Swing is a type of dance that has lasted generations. Since its rise in popularity in the 1920s, it has never gone out of style. Although, the styles of swing dancing have definitely evolved over the years.
Perhaps, no performance illustrates this fact quite like that of Sam West and Ellen Taylor.
The two of them recently won first place at the 2017 USA Grand Nationals in the Swing dancing category. The video of their competition-winning dance is something that you have to see for yourself.
The song they chose to dance to was Bill Pinkney’s “Gonna Move Across The River”.
It’s a classic in the rhythm & blues and beach music genres — the perfect track for swing, specifically, Carolina Shag.
Carolina Shag is West and Taylor’s specialty.
It’s a variation of swing dancing that is done to beach music. The songs normally have a tempo of somewhere between 100 and 130 beats per minute. The style itself most likely originated in the 1940s in Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina, a small town located along the Atlantic Ocean.
Carolina Shag is all about having fun and bringing people in the community together. Therefore, it’s always done with another partner, and we have to say, West and Taylor are the perfect match.
For over two minutes at the Grand Nationals, they effortlessly glided across the dance floor, spinning each other around and around.
Their moves were so smooth and fluid. It immediately became obvious to everyone in attendance just how talented they are. It’s no surprise really. According to West’s bio, he has been dancing pretty much his entire life.
“Sam started shag dancing at age 9 after his mother, Barbara, became interested in dancing,” his bio reads.
An additional big influence in West’s dance career was Shad Alberty, the father of one of his dance partners. Alberty is known as one of the best shag dancers of all time. He served as a mentor to West, teaching him all about swing dancing, and particularly, Carolina Shag.
Taylor has a similar history.
“Ellen Taylor, an icon in the Shag community, began dancing at the age of 10, accompanying an unmarried aunt to square dances and grew up dancing in the local recreation center with a favorite pastime of being the ‘pesky little girl’ aggravating the older boys to dance with her,” her bio reads.
West and Taylor have seen firsthand how the styles of swing have changed since the days of the Jitterbug or East Coast Swing.
The duo has been dancing together for decades, since at least 1999 when they performed at the US Open Swing Dancing Championships. Their mature age means that they are very well known in the swing dancing world.
Although, just because they are getting older doesn’t mean they don’t still have moves.
In fact, they dance better now than ever before. When you have been performing as long as they have, the steps and flow just come naturally. You can tell by watching the video of them at the Grand Nationals that dancing is second nature to them. They make it look so easy.
Of course, they finished their performance to roaring applause from the crowd and judges. There’s no doubt about it really, it was an applause that was very well deserved. Ultimately, they were awarded first place for their efforts.
Watch the full video of Sam West and Ellen Taylor performing their competition-winning swing dance below.
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Source: World Swing Dance Council
