Dear Coach,

I’ m a beginner dancer.  I have just started going to Ballroom dances.  When the MC announces that the next set is a Waltz or a Foxtrot, I know what the dance is because I am told.  But when I watch the dancers dance, a Waltz and Foxtrot look the same to me.  How do I tell the difference in the two dances?

Signed, H. Talabi, Milwaukie, Oregon

Dear H. Talabi,

It is difficult to tell the differences in these two dances because many Ballroom dancers do not understand the difference between rise, as in Waltz, which is a physical rise, and “RISE, NO FOOT RISE”, when dancing Foxtrot.

The basic rule for Waltz is to commence to rise at the end of 1, continue to rise on 2 and 3 lowering at the end of three.  That gives the dancers a physical rise and lowering action.

Proper footwork in Foxtrot should create a smooth-as-satin glide across the dance floor, with no up or down bobbing of the dancer’s body.  To demonstrate proper footwork, start with your feet together, step forward with the ball of your right foot keeping the right heel off the floor, apply pressure to the right foot without physically stretching the ankle.  At this time both your right heel and left heel will have no contact with the floor.  That is rise, no foot rise.  Knees should be flexed so that the rise is absorbed through the flexed knees.  As you lower your right heel and close left foot to right foot so that both heels touch the floor at the same time in your starting position.  Notice that your body is at the same height as when you started with your feet together. 

A good dancer will create an illusion of rise and fall by using a body movement called sway without physically stretching the ankles.  To learn this technique, you should take lessons from an instructor that is well versed or certified to teach advanced techniques…preferably someone certified.  A certified instructor has passed examinations on footwork, amounts of turns, and dance theory.  There are more requirements for certification that are too numerous to mention.  An instructor should be certified in Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Quickstep and V. Waltz to teach these advanced techniques.

I hope that these explanations will help you to understand the difference between Foxtrot and Waltz.