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 'quicks' are hops on the L,R.L foot. This SSQQQ description does not seem to fit into 6 counts until you realize that the first 'quick' is the last half of the second 'slow', as described below.

Here's an expanded description of the Shag basic:

Count   Weight  Syllable        Description

1       left    kick/tap/hold   gesture with right foot

2       right   step            put right foot down

3       right   kick/tap/hold   gesture with left foot

4       left    step            put left foot down

5       right   step            hop on right foot

6       left    step            hop on left foot

There's also an open position like Charleston, Lead's right hand around Follow's waist, outside hands waving around like flags, or joined at waist height when closing, both partners facing the same direction, the direction of travel. In the open position, you can do the same basic, but now that you're in the open position you have the option of traveling!

There are two traveling varieties, depending on traffic avoidance considerations: slow and fast. Fast traveling is a step forward on 1,3,5,6 and slow traveling is stepping forward only on 1,3. This is hard to describe correctly with text.

Here's a comparison between shag and 6-count swing:

        Shag                    6-count

Count   Weight  Action          Weight  Action  

1       left    kick            left    step

2       right   step            left    hold

3       right   kick            right   step

4       left    step            right   hold

5       right   step            left    rock back

6       left    step            right   rock forward

External Link

• The Carolina Shag