Once again, we return to the pages of H. Layton Walker's The Two Step for that rarity of the 1910s: helpful footprint diagrams!
The Springfield School of Dancing of Springfield, Ohio, advertised a basic set of four foxtrot sequences, complete with little footprint diagrams, in the January, 1919, issue (Buffalo, NY; Volume XXIX, No. 1, p. 11).
These diagrams are particularly helpful for a dance like the foxtrot in which the speed of the steps varies ("quicks and slows") because the little feet are numbered, with "+" standing in for "&". This makes it simple to understand the timing.
The four sequences presented, going counter-clockwise from the upper right quarter, are:
A. One Step and Two Step Combination
B. One Step and Syncopated Combination
C. One Step and Two Step or Jazz Combination
D. One Step and Waltz Step Combination
In addition, there is a little drawing of the correct hold for the one-step and foxtrot. Let's look at that first, since it's interestingly different from the one given for the two-step. Here's a better version of it from the following page of The Two-Step that shows both holds for easier comparison. Click to enlarge.
The main points of contrast are the placement of the gentleman's right hand and the position of the outstretched arms. In the waltz position (also shown for the two-step in that advertisement) at right, the gentleman's right hand is very low, all the way down at the waist. In the one-step/foxtrot diagram at left, it is much higher on her back. This makes it easier to lead, and the foxtrot does inherently require more leading at the basic level than the two-step. The joined hands of the dancers are also much higher in the one-step/foxtrot diagram, and I believe their hands are palm-to-palm. I would not use quite so much extension when dancing; I prefer the arms bent or curved a little. But the difference from the lower, more nineteenth-century style position of the hands in the waltz/two-step diagram is notable. Dancers in the one-step/foxtrot are also instructed to hold their upper bodies "well apart".
On to the actual step sequences!
I've broken down the four combinations in a different order (A-C-D-B) to go from easiest to hardest -- not that any of these is exactly difficult! Below, I give the counts, the quick/slow patterns, and the gentleman's feet as given on the diagrams. The lady, as usual, dances on opposite feet and backward. Closes are made to third position, with the gentleman closing the trailing foot behind and the lady in front. I would recommend leading the closes on a slight diagonal to make them more obvious.
Below are the A (left) and C (right) diagrams, reoriented to have their starting points at bottom right. I suggest clicking to pop it out enlarged if you want to actually read the little numbers on the feet. The descriptions of the sequences follow.
A. One Step and Two Step Combination
This could not be simpler. Four walking steps and two two-steps without turning. This is an absolutely standard foxtrot combination.
1234 Walk forward (SSSS): left, right, left, right
5&6 Two-step forward (QQS): left, close right, left
7&8 Two-step forward (QQS): right, close left, right
C. One Step and Two Step or Jazz Combination
Another extremely simple and standard sequence: two walks, one two-step (without turning), and repeat.
12 Walk forward (SS): left, right
3&4 Two-step forward (QQS): left, close right, left
56 Walk forward (SS): right, left
7&8 Two-step forward (QQS): right, close left, right
And here are the D (left) and B (right) diagrams, reoriented to have their starting positions at bottom left. Click to enlarge. The descriptions follow.
D. One Step and Waltz Step Combination
This is the same general pattern as the C sequence, but instead of the two-step, it intersperses "waltz" steps, which in this case are box steps, though that's not obvious when going straight forward like this. Instead of the step-side-close of a standard "box", it's step-step-close, as if one had figuratively stepped on a cardboard box and flattened it. Note the difference from the step-close-step of the two-step!
The timing is the same "quick-quick-slow" as in the two-step and in other descriptions of the box step in foxtrot.
12 Walk forward (SS): left, right
3&4 Waltz forward (QQS): left, right, close left
56 Walk forward (SS): right, left
7&8 Waltz forward (QQS): right, left, close right
B. One Step and Syncopated Combination
And, finally, a more unusual sequence. It starts out very blandly with a typical set of four walking steps before shifting to eight quick steps which break down into two two-steps and a step-close. Whee!
1234 Walk forward (SSSS): left, right, left, right
5&6 Two-step forward (QQQ): left, close right, left
&7& Two-step forward (QQQ): right, close left, right
8& Walk forward and close (QQ): left, close right
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While none of these sequences except the last are new or terribly exciting, they do make a solid basic set for dancing the 1910s foxtrot, especially if one sometimes takes the two-step and waltz steps turning in the A-C-D sequences. I think the timing is a little too fast to make that pleasurable in the B sequence unless dancing to very slow foxtrot music.
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