Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The Speed Shim Sham Contest was off the hook. We had Savoy and Dean Collins Shim Sham served up and Rich Unger was deemed the winner with his fast feet. Even the teachers had a tough time with DJ Alex's challenge songs. Thanks to everyone for coming out, what a night! We completely surprised Laura with her Secret Shower, thanks to everyone for helping us get her a carload of baby goodies. Thanks Coleen for the great idea!
Event Details
Quick Links: Details | History | Videos | Step List | Al & Leon's Shim Sham Step List |Schedule | Pricing | Location
Speed Shim Sham Contest
Bring your A-Game. Whatever Shim Sham version you want (Frankie, Dean, Al & Leon's), get ready to crank it up! Our Speed Shim Sham Contest is on July 23rd! Have questions about the steps? Check out the details below.
The Speed Shim Sham contest is open to anyone. The winner will receive Frankie Manning's autobiography "Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop" + Free admission to 4-Week Series Class & 1 month of Dance Parties @ Wednesday Night Hop ($50 Value) + Goodie bag + Swing CD! We will also have prizes for the runners up.
There will be 3 to 4 elimination rounds of Shim Sham with increasingly faster music. If you mess up, you can take yourself out of the competition, but we will also have judges who will tap out participants to the final round. The audience will be free to call out your number if they catch you making a mistake. To register, pick up a number when you arrive and be ready at 10:15 when we start the contest. Are you ready? Now, a five, six, seven, stomp-off right, left, right two times... !
Shim Sham History
Originally a Tap dance routine done by Vaudeville performers in the late 1920's the Shim Sham is still taught in most tap dance classes today. The tap routine was put together in 1927 by two song and dance men, Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant when they were performing with the Whitman Sisters in the South. The sisters asked them to put together a finale for the show, something that all the performers could do. Bryant and Reed took four popular tap dance steps, linked them together with a break, and "The Shim Sham Shimmy" was born. Originally called "Goofus," its name was later changed to the Shim Sham Shimmy after the New York nightclub, The Shim Sham Club, where the dance became hugely popularized by the shimmying chorus girls (thereby getting the additional tag, shimmy).
Around 1936, the dance was streamlined and became popular among Lindy Hoppers. The intricate tap steps were simplified and the second step was changed to start on count 8 (causing confusion and controversy for years to come). Originally the Shim Sham was done to "The Chicken Reel," then "Goofus." Tap dancers commonly use "Lester Leaps In" and Lindy Hoppers often use "Stompin' at the Savoy," "Tuxedo Junction," and "T'Ain't, Whatcha Do." In 1998, Bill Elliott wrote a song specifically for the Lindy Hop dance version, entitled "The Shim Sham Song."
At any Lindy event with Frankie Manning you are guaranteed at least one Shim Sham. The top photo is Frankie and his son Chazz Young leading a Shim Sham in Herrang. The next is Frankie backed up by Kenneth & Helena, Paul Overton, & Steven Mitchell in Catalina. Lastly, Steven and Virginie leading a Shim Sham at a Cambridge workshop.
History credit: Rusty Frank and Judy Pritchett
Dean Collins Shim Sham History
Dean Collins was an American dancer, instructor, choreographer, and innovator of swing. He is often credited with bringing swing dance, or Lindy Hop, from New York to Southern California. He is undoubtedly the most filmed Lindy Hopper in history with over 30 movie and short credits to his name.
He grew up in Newark, New Jersey and started learning to dance at age fourteen along with his two older sisters. He was soon dancing at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York. In 1935, he was named "Dancer of the Year" by The New Yorker.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1936, he popularized an original version of the Shim Sham, now called the Dean Collins Shim Sham. His style of Lindy Hop in the 1940s was characterized by smooth motions and tight footwork, as opposed to the outward kicks and horizontal posture of Harlem's Whitey's Lindy Hoppers. This style was the main source for what became known in the 1990s as "Hollywood-style Lindy Hop". It is said Dean Collins did not believe in styles himself. He is supposed to have said, "There is no style, there is only swing." The Dean Collins Shim Sham can be seen today at events around the country.
History credit: Wikipedia
Al & Leon's Shim Sham History
Al & Leon in the "The Spirit Moves" (1950)
Al & Leon's Shim Sham is a fun variation from the original Shim Sham. This version is filled with cool improvisational moves that put a twist on this classic line dance. Al Minns and Leon James were two of the Lindy greats. Both were Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, famous film and stage performers in the 1930-40's, with brilliant personalities and oodles of talent. Together these lifelong friends charmed audiences with their playfulness and ingenuity.
During the 1960's Al & Leon would do many exhibitions in Charleston, Shim Sham, Lindy Hop and other dances together trying to help keep the dances alive. Al also played a part in the revival of Lindy Hop in the 1980s, when he was invited to Stockholm in 1984 by the The Rhythm Hot Shots dance company to teach the dance the way he knew it.
History credit: Wikipedia, StreetSwing.com and other online resources
Shim Sham Videos
Frankie Manning leads the Shim Sham Shimmy at a Louis and Company swing dance workshop with 89-year old Frankie Manning, spring 2003, Overland Park, Kansas. There isn't anyone who doesn't love Frankie. Click Here »
Laura and Andrea reviewing Savoy Shim Sham taught at WNH:
.mov (6.5 MB)
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PC Friendly .wmv (10.4 MB)
Dean Collins Shim Sham performed by Peter Loggins and Lisa Ferguson
Dean Collins Shim Sham performed by Fritz & Alex
Al & Leon's Shim Sham performed by Al & Leon
Al & Leon's Shim Sham taught by Mike Faltesek and Nina Gilkenson
Shim Sham Step List
Music:
T'Ain't, Whatcha Do by Billy May & His Orchestra or by Jimmie Lunceford
Tuxedo Junction by Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra
The Shim Sham Song by Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra
Stomp Off R, L, R, R; repeat starting with L, R, L, L; repeat R, L, R, R
Break R, touch L, L, touch R, back R, Back L, Forward R, forward L
Pushes Push twice and cross over to R, Repeat to L, Repeat to R
Cross Over 3 times
tack Annie R-L on &-8, touch R back on 1, step R 2, touch L back on 3, step L 4, touch
R back on 5, step R 6, looks like touch but step L back on 7, repeat twice
Break
Half Break Fall forward on 8 on R, step back on L, then shuffle-ball-change (R, R, L)
Repeat once
Break
Half Break Two half breaks
Break
Repeat everything from the top
Except: Shimmy your shoulders during the Stomp Off and Freeze instead of doing the basic 8 count Break
Boogie Back Kick R, step back ball change (R,L) clap while you kick
Boogie Forward Walk forward - R, L, R, L half time for one 8 count
Boogie Back Again
Boogie Forward Again
Boogie Back Again (for the third time)
Shorty George Forward. Kick with R, ball change (R,L) (count is 8 & 1)
Boogie Back Again
Shorty George Again
Grab a partner and dance! Follow commands of caller: Dance, Freeze, Itch, Slow Motion, Elephant, Armadillo, etc. Anything goes. Dip your partner and hold it right there!
Variations: Here are a two basic variations. Feel free to add your own throughout the dance.
Break Step R (8), tap L behind twice (1,2), hold 3, hop and put R foot behind (&4), then hop and put L foot behind (&5), R then L foot goes out to the side (&6) and back together (&7)
Pushes Replace with Step turn touch, Step turn touch, Step turn touch, Step turn touch
Al & Leon's Shim Sham Step List
| Shim Sham | Al & Leon's Shim Sham |
|---|---|
| Stomp Off Break | Kick Ups/Shuffle Back: 3 Kick Step forward, 3 ball change back. 3 times. Break |
| Pushes Cross Over | Suzie Q Switches: starts with R crossing over L foot on 8, open on 1 switch directions on 5 to the L. Switch on 5 to R. Switch on 5 to L, 1 to R, 5 to L. |
| tack Annie Break | Kick & Slide: Kick R to the side 8 hold 1. Triple 2&3 step and slide out to the side 5 to R then 7 to L.. 3 times. Break |
| Half Break Break | Half Break & Run: Half Break, kick ball change, run run run. 3 times. Break |
| Stomp Off Freeze | Double Half Break & Slide: Half Break, kick ball change, half break, kick ball prep scoop slide 1 L hold 2 step down 3 turn around 4 step down 5 6 7. Repeat. |
| Pushes Cross Over | Hip Roll: Stomp Off style but with hip rolls starting to the R. R L RR. L R LL. R L RR. Break |
| tack Annie Freeze | Fall off the log: Kick R 8 step behind 1, turn 2, step 3 hold. Heal Toe up on 8. Repeat |
| Half Break Freeze | Kick ball change to Suzie: Kick ball change, step R scoop slide L step L, kick ball change, kick R cross down over L into Suzie Q. Repeat |
| Boogie Back Boogie Forward | Jump Charleston: 3 times Break |
| Boogie Back Shorty George | Kick to Behind: Kick step, kick step, cross behind, cross behind. 3 times. Link arms, cross behind, cross behind, continue until off floor. |
| Dance! |
Schedule:
| 7:00 - 8:00 | Level 2 Wild Ride Charleston Routine! | |
| 8:00 - 9:00 | Level 1 Lindy Fun'Damentals: 8-Count Lindy and Swing Out Variations | |
| 9:00 - 10:15 | Swing Dance Party Featuring DJ Alex | |
| 10:15 - 10:30 |
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| 10:30 - 12:00 | Swing Dance Party continues |
Pricing:
7:00 - 8:00pm — Charleston Routine $14 drop-in Details »
8:00 - 9:00pm — Fun'Damentals $14 drop-in Details »
9:00 - Midnight — Swing Dance Party: only $7
Location:
Starlite Dance Club
1160 N. Fair Oaks Ave (at Tasman Dr)
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
408-745-7827
Directions »
Starlite Dance Club is one of the largest and most beautifully constructed dance clubs in the country. It is conveniently located just off Hwy. 101 between San Jose and San Francisco in Sunnyvale, California. Come out and socialize and swing the night away at this spectacular venue!
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