In the context of International Standard category of ballroom dances, for some time Foxtrot was called Slow Foxtrot, or Slowfox.

In the slow category, further distinctions exist between the International or English style of foxtrot and the continuity American style, both built around a slow-quick-quick rhythm at the slowest tempo, and the social American style using a slow-slow-quick-quick rhythm at a somewhat faster pace. Over time, Foxtrot split into slow (Foxtrot) and quick (Quickstep) versions. Since that recording, by some estimates, went on to sell more than 25 million copies, 'Rock Around the Clock' is technically the biggest-selling 'Foxtrot' of all time. Famously, Decca Records initially labelled its rock and roll releases as 'Fox trots', most notably 'Rock Around the Clock' by Bill Haley and His Comets. When rock and roll first emerged in the early 1950s, record companies were uncertain as to what style of dance would be most applicable to the music. (Even the popularity of the lindy hop in the 1940s didn't dent the foxtrot because the foxtrot could be danced to those lindy hop records, as well.) The waltz and tango, while popular, never overtook the foxtrot. Today, the dance is customarily accompanied by the same big band music to which swing is also danced.įrom the late teens through the 1940s, the foxtrot was certainly the most popular fast dance and the vast majority of records issued during these years were foxtrots. It was later standardized by Arthur Murray, in whose version it began to imitate the positions of Tango.Īt its inception, the Foxtrot was originally danced to ragtime. They went abroad and in mid-ocean sent a wireless to the magazine to change the 'Bunny Hug' to the 'Foxtrot.' The Castles introduced the 'Bunny Hug' in a magazine article. The Castles were intrigued by the rhythm and Jim asked why they didn't create a slow dance to go with it. Jim Europe, the Castle's music director, would play slowly the Memphis Blues during breaks from the fast paced Castle Walk and One-step. Handy ('Father of the Blues') notes in his autobiography that Noble Sissle told a story that Handy's Memphis Blues was the inspiration for the Fox Trot. The dance was premiered in 1914, quickly catching the eye of the talented husband and wife duo Vernon and Irene Castle, who lent the dance its signature grace and style. As a result, he added stagger steps (two trots), creating the basic Foxtrot rhythm of slow-slow-quick-quick. French choreographer Yoann Bourgeois will present a new adaptation of Fugue Table (2010), a work in which the artist navigates imperceptibly between physics and poetry, dance and acrobatics.The Foxtrot (also: 'Fox trot', 'foxtrot', 'fox trot') is a ballroom dance which is often said to take its name from its inventor, the vaudeville actor Harry Fox however the exact origins are unclear.Īccording to legend, he was unable to find single female dancers capable of performing the more difficult two-step. Eyal and Behar have worked with NDT2 on an updated version of this mysterious piece. In addition, Sara (2013), by innovative choreographic duo Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar, will return to the NDT stage. In this piece, Goecke's idiosyncratic movement style, characterised by almost infinite variations of vibrating body parts, comes into its own to the music of Schubert, Schnittke and Placebo. This world premiere will be accompanied by the globally acclaimed Wir sagen uns Dunkles (2017) by associate choreographer Marco Goecke. After the success of his latest work for NDT1, Soon (2017), Walerski is now creating another work for the second company. Medhi Walerski himself danced with both NDT2 and NDT1 for more than ten years before fully focusing on choreography. In Sierra Oscar Foxtrot Tango, NDT will present a surprising mix of four contrasting choreographers, challenging NDT2's young dancers. The collaboration with various creators gives the dancers the opportunity to delve into different dance style, techniques and ways of working. Renowned choreographers from all over the world create work especially for young dancers. NDT2 has been in existence for more than forty years now and has grown into a completely independent company with its own repertoire.

NDT 2 was originally founded to provide the first company with young talent.

Foxtrot and tango