Big band, smooth floor
Foxtrot: the dance that walks
Put on Sinatra or a big-band record and the foxtrot almost suggests itself. It’s a smooth, travelling dance that looks like effortless walking, which is exactly what makes it both a good place to start and a lifetime to master.
- Rated 4.9 on Google
- Founded by World and British champions
- Adults only
- No partner needed
Slow, quick, quick
Foxtrot is danced in 4/4 time, the same as most popular songs, which is one reason it feels natural to beginners. Instead of counting numbers, foxtrot dancers usually count in slows and quicks. A slow takes two beats; a quick takes one.
The pattern you’ll meet first is slow, quick, quick: one long step, then two short ones. Walk it around your living room to any swing-era song and you’ll feel the dance’s personality straight away, unhurried with a little lilt.
If your foxtrot feels rushed, your slows probably aren’t slow enough.
Which foxtrot are we talking about?
The word covers a few related dances, and it helps to know which one a class means.
Social foxtrot
A simpler version danced in a smaller space, the kind you can use at a wedding or a party. Easy steps, easy to lead, and a lovely first ballroom dance.
Slow foxtrot
Long, gliding steps that travel the length of the room with continuous flow. It looks the simplest of the ballroom dances and is often called the hardest to do well.
Its quick cousin
The quickstep grew out of the foxtrot played faster, then picked up hops and runs. Our guide to the quickstep covers that jump in energy.
Why it’s a smart first ballroom dance
Most adults at Beach Ballroom start ballroom with waltz or foxtrot. Both are slower, and both teach the frame, timing and lead and follow that every other ballroom dance builds on. Foxtrot has the bonus of being danced to music most people already love.
Our ballroom team has competed at World, British and national level, and frame, posture and lead and follow are taught from the first class. Ballroom group classes are added as groups fill and booked with a 5, 10 or 20 class pass. Most adults pair it with the waltz as a first ballroom dance.
Practising a travelling dance in a Toronto condo
Foxtrot wants room to move, and a downtown one-bedroom doesn’t always have it. You don’t need much, though. Practise the slow, quick, quick on the spot and in short lines down a hallway, focusing on smooth weight changes rather than distance. The long gliding steps can wait for the studio floor.
Socks on hardwood are tempting and slippery. Smooth-soled shoes on a rug-free patch of floor are kinder to your knees.
Take your first slow, quick, quick
A class pass is the easiest way into a beginner-friendly ballroom class. Already dancing and want a plan? A $99 consultation with a senior coach will place you at the right level.