When Kayla Henley and Jeremy Webb first walked onto the dance floor at the National SHAG Dance Championships, no one knew what to expect from the two teenagers. That would change soon enough. They just needed some music, two pairs of feet, and the enthusiasm of the crowd behind them. The rest would be magic.
Are you ready to discover the dancing duo’s performance? Here’s how it went:
Meet Kayla and Jeremy
The two of them just looked like average kids when they stepped out in front of the judges and the audience. Even their matching attire had a touch of casualness thanks to Kayla’s brown sandals that contrasted with their semi-formal black and white clothing and Jeremy’s black leather dancing shoes.
However, once the music began, their fancy footwork and fast dance moves would charge the room with their contagious energy. They would soon have the people watching completely absorbed in the moment.
It all started with a familiar tune
Flip, Flop, Fly was originally sung by Big Joe Turner and His Blues Kings. It became instantly popular and reached number two on Billboard magazine’s R&B chart in 1955. After that, other artists began to pick up the song and make it their own. Among the legends to sing Flip, Flop, Fly were Elvis Presley, Johnnie Ray, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
There is no denying the level of appeal that the song maintained over the years. Who would doubt it? The lyrics are still familiar to many:
“Well, the blues don’t get me gonna rock on away from here.
Give me one more kiss, hold it a long, long time.
Now love me, baby, till a feeling hits my head like wine.
Oh, flip flop and fly. I don’t care if I die.
Now flip flop and fly. I don’t care if I die.
Don’t ever leave me; don’t you ever say goodbye.”
Burning up the dance floor
It’s when those lyrics began that the duo started what would end up earning them the winning spot of the Junior 2 Division at the National SHAG Dance Championships. The competition was fierce. In fact, the championship had to be held over three days to accommodate all the dancers. These two had moves that simply lifted them above the rest.
They began dancing, and their feet moved so fast that it took effort just to see where they went. They matched each other’s steps, and yet Jeremy’s fancy footwork became the true focus of the dance. While you might assume that he’s just the better dancer of the pair, traditionally, the male is the centerpiece of shag dancing. These two were making sure to give their acknowledgment to the roots of shag, bringing the dance style back to life, and have some modern fun in the process.
The response
Kayla and Jeremy quickly became crowd favorites at the competition, but it didn’t end there. People everywhere were watching their dancing feet. Their video on YouTube has more than 2.5 million views, and those don’t even include the countless views they have had on social media.
One YouTube commenter put it this way:
“First time I ever heard this song and seen anyone do this. I looked at others doing the same dance, and I must say this is the best. They were into the song and dancing. The others seemed to just be interested in the steps; these cats were enjoying the music too. Made it better than all the rest!”
Another commenter shared a similar sentiment:
“No kidding, this is awesome. Days gone by can come back in such a fun way. Keep up the great work, and enjoy the fun. You make it look so easy……”
We agree!
Are you ready to see the whole dance for yourself?
Check it out in the video below!
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Stage Video Productions via YouTube
