Dance Foxtrot

Foxtrot

The music has 4 beats to the bar and about 30 bars per minute. Half a bar is one slow (S) or two quicks (QQ). Some step groups or figures are one and a half bars long making it impractical to count actual beats. It is possible to work in half bars (counting 1, 2 for each half) but easier to use slows and quicks.

The couple should remain in close hold throughout. Most steps are inline, with some outside partner (usually to the right) or in promenade position.

In general slow forwards steps are on the heel first. For backwards steps where the foot starts in front, drag it back on the heel until it passes the supporting foot. Then push back on the toe and roll onto the heel. This resembles "moonwalking" (as performed by Michael Jackson). Other steps may be on the balls of the feet but should glide rather than bounce.

Foxtrot turns tend to be open (ie end with feet apart) rather than closed as in the Waltz. Many figures have disputed beginnings and endings and tend to run together (the last step of one figure being the first step of the next).

Walks and Change of Direction

Walks are slow steps forwards (rolling from heel to toe) or moonwalks backwards. The Change of Direction is the easiest way to turn a corner. The man must take a large step on the right foot in order to get round the lady.

	Walks (FP, CH)		Change of Direction (FP, CH)
Beat	S	S	S	S	S
Man	LF	RF	LFX-1	RFS-1	LC br
Lady	RB	LB	RBX-1	LBS-1	RC br

Feather and Three-Step

The Feather includes a step outside partner on the right but where the figure begins and ends is disputed. Some sources claim the first slow step shown below is part of the Feather. The Three-Step is all inline but with beginning and ending equally disputed.

	Step (FP, CH)	Feather (FP-ORP-FP, CH)			Three-Step (FP, CH)
Beat	S	Q	Q	S	Q	Q	S
Man	RF	LF	RF	LF	RF	LF	RF
Lady	LB	RB	LB	RB	LB	RB	LB

Twinkles

The twinkle is essentially a change of foot between figures but may also include some turn. It is a quick forwards or backwards step and close, followed by a reversal of the original step. A twinkle may also be used to switch between normal opposite and shadow figures. One of the couple dances a twinkle while the other uses a rock or check step. Note that a close with weight for one person versus a brush close for the other can make the same switch in less time.

	LB Twinkle (FP, CH)			RF Twinkle (FP, CH)
Beat	Q	Q	S	Q	Q	S
Man	LB	RC	LF	RF	LC	RB
Lady	RF	LC	RB	LB	RC	LF

Natural Turns

The equivalent of the Waltz Natural Turn + Hesitation is a lady's Natural Heel Turn followed by a man's heel pull and brush. The final step may be part of the next figure. It can be used to turn a corner (turn the final step left to face the new line of dance and follow with a Feather Step).

	Natural Heel Turn (FP, CH)			Natural Heel Pull (FP, CH)			Step (FP, CH)
Beat	S	Q	Q	S	S	and	S
Man	RFX+1	LFS+2	RB	LBX+1	RC/S+2	LC br	LF
Lady	LBX+1	RC+2	LF	RFX+1	LFS+2	RC br	RB

The Natural Telemark is a Natural Heel Turn with extra turn and a Feather Step. It can be followed by any reverse figure. To turn a corner, just reduce the amount of turn.

	Natural Telemark (FP, CH)			Feather (FP-ORP-FP, CH)
Beat	S	Q	Q	Q	Q	S
Man	RFX+1	LFS+2	RBSF+3	LF	RF	LF
Lady	LBX+1	RC+2	LFSB+3	RB	LB	RB

The man's natural heel turn is called an Impetus Turn. It would normally follow the lady's heel turn like the heel pull. However, the last step of the Impetus Turn may be turned another quarter and be followed by the Feather Finish of a Reverse Turn.

	Natural Heel Turn (FP, CH)			Impetus Turn (FP, CH)
Beat	S	Q	Q	S	Q	Q
Man	RFX+1	LFS+2	RB	LBX+1	RC+2	LF
Lady	LBX+1	RC+2	LF	RFX+1	LFS+2	RB

	Impetus Turn ... (FP, CH)			... Feather Finish (FP-ORP, CH)			Step (FP, CH)
Beat	S	Q	Q	S	Q	Q	S
Man	LBX+1	RC+2	LFSB+2	RB	LBSF-2	RF	LF
Lady	RFX 1	LFS+2	RBSF+2	LF	RFSB-2	LB	RB

Reverse Turns

A simple reverse turn is a lady's Reverse Heel Turn followed by a Feather Finish (note the final disputed step). Advanced dancers can begin and end facing the line of dance. Make a half-turn over the heel turn and also turn the final inline step to the left to complete the second half-turn.

	Reverse Heel Turn (FP, CH)			Feather Finish (FP-ORP, CH)			Step (FP, CH)
Beat	S	Q	Q	S	Q	Q	S
Man	LFX-1	RFS-2	LB	RBX-1	LBSF-2	RF	LF
Lady	RBX-1	LC-2	RF	LFX-1	RFSB-2	LB	RB

The Telemark is a Reverse Heel Turn with extra turn. In the basic form, the man's next step is outside the lady on her right. Alternatively, for an Open Telemark, the man may underturn the lady to end in promenade position. He could then turn her square on a Feather Ending.

	Telemark (FP, CH)			Step (ORP, CH)
Beat	S	Q	Q	S
Man	LFX-1	RFS-2	LBSF-3	RF
Lady	RBX-1	LC-2	RFSB-3	LB

	Open Telemark (FP-PP, CH)			Feather Ending (PP-ORP, CH)			Step (FP, CH)
Beat	S	Q	Q	S	Q	Q	S
Man	LFX-1	RFS-2	LBSF-3	RxF	LdF	RF	LF
Lady	RBX-1	LC-2	RF-1	LxF	RFSB-2	LB	RB

Outside Swivel

This might be danced after a Natural Heel Turn. The man should be backing and the lady ready to step outside him on his right. He steps back on the left foot, turning right and dragging his right foot into a lock while leading the lady to step outside and swivel to promenade position. It could be followed by a Feather Ending.

	Outside Swivel (ORP-PP, CH)			Feather (PP-ORP, CH)		Step (FP, CH)
Beat	S	and	S	Q	Q	S
Man	LBX+2		RxF	LdF	RF	LF
Lady	RFX+4	LC br	LxF	RFSB-2	LB	RB

Natural Twist Turn

This is a Natural Heel Turn and an ORP Wing for the lady while the man dances the opposite of a Whisk and lets her untwist him. It can be followed by a Feather Step or Reverse Turn.

	Natural Twist Turn (FP-ORP-FP, CH)
Beat	S	Q	and	Q	S	and
Man	RFX+1	LFS+2	RkB+1	+3 untwist on L heel and R toe
Lady	LBX+1	RC+2	LXF+1	RFX+1	LFS+2	RC br

Weaves

The Weave is a pair of quick reverse turns with steps outside partner (just like the feather finish). It may start facing partner (eg after a Reverse Heel Turn) or from promenade position (eg after an Open Impetus Turn). There is also a Natural Weave but this is a rip-off as it is merely a natural heel turn followed by a reverse turn.

	Reverse Heel Turn (FP, CH)			Check (FP, CH)
Beat	S	Q	Q	S
Man	LFX-1	RFS-2	LB	RB
Lady	RBX-1	LC-2	RF	LF

	Weave Fwd-Back (FP-ORP, CH)			Weave Back-Fwd (FP-ORP, CH)			Step (FP, CH)
Beat	Q	Q	Q	Q	Q	Q	S
Man	LF	RFSB-2	LB	RB	LBSF-2	RF	LF
Lady	RB	LBSF-2	RF	LF	RFSB-2	LB	RB

	Open Impetus Turn (FP-PP, CH)			Prom. (PP, CH)
Beat	S	Q	Q	S
Man	LBX+1	RC+2	LF	RF
Lady	RFX+1	LFS+2	RBSF+2	LF

	Weave Fwd-Back (PP-FP-ORP, CH)			Weave Back-Fwd (FP-ORP, CH)			Step (FP, CH)
Beat	Q	Q	Q	Q	Q	Q	S
Man	LFX-1	RFSB-2	LB	RBX-1	LBSF-2	RF	LF
Lady	RFSB-3	LBSF-2	RF	LFX-1	RFSB-2	LB	RB