Dance
Seniors Dance The Shag And Have Serious Skills
This will make you want to learn the Shag too.
Cedric Jackson
10.22.18

A couple that dances together stays together. At least that’s how it works for Jackie McGee and Charlie Womble. They are a married couple who also happen to be amazing dancers. They live in South Carolina, where “the shag” dance originated.

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This dance is often performed to Carolina beach music.

It became popular in the ‘50s and ‘60s in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Anyone who lives in the area or has visited it knows how proud the city and state are of their dance. When Jackie and Charlie perform it, it’s amazing.

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The shag may have started in South Carolina, but it has spread up and down the East Coast.

There are numerous shag competitions throughout the year, and Jackie and Charlie often compete in them. They often win, too. In this video, the couple showed off their skills at the ShagAtlanta 2013 ACSC Summer Workshop. The audience watched them in amazement as danced across the floor.

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Their movements were completely in sync, and they were flowing with the music and each other.

According to Colorful Places:

“The Carolina shag is a distinctive partner dance that originated in the 1930s and evolved in the boardwalk pavilions and beach clubs of either Carolina Beach, North Carolina (where it’s also their state dance) or in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina–the story varies, depending on who you’re getting your history from. Ultimately, North Myrtle Beach has become the epicenter of this dance which has become synonymous with warm sand, cold beer, and summertime fun with friends and family.”

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The shag isn’t just a dance for the older generations.

Young people enjoy it, too. It’s a fun combination of dance styles, and it’s fairly easy to learn. Many people visit North Myrtle Beach just to learn how to do this fun dance. The fact that it combines so many different dance styles means that it has something to offer everyone. Colorful Places noted:

“The Carolina shag has elements of the jitterbug and the Lindy Hop, so it’s a lively dance that’s as fun to watch as it is to do, with a 6-count swing step that will definitely give you a fun workout. Much of the dance focuses on the fancy footwork and gliding, improvised steps of the male dancer, who really gets to strut his stuff. The shag is best danced to ‘beach music,’ a regional musical genre with big-band era swing roots that also blends R&B, rock and pop music styles of the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s.”

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If you think you might want to learn how to do the shag, stop by one of the beach bars in North Myrtle Beach or Myrtle Beach.

There are several that offer shag lessons and competitions. Some even offer free lessons during certain times of the year. Some of the locations that offer lessons include:

You can also find videos online that will show you the steps to this unique dance. Sure, the shag isn’t for everyone, but there’s no denying that these two make it look pretty cool. They have been dancing together for so long that they just know the steps the other is going to make before he or she even makes them.

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The fact that they live together also makes it easier for them to practice.

In the video, the crowd was impressed by their dance moves, and so is everyone else who saw the video. It has been shared thousands of times. They may have even sparked a new interest in this dance.

If you plan on beating Jackie and Charlie, though, you had better practice. They have already been inducted into the Beach Shaggers Hall of Fame. They show no mercy on the dance floor. They are great teachers, though, so they won’t hesitate to pass on their secrets of the shag. After you watch this video, you may find yourself wanting to learn it.

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