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  • What is the Carolina Shag? What is the music?
    • What is Shag Music? Article by David Sessoms
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"The Dance of the south"
what is the Carolina shag?


The Moves

     The Carolina Shag is a slotted swing dance that uses the same footwork timing as East Coast Swing: triple step, triple step, rock step. Some dancers use a “kick-ball-change” step in place of the rock step. The music tempo averages about 125 beats per minutes. Shag is a smooth, graceful dance with an emphasis on footwork rather than on turns.

The Music

      The Carolina Shag may be danced to classic “beach music” tunes such as “Carolina Girls,” “Under the Boardwalk,” and “I Love Beach Music,” or the Carolina Shag may be danced to Motown and Blues. Most Shag music is interchangeable with West Coast Swing music. The standard tempo range is 110-135 beats per minute. The music is normally blues style, written in 4/4 time.

History

       The Shag originated in the late 1930’s in clubs of Myrtle Beach, SC. The Shag has roots in Jitterbug and Lindy Hop Swing, which date to the 1920’s. Early Shaggers called themselves "Jitterbugs.” The early swing music was fast, big band swing. The term "Shag" came about over a decade later. By the early '50s, Shag adopted the tempo and feel of Rhythm and Blues.

      Shag emphasizes grace and smoothness over turns and athleticism. Unlike free style and Hip Hop dancing, shag is “danced from the waist down.” You need to achieve smooth, tight footwork with the look of having rubber knees.
Excerpted from "The Dance Store Online"
Click HERE for link.
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