Harry Fox, a vaudeville comedian, introduced a trot to a ragtime song in the 1913 Ziegfeld Follies. Over time, this developed into the type of smooth dancing style Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are known for.

Foxtrot is an elegant and sophisticated dance with long, continuous flowing movements. The basic Foxtrot uses smaller steps and fits well on crowded dance floors. The Slow Foxtrot suits larger ballrooms and is characterized by longer smooth, gliding steps.

Foxtrot can be danced to music of varying tempos and is very versatile. Foxtrot music is frequently played at weddings, formal events, cruises, etc. , making the Foxtrot an essential social dance to learn.