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Teaching Foxtrot

Posted by Anonymous

4/4/2009 1:37:00 AM

I'm a student teacher hoping to start International Style Foxtrot with a beginner class after the Easter holidays.

I was going to start with Feather to C, Reverse Turn, Three Step & Natural Turn (as a basic amalgamation), having first done some work on walks (particularly backward), but wonder whether any teachers with more experience than me (ie none) would suggest a different approach or first amalgamation?

Re: Teaching Foxtrot

Posted by terence2

4/4/2009 7:43:00 AM

For a beginners class, not much else one could do if its FT....

I,m more curious why you did not choose Q.step ? ,and or waltz ..

Re: Teaching Foxtrot

Posted by Anonymous

4/4/2009 8:55:00 AM

The class has been dancing for a few months, and has already covered the basics in Waltz, Quickstep and a little Tango.

One suggestion made to me elswhere was to avoid the Heel Turns for lady (too hard?), and start with Feather Step, Three Step, Natural Weave and Change of Direction.

Re: Teaching Foxtrot

Posted by cbmp

4/4/2009 6:33:00 PM

The Natural Weave also has a heel turn. How about using just the Feather, Three Step, and Change of Direction in the sequence: Feather-Three Step-Feather-Three Step-Feather-...-Feather-Change of Direction (at a corner)-Feather, etc.

This is analogous to the beginner amalgamation for Waltz suggested by Alex Moore: RF Closed Change-LF Closed Change-...-Natural Turn (at a corner)-RF Closed Change, etc.

Re: Teaching Foxtrot

Posted by jwlinson

4/4/2009 10:43:00 PM

Our studio's Int. foxtrot beginner group class has always used the same amalgamation you mentioned first: feather, reverse, three-step, natural.

Re: Teaching Foxtrot

Posted by terence2

4/5/2009 2:19:00 AM

Avoiding Heel turns is virtually impossible, if one wants to actually " dance " F/ T.

They, are going to appear in Q/Step and Waltz at Br. level which will give ladies more opportunities for practice .

Set sequences for practice of " swing " and footwork, are all well and good, but introduction of components has equal merit .

I introduce the concept on the 2nd lesson of my classes .

Re: Teaching Foxtrot

Posted by Anonymous

4/5/2009 2:58:00 AM

Thanks for all comments.

My instinct is to teach the heel turns as soon as possible. I agree that you can't "dance" FT without them, and there's no getting away from that.

I might try Feather/Three Step down LOD as a first exercise, though. Heel turns in week 2 sounds like a sound plan.

Re: Teaching Foxtrot

Posted by Cyd

4/5/2009 2:58:00 PM

Learn the Heel Turn in both Waltz and Foxtrot. Then make sure your class understand that a Heel Turn, in the to be learned later Double Reverse Spin for the lady, is difference to a normal Heel Turn.
Anybody know the difference.

Re: Teaching Foxtrot

Posted by fabat50

4/5/2009 9:13:00 PM

as a student I would suggest learning heel turns early and practicing them often, particularly in a heeled ballroom shoe as they are not so hard in flats or bare(stocking) feet but made more difficult for me the higher the heel (more difficult to back weight).

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