Foxtrot

Lore & Background

The origin of the name is unclear, though one theory is that it took its name from vaudevillian Harry Fox. Two sources, Vernon Castle and dance teacher Betty Lee, credit African American dancers as the source of the foxtrot. Castle saw the dance, which 'had been danced by negroes, to his personal knowledge, for fifteen years, [at] a certain exclusive colored club'. W. C. Handy notes in his autobiography that his 'The Memphis Blues' was the inspiration for the foxtrot. During breaks from the fast-paced Castle Walk and One-Step, the Castles' music director, James Reese Europe, would slowly play 'The Memphis Blues'. The Castles were intrigued by the rhythm, and Jim suggested they create a slow dance to go with it. They introduced what they then called the 'Bunny Hug' in a magazine article, but later changed the name to 'Foxtrot' via a wireless from mid-ocean. It was subsequently standardized by Arthur Murray, in whose version it began to imitate the positions of tango. At its inception, the foxtrot was originally danced to ragtime. From the late 1910s through the 1940s, it was the most popular fast dance, and the vast majority of records issued during these years were foxtrots. The waltz and tango never overtook it. Even the popularity of the Lindy Hop in the 1940s did not affect the foxtrot's popularity, since it could be danced to the same records. When rock and roll emerged in the early 1950s, Decca Records initially labeled its rock and roll releases as 'foxtrots', most notably 'Rock Around the Clock' by Bill Haley and His Comets, which sold more than 25 million copies. Over time, the foxtrot split into slow and quick versions, referred to as 'foxtrot' and 'quickstep' respectively.

Reader's Guide

The foxtrot's significance lies in its enduring popularity and influence on social dance. Its adaptability allowed it to survive the rise of the Lindy Hop and even early rock and roll, with Decca Records labeling rock and roll releases as foxtrots. The dance's legacy includes the development of distinct styles—American Social, American Continuity, and International—each with unique techniques and figures. The American Social Style remains a staple for beginners and crowded dance floors, while the American Continuity Style is used in competitive and theatrical settings. The International Style, also called Slow Foxtrot or Slowfox, is a standard in ballroom competitions. The foxtrot's ability to evolve while maintaining its core smooth, progressive character has ensured its continued practice today.

Did You Know?

• The foxtrot was originally called the 'Bunny Hug' before being renamed via a wireless from mid-ocean.
• Decca Records initially labeled its rock and roll releases as 'foxtrots', including 'Rock Around the Clock' by Bill Haley and His Comets.
• Two sources, Vernon Castle and dance teacher Betty Lee, credit African American dancers as the source of the foxtrot.
• The foxtrot split into slow and quick versions, with the quick version known as the quickstep.