Field Guide to Figure Skating
World

Foxtrot

A pre-silver optional pattern dance in foxtrot rhythm on deep semicircular lobes, moving between open and closed hold with cross-rolled three-turns and a closed choctaw.

dance

Not checked yet. The mechanics on this page are a first draft by a non-expert, and no coach has seen them yet. Read them as a starting point and check them with a coach. Corrections are very welcome.

The dance

Foxtrot in 4/4, 100 beats a minute. The hold is open, closed from step 4a, open from step 12. The partners skate different steps. 16 steps and 28 beats to one pattern.

Steps for
Step 1Step 2Step 3Step 4aStep 4bStep 5Step 6Step 7Step 8Step 9Step 10Step 11aStep 11bStep 12Step 13Step 141234a4b567891011a11b121314Step 1Step 2Step 3Step 4aStep 5Step 6Step 7Step 8Step 9Step 10Step 11aStep 12Step 13Step 141234a567891011a121314
One sequence on a 60 x 30 metre rink, drawn upright as the rulebooks draw it, starting at the dot and travelling anticlockwise. The two partners skate side by side on one track; the switch shows where each one's steps fall and on which edge. The faint half is the same steps skated again. Rinks vary, and on a smaller one the pattern shrinks to fit. Measured from the diagram in U.S. Figure Skating 2026-27 Rulebook, page Dance-31.
StepHoldLeadFollowBeats
1OpenLFOLFO1
2XB-RFIXB-RFI1
3LFOLFO2
4aClosedCR-RFO3CR-RFO1 + 1
4bLBO2
5RBOCR-LFO31 + 1
6LFORBO1
7RFI-PrLBI-Pr1
8Partial outside at end of stepLFORBO2
9ClosedCR-RFO3CR-LBO1 + 1
10LBORFO2
11aRBOLFO ClCSt1
11bLBI-Pr1
12OpenRBORBO4
13LFILFI2
14RFIRFI2

The steps are in the rulebook's own notation: foot, direction and edge, with Pr for a progressive, Ch for a chassé, SwR for a swing roll, XB and XF for a cross step behind or in front, 3 for a three turn, CSt and SSt for C and S steps, Op for open and Cl for closed. From the step chart in US Figure Skating's 2026-27 rulebook.

The Foxtrot is skated on deep edges round semicircular lobes, and US Figure Skating insists it be danced with soft knees and flow, the free foot always set down close beside the skating foot. It opens in open hold with a crossed behind chassé for both, then closes up as the lead partner skates a cross-rolled three-turn and the follow partner holds a four-beat cross roll.

The rulebook singles out the follow partner’s cross-rolled three at Step 5, the near outside hold at the end of Step 8 for the lead partner’s second cross-rolled three, and the follow partner’s closed choctaw on Step 11. On Step 12 both free legs swing up together before two strong inside edges finish the pattern.

British Ice Skating lists the Foxtrot at National 5, as one of the dances to choose from. US Figure Skating tests it at Pre-silver.

Appears in

No test syllabus recorded yet.

Where it sits in one country's grades is on that country's copy of this page: UK, USA, Australia or New Zealand.