Two dancing couples

Arthur Murray Dances

Fox Trot

Fox Trot History

In 1913, Harry Fox, a Vuadeville comedian, introduced the a trot to a ragtime song in a 1913 Ziegfeld Follies that pushed other trots in the background. It became America's most popular dance and remains so to this day as the standard of social dances.

Fox Trot Characteristics

The basic components of the Fox Trot are the walking steps and side steps. Crowded dance floors or night club conditions require that all three tempos be expressed with short steps. In larger ballrooms the slow Fox Trot is characterized by longer smooth, gliding steps, demanding ease of movement and control in order to give this dance an unhurried appearance.

Fox Trot songs and artists include:

New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
My Baby Only Cares For Me - The Brian Setzer Orchestra
It Had To Be You - Harry Connick, Jr.

Dance Styles

Here are just a few of the dances we teach at our studios. Click on any of the dances to learn more about the history, characteristics, and famous songs for that style.