The Washington Times advertised this article as “A Description of the Fox-Trot, the First in a Series of Six Articles on Modern Dancing, Written and Illustrated by Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle, to Appear in the Times.”
Vernon Castle describes the tempo thusly: “If you will play an ordinary ‘rag’ half as fast as you would play it for the one-step you will have a pretty good idea of the music and tempo.” His basic step consists of, “two slow steps with the music and then four fast steps double time to the music.” In other words: Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick, Quick, Quick.
According to Mr. Castle, one of the variations, which is “not quite so easy to explain, as it is to do,” is accomplished accordingly: “The first two slow steps are the same, except that a walk forward a little to one side, instead of directly facing you. After the second slow step we spin round for three fast steps, reserving the fourth and last step to stop with, because when one begins spinning very fast it is difficult to stop right on the beat, and so we save our last step upon which we stop, and I prepare to go forward again. By stopping suddenly like this you will find you unconsciously fall into half a ‘grapevine’ step, which gives the finish a very pretty effect.”
The entire article has been reproduced below.
The Washington times., January 25, 1915, HOME EDITION, Page 8, Image 8
This article was provided by Chronicling America. The featured image from this post is provided by the Library of Congress, with no known restrictions on publication.
It was reprinted in a February edition of The Sun (also available from Chronicling America), with additional images of the Castles dancing the Fox Trot.. It also contains a cartoon of dancers at an unrelated local event.
The sun., February 07, 1915, FOURTH SECTION PICTORIAL MAGAZINE, Page 14, Image 46
Fascinating Rhythms 