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Carolina Shag size="5">: size="3">The Queen of Dances !

- Official State Dance of South Carolina since 1984. Originally, the Carolina Shag formed out of the Charleston , and Collegiate Shag . However, today there is no resemblance to them at all. The name, Carolina Shag originated at Myrtle Beach in So. Carolina in the 1930's, when back then, the dance was a mix of the Charleston and Collegiate Shag (according to 10/1938-Dance Index Mag. "Carolina Shag" descriptions) with some of the original basic steps being called the: Cuban Step, Shuffle, Twinkle etc.

- The original Carolina Shag is said to have originated in Atlantic Beach area, but most agree on the modern form of the dance being danced in the Myrtle Beach area (The Pavilion?) in the mid 1940s (WWII) when the R&B bands were playing the beaches and the clubs, the music slowed down

considerably and the dancers, the music and the times changed the dance up to to its current look and feel (It has a great feel by the way). Dancing on the beach (sand) helped change this dance as well, where it gets it's nickname "Beach Dancing" and/or "Beach Music."

- Today, it is basically a slotted East Coast Swing dance with a splash of the West Coast Swing slot including both 6 and 8 count patterns. Today, the "Shag" consists mainly of fancy footwork by the leader, with the follower matching the leaders's footwork occasionally. In the past it was the lady who called out the footwork she wanted to "mirror" (The follower occasionally will call out a name of footwork or a sequence and the man will lead it with her). Choreography usually is not done socially or Competitively (but thats changing). There are very few patterns/spins done in Carolina Shag (due to beach/ sand dancing) however there is an immense amount of "footwork."

- Some claim the Carolina shag as pre-existing the Lindy Hop , due to some music title's having the Shag in its name or description, how-ever they are confusing the earlier "Collegiate Shag " with the later Carolina version. The earliest mention of the Carolina Shag I have found, with the actual words "Carolina Shag or it's description" of the dance is 1938. (if anyone has other information, I would like to see it ... and will gladly make corrections ... not hearsay, myths etc.)

- Carolina Shag became known as "Beach Swing " and was done to "Beach Music," which was basically old Motown, Blues and Oldies music today. The Shag is done primarily in the Southern States such as Florida , the Carolina's , Virginia , Georgia , etc. and has a very smooth, connected feel with your partner and the music. Today, West Coast Swing and Shag are starting to merge the best qualities of each of the two together and forming a newer style called SWAG ! It's really cool. However, the Carolina shag will always be a mainstay in the Swing dance community. Shag became the official state dance of So. Carolina in 1984.

   > Many folks ask what style of swing (Jitterbug) is best, West Coast, East Coast, Whip, Push, Lindy, Shag etc. However, there is no best style. The best style would depend on what type of music you are dancing to at the time, Geographics, the theme of the dance being held, geographics, the speed in which the music is played and the dance knowledge of you and or your partner. If you're partner only knows one style of swing, then their style would be the best style to dance with them at that time. If they only know one style they usually will declare that the style they know is the best style above all others and usually will make derogatory statements for many varied reasons.

   > Swing (Jitterbug) is a wonderful dance form in all it's versions that fits all types of music, Personalities, Finances etc. Calling yourself a swing dancer means you can at least do the basics in many forms of swing and a few well. So learn to swing dance whatever style, you're unique and your dances should be varied and your style should represent your knowledge of dance that other, newer dancers (and they are the majority) don't possess, not limited to only one. However you will eventually find you like them all and soon you will understand the importance of them all as well as understand why there are different styles to begin with. So enjoy them and mainly smile, laugh and have fun.

Birth Place

Creation Date

Creator

Dance Type

Atlantic Beach 1930s n/a Swing
 

Various Swing Posters, Lobby Cards etc.

Sheet Music Covers

Music Titles

Black Thunder Swing 1925 - New Orleans Shag 1930s - Any fast broken Rhythm Fox Trots
Cabin in the Sky (Swing Movie) The Shag 1937 - The Shag (Ager)
Chick Webb and Ella Savoy (Swing)   60 Minute Man
Daddy-O (Swing Movie)   Beach Music, Motown, Soul, Rock and Roll
Groovie Movie (Swing Movie)   Fine Brown Frame
Hellzapoppin' (Swing Movie Poster) 2   Marla's Memory Lane
HI-DE-HO (Cab Calloway)   New Orleans Shag (1925 see collegiate)
Hot Mikado (Swing Play)   Red Beans
Juke Girl (Swing Movie)   Shaggin The Night Away*
Keep Punchin' (Swing Movie)   Strokin'
Micheux Swing (Swing Art Print)    
Prisoner Of Swing (Swing Movie)    
Private Buckeroo (Swing Movie)    
Rock, Rock, Rock (ECS Swing Movie)    
Shag The Movie (Shag Dance)    
Stormy Weather (Bojangles, Horne)    
The Girl Can't Help It (Swing Movie)     
 
Night Clubs, etc.

Theaters

Locations

1938 - Dorminy Dance Studios -Salem, NC n/a Florida
1940s - Surf Club       Georgia
1940s - The Pavilion (Grand Strand)       Myrtle Beach
1950s? - Ebb Tide       North Carolina
1960 - Myrtle Beach Pavilion       South Carolina
1960s - Embers Club       Virginia
1974 - The Jolly Knave       Ocean Drive (Carolina)
The Pad (the Savoy of the South 1950s)        
Fat Harolds        
Folly Beach Pier        
Ducks        
Memory Lane        

Films / Movies

Television

Ballets / Stage

$ 1989 - Shag, The Movie n/a n/a
Alabama Music Video        
Please Don't Tell Them My Name        
Instructional Videos      

Publications

$ 1995 - Everybody Dances Swing! 1       10/1938 - Dance Digest
$ 1998 - Everybody Dances Swing! 2            

Other Related Dances of the time...

Arthur Murray Shag Carolina Shag Flying Lindy (see WCS) St. Louis Shag
Balboa Champion Strut Jitterbug Steppin'
Ballin' The Jack Charleston Jive Sugar Foot
Baltimore Buzz Collegiate Shag Lindy (Hop) Suzy Q'
Big Apple Creep, the New Orleans Shag Tango
Black Bottom D.C. Hand Dancing New Yorker, the (ecs) Tap Dance
Boogie Woogie Eagle Rock Peabody, the Texas Tommy
Bop East Coast Swing Peelin The Peach Truckin'
Breakaway Foxtrot Rock and Roll Waltz
Bugg Funky Butt Shim Sham West Coast Swing
Camel Walk Flea Hop Snake Hips Fast Dancing (fas)

Dancers, Choreographers etc.

Political

Algie Solomons Floretta Baylin (Dorminy)1938 n/a
Billy Jeffers (1940s) Londa Cook  
Danny Bean Maggie Lunn Foss (1940s)  
"Chicken" Hicks (1940s) Norfleet Jones  
Ellen Taylor "Spider" Kirkman  

Books, Magazine Articles on the dance...

Title Author Date Published Publisher
Dance Digest Magazine Floretta, Baylin 10/1938 n/a
The Shag, Legendary dance of the South Bryan, BO 1995 Foundation Books

Musicians

Artists

Poets / Writers

Chairmen of the Board n/a n/a
Clarence Carter      
Delbert Mc Clinton      
Jackie Wilson      
The Catalinas        
The Dells        
The Embers        
The Melody Makers        
The Showmen*        
The Tams        
The Venturas        
Wilson Pickett        

Misc. Research Words that may be related ... to help your searches

Beach Bop Beach Music Association of Carolina Shag Clubs -
Beach Dance Mirror Moves Society of Stranders    
[ Shag Clubs ]

Basic Step ...

Open Position (Push Basic);
1) - Move towards each other, 123
2) - Move away from each other 123
3) - Rock-Step and repeat) 1-2

Start Forward-Together Back
Middle Back-Together-Inplace
End Rock - Step
Carolina Shag basic Names are:
Start, Release, Female Turn, Male Turn, Basic (Push Break / Sugar Push), Side Pass, Pivot (Return Lindy / 1 arm Whip)
Some Pattern names:
the Applejack, Boogie Walks (Shorty George), Kick-Backs, Flamingo, Belly Roll, etc.
April 4, 2006
http://www.Streetswing.com/histmain/d5index.htm

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