As the story goes, the originator of the "Foxtrot" was one Harry Fox who performed in variety acts in New York vaudeville around 1914, creating the history of the Foxtrot. Born, Arthur Carringford in 1882, he was given the name Fox after his grandfather.
In 1914 Fox appeared at the New York Theatre with his company of "American Beauties" who were headlined by the "Dolly Sisters". Fox married Yansi, one of the sisters. At that time, the roof of the theatre was converted into the "Jardin de Danse" and between the shows, dancing was featured, including Harry trotting to ragtime music. At first, his movements included many short, trotting steps, as well as kicks, jumps and lunges. This became very popular in dance studios and dance halls and became known as "Fox's Trot"
Dolly Sisters
[ perhaps the beginning of the term "dolly birds" ]
Dolly Sisters
[ perhaps the beginning of the term "dolly birds" ]
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The "Foxtrot" became very popular and even appeared in early silent movies viz "The Oyster Princess" released 1919 by Ernst Lubitsch in Germany. Notice the jerky style with hops and skips. Interestingly, around the start of the 20th Century dancing was also becoming more for the "masses", rather than the privileged few. So the dancing went "below stairs" |
Vernon and Irene Castle were a husband-and-wife team of ballroom dancers and dance teachers who appeared on Broadway and in silent films early in the early 20th century. They are credited with reviving the popularity of modern dancing.
The couple reached the peak of their popularity in Irving Berlin's first Broadway show, Watch Your Step (1914), in which they refined and popularized the Foxtrot.
During the Jazz Age of the 1920s, the Foxtrot regained some of its earlier styles with some of the hops and skips of the Charleston. It became known as the "Quick Time Foxtrot and Charleston" and was all the rage. Indeed, it was titled the QTF&C and outside ballrooms of the time you would see notices "Please QTF&C quietly - respect the locals"!
Interestingly, the Charleston was only popular from 1924 to 1927, although its legacy remains.
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Here is an extract from an early 1930's movie showing the style of the Foxtrot at that time. The movements were more flowing but you can still see the influence of the Charleston. Indeed, the QTF&C eventually split to become the ballroom foxtrot and the Quickstep and in the quickstep dance of today you can still see elements of the Charleston.
You can recognise the main character as James Cagney, who before his movie career was a dancer and choreographer and produced many Broadway shows. The "winner" of the competition was George Raft, another "baddy" of the silver screen but who was also a brilliant dancer and is said to have been a strong influence on Fred Astaire, who used to go to watch him dance. |
While the dancing world’s elite was still trying to capture the unusual style and movement of the Foxtrot, G.K. Anderson, a very talented American came over to London and won many dance competitions with Josephine Bradley. He sealed the style of the Foxtrot with his signature dance.
Ballroom dancing, of which the Foxtrot is one type, was enjoying great popularity. It was needed to develop a dance form that could express the slow syncopated 4/4 rhythm and remain on-the-spot. The on-the-spot dancing became known as Crush, then Rhythm dancing. It is today known as social dancing.
Foxtrot quickly developed into the most popular social dance. It is the easiest to pick up and the hardest to master. Today, the Foxtrot is danced to popular musical standards such as Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. It is an extremely versatile dance and can be performed to such music as fast country-western as well as slow tangos. The foxtrot is a must-have in a social dancers quiver and it can be relied upon when all else fails.
In the American style, the Foxtrot is classified as a “Smooth” dance. In the international style, it is called a “Modern” or “Standard” dance. It progresses along the line of dance or otherwise counter-clockwise around the dance floor. It is characterized by its continuity, rhythmic rise and fall as well as rotation.
Ballroom dancing, of which the Foxtrot is one type, was enjoying great popularity. It was needed to develop a dance form that could express the slow syncopated 4/4 rhythm and remain on-the-spot. The on-the-spot dancing became known as Crush, then Rhythm dancing. It is today known as social dancing.
Foxtrot quickly developed into the most popular social dance. It is the easiest to pick up and the hardest to master. Today, the Foxtrot is danced to popular musical standards such as Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. It is an extremely versatile dance and can be performed to such music as fast country-western as well as slow tangos. The foxtrot is a must-have in a social dancers quiver and it can be relied upon when all else fails.
In the American style, the Foxtrot is classified as a “Smooth” dance. In the international style, it is called a “Modern” or “Standard” dance. It progresses along the line of dance or otherwise counter-clockwise around the dance floor. It is characterized by its continuity, rhythmic rise and fall as well as rotation.
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This exhibition of the ballroom Foxtrot, albeit by professionals Mirko and Alessia, shows the rhythmic and gliding movements that the dance has now morphed to. |