A group of youngsters is trying to keep a classic dance style alive through impeccable choreography and well-coordinated moves.
If you aren’t from the Southeast, chances are, you might be unfamiliar with the Carolina Shag. It’s usually a twp-person, male-led dance with basic moves that encourages a lot of improvisation and imagination.
This amazing performance featured the Junior Shag Dance Team and how they made their audience howl and cheer. They put on a funky and energetic show through their nimble footwork to the upbeat rhythm of jazz and the blues.
If you haven’t heard about this group before, then get ready to dance on your feet.
The shag is South Carolina’s state dance in 1984. But the dance traces its roots back to the 1940s-50s when it saw widespread popularity in the area. Since then, competitive organizations have been established to help preserve the tradition and give space to those who want to practice the dancesport.
According to their website, one of the Junior Shag Dance Team’s missions is to spread the dance they love while keeping its deep-rooted traditions and rich history alive.
And they proved that they could live up to the mission as these youngsters, aged between 12-17, performed a dazzling routine during the US Open Swing Dance Championships in 2018 or The Open.
The competition pitted the best dancers spread over ten competitive divisions.
“More competitors come to The Open to perform their swing routines than any other event in the world. Dancers consider The US Open to be the most challenging and exciting swing competition on the planet. Spectators get to witness the most amazing dance performances that will be seen in one place, at one time.”
This is where these youngsters decided to show everyone what they’re made of. The Junior Shag Dance Team lit up the stage in the Teams Division, opening their performance with Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness”.
The team was made up of fourteen members divided into a group of seven boys and green and seven girls in yellow.
The performance started with simple swing and partner moves, consisted of smooth twirling and mellow steps. Their seemingly straightforward performance made their audience much more eager to see what’s next.
Then, the bold brass blasted out to Wilson Pickett’s “Land of 1000 Dances” as the performance gets dialed to eleven.
They flashed their skills on stage with nimble leg movements and quick shuffles.
And even if they kept on changing partners and formations, the Junior Shag Dance Team was keeping on their beat.
The best part is how they trick the people with the pace of their steps. They combined in their routine movements that we’re seemingly done in slow motion before switching it back to tight steps and clockwork maneuvers done in impeccable synchronicity.
There was never a dull moment in their boogie as they filled the stage with funky finesse.
Their fancy footwork, along with their confidence, helped them clinch first place in the prestigious competition that year.
The whole routine might look fun but it also obvious that they put in a lot of hours into perfecting it, and they got the recognition they deserved.
You can watch the junior Shag Dance Team’s award-winning performance below and see their moves for yourself.
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