The Panama Fox Trot is a fox trot sequence dance composed by Geo. Chester in 1921.
The sheet music heralded it as "The Fox Trot of the Year."
Closed position, Lead facing LOD.
Part I - Side Twinkle (4 bars): Back the Follow one slow step (1), then step side toward outside wall (2), close (and), cross through (3), and point toe toward center without weight (4). Repeat (5, 6-and-7, 8).
Part II - Zig Zag, Chassé, and Dip (4 bars): Two-step diagonally forward to the left (1-and-2) and to the right (3-and-4), turning 1/4 to the right on the last step. Then chassé twice (side, close, side close) along LOD (5-and-6-and), step side along LOD (7), and cross through along LOD with a slight dip (8).
Part III - Half Turn and Point (4 bars): Half a turn of two-step (1-and-2), then point second foot along LOD (3) and hold (4). Repeat opposite, completing the turn (5-and-6, 7, 8).
Part IV - Zig Zag and Two-Step (4 bars): Two-step diagonally forward to the left (1-and-2) and to the right (3-and-4), turning 1/4 to the right on the last step, then dance a full turn of turning two-step (5-and-6, 7-and-8).
Repeat from the beginning.
"Panama Fox Trot" by Fredk. W. Phipp is the specified tune, but any square, early 20th century fox trot will do.
© 2019 Nick Enge
For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.
For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.
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