Even though the shag is danced to music that is 4/4 time, how does the dancer count when they are dancing the shag?
The shag is a six count partner dance. There is a lead for the dance and the partner follows in that persons lead. The lead counts 1 and 2 , 3 and 4, 5 and 6 to get the six count. The leader is the one who spins their partner and leads them in the direction they are going to take. In this video you can see how the leader counts out to his partner the 6 count and holds her hand as they both move together. He is even telling her when to cross her feet and spins her! They both seem very happy and the leader does a great job of counting and showing the girl the moves of the dance.
2. Discuss the Big Apple building. Discuss its features architechtural feature of Columbia, and a brief history. What was the first name of the building?
The Big Apple is an old historical building in Columbia, South Carolina. The building was named the Big Apple because of an old religious dance that was founded by African Americans on plantations in South Carolina and Georgia. The dance was a group dance, where people would form a huge circle and do arm gestures that resembled the Big Apple. In the 1930s the African Americans started a Big Apple Night Club in what was formally the House of Peace Synagogue. The building was located on Park Street in Columbia, South Carolina and is now known as the Big Apple. After the dance club was opened not only blacks danced there, whites did as well. The Big Apple attracted many students from the University of South Carolina! The House of Peace Synagogue started being built in 1907 and was completed in 1909. The Big Apple was built in the Greek architectural structure just like several other buildings in Columbia. The building still contains it dome ceiling that it had in the synagogue, just like the dome feature that the state house has in downtown Columbia. The building contains two doric columns on the entrance of the building, but also there are some inside the building in the dance room. The Big Apple has very long stained glass windows that are on all sides of the building. The building has been kept up, but still has it old historic charm.
3. Discuss the Shag. What is the history of the shag and what is its relevance to South Carolina
The shag is the state dance of North and South Carolina. It is known as the swing dance of the south. The shag originated in the late 30s in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The roots of shag dancing began with black music and club dancers in Myrtle Beach. By the 40s teenagers loved to dance the shag on the beach. By the 50s the shag had slowed down to a more low beat rhythm. The shag is a very smooth dance that you can enjoy with your partner. Some of the famous shag dancers of all time are Billy Jeffers and Maggie Lunn Foss. The shag is relevant to South Carolina because it was founded in Myrtle Beach and is a southern dance. Being from the North I had never heard of the shag until I came to the University of South Carolina. The first time I shagged, I absolutely loved it and having someone lead me through the dance. It is a very classy dance that is a lot of fun to not only dance but watch. I hope to learn how to do the Carolina shag while i am attending school at USC, so I can show my friends and family up north what a great tradition shagging is to the south!
Teenagers dancing the shag by the beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!
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