Foxtrot Project

1920's Charleston / Foxtrot?

Anyone familiar with the steps to the Charleston and / or the 1920 Foxtrot? And if you have any ideas for music on either, that would be fantastic. Thanks ever so much! ~Kate

Public Comments

1. I really don't know, but I've read that foxtrot was oftened danced at quicker tempos, and that it included lock steps in its earliest form, so it must have been somewhat like school figures in quickstep or Peabody, though a bit slower and with less in outside position than Peabody. After all, there was a point when quickstep was officially "quick time foxtrot and Charleston."
2. Here is a link that explains the steps of the Charleston: http://www.homesteadmuseum.org/jtt/1920s%20charleston.pdf And here are videos of both the 1920's Charleston and Fox Trot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJC21zzkwoE&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyOWM6S1ITA Hopefully this helps!
3. There are TWO types of 20's Chaleston, Solo and Partnered. This video features both: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJC21zzkwoE Additionally, you don't want to limit yourself to just learning just Basic Charleston, as may other dances of the 20's were danced as solo jazz steps that were alway danced with the Charleston (i.e. Shorty George, Jump Charleston, Squat Charleston, Suzy Q's, Tacky Annie's, Boogie Forward, Boogie Back, Rusty Dusty, Apple Jacks, Fall Off the Log, Spank the Baby, etc.) Anyways, the Solo Charleston Basic consists of 8-counts. Left leg goes back and "touches back" first (counts 1, 2), then Left leg goes forward and "steps down" (counts 3, 4), then Right leg goes forward and "touches forward" (counts 5, 6), then Right leg goes back and "steps down" (counts 7, 8), repeat. An alternative to 20's style of charleston is 30's style charleston which involves a "kick" with the appropriate leg on the odd counts (i.e. 3, 5, 7), and a "rock step" on 1, 2 instead of a touch back. Here's a video of 30's solo charleston: http://www.idance.net/movedetail.php?clip_id=86 For more detailed lessons through online video check out: http://www.idance.net They have a lot of videos for only $1 to watch, and if you look under "iDance Main", "Moves to Download", and "Vernacular Jazz" they have a lot of videos on the various 20's dances I mentioned above. For Example: http://www.idance.net/movedetail.php?clip_id=464 http://www.idance.net/movedetail.php?clip_id=412 http://www.idance.net/movedetail.php?clip_id=420 http://www.idance.net/movedetail.php?clip_id=447 Bottom line, I recommend you learn how to dance the Charleston in person with a real dance instructor. Basically you just need to find the closest Lindy Hop teacher to you. Try searching your city/state on this website: http://www.thelindyhop.com Interms of Music, anything by the "Fire House Five Plus Two" would be good, or the Album "Mad Twenties by Bobby Short". Individual Songs to Download: Sweet Georgia Brown Yes, Sir, That's My Baby! The Charleston Indiana Dippermouth Blues (aka Sugar Foot Stomp) That's a Plenty I Found A New Baby Search for these on Amazon MP3, and you can download them right away! http://www.amazon.com For a little inspiration . . . . . . check out this video of a Charleston Competition from 2005: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZYn813sUKM I hope that helps! Happy Dancing!