Carolina Shag

[Genesius Redux]

Re: Shag -basic step

Being strictly SoCal, my only exposure to Carolina Shag has been through "Shag: The Movie". But your description of the steps sounds very much like what somebody recently demonstrated as what he had learned as "East Coast Swing" -- and admittedly, as a beginner trying to remember steps he hadn't practiced in a while, he didn't do very well. My own ECS training is "rock-step, triple, triple" which seems just the most natural way of doing it, so I always pay attention when somebody presents a "weird" way like he did.

Hey DWise1-

Nice to meetcha!

I learned ECS as triple-triple-rock; timing-wise it doesn't matter whether you start on the rock or the triple, since it's a 6 count basic, and you're going to be going on and off the phrase anyway. But lead-wise, I was also taught to release my hip as a pick-up into the first triple, which I originally learned as a side step to have it refined into a forward step later.

It sounds like we're going the route of the mambo-salsa thread, in trying to figure out what makes a dance a coherent dance. If the motion back and forth is the same motion as ECS, then what makes the Shag a different dance? Or if it's more like WCS with the slotted movement, what again distinguishes Shag?

I'd also heard the same thing about not spilling your beer applied to WCS, only there the analogy was to a mixed drink and a cigarette. Is the only difference in the kind of drinks you're holding? :wink:

Definitely dazed and confused,

Genesius

 

[Genesius Redux]

Re: Shag -basic step

By starting far enough apart. Shag is a slotted dance like WCS, but the connection is very different as you're moving in the opposite direction from your partner, rather than the same direction. So the connection doesn't have the tension/"away" nature of a WCS sugarpush.

Oh--okay, thank you, Jon--that answers some of my questions in what I posted while you were posting this.

Do you start with a two-hand hold? What happens to my upper body, especially as I move from the first triple to the anchor step? And what do I do with arms/elbows?

 

[jon]

Re: Shag -basic step

Do you start with a two-hand hold? What happens to my upper body, especially as I move from the first triple to the anchor step? And what do I do with arms/elbows?

Disclaimer: I don't really know much Shag despite having lived in Chapel Hill for a decade, the swing and shag communities didn't cross over much at the time.

That said, there is a fairly standard Shag starter step and throwout from closed, but the basic is done in one-hand L-R hold. Shag upper body styling is (at least historically) relaxed and upright, most of the action happens below the waist with lots of fancy footwork for the advanced dancers. Free arms stay close to the body, the better not to spill your beer

 

[d nice]

Carolina Shag is not ECS. ECS has footwork that travels side to side or in place when in open position, and either side to side or forward and back in closed position. Carolina Shag's basic is always forward back regarldess of the position (as far as I know).

In your basic open position Shag has little to no arm tension at all, the dancers move in towards each other and away in an "accordian" fashion.

As to how you don't step on each other, it is more than just starting far enough apart, though that obviousely is a very important aspect. There is also frame. IF both partners have an engaged frame you'll find it very difficult to step on your partners feet.

 

[Genesius Redux]

Carolina Shag is not ECS. ECS has footwork that travels side to side or in place when in open position, and either side to side or forward and back in closed position. Carolina Shag's basic is always forward back regarldess of the position (as far as I know).

In your basic open position Shag has little to no arm tension at all, the dancers move in towards each other and away in an "accordian" fashion.

As to how you don't step on each other, it is more than just starting far enough apart, though that obviousely is a very important aspect. There is also frame. IF both partners have an engaged frame you'll find it very difficult to step on your partners feet.

Hey d nice! Loooooove your posts! Thank you!

Okay--so if I think I'm getting the idea--you step into a slight in connection on the first triple and then push off into an away connection for the anchor step, then shift from a back to an in connection in the rock step or kick-ball-change? Is that right?

It feels like there should be a lot less hip involved than in ECS? Again, a similarity to WCS?

 

[etchuck]

Re: Shag -basic step

Disclaimer: I don't really know much Shag despite having lived in Chapel Hill for a decade, the swing and shag communities didn't cross over much at the time.

Quite frankly, I don't know if they still do around here. Maybe in one or two clubs in Raleigh (Loafers, specifically) that will specialize in it.

 

[jon]

Re: Shag -basic step

Quite frankly, I don't know if they still do around here. Maybe in one or two clubs in Raleigh (Loafers, specifically) that will specialize in it.

It was never done in CH, way too many Damned Yankees there. Around 1997 when I left was when the swing dancers were starting to hang out a bit at Loafer's, and that's grown since there's a regular swing night there now. There was and AFAIK still is Shag periodically at the Longbranch and other venues too.

Of course Loafer's typically had so few patrons that we wondered how they stayed in business - Mary Lou thought they were really a numbers-running front

 

[d nice]

Hey d nice! Loooooove your posts! Thank you!

Okay--so if I think I'm getting the idea--you step into a slight in connection on the first triple and then push off into an away connection for the anchor step, then shift from a back to an in connection in the rock step or kick-ball-change? Is that right?

It feels like there should be a lot less hip involved than in ECS? Again, a similarity to WCS?

Don't think of it as an anchor step... the further away you can get yourself from wcs terminology and methodology the easier it will be to do shag. Yes there are definitely some similarities, but wcs is generally taught using some serious absolutes that will mess you up if you bring them into another swing dance.

There is the ever so slightest in connection on the first triple, and you just let it disolve away in the second triple, turning into the slightest out connection on the step-step. The idea is that the hand is on a post and that you should be able to dance with your partner with your hands just touching each other, no actual "grip" being used... a little hard to describe correctly through words, but easy to demonstrate.

 

[Genesius Redux]

Thanks D Nice! I've got kind of an idea from your description--I guess I'll have to find someone who knows the dance to really show me! 8)

 

[HepcatBob]

Re: Shag -basic step

I'd also heard the same thing about not spilling your beer applied to WCS, only there the analogy was to a mixed drink and a cigarette. Is the only difference in the kind of drinks you're holding? :wink:

Mixed drinks and cigarettes are allowed in Carolina shag as well.
:cheers:

 

[etchuck]

Re: Shag -basic step

Link: www.loafersbeachclub.com .

Actually Loafers recently moved. Something having to do with their old place having been flooded from recent rain last year... hmm...

I think nowadays they get a lot of people, esp for WCS and shag nights. I've gone a couple of times for WCS and ECS, but I wasn't impressed enough to become a club member.

But you're right... I don't think there is a place in Chapel Hill that does shag. :cry: