The word "a" sometimes refers to a time value of a quarter-beat (as in "1-e-&-a..." etc). But it can also refer to a time value of one third of a beat (as in "1-&-a..." etc). This is true of music which is "swung" -- most notably Foxtrot and Swing.

Either way, the "a" count is much closer to the following beat than it is to the previous beat. Mathematically speaking, as "beginner" points out, it is a part of the previous beat. But human beings will tend to percieve it musically as being connected to the following beat.

Regards,
Jonathan

To Phil Samways. If you go to the technic book, International Style, things can get very complicated, that is hard at first to understand. The Feather Step in the Foxtrot, starting on the mans right has four steps. The last step if followed by a Reverse Turn becomes the first of the Reverse. The Reverse starting on the mans left foot has seven steps finishing with a Slow on the left foot. This is usually followed be a three step which starts on the mans right foot and finishes, Yes you've guessed it on the right foot which can also be the first of the Natural Turn.Actually to dance a good foxtrot one does not need to know most of the above. To get to the main issue I think I should explain again. I find it much easier to count a Slow that is two beats. as Slow And. The Slow being one beat, the And being also one beat.But as Shakespeare said. "A Rose by any other name is still a Rose". Call it whatever you like to call it, just make sure a Slow has two beats.I still take my hat off to the writter of the technic book. Hats off to Alex Moore who put it all together in 1936. Some things have altered but the foot work has not. It is still the same today as it was then..

The Foxtrot basic takes 6 beats of music. The slow is 1,2 the second slow is 3,4 and the quick,quick is 5,6

I have to agree with KC and disagree with Don on this one.
You can't count a foxtrot reverse turn Slow - And- Quick-Quick as this is 4 steps and the reverse turn only has three.
I think we're talking about the same thing but in different ways.
The slow can be 1- and -a -half beats, and the following quick another 1 - and -a -half. This is a matter of an individual dancer's interpretation (that's how i dance it in fact, but there are other interpretations). This is one of the factors which make the foxtrot such an enjoyable and satisfying dance (when danced well, of course!)
I'm VERY uncomfortable with the idea of a slow being called slow-and. Why is there a problem taking 2 beats (or 11/2) on a slow, and still calling it a slow?

Is it worth pointing out that Ballroom Dancing in all its forms is an Art and not a Science. If you talk about spilt beat values how would one explain a Volta which is 3/4 1/4 . Or a Botofogo which is 3/4. 1/4. 1.I have two tapes on the Modern Waltz where in both tapes they split 3 beats in the first three of a natural and any other part of that dancee into 6 half beats. Both count out loud, 1 and 2 and 3 and.( lowering on the last and). If your wondering on what beat the feet close , it's on an and. Both of these gentlmen are top coaches in the UK, it would be hard to contradict either.

If you're talking about basic foxtrot as in dancing a basic quickstep, but more slowly (what we call "rhythm dancing in UK"), then Kevin is absolutely correct, and it works very well for social dancing.
If you try some more advanced foxtrot figures, such as feather step - reverse turn - feather finish, you will find the timing is Slow - Quick - Quick, with the slow occupying beats 1 and 2 and the two quicks each occupying 1 beat (making 3 and 4).
However, the beauty of foxtrot is that it can be very sophisticated in its rhythms, allowing the dancer some leeway to use his own musical interpretation, departing from the strict 2 beat slow and 1 beat quick structure. All this pleasure is ahead of you!!

I think that foxtrot is the dance that most
epitomizes ballroom dancing. It is a dance of
structure and elegance, and if not appreciated
as such, should probably be left alone.
American style is not very standardized and
is probably not taught the same in any two places. But, the basic step is usually
S S Q Q or S Q Q. English style actually has no
core basic, but is progressed around the floor
through various figure combinations that are
comprised of slows and quicks.