Take Your First Steps

So, you want to dance but you've never danced before?  No problem!  I have the perfect place to start!

There is this little dance called Foxtrot.  American Smooth Foxtrot to be exact, but we won't delve too deep into those details right now.

All you need to start are your own two feet!

Okay, but in all seriousness, here are the two basic figures you will be using in the very beginning.  I get other maneuvering steps for you later.
                                                                              
Forward basic:  

Men:  Step Forward on Left foot, forward on right, then to the side on your left, and close the right to your left.

Ladies:  Step Back on Right foot, Back on Left, then step to the side on your right, and close the left foot to the left.

As you can see, the term "Forward Basic" is referring to the direction in which the man is moving.  We always refer to the direction in which the man is moving when talking about ballroom.  This is mainly because he is leading.

Back Basic:

Men:  Step Back on the left foot, back on the right, then side on the left, and close the right foot to the left.

Ladies:  Step Forward on the right foot, forward on the left, then side on the right, and close the left foot to the right.
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So, as we might be able to tell, both these figures move us to our left the tiniest bit, which brings us to the very important fact of line of dance which I discussed in an earlier post.

Practice these two figures until you have them down, and you should have a decent foxtrot.

What dance did you take your first steps in?

Leave a comment below!

-Aaron Mullen