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Many still ask

 1. What is Discofox?

 and

 2. How is its relation to Round Dance?

 Here are some answers:

 First we deal with question #2.

It is quickly answered: Until January 2005 Discofox does not exist in RDing. With our Workshop at the 29^th RD Clinic Eringerfeld we entered new ground and prepared the rhythm for RDing. Due to the good resonance and a dancer poll, that was accomplished after the workshop, we like to strengthen the “relationship” with the next year’s clinic. At the Eringerfeld Clinic February 2006 we will present a new choreography, that will serve as well as starting point for beginners in this rhythm and also combines “old” and new material for last years attendees.

 Question #1 is more difficult to answer.

Lets take a look at dance history: In the sixties discotheques flooded the dance scene with a cheap alternative to dance to music using records. These modern temples of movement outrun dance clubs or dance cafes that tried hard to survive despite their expensive life music performances.

At first the Beat- and Hippie-Generation crowded the dance floors and was replaced around 1970 by the typical disco dancers. They found their ultimate idol in John Travolta the main character of the music movie Saturday Night Fever (1977).

The Discofox developed in the middle of the seventies while the free improvising dancers rediscovered the dancehold.

With figures from foxtrot and swing (Hnds Bhnd Back, Windmill, Pretzel and all kinds of wraps) a dance full of variations was born that developed a couple of branches (Salsa-Discofox, Disco- Chicken res. "Crackerjack", Disco Cha Cha). The three count basic consists of two „walks“ and a „tap“. In the four count basic the „tap“ is replaced by a short „rock & rec“. It is fairly easy to learn.

Excursion:

In the USA at the same time (appr. 1974) the Hustle occurred, whose figures, by the way, have nothing in common with those in the popular RD "Hustle Around". The "International Hustle" or "Three Count Hustle", is very similar to the European Discofox and finds expression in a choreography by Kenji & Nobuko Shibata, "Be My Lover". Curt & Tammy Worlock presented their new Hustle/Cha “You Owe Me One” in Cham 2005. It works with 4 count Hustle figures. 

That disco dancing in general is a topic in the American RD scene is shown by the Easterday choreography on "Cinderella Rockefella" a Disco-Jive from the year 2000. The latest Cha Cha choreography by Bill & Carol Goss, "You Should Be Dancing", uses Disco-Arms to express the disco feeling in this dance.

Discofox in RD:

Why do we think that Discofox has a future in RDing?

1. Discofox is the ultimate party coupledance and everybody has been somehow exposed to the rhythm at some place.

2. Our choreography is danceable by dancers with approx. 2-3 years dance experience.

3. Figurenames are made up by using existing definitions and standards (Hands Bhnd Back, Change R to L, Riff Turn).

More:

Those who like to learn more about stile and rhythm etc. and want to dig deeper in the material should have a look at the following pages (sorry, German only).

www.discofoxtanzen.de

www.discofox.de

 Remark:

Discofox is probably danced in every country throughout Europe under different names.