Put on Your Dancing Shoes Because the Shag is Coming to Town!
By Emily Hardesty
Myrtle Beach, SC -North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is known as the home of the swing dance better known as the Carolina Shag! The Carolina Shag is a swing dance that shares many similarities to the "jitterbug," east coast swing and west coast swing! The Carolina Shag began back in the late 1930s in nightclubs throughout our Grand Strand! The Carolina Shag is the official state dance of South Carolina!
North Myrtle Beach holds three festivals a year known as "shag dance festivals!" These festivals are huge and they take place in the fall, mid winter and spring. The spring event called the SOS is coming up soon! Society of Stranders (SOS) or to the layman...Grand Strand residents and visitors of the area who join together and come out and have a fabulous time dancing to beach music!
North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is known as the home of the swing dance better known as the Carolina Shag! The Carolina Shag is a swing dance that shares many similarities to the "jitterbug," east coast swing and west coast swing!
We like to refer to the spring SOS event as the Spring Safari! SOS began as a small group of friends and now you will see over 12,000 dancers during the SOS events! The event runs for 10 days and if you find yourself on Ocean Drive in North Myrtle Beach you will see for yourself the love we have for our State Dance!
For anyone and everyone that may be curious about the Carolina Shag and what to expect! Here are some helpful tips when finding yourself nearby a "shag club" or better yet right in the middle of the hard wood dance floor!
- Many times you will feel frustrated if you can't dance competently immediately. Certainly individuals vary in dance style and movement, but all dancers must go through the awkward stages before they get to the fabulous stage.
- Practice the basic step, including the step timing, until the step is automatic - like tying a shoe. Using east coast swing as an example, practice the triple step, triple step, and rock step basic until it's automatic. Next, practice this basic to music until it becomes automatic. Many basic steps can be practiced without a partner.
- The shag is a smooth and graceful dance! The dance really emphasizes your footwork. It’s a magical dance and doesn’t involve any bounce! You will remain grounded while looking as though you are floating in the air! You will notice that all partners are connected with one hand only! In the previous days…this was more of a male dancer taking the spotlight, but you will see that this is starting to change!
- Observed, it looks like old fashioned courting at its finest. The lady gently places her hand in her partner’s sure grip, and he takes her on a fun trip that only a masterful, secure gentleman can maneuver. It’s all in the graceful, individual footwork.
- Classic beach songs that are very popular among the shag dancers are tunes such as " I Love Beach Music," "Under the Boardwalk," "Brown Eye Girl," and most popular in the shag clubs and any lounge around the Grand Strand "Carolina Girls!" Most shag music is a form of blues music or Motown.
- Lessons are taught certain nights at various clubs, and everyone is invited to go out and learn this fun dance.
Are you ready to put on those Shagging shoes and dance the night away? Spring Safari is right around the corner! The National Shag Championships are being held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! The event will take place at Studebakers, 2000 North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. This is a "Kid Friendly" Event. Sponsored by the National Shag Dance Championships, this is the finals, they will crown five divisional Championship couples, 25 years and going strong! Runs from March 6-8, 2008
Everyone at Beach TV and TripSmarter.Com invites you out to participate in all of the festivites during the National Shag Championships in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! Hope to see you at the Shag Nationals! 
