When I was asked to write a story that would begin with and reflect on the early years of my involvement in the shag, I was reluctant because I'm really not much of a writer but I said ok in hopes that I can share with you some of my fun experiences and the amazing changes I have observed that have taken place over the years in the world of shag.
It dawns on me that it has been - well let's see...I'll be 69 years old in October and I was 11 years old when I took my first "fast dance" Class - 58 years ago. That's older than most of you who are reading this newsletter! Look how many fun times are ahead for you!
Dot Bradford advertised a "fast dance" class over Sibert's Drug Store on Liberty Street. It was 1950! The huge room had a wonderful warped wooden floor. As an adult, Dot was an honorary member of the Shaggers Hall of Fame. She and I remained friends until her death several years ago. 13 of us were in the class to learn what we now call the shag. It was different in many ways back then. Different because the basic was a pretty rough shuffle up, then a pretty rough shuffle back, and of course a, rock step. The next step was a cross step, then a kick, a hook step, and of course a rock step. We learned to pivot but there was no hook step or double step in the middle of the triples. At first there was a 180 turn instead of the 360 turn we do today. The ultimate goal was to be real smooth! In years to come the guys learned many "hot dog" steps- the fancier the better! Girls merely did the basic, hung on, followed, smiled a lot, and were thrilled to be asked to dance! It was a Peacock dance for the boys! All through junior high and into high school, a sports event followed by a shag dance was the place to be. Many dances were held in the gym and we wore our socks so that we didn't scar the floor! Everybody wore weejuns and penny loafers to shag in. My heels looked horrible for years from the blisters and knots caused from too much shagging!
Sumter had a teenage canteen on Salem Avenue. We all went there to shag and socialize twice a week. I was on the Canteen Board several years and even crowned Canteen Queen one year! Needless to say, I was thrilled! One summer, the Canteen Board went to Pawley's Island for the weekend to celebrate our year of hard work. One of our members, Dr. Barney Williams, had a wonderful house at Pawley's Island that he was kind and generous enough to share. What a ball we had! I don't remember who the chaperones were but I'm sure we had some! I'm also sure that we needed some! That trip to the beach was the first time I had ever "taken the floor!" That meant you danced with a boy and you were the only couple dancing! Everybody else stood around in a circle to watch and threw pennies onto the dance floor! What a thrill! Pawley's had a pavilion where we danced, but when you had a chance to go to the beach, you tried to get to all of them before you had to come back home - Myrtle Beach, OD (Ocean Drive-now called North Myrtle Beach) and Cherry Grove. Larry Blake from Durham NC was my "take the floor" partner. As an adult, he too was in the Shaggers Hall of Fame and remained my friend until his death just a few years ago. I have made life time friends through shagging! Those still being made by all of us! I'm so proud you and I are involved in the world of shag. I hope to add some shag memories again. At my age I better write them down while I can still remember them!
Oh, my gosh! Has it been that long ago?
~Betty Kennedy Kane
It dawns on me that it has been - well let's see...I'll be 69 years old in October and I was 11 years old when I took my first "fast dance" Class - 58 years ago. That's older than most of you who are reading this newsletter! Look how many fun times are ahead for you!
Dot Bradford advertised a "fast dance" class over Sibert's Drug Store on Liberty Street. It was 1950! The huge room had a wonderful warped wooden floor. As an adult, Dot was an honorary member of the Shaggers Hall of Fame. She and I remained friends until her death several years ago. 13 of us were in the class to learn what we now call the shag. It was different in many ways back then. Different because the basic was a pretty rough shuffle up, then a pretty rough shuffle back, and of course a, rock step. The next step was a cross step, then a kick, a hook step, and of course a rock step. We learned to pivot but there was no hook step or double step in the middle of the triples. At first there was a 180 turn instead of the 360 turn we do today. The ultimate goal was to be real smooth! In years to come the guys learned many "hot dog" steps- the fancier the better! Girls merely did the basic, hung on, followed, smiled a lot, and were thrilled to be asked to dance! It was a Peacock dance for the boys! All through junior high and into high school, a sports event followed by a shag dance was the place to be. Many dances were held in the gym and we wore our socks so that we didn't scar the floor! Everybody wore weejuns and penny loafers to shag in. My heels looked horrible for years from the blisters and knots caused from too much shagging!
Sumter had a teenage canteen on Salem Avenue. We all went there to shag and socialize twice a week. I was on the Canteen Board several years and even crowned Canteen Queen one year! Needless to say, I was thrilled! One summer, the Canteen Board went to Pawley's Island for the weekend to celebrate our year of hard work. One of our members, Dr. Barney Williams, had a wonderful house at Pawley's Island that he was kind and generous enough to share. What a ball we had! I don't remember who the chaperones were but I'm sure we had some! I'm also sure that we needed some! That trip to the beach was the first time I had ever "taken the floor!" That meant you danced with a boy and you were the only couple dancing! Everybody else stood around in a circle to watch and threw pennies onto the dance floor! What a thrill! Pawley's had a pavilion where we danced, but when you had a chance to go to the beach, you tried to get to all of them before you had to come back home - Myrtle Beach, OD (Ocean Drive-now called North Myrtle Beach) and Cherry Grove. Larry Blake from Durham NC was my "take the floor" partner. As an adult, he too was in the Shaggers Hall of Fame and remained my friend until his death just a few years ago. I have made life time friends through shagging! Those still being made by all of us! I'm so proud you and I are involved in the world of shag. I hope to add some shag memories again. At my age I better write them down while I can still remember them!
Oh, my gosh! Has it been that long ago?
~Betty Kennedy Kane
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