Physical Fitness Written Report

Group 2

Leader

Casas, Shairah T.

Members

Cadaing, Allysa Marie P.

Cayabyab, Jannah Hillary Mae P.
Cemanes, Josephine Rose D.
Coscos, Erica Mae D.
David, King Rommel M.
De Quiros, Mary ann S.
Delos Reyes, Jhaztin Rodge N.
Dumao, Danica Joy S.
Garcia, Jamiel Andrei T.
Geronimo, Sophia Almira May F.

Submitted to:
Prof. Mitoselah Garcera Barroga
 Salsa, Foxtrot and Quickstep Dance

Learning Objectives

● Learn a brief history of the quickstep, foxtrot, and salsa

● Learn about the history of the quickstep, foxtrot, and salsa
● Study the fundamental movements of the Quickstep, Foxtrot,
and Salsa dances.
● Basic Figures and Rhythm
● Students should understand the Differences of the
quickstep,foxtrot and salsa dance.
● Applying and performing
 I. Salsa Dance

A. What Is Salsa?

The word 'salsa' literally means 'sauce', usually hot and spicy, and that's
definitely how you would describe salsa dance – zesty, energetic, passionate and
sexy.Salsa is a dance and a musical style with deep Caribbean and African
roots. It's very popular in almost all Latin America, and among Latino
communities in the United States. In recent years, this dance has also gained
popularity in Europe and in Asia. Maybe you've already seen it, or even tried it
yourself.

The great thing about salsa is that just about anyone can learn it. That's why it
gained vast popularity in the last few decades and is now danced in nightclubs all
over the world. There is a well known saying that is often repeated by dance
teachers - if you can walk, you can salsa.

The salsa rhythm is widely recognized for being catchy, sensual, and easy to
learn, yet very difficult to master. There are several academies throughout the
world dedicated to teaching this dance at different levels of difficulty. There are
even worldwide competitions dedicated to salsa, such as the World Salsa
Championship and the World Salsa Open.

Salsa is known for This fun and energetic dance is the most popular of all the
Latin dances because it is easy to learn and is fantastic for all ages and dancing
abilities. Salsa dancing has many fast turns, exciting footwork, rhythmic hip
movements, and lively music.

B. Origins & History of Salsa

The origins of salsa date back to the 1900s in Eastern Cuba, where musical
elements and rhythms from various styles were combined. Cuban son and Afro-
Cuban rumba, the two main styles, used diverse musical instruments to create
the basis of a rhythm that would later become known as salsa.

Almost 50 years went by before this new rhythm reached Havana. There, salsa
absorbed influences from other local Cuban music and from American jazz and
continued to evolve. Due to the Revolution in Cuba, many musicians relocated to
the United States, especially to New York City. These musicians found an ideal
 environment to develop their rhythm into what we know as salsa today; this was
especially true in ''El Barrio'', also known as Spanish Harlem.

The definite rise and jump to fame of salsa happened thanks to Fania Records, a
record label established in 1964 by musician Johnny Pacheco and Italian-
American lawyer Jerry Masucci. This label became extremely famous, producing
one huge hit after another. Many of the artists who signed with this label are now
regarded as legends of salsa, particularly the team of ''Fania All-Stars''. This
group included celebrities such as Celia Cruz, Héctor Lavoe, Cheo Feliciano, and
Rubén Blades, among others.

Fania Records edited the rhythms which originated in Cuba and gave them a
sound that was catchier and more easily accepted by the New York Latin market.
To better merchandise their music, Fania called this new sound salsa.

Salsa music is a mix of different Caribbean rhythms and instruments; that

diversity provides its unique sound. Salsa dance has similarly evolved and
adapted over the years to better suit the tastes of different localities, leading to
the creation of different regional styles of salsa. Some of the most popular
regional styles are:

● Salsa Casino (Cuban style)

● Salsa Casino (Miami style)
● Afro-Latino style
● Cali style (Colombian Salsa)
● Rueda de Casino
● New York style

Considering such a variety of cultures in Latin America contribute to the vast

diversity of styles in salsa, it's only natural that the musical instruments used also
change a bit from style to style. A mix of instruments is used in each regional
style. The most common percussion instruments are bongos, congas, timbales,
maracas, and cowbells. Among the string instruments, we see the bass guitar,
guitar, piano, violin, and electric guitar. The trumpet, trombone, flute, and
saxophone are brass instruments commonly used.

C. Rhythm and Musics

The tempo of salsa music is very fast. Therefore, the steps of a salsa dance are
often expressed as “fast, fast, slow,” with the first two steps of each movement
occurring as one step per beat while the third beat and step is drawn out across
 the pause.The clave rhythm is an important foundation of salsa; all salsa music
and dance is governed by the clave rhythm. The most common clave rhythm in
salsa is the so-called son clave, which is eight beats long and can be played
either in 2-3 or 3-2 style.

D. Learn the Basic Salsa Steps

Basic Steps For Men:

You need to start with both feet together. Remember, practice makes perfect.

1. Step forward with your left foot (first beat)

2. Right foot in place, weight shifts to it (second beat)
3. Step backward with your left foot (third beat + pause on fourth beat)
4. Step backward with your right foot (first beat)
5. Left foot in place, weight shifts to it (second beat)
6. Step forward with your right foot (third beat + pause on fourth beat)

Basic Steps For Ladies:

1. Step backward with your right foot (first beat)

2. Left foot in place, weight shifts to it (second beat)
3. Step forward with your right foot (third beat + pause on fourth beat)
4. Step forward with your left foot (first beat)
5. Right foot in place, weight shifts to it (second beat)
6. Step backward with your left foot (third beat + pause on fourth beat)

II. Foxtrot Dance

A. What is Foxtrot?

The foxtrot is a graceful ballroom dance, in which couples use a combination of

long walking movements and short quick steps to glide across the dance floor.
The dancers’ rise and fall motions can be mistaken for the waltz; however, the
foxtrot is danced in a 4/4 time signature, while the waltz is danced in a 3/4 time
signature. Thus, the foxtrot has four steps for each beat of music, with the first
and third steps accented.

As a traveling dance, the foxtrot incorporates short steps to create a “trot” that
matches the music’s tempo. The footwork for the foxtrot is a pattern of long, slow
steps and short, quick steps. A long strep lasts two beats of music and a short
step lasts one beat. The most common footwork timings are slow-quick-quick
and slow-slow-quick-quick.

There are two main types of foxtrot styles: the American Style and the
International Style. Within the International Style, there are two categories:
standard and Latin. The foxtrot, quickstep, waltz, tango, and Viennese waltz
comprise the standard International Style, and the cha cha, rumba, jive, samba,
and paso doble comprise the Latin International Style.

B. Origin and History of Foxtrot

The Foxtrot is an early 20th Century American dance that has its origins in the
one-step, the two-step, and syncopated ragtime dances (Norton). It was
popularized in the USA by dancers Vernon and Irene Castle in 1914, and it is
believed to be named after Harry Fox, who was an entertainer (Bedinghaus).The
foxtrot dance was first developed in 1914 in the United States. Although the
exact origin of the dance is unclear, it’s believed that the foxtrot first originated in
Black American nightclubs before it was popularized by ballroom dancers Vernon
and Irene Castle.

However, entertainer and vaudeville actor Harry Fox is also credited with the
dance's origin. In a 1914 musical at the New York Theatre, Fox caught the
audience’s attention with his fast trotting steps across the dance floor. Ragtime
music was playing in the background, and the dance became known as the
“Fox’s trot.”

Since its development, the foxtrot has evolved and influenced a variety of
dances. Fox’s original quick trotting steps have been replaced with gliding,
 sauntering steps to avoid tiring out dancers. The original, fast-paced foxtrot
influenced the quickstep, which is a ballroom dance that combines the foxtrot and
the Charleston.

C. Rhythm and Music

The Foxtrot is typically danced to big band Swing-style music but maybe danced
to most music types.
In the Foxtrot, the first and third beats are accented more strongly than the
second and fourth beats. The foxtrot is typically danced to big band Swing-style
music written in 4/4 time, with a tempo around 112 to 120 beats per minute
(varies).

D. Figures

Distinctive to the Foxtrot, dancers take long steps during the slower counts, and
short steps during the faster counts. In order to maintain the "trot" of this dance,
dancers should shorten their steps as the tempo of the music increases. Some of
the steps create attractive zig-zag patterns on the dance floor. A couple of steps
distinctive to the Foxtrot are the Weave and the Feather Step:
Weave: Consists of 6 quick steps in a row, all on the toes. (Quicksteps are
usually performed on the toes, with slow steps taken on the heels.)
Feather Step: The man steps outside of the woman. This step earned its name
because of the action of the step: it resembles the "feathering the oar" action in
rowing.

Basic Figures Standard Figures

Three Step Natural Weave
Feather Step Basic Weave
Natural Turn Closed Telemark
Reverse Turn Open Telemark
Closed Impetus Hover Feather
Feather Finish Hover Telemark
Hover Cross
Open Impetus
E. Learn the Basic Steps of Foxtrot
Reverse Wave
 Stand upright with your feet together. Face each other, the lady puts her right
hand in his left. His right hand is on her left shoulder blade, her left hand is on his
right arm.

Basic Steps - Gentleman

Basic forward

1. Step forward with your left foot (slow step)

2. Step forward with your right foot (slow step)
3. Sidestep to the left with your left foot (quick step)
4. Move your right foot to your left foot (quick step)

Basic backward

5. Step backward with your left foot (slow step)

6. Step backward with your right foot (slow step)
7. Sidestep to the left with your left foot (quick step)
8. Move your right foot to your left foot (quick step)

Basic Steps – Lady

Basic forward

1. Step backward with your right foot (slow step)

2. Step backward with your left foot (slow step)
3. Sidestep to the right with your right foot (quick step)
4. Move your left foot to your right foot (quick step)

Basic backward

5. Step forward with your right foot (slow step)

6. Step forward with your left foot (slow step)
7. Sidestep to the right with your right foot (quick step)
8. Move your left foot to your right foot (quick step)

III. Quickstep Dance

A. What is Quickstep Dance?

This dance might be termed the "joy" dance of modern dancing. While the basic
figures are quite simple, the tempo of the music and the whole character of the
dance seem to invite a carefree interpretation of its bright rhythm. The beginner
will find the basic steps easy to learn and easy to fit the music. The advanced
dancer will discover that the music lends itself to an infinite variety of steps.
The dancer who masters the fundamentals of the Quickstep will have command
of a dance that can never grow stale, a dance that is unquestionably the most
attractive expression of rhythm the world has ever known.
B. Origin and History of the Quickstep Dance

Quickstep was developed in the 1920s in New York City and was first danced by
Black Americans. Its origins are in combination of slow foxtrot combined with the
Charleston, a dance which was one of the precursors to what today is called
swing dancing.
There are two pivotal locations that contributed to the development of Quickstep
dancing and its place in the United States today. Its origins go back as far as
19th century England, and the dance’s development soared in suburban New
York in the 1920s.

The history developing out of England began in the 1850’s when the general
public commemorated presidents, military exhibitions, regiments, and heroes
with a march known as the Quickstep. This march merged with the One Step, the
Peabody, the Black Bottom, the Charleston, and Foxtrot dances to create the
Quickstep known today. This English’s Quickstep focused heavily on smooth
steps of the Charleston with the movement and rhythm of the Foxtrot, although
most dancers found the tempo of the Foxtrot to be too slow. When big bands
started playing music at a faster tempo, dancers quickened the steps of the
foxtrot and the Charleston. Bands began playing the popular Foxtrot style dances
at a faster pace. They began to call the music and dancing the “Quick Foxtrot.”
Because the Charleston also became a stylish dance during this time, it was
often combined with this Quick Foxtrot. The dance styles mixed together very
well, but their names did not. “QuickTime Foxtrot Charleston” was shortened to
“Quickstep.” In 1927, the English couple Frank Ford and Molly Spain danced a
version of the QuickTime Foxtrot and Charleston at the Star Championships
without the characteristic Charleston knee actions and made the dance for two
instead of a solo.
 In the United States, it was suburban New York that put Quickstep on the map
and allowed it to thrive and develop. Quickstep dancing was initially performed in
the United States by African and Caribbean dance performers. It made its debut
on the stage of American music halls and became immediately popular in
ballrooms. Quickstep was heavily influenced by the jazz culture of the 1920s, and
owes some of its movement to the equivalently popular Latin and Afro-Cuban
dance crazes of the 1920s and 1930s. Quickstep’s rapid tempo and quick
changes borrowed technique from the tango and the rumba, while walking steps
were used to glide elegantly like its Foxtrot successor.

While the dance grew out of the foxtrot, the Quickstep today is quite separate. In
Quickstep, the man often closes his feet and regularly uses syncopated steps.
These movement characteristics could be found in early foxtrot dances, but is not
the case with modern foxtrots today. Quickstep dancers skip, jump, run and kick
while performing this entertaining dance.

C. Rhythm and Music

The Quickstep usually follows a 4/4 time pattern. The basic feel of the Quickstep
is slow-quick-quick, slow-quick-quick, with "slow" taking beats one and two, and
"quick-quick" taking beats three and four. Most of the "slow" steps are taken on
the heel, while most "quick" steps are taken on the balls of the feet.The tempo of
quickstep dance is rather brisk as it was developed to ragtime era jazz music
which is fast-paced when compared to other dance music.

By the end of the 20th century, the complexity of Quickstep, as exhibited by

advanced dancers, had increased due to the extensive use of syncopated steps
with eighth note durations. While in older times Quickstep patterns were counted
with "quick" (one beat) and "slow" (two beats) steps, many advanced patterns
today are cued with split beats, such as "quick-and-quick-and-quick, quick, slow",
with there being further steps on the "and's".

D. Learn the Basic Steps of Quick Step

The quickstep is generally performed 4/4 time. True to its name, the quickstep
does require relatively fast movements, but the basic steps are easy to learn.
Keep in mind the following as you learn to dance the quickstep:

Both the leader and follower should maintain an upright posture throughout the
dance.
The basic rhythm is slow-quick-quick.
 As you become more confident in dancing the quickstep, practice how to fluidly
transition from one step to the next at a beat that will make it seem as if you’re
floating just off the ground.Take your time and build your endurance. It’s not
called the quickstep for nothing! Master the fundamentals so that you can learn
to improvise with ease and without tiring too quickly.

The basic quickstep is as follows:

1. Begin in a closed position.

2. Step forward with your right foot. (slow)
3. Step to the left with your left foot, then slide your right foot to close with your left
foot. (quick)
4. Step to the left again with your left foot. (quick)
5. Step backward with your right foot. (slow)
6. Step to the left with your left foot, then slide your right foot to close with your left
foot. (quick)
7. Step to the left with your left foot. (quick)

IV References

I. Salsa
https://study.com/academy/lesson/salsa-dance-origin-history-steps.html
https://www.dancing4beginners.com/salsa/#steps
 II. Foxtrot
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/foxtrot-dance-guide
https://www.wikidancesport.com/wiki/1053/foxtrot
https://www.dancing4beginners.com/foxtrot/

III. Quickstep
https://www.wikidancesport.com/wiki/1062/quickstep
https://www.bellaballroom.com/dance-lessons/ballroom-dancing/quickstep/
https://arthurmurraymesa.com/dance-styles/quickstep