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 What does "New Orleans Shags" by Richard
M. Jones' Three Jazz Wizards (November 6, 1925) have to do with
the Shag of the Southeast?
The answer is broad and complex--the Shag is just the tip of an iceberg of multi-cultural
history lost in the fog of time. The myths about the origin of the Shag leave
out 90% of Southern history and its contribution to the world.
For example:
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The Shag was active, and 'named' long before the Lindy
Hop.
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The Shag came before the Jitterbug.
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The Shag propagated the Big Apple (not the reverse).
(See Shaggin' In the Carolinas)
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The Shag grew and evolved at the coast in the 50s....the 40s....the
30s....but it started 'elsewhere.'
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The Shag pre-dates Rhythm 'n Blues by 40 years.
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The alleged 'Northern' Shag was not a northern Shag, it was invented in
North Carolina. (See Shaggin' In the Carolinas)
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The 'two different Shags' were different, but connected (actually,
there were Three Shags). (See Shaggin' In the Carolinas)
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The Shag WAS called the 'Shag' at the Beach in the 40s, 50s, 60s,
etc. (as well as 'fas' dancin'', 'bop' and 'basic') (See Shaggin' In
the Carolinas)
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Although the Shag and Swing are cousins--(Shag
is clearly a 'swing' dance)--it
preceded the Swing by decades. (Although, a case could be made that they
both had clear lineages into the teens, even then they diverge in their
origins).
Together with the Charleston
and the Big Apple, Shag History--when it's fully laid out--depicts
Southern history in a way that has never been documented.
Bo Bryan's book, "Shag--Legendary
Dance of the South," scratched the surface by portraying
the elite community of dancers we now characterize as the Shaggers
Hall of Fame. Yet even that history is but the tip of the iceberg--the
butter on the grits.
Like to learn more? (See Shaggin'
In the Carolinas)
Contact John Hook via e-mail:
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