St. Louis Shag is a territory swing dance which originated in St. Louis, Missouri in the 1930s.[3] The dance has a stationary 8-count basic that is commonly composed of triple-step, kick, triple-step, kick. Another basic version, popularized by Kenny Wetzel, an East St. Louis native who moved to Southern California in the 1950s, is composed of triple-step, kick, step-stomp, run-run. Eddie Plunkett and Dottie Spokesfield of St. Louis had another version of the basic composed of triple-step, kick, double kick.
The dance's rhythmic variations include inside crosses (also known as over the tops), fall off the logs, and customizable stomps, kicks, taps, and holds. St. Louis Shag is often done to up-tempo swing, rock and roll, and blues music. Dancers usually transition freely between shag and jitterbug steps.
The Shag has a long history in St. Louis, first in swing, then rock and roll, jazz, jump blues, and R&B, which probably changed the dance's look and feel while preserving its characteristics. Pioneers of St. Louis Shag include 1930s and 40s-era dancers Tommy Russo, Dolores Shy, Virginia Shy, Mike Renda, Joe Renda, Eva Renda, Eddie Plunkett, Dottie Spokesfield, Jim Byrnes, and Lorraine Byrnes. Dancers from the 1950s, '60s, and beyond include Kenny Wetzel, John Bedrosian, Valerie LaFemina, Bob Brooks, and Sylvia Sykes.
^"St. Louis Shag". StreetSwing.com. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
^Tommy Russo said he learned the dance from the "colored kids on the playground" and that they did it best. He also implied it had been around for a while "they (blacks) were doing it way before us." It may have been danced in the black community in the mid-late 20s. All the other original Swing Dancers interviewed said it originated in the black community
External linksedit
StreetSwing article on St. Louis shag
St. Louis Shag lesson on Jitterbuzz.com
April 05, 2024
louis, shag, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march, 2008, l. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources St Louis shag news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message St Louis shag is a swing dance that evolved from the Lindy Hop Collegiate Shag and Charleston 1 2 It is a fast closed position dance that is usually done to stomp jump and boogie woogie music St Louis Shag is a territory swing dance which originated in St Louis Missouri in the 1930s 3 The dance has a stationary 8 count basic that is commonly composed of triple step kick triple step kick Another basic version popularized by Kenny Wetzel an East St Louis native who moved to Southern California in the 1950s is composed of triple step kick step stomp run run Eddie Plunkett and Dottie Spokesfield of St Louis had another version of the basic composed of triple step kick double kick The dance s rhythmic variations include inside crosses also known as over the tops fall off the logs and customizable stomps kicks taps and holds St Louis Shag is often done to up tempo swing rock and roll and blues music Dancers usually transition freely between shag and jitterbug steps The Shag has a long history in St Louis first in swing then rock and roll jazz jump blues and R amp B which probably changed the dance s look and feel while preserving its characteristics Pioneers of St Louis Shag include 1930s and 40s era dancers Tommy Russo Dolores Shy Virginia Shy Mike Renda Joe Renda Eva Renda Eddie Plunkett Dottie Spokesfield Jim Byrnes and Lorraine Byrnes Dancers from the 1950s 60s and beyond include Kenny Wetzel John Bedrosian Valerie LaFemina Bob Brooks and Sylvia Sykes See also editCarolina shag Collegiate shagReferences edit Stevens Tamara Stevens Erin 2011 Swing Dancing ABC CLIO p 120 ISBN 9780313375170 St Louis Shag StreetSwing com Retrieved 2008 09 28 Tommy Russo said he learned the dance from the colored kids on the playground and that they did it best He also implied it had been around for a while they blacks were doing it way before us It may have been danced in the black community in the mid late 20s All the other original Swing Dancers interviewed said it originated in the black communityExternal links editStreetSwing article on St Louis shag St Louis Shag lesson on Jitterbuzz com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Louis shag amp oldid 1140296560, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
