Dancing To Beach Music

"It's A Carolina Thing"

In the 1960’s the Pavilion and the Ember’s club in Atlantic Beach were known as “the” places to shag on the Crystal Coast. As a teenager I enjoyed many Friday and Saturday nights shagging to groups like the Tams, the Embers, Drifters, 4 Tops, Maurice Williams and the Zodiac and the Showman/General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board. John Hook, author of Shagging In The Carolinas, writes, “Shag is a dance of romance, seduction, collaboration and improvisation.”

Even though Myrtle Beach, SC claims the shag as originating there and in 1984 the South Carolina General Assembly declared the shag to be the Official state dance, it is popular all over the Southeast and especially Eastern North Carolina. In fact, we believe shagging is our official state dance too.

The “Shag” grew out of the “Jitterbug” and “Swing” dance era. As the jitterbug was fading out, the Swing was growing in popularity. Unique geographical styles, steps, and patterns began to emerge on the east and west coast. In the 1940’s, the teenagers in North Myrtle Beach developed the swing dance style that later became known as the shag. The shag is a slower, more graceful and less bouncy dance than the earlier Swing or jitterbug. People danced on or at clubs near the beach and so appropriately the music became known as “beach music”.

Popular song for shagging are tunes such as “Carolina Girls,” “Under the Boardwalk,” and “I Love Beach Music,” However, most R&B and many Motown songs written in 4/4 time are suitable for shagging. Shaggers love to dance to the songs by Marvin Gaye.

Next Article: Shag Lessons and great dance clubs in the area.