Hate is a strong word.

It was exactly how I felt. Pure, unbridled, seething hatred.

The day I found out that all of my beloved swing music was actually Foxtrot. I didn’t know what Foxtrot was, but I decided not to like it. How could this ultra-hip, old-school, vodka gimlet swilling swing music betray me? And especially for that hoppity hop Fox-something?

Eventually, I learned the dance (work reasons – go figure). My feelings of betrayal and disbelief were systematically swapped out after each private lesson and group class where I found myself teaching and dancing more and more Foxtrot.

It Was Happening

My relationship with Foxtrot was the plot of a romantic comedy. You know the one – guy moves to an apartment. Girl next door is beautiful, but could use some sensitivity training. They can’t stand each other. They’re both looking for “something.” He fixes her VCR, she buys him a new shirt. They fall in love. Hate to Love.

Foxtrot Fixed My VCR

So that’s my story, but why do so many other people hate the Foxtrot?

It’s simple: Training Wheels.

There isn’t a kid alive who, after successfully transitioning to the big kid world of 2-wheeler biking, decides to have their training wheels reattached. In fact, even the suggestion may evoke such responses like “training wheels are for babies” (even if they were just removed yesterday).

So what does this have to do with Foxtrot? Everything.

The Foxtrot Problem (That Isn’t Really a Problem)

Here’s what happens in the typical dance student’s journey:

• Foxtrot is simple and easy to layer
• Easy layers make for faster progress
• We use the skills we learn from Foxtrot in other dances to make them easier
• Foxtrot gets cast aside like – you guessed it – training wheels

So unfortunately, Tango will be the glory hog of the ballroom family. Waltz – the elegant one – always seems so smooth. But trusty old Foxtrot, that training wheels dance, is the unsung hero of the pack. Learn more about 5 Sneaky Ways Dance Routines Help Your Social Dancing

What Most People Don’t Realize About Foxtrot

The dance that students dismiss the fastest is actually the one that does the most heavy lifting in their dance education. Consider this:

• Foxtrot goes through the biggest caterpillar to butterfly metamorphosis of all the dances
• The negative feelings start to subside when Foxtrot spreads its wings and starts looking like a “sassy Waltz”
• This is social dancing – Foxtrot teaches you to talk while dancing better than any other

That last point deserves some attention. Why would you want to talk while dancing? Because that’s what social dancing actually is. It’s a conversation that happens to include movement. The goal isn’t to execute a flawless routine in silence – it’s to connect with another human being.

And Foxtrot – boring, basic, training-wheels Foxtrot – is the dance that teaches you how to do that.

The Music Problem (That Solves Itself)

Remember my original complaint? That all my swing music was actually Foxtrot music?

Here’s what I eventually figured out: That’s actually a feature, not a bug.

Foxtrot music is everywhere. At weddings. At corporate events. On the radio. In movies. The odds that you’ll hear a Foxtrot-friendly song at any social gathering are remarkably high – which means you’ll actually get to use this dance in the real world.

Can you say the same about Paso Doble? Probably not. (Unless you attend a lot of bullfights.)

Why Teachers Keep Pushing Foxtrot

If you’ve been dancing for a while, you’ve probably noticed that your teachers circle back to Foxtrot again and again. This isn’t because they’ve run out of ideas. It’s because they know something you might not want to hear:

The fundamentals never stop being fundamental.

In fact, the more advanced you get in your dancing, the more you’ll appreciate what Foxtrot taught you. The smooth connection. The conversation with your partner. The ability to move confidently to music without overthinking every step.

Advanced dancers don’t graduate from Foxtrot. They graduate into it.

How to Stop Hating Foxtrot

If you’re currently in the “hate” phase of your relationship with this dance, here’s a suggestion: Give it time.

Watch a professional couple dance an open Foxtrot routine. Watch how they move across the floor – smooth, powerful, effortless. That’s not a different dance from what you’re learning. It’s the same dance, fully realized.

The difference between a beginner Foxtrot and an advanced Foxtrot isn’t in the steps. It’s in the years of understanding what those steps are actually for.

Final Thought

So give the new neighbor a chance. Foxtrot could, quite possibly, be the next romantic comedy in your dance program.

Hate it now and love it later. That’s the Foxtrot story for almost everyone who sticks with dancing long enough to figure it out.

And if you still hate it after reading this? Come back in a year. We’ll talk.

Happy Dancing!