is yet another thing that dancing has given me.

[tsb]

Well, if you like challenges, this is it. As pygmalion mentioned, Foxtrot is a paradox. It is both the easiest and the most difficult of all the ballroom dances. Teachers will often teach foxtrot as a means for beginners to 'get on the floor'.

However, this is often where the disconnect occurs. Many people stay away from it because they think it's 'boring'. Since it takes a considerably long time to master, very few dancers are able to do it well. Consequently, relatively few dancers see it done well (or even recognize it when they see it! :shock: ). When done well, it is a smooth sophisticated dance full of grace and elegance that is a true wonder to behold.
--------------------------
fortunately i had the bad sense to start dancing by taking foxtrot lessons of a somewhat dubious nature that incorporated a modified box step and a lot of release moves. but if i'd started foxtrot by doing the magic step i would have quit after a month. boooooring!

what i like most about foxtrot is that i have found a way to go beyond the formal syllabus and incorporate steps & holds from other dances that fit the music.

[pygmalion]

I found virtually all of bronze foxtrot to be really boring, until I started competition style training. Then things got interesting quickly. Even that basic walk-walk-side together step became quite a challenge, as soon as you added the footwork, posture, poise, hold and connection requirements. It became a different dance altogether.

[msc]

Int'l Foxtrot is one of my favorite dances. It's actually fairly easy to glide across the floor in a 2-dimensional sense, but if you want to be able to glide through rise and fall, now that's a much different story.

American Foxtrot ... can't say I'm that much of a fan. Usually it's a little too herky-jerky for my tastes.