Foxtrot

The first thing I'd do is stop imagining the breakdown of the SSQQ unit as two walks and a chasse. Try this instead: One walk and a half-box (or change step). If you think of two walks, it will show in the way you dance it... you will likely not use CBM or commence to rise on the second walk, and so the movement will not blend into the chasse. It's very important to think of the same blended swinging action between steps 2-4 of the Foxtrot as you do in steps 1-3 of the Waltz box. This will give your Foxtrot the desired ballroomy look.

When you look at Foxtrot in this way, you will begin to see how easy it is to translate figures from Waltz to Foxtrot. The "Magic Step" is really just a Waltz Closed Change (SQQ) with an extra walk (S) tacked onto the beginning. The Progressive Quarter Turns (aka "Junior Walk") are really just a Walk followed by 1-3 Right Box Turn followed by a back walk followed by 4-6 Left Box Turn.

You'll also begin to notice how even the figures exclusive to Foxtrot are really just Waltz figures in disguise. Magic Left Turn = Hesitation + half a box; Magic Right Turn = Naturual Pivot + half a (right) box, etc.

Conversely, you can translate Foxtrot to Waltz by changing SQQ to 123, or SSQQ to 1 measure hesitation + 1 measure straight... 1(23), 123. So a Magic Left Turn becomes a Hesitation + half a box (aka Arthur Murray Turn), Promenade becomes Promenade Hesitation, etc. It all translates easily. [Jonathan Atkinson]

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Last modified on: 2000, Saturday December 23.

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