In the world of ballroom dancing, there is no dance more classically American than the Foxtrot. While ballroom dancing in general originated in Europe, the Foxtrot began as part a unique vaudeville act. Although it is generally considered the most popular social dance, it wasn't originally a partner dance at all!
Harry Fox, whose real name was Arthur Carringford, was the American entertainer who created the Foxtrot. Fox had a very interesting life. Out on his own at 15 he began his career in entertainment in the circus before he was a professional baseball player for a short while. After that her got into vaudeville when a music publisher like the way he sang, which led him to performs at theatres in San Francisco. After the big earthquake and the fire of 1906, Harry decided to leave San Francisco for firmer ground in New York. It was there that he made a name for himself performing various vaudeville shows and eventually started working with a gorgeous pair of blonde Hungarian twin dancers named the Dolly Sisters.
The New York Theatre in the summer of 1914 was converted into a movie house. Because the owner didn't know whether the new movie industry would produce a profit he decided to add popular live entertainment. The roof was turned into a dance floor and vaudeville acts performed in the theatre between movie showings. And this is where Harry and the Dolly Sisters were hired as dancers. The booking was a hit and Harry Fox made headlines in magazines such as Variety.
While the Dolly Sisters were dancing on the roof, Harry was slaying them in the theatre with trotting around on the floor to ragtime music. It was soon called "Fox's Trot" and everyone began doing the Foxtrot. Soon competitions arose and professional dancers began to Foxtrot. And when American dancer G.K. Anderson travelled to London with Josephine Bradley with the Foxtrot, they won trophies and hearts.
As one of the most versatile dances, the Foxtrot can be danced to almost any type of music. You can use as much dance floor as you want with the Travelling Foxtrot or remain "on the spot." You can dance it to Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, even country music or tango. So hats off to Harry the next time you feel like dancing!
Harry Fox, whose real name was Arthur Carringford, was the American entertainer who created the Foxtrot. Fox had a very interesting life. Out on his own at 15 he began his career in entertainment in the circus before he was a professional baseball player for a short while. After that her got into vaudeville when a music publisher like the way he sang, which led him to performs at theatres in San Francisco. After the big earthquake and the fire of 1906, Harry decided to leave San Francisco for firmer ground in New York. It was there that he made a name for himself performing various vaudeville shows and eventually started working with a gorgeous pair of blonde Hungarian twin dancers named the Dolly Sisters.
The New York Theatre in the summer of 1914 was converted into a movie house. Because the owner didn't know whether the new movie industry would produce a profit he decided to add popular live entertainment. The roof was turned into a dance floor and vaudeville acts performed in the theatre between movie showings. And this is where Harry and the Dolly Sisters were hired as dancers. The booking was a hit and Harry Fox made headlines in magazines such as Variety.
While the Dolly Sisters were dancing on the roof, Harry was slaying them in the theatre with trotting around on the floor to ragtime music. It was soon called "Fox's Trot" and everyone began doing the Foxtrot. Soon competitions arose and professional dancers began to Foxtrot. And when American dancer G.K. Anderson travelled to London with Josephine Bradley with the Foxtrot, they won trophies and hearts.
As one of the most versatile dances, the Foxtrot can be danced to almost any type of music. You can use as much dance floor as you want with the Travelling Foxtrot or remain "on the spot." You can dance it to Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, even country music or tango. So hats off to Harry the next time you feel like dancing!
About the Author:
Tony and Melanie have been choreographing, educating, performing and composing wonderful choreography for over 30 years. The run NYC's premier dance center If you interested in learning more history of any dances make sure you check out their website. They are now teachingdance lessons in NYC
