Solo Practice, Slow Foxtrot and the Art of Performance

The short answer: to perform with more expression, get your technique and routine solid first, then model dancers you admire and give your dancing keywords. When you practise solo, dance as if your partner is in your arms, and dance how you want to look on the floor. And Slow Foxtrot feels hard because it never stops: it speeds up and slows down continuously, so you have to control your weight the whole time.

How do you perform and express yourself more when you dance?

For most people performing doesn't come naturally, because you're stepping into the unknown and almost creating a new identity. I still feel nerves when I step on stage. To express yourself you need foundations first: good technique, body awareness and a routine you know the way an actor knows their lines. If you're still thinking about your steps, your brain snaps straight back to them and you can't perform.

How do you solo practise without a partner?

Don't let it put you off. Solo practice won't teach you to lead, but it strengthens your body and trains you to imagine things differently. It took me a long time to realise that the better I became, the better we danced as a couple. So solo practice is a must even when you do have a partner.

Why does Slow Foxtrot feel so hard?

Because the movement is continuous. In Waltz your feet close, which gives you a moment to control your weight. In Slow Foxtrot very few steps close, and once you start, the dance shouldn't stop. Think of a swing: you go fastest on the way down and slow as you swing up. Slow Foxtrot is the same, fast then slowing down, again and again. My first Foxtrot lesson was on the Feather Step, and so was my last lesson as a professional.

What are the key points in this Q&A?

In the video I answer three questions, in this order:

1. Build your foundations: technique, body awareness and a routine you know completely, before you work on performance.
2. Find what lets go of the fear: if you love the music, let it override your nerves. If you love competing, tell yourself "this is my moment".
3. Model the performers you admire: how they walk, dress and act on the floor, their mannerisms and little details. Put a few pieces into your own body.
4. Use keywords: give each dance a word, such as sexy, slow or hypnotic for Rumba, then express it through your body. More advanced: a keyword for each section of your choreography.
5. Practise with a phantom partner: present your hand as if you can feel someone, and react. Ladies, feel the lead coming through and follow it.
6. Dance how you want to look: your body doesn't know time or space. Wherever you dance is practice.
7. Keep Slow Foxtrot moving: control your weight the whole time, lower the heel with control as the moving foot passes, and let the rise and fall flow from beginning to end with no stopping and starting.

Common mistakes

• Trying to perform before you know your routine, so your brain keeps pulling you back to the steps.
• Holding your arms in place during solo practice without imagining a partner in them.
• Practising poorly at home. It goes into your body and shows up on the floor.
• Ladies relying on the man to hold them up. A man shouldn't be supporting you anyway.
• Stopping and starting in Slow Foxtrot, instead of keeping one continuous movement.

Try this in your next practice

Put on some Slow Foxtrot music and dance your routine solo, as if your partner is in your arms. Pick one keyword for how you want it to feel, and keep the movement going from the first step to the last without stopping.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to practise if you don't have a regular partner?

Practise as if someone is in your hands. Present your hand as if you can feel your partner and react to them, so your body gets wired as if someone is with you.

Do I still need solo practice if I have a partner?

Yes. Solo practice is what develops you as a partner. The better you become, the better you dance together.

Why do so few Slow Foxtrot figures close?

Because the dance is designed not to stop once it begins. The Heel Turn is one of the few that does close.

How fast is Slow Foxtrot music?

WDSF competition rules set Slow Foxtrot at 28 to 30 bars a minute.

What if acting doesn't come naturally to me?

It doesn't for most people, and if it's worth it, it won't come easily. Start by modelling performers you admire and using keywords. Performance is a lifelong art, not a one-off lesson.

Related lessons

• Slow Foxtrot Feather Step: step, swing and sway
• Slow Foxtrot basic and advanced routine
• 7 step dance practice framework
• How to express yourself better in dancing

Vaughan Liddicoat is a 4 time World Professional 10 Dance representative for Australia, an accredited coach and the founder of Ballroom Mastery. He has a passion for dance and wants to help you become the best dancer you can be and have an amazing time doing it.