FOXTROT

Foxtrot

With the arrival of Ragtime music in the late 19th century, a smooth dance like the Waltz would not do. Dances like the Turkey Trot, Monkey Dance, Horse Trot, and Bunny Hug emerged. Ragtime demanded dances with jerky, animalistic movements. In 1914, Henry Fox did his version of trotting on the stage of the Ziegfeld Follies and it became a sensation in New York. When the Foxtrot made its way to England, it was smoothed out. What remained was a smooth, elegant dance more reminiscent of the Waltz than the Trot's hyperactive past. In fact, many of Foxtrot's patterns have been adapted straight from the Waltz. Key characteristics of the Foxtrot are smooth, gliding steps with controlled movement and an easygoing look. The Foxtrot can be danced to many styles are music.