Over
the years there have been debates over what "Shag music" is. Ask a
southern member of the general public, or a college student, and you will most
likely hear that it is music from bands such as the Tams, Catalina's, Chairmen
Of The Board, etc. A die-hard Shagger will tell you that most of the music
created by those bands should be referred to as "beach music", not Shag music,
and that not all of the "beach music" is "shag music" because some of it is too
fast or too slow for Shagging. Next, he will probably tell you that "real Shag
music" is R&B music created in the 40's and 50's by various black
artists.
It is probably true that the refined Shag dance originated by those listening to old R&B tunes. But, any true Shagger will tell you that today's Shag music can encompass any tune that falls within a range of about 115-135 beats per minute that a person finds suitable for the Shag.
|
What is the "Shag" |
| The "shag" is a dance best described as a
slowed-down, structured version of the jitterbug. Many believe it grew out of
black R&B music from the 1930's and 1940's in combination with early Rock n'
Roll. The shag is most prevalent on the East Coast, especially in the Carolinas, and is thought to have sprung its roots in North Myrtle Beach, SC. In addition to the "basic" step, the most common shag steps are a start, male and female turns, a pivot and a belly roll. |