Frank Sinatra sang his heart out and old blue eyes woed the ladies with his flare but what gave him the extra edge. Being able to dance!
The foxtrot is not a particularly hard dance to learn. The music has even beats and learning the steps is the hardest thing to conquer.
The very basic step of the Foxtrot is the box. Many ballroom dance teachers will use the quick quick slow method of teaching. Starting with your right foot ladies, take a step back (slow) then take a step to the side (quick) and close together side(quick).
Illustration of the Foxtrot Box Step
Quick (Left foot)/Quick (Right Foot) Slow (Left Foot)
Slow (Right foot) Quick (Right Foot) / Quick (Left Foot)
Once this basic step is learned, then moving around the ballroom floor should be much easier as the steps are the same just not forming a box but walking forwards and backwards.
Besides the dancing aspect, taking Foxtrot lessons become a great place to socialize. Weekly dance parties, usually on Friday and Saturday nights allows students to practice with teachers and other students, which gives more time to exercise, while meeting new people.
The social aspect of dancing helps to motivate people who find it hard to get out and exercise. Making new friends and becoming part of a group may make you feel obligated to attend, but for many people, this is great advantage when their attitude needs a positive change.
Remember Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers floating over the stage while singing and acting all at one time? When the music is turned on, imagine yourself in one of the old time movies, dancing around as if you were on air. The costumes which accentuate the dance moves, from light weight, furry skirts, to soft pastel colors, give the image of the Ginger Rogers being carried off her feet by her dance partner.
Having this image in your head while dancing can help your Foxtrot get to a level where you could enter competitions. The cheering, the couples, the tension between dance couples, oh the fun!!! What an adrenaline rush!
But first start with the basics and find a dance school which is reputable and ask about the teachers before deciding to take lessons. The personality of your teacher and yourself should mesh well otherwise your lessons become not enjoyable and this is not the reason for learning Foxtrot.