Shim Sham

[pygmalion]

It never ceases to amaze me how many different, weird-named swing dances there are. Um. What is shim sham? where is it done? Does anybody actually do it anymore, or is it one of the historical (meaning dead ) dances? What does the basic look like?

[suek]

Jenn: [google]shim sham[/google]!

no no let me help

It's a non-partnered dance (well not entirely, in all versions) derived from an old tap warmup routine using jazz steps, as I was taught. There are three versions that I know of.

When you watch these video clips keep in mind that everyone styles the footwork (and arms) differently. Remember these are jazz steps.

1. The most common one -- in my experience -- is the one Frankie Manning calls. I found many sites that explain the steps and a video clip that I've downloaded (get the video clip at: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and scroll down to the "Snurr film!" area and click on green link. (It's a Danish website so I'm being helpful here. It's also a 26mb download...best for broadband, I guess. It's great for seeing the footwork.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] explain the footwork

2. here's a video of the Dean Collins version:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Can't find the full footwork explained, but here's something: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

3. I don't know the name of the third version; just saw a couple of people doing it recently. It looks even more difficult that the first two.

Okay then, that should get you started

[Sagitta]

Thanks suek for the info, and Pygmalion for bringing it up. I am always interested in increasing my repertoire of dances. I definite will check this out and see what this is all about.

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

Sorry for my ignorance, what is Swing Dance?

[Vince A]

Originally Posted by MapleLeaf Salsero

Sorry for my ignorance, what is Swing Dance?

A little help for ya' . . . try looking for more particulars using the "search" feature. Even as a moderator, I use it a lot . . .

Some of the Swing Dances

Count as in "6 count step" - the number of beats of music that a particular step takes up E.g. The under arm turn is a 6 count step. That is, it takes 6 beats of music to dance it.
East Coast Swing -
(1) a group of dances that are derivative of the Lindy Hop of the late 20's and early 30's. and which have not become slotted dances. In this broad sense, it includes Jitterbug, Lindy and Lindy Hop.
(2) another name for Jitterbug in its current usage.
Jitterbug -
(1) in the early history of swing dancing, another name for Lindy Hop.
(2) currently, a form of East Coast Swing derived from Lindy which includes primarily 6 count steps.
Lindy -
(1) in the early history of swing dancing, another name for Lindy Hop.
(2) a name for a form of East Coast Swing that evolved from Lindy Hop and which contains mostly 6 and 8 count steps.
Lindy Hop -
The original swing dance that arose in the late 20's and early 30's especially in New York City.
slotted dance -
a dance where the follower dances within a linear slot.
Example: West Coast Swing.
Swing -
(1) Originally, swing referred to a type of music, and not to a form of dancing.
(2) The names of what we now call swing dances have changed through time, and vary by geographic area, the context of the conversation, etc. In the 1930's "Lindy Hop", "Lindy" and "Jitterbug" were all the names of a single dance which is now often called "Lindy Hop".
step -
(1) a pattern that one can dance such as an under arm turn. Typically takes 6 to 8 beats of music to dance.
(2) a weight change where weight shifts from one foot to the other. (This use does not occur on this page.)
West Coast Swing -
a slotted dance that evolved from Lindy in Texas and on the West Coast which contains both 6 and 8 count steps.

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[Spitfire]

Jenn, this is from a sheet that was going around at one of the local swing dances a few years ago - if you can make sense of it. I've never done the Shim Sham myself:

SHIM SHAM

Taps (x3)
shim sham
Push it (x3)
Tacky Annie (x3)
shim sham
Break (x2)
shim sham
Break (x2)
----Repeat without shim sham—
Boogie Back
Slide Forward
(x2)
Boogie Back
Shorty George
(x2)
----Find a partner and dance--
----Freeze and Dance---

[danceguy]

Pygmalion,

Shim sham is really fun!

The place that I took Lindy Hop lessons at for a few months used to teach us the Shim Sham as a warm up. I really enjoyed learning it, but the teachers taught it way too fast and most of the people in the class didn't like doing it. Due to this, unfortunately I didn't get a very good grasp of all the steps so I'm not sure what version of it I was learning, but the videos on the links that Suek provided looked very similiar.

I hope to learn more of it someday...I never learn well when someone shows me something above the level that I can retain the info and commit it to memory.

Best,

SG

[SwinginBoo]

I love the shim sham! (though I haven't officially learned it) It's a lot of fun. Probably the earliest of line dances...lol I'm just making that up. But it really is a lot of fun. Any one else do the Big Apple or Jitterbug Stroll?

[Sagitta]

Shorty George -- Isn't that where you go forward, with knees bending, one leg in foot of another, alternating, and hands pointing down, or something?

If you did the Shim Sham as a warm up and it had all sorts of moves like these, no wonder people didn't like it and it was hard to grasp, SG!!

Nope, don't do the Big Apple or jitterbug stroll. Do, you perchance know of clips on the net which show these, now that you have whetted my appetite?

[Swing Kitten]

Originally Posted by Sagitta

Shorty George -- Isn't that where you go forward, with knees bending, one leg in foot of another, alternating, and hands pointing down, or something?

yeah that's the one