Foxtrot rhythm vs. 4/4 music

[lebowski]

Beginner ballroom dancer here. Is the slow-slow-quick-quick movement pattern of foxtrot similar to swing, in that you have 6-beat patterns against 4/4 music?

I find this confusing, because when I hear the 1 beat, I naturally want to begin the pattern anew.

Is there anything particular about foxtrot music that tips you off that it's foxtrot? And is there anything in the music that lends itself to the s-s-q-q pattern, that maybe I'm not hearing? As opposed to, say, s-s-s-s (which would seem to fit the music better, even if it would be boring)?

 

[suburbaknght]

You're correct: the basic of American foxtrot is six beats long while the music is played in four-beat measures (and eight-measure phrases of thirty-two beats total). As you progress, the basic changes to SQQ, or four beats each pattern, and fits the music better. There are a few reasons why they do this that basically boil down to "easier for beginners" but then again most beginners don't have your ear for phrasing and don't even notice that the basic puts them off phrase.

 

[etp777]

Sounds like it's time for you to move up to silver/continuity foxtrot!

 

[Chris Stratton]

Sounds like it's time for you to move up to silver/continuity foxtrot!

That's really something driven more by physical challenges than musicality however. Its not that the musicality isnt important, its that it doesn't really become possible until both dancers can move slowly and continuously enough to achieve it - without having to pause and wait for the music to catch up.

The role of the ssqq dance is to train the rolling foot action needed for the sqq, and to have something to dance in the meantime or with those who aren't going to pursue that. Something like waltz or better quickstep builds strength in the forefoot for sustaining the risen parts.

SSQQ is not matched to the measures, but it is in coordination with the music. SQQ danced by the unprepared tends to come out as qqq which does not fit the music at all.

 

[lebowski]

As you progress, the basic changes to SQQ, or four beats each pattern, and fits the music better.

I listened to a couple of foxtrot songs again, and yes, what a difference! SQQ fits much much better. I'll never be able to do SSQQ to foxtrot again after hearing it that way.

 

[lebowski]

The role of the ssqq dance is to train the rolling foot action needed for the sqq, and to have something to dance in the meantime or with those who aren't going to pursue that. Something like waltz or better quickstep builds strength in the forefoot for sustaining the risen parts.

CS, a couple of questions, if you don't mind. By rolling foot action, do you mean heel to toe (as opposed to Latin dancing)?

What do you mean by the risen parts? Like the waltz, when you come up on the ball of your foot?

 

[Chris Stratton]

Yes, heel to toe, but also (initially) more challenging its backward complement toe to heel, especially in high ones.

In sqq foxtrot the third step passes rather than closes, so its necessary to smoothly and slowly carry the body weight through the moderately risen ball of foot from the second step on to the third.

Basically, if we look at the cycle of a step action there are parts of it where its easy to be arbitrarily slow, and parts that are very hard to spend any time in at all. SQQ foxtrot is ultimately about learning to even out all of the thtre steps so that there is only a gradual continuous speed up and slow down over the cycle of three, and not a surge/bump/pause on each step.

SSQQ foxtrot presents an opportunity to build the rolling part without having to worry about sustaining the rise or dealing with excess/premature momentum from crashing down after not sustaining it. Quickstep provides an opportunity to work on rise and fall at a tempo where you can add energy to catch the music instead of having to draw movements out in order to not get ahead of it.

 

[kayak]

http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=22501

For a similar discussion on swing vs 4/4 music.

 

[waltzguy]

SQQ foxtrot is ultimately about learning to even out all of the thtre steps so that there is only a gradual continuous speed up and slow down over the cycle of three, and not a surge/bump/pause on each step.

haha, that was me big-time

 

[j_alexandra]

haha, that was me big-time

Me, too. In fact, I'm going to lay claim to the Worst Beginning Foxtrot Student Evah. Chop, chop, chop, stomp, stomp, stomp. Teach is *still* making fun of me -- oops, let me re-phrase that: reminding me of how far I've come.