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The Saint Louis Shag ... originally came from the Charleston
(according toKenny
Wetzel ) rather than the Collegiate
Shag back in the 1920's. Arthur
Murray's book, "Down Memory Lane" spoke
of a dance called the "St. Louis Hop. "
Murray reported it was very "fast and strenuous." (could
be the start of the St. Louis Shag).
- The St. Louis Shag is quite different
than the Charleston
, Murray , Carolina
or Collegiate versions,
while some steps are shared, these dances look and are totally
different than the St. Louis version. The Saint Louis Shag is
a spot dance
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(done
in place) and is done to very fast stomp, jump and boogie
woogie music (much faster than Balboa/ Collegiate Shag versions.)
- It has allot of kicks and closed
position patterns, some steps can be done apart as well as done
together (basic is in closed position). Some Pattern names
are: Kenny Kicks, Kenny Flicks, Buffalo Shuffle, Peek-A-Boo, The
Freeze, The Bop, Hop Scotch etc. Certain Shag movements can be
identified with Charleston steps.
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A native of St. Louis, Kenny
Wetzel introduced the St. Louis Shag to Southern
California West Coast Swing
dancers over 50 years ago. Kenny was also the best looking of
the Shag dancers, a legend in this dance as well. The St. Louis
Shag is an extremely fast, closed position dance. The general
speed for it is around 220-300 bpm (only done by the better
dancers) And a definite show stopper of a dance. Handclappin'
by the Backsters is the ultimate St. Louis Shag bong.
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Birth Place |
Creation Date |
Creator |
Dance Type |
| St.
Louis, MO. |
1920S |
n/a |
Swing |
|
Posters, Lobby Cards etc. |
Sheet Music Covers |
St.
Louis Related Music Titles |
| n/a |
The
Shag |
1903
- St. Louis Rag (Turpin) |
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1904
- St. Louis Tickle (Bennett) |
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$
St Louis Blues (Bessie Smith) |
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$
1930 - St. Louis Blues (Ellington) |
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1926
- St. Louis Hop (Waggner) |
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1927
- St. Louis Shuffle (Waller) |
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1930
- St. Louis Lou (Kanter) |
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1937
- The Shag (Ager) |
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Handclappin' (Backsters) [Shag Song] |
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St.
Louis Boogaloo (Darin Gray) |
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$
St. Louis Shuffle is driving me Bananas! |
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$
St. Louis Slide (Darin Gray) |
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St.
Lous Stomp |
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$
St. Louis Stop (Darin Gray) |
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The
Stomp (Backsters) [Shag Song] |
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Night Clubs |
Theaters |
Locations |
| Lion'
D'or - CA |
n/a |
Los
Angeles, CA |
| Palladium
- CA |
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New
York |
| Press
Box - CA |
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San
Francisco, CA |
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St.
Louis, Missouri |
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Films / Movies |
Contests |
Ballets / Stage |
| 1983
& 84 US Open Contests |
1973
World Swing Dance Championships |
n/a |
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1983,
84, 85 US Open Championships |
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Publications |
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Down
Beat Magazine |
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Dancers, Choreographers etc. |
Political |
| Bob
& Annette Garret |
Lance
Shermoen |
n/a |
| Buzz
Malatsky |
Maryann
Nunez |
|
| Cookie
Giamo |
Mike
Faille |
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| Debbie
Ramsey |
Sherry
Lawson |
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| Jim
Fisk |
Shirley
Fietsem |
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| Jim
& Lorraine Byrnes |
Sonny
Watson |
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| John
Bedrosian |
Yolanda
Ocho |
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| Kenny
Wetzel |
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Books, Magazine Articles on the dance... |
| Title |
Author |
Date
Published |
Publisher |
| n/a |
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Musicians |
Singers |
Poets / Writers |
| Backsters,
The |
n/a |
n/a |
| Ben
Kanter |
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| George
Waggner |
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| Theron
C. Bennett |
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Misc. Research Words that may be related ... to help your searches |
| Southside |
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Other...
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| The
Basic Step :
Couple
stands in closed V-shaped closed position, Don't Hop, do as smoothly
as possible.
When kicking, the shoulders should not rock or dip back and forth,
(you will not have the time when it gets fast).
The speed is in the legs, Not the body!.
On counts 1&2 a single rhythm (one step) can be done in place
of the triple, however it cuts the energy in half.
| small
Forward |
Triple
step |
1&2 |
| Kick
Forward |
Skip-Kick |
&3 |
| Kick
Backward |
Skip-Kick |
&4 |
| Backward |
Step |
5 |
| Inplace-Lift
foot |
Stomp |
6 |
| Forward
/ Back |
F-Rock
/ Step |
7
/ 8 |
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