Social Foxtrot: Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick
A social ballroom dance where couples travel around the floor to a slow, slow, quick, quick rhythm, turn at the corners, and open into promenade position. Students work on coordinated traveling, floor navigation, and social dance etiquette.
How to play
- Explain the line of dance: all couples travel counterclockwise around the floor. Each student walks the rhythm alone: slow (2 beats), slow, quick (1 beat), quick (3 minutes).
- Solo basic step: slow forward, slow forward, quick side, quick close. Practice it going forward, then backward, counting out loud (4 minutes).
- Partners in closed position: the lead travels forward and the follow travels backward with the same rhythm. On the whistle, switch roles (5 minutes).
- Corner turn: on the two quicks, the couple turns a quarter to the left to follow the floor. Place 4 cones at the corners as markers (5 minutes).
- Promenade position: the couple opens into a V, both facing the line of dance, walks one basic that way, then closes again (4 minutes).
- Mixer: with continuous music, blow the whistle every 32 counts; partners say thank you and move on to the next partner (3 minutes).
Rules
- The whole floor travels the same direction; nobody stops in the traffic lane.
- The partner moving backward doesn't look back and trusts the lead, who watches the space.
- Ask for and thank each partner with a polite phrase.
Variations
Easier
Dance only the forward basic in open position, holding one hand.
Standard
Basic step, corner turn, and promenade with a partner change every 32 counts.
Harder
Add an underarm turn for the follow during the promenade without losing the rhythm.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a student in a wheelchair travels beside the partner holding one hand and marks the quicks with a torso turn.
- Visual impairment: always dance in closed position, which passes every change of direction through contact.
- Shy students: start with a chosen partner and join the mixer in the second round.
Learning goals
- Move around the floor to the slow-slow-quick-quick rhythm.
- Follow the line of dance and the etiquette of social dancing.
- Adjust the step to corners and the available space.
Equipment for a class of 25
- music
- portable speaker: 1
Teacher tip
Quicks tend to speed up out of control, so count aloud for the first rounds. A slow swing song around 120 beats per minute makes the step much easier.
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