Originally posted by HappyMommy2
Yeah, I think you're going to get more views on this thread than the normal "countdown" thread gets!
Yep, and here's our definition of the Southeastern American version: And again, my apologies to those from the UK for using their version of the meaning of ----------------?the word.
Shag is a form of swing dance Swing is a group of related street dances, that evolved from Lindy Hop. Swing is a partner dance, where the couple consists of a lead and follow, who share a connection.
Forms of Swing
The three main dance forms of swing are Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, and East Coast Swing. However, many related dance forms exist, including the following.
Lindy Hop evolved in the late 1920s and early 1930s as the original swing dance. Its main draw is the style's openess to improvisation, and ability to easily adapt to include steps from other 8-count, and 6-count Swing styles. "Lindy" is most often danced to jazz, but ambitious dancers often use it to dance to the blues, rock & roll, and even some forms of hip-hop! Almost anything goes.
The two most common variations are the Carolina Shag. The Carolina Shag is a type of swing dance. The shag basic step is performed in closed position, the Lead's left hand at shoulder height, right hand on the follow's left shoulder blade. The steps are verbalized as "slow, slow, quick quick quick", where each 'slow' is some kind of smooth or spastic gesture with one foot. The first 'slow' is with weight on the left foot and gesturing with the right, the second with weight on the right and gesturing with the left.
The Collegiate Shag is a form of swing dancing, similar to the Balboa (another swing dance), but with different footwork (footwork: the dance term for steps). Danced with a Lead and follow, it is danced to upper tempo music (usually 200+ beats per minute) and the couple dancing is positioned very closely for a body lead connection.
Collegiate Shag began in New Orleans in the 1920's and it was performed by young ("college age") dancers to ragtime jazz. It pre-dates the Lindy Hop and Balboa. As it spread, new breeds of the dance were created such as Carolina Shag and St. Louis Shag.