Becoming Ginger Rogers
a memoir by public relations CEO Patrice Tanaka

Intermezzo: Foxtrot

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Every ballroom dance has its own distinct essence and attitude. Former ballroom champion Marianne Nicole believes that people's personalities match certain dances: romantic (bolero), joyful (samba) or just plain difficult (mambo, because no one listens to the "one" beat). If that's true, then foxtrot's personality would be breezy. When the nervous newcomer stands awkwardly on the dance floor, feeling shy as a kindergartner and just as knobby-kneed, the instructor can be confident that within a few lessons even the most hesitant student will be able to master the foxtrot's basic moves.

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Sauntering across the floor, the foxtrot embodies the saucy coolness we associate with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers when they're taking it easy to a Cole Porter or Irving Berlin tune. Many a wedding couple has made its debut as Mr. and Mrs. with a simple but charming foxtrot. Why foxtrot? Because in its most basic form the foxtrot teaches two of the foundational skills of smooth dances: standing up straight and walking in harmony with a partner. If you can walk, you can foxtrot. And if you can abandon the Hunchback of Notre Laptop look, you can also appear elegant doing it.