Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/137824
Fancy Footwork: Dancing for a Cure by ALEXANDRIA RAPPE Stranders (SOS) and happens three times a year. Shaggers come from all over to Think of a four-letter word that is a type of dance, a lot of fun, bonds people North Myrtle Beach, S.C., for a 10-day period to reunite and hit the usual spots on together and originated in the south. Stumped? The answer is the shag. Main Street such as Pirate's Cove, Fat Heralds and Duck's. What started out around the '30s and '40s became a sensation especially in the "It happens three times a year, so this event is like an SOS reunion. We all like the east coast region of the U.S. It got its start in the era of the jitterbug and the Lindy same thing — to dance," Dwayne Baggett said. He describes it as "park and party," Hop Swing and was paired by classic beach music. People got together at Myrtle where one parks his car and doesn't move it until it is time to Beach during summer vacations and witnessed the dance and go home. With SOS, people also get to see other dances — they brought it back to the in-land cities like Charlotte, Raleigh swing boppers, the lindy hop and more. All to the same east and Greensboro. coast swing music. On July 12-13 the Fayetteville Area Shag Association Like many things, shag dancing takes practice. celebrates the spirit of beach music at the Fluff Daddy "The key thing is to count 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5, 6," Baggett Memorial Shag Contest at Mavericks Saloon, 2602 Raeford explained. Beginner classes involve learning the male and Road. It is the club's first contest in about seven years and all female turn, the female stomp, the start position and towards proceeds will go to the Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter of the the end of the class, how to pivot. Intermediate classes take on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation. A friend to many in moves like the sugar foot, belly roll, the booty walk. Cathy and FASA, Mike "Fluff Daddy" Blanton, died of ALS and the club A.C. Williams teach the genders their moves separately and is looking to honor his memory and to earn money for other then they come together as one. families dealing with the disease. "Sure there is anxiety and frustration, but you have to keep The contest has four divisions. There is a newcomer section practicing and getting that muscle memory," Johnson said. for people who have never danced or competed before but are Mavericks Saloon is a place that gathers all kinds of different interested in doing so. The other three are amateur, novice people. Lawyers, plumbers, judges, teachers, veterinarians, (intermediate) and pro (advanced). The contestants will be bankers, dentists and people with military backgrounds all judged on five categories: smoothness, togetherness, repertoire, are united by their passion to shag. It's the people and the degree of difficulty and execution; the categories are judged The Fayetteville Area Shag Association parcommunity that make the experience great. from numbers one through 10 by five judges. ticipates in community events and promotes "There is satisfaction knowing we are perpetuating the The Fayetteville Area Shag Association has actively been shag dancing. Above, FASA members dance dance. That and simple focus is the music," Johnson said. involved with shagging since 1984. The group started out on Hay Street for a local festival to raise Baggett added, "I make the means and help guarantee the small; people would meet at other's garages and driveways, money for the Cameo Art House Theatre. income to the club in preparation for them to have a good throw some music together and dance away. They even met time. It is an enjoyment to dance with other people. There are in front of the old Winn Dixie in town. The club is now at no problems or jealousy with one another — it's all about having fun on the dance Mavericks Saloon on Raeford Road and approximately 200 people are involved. floor." Music, laughter and a relaxed feeling is what encompasses visitors as they walk Just like technology, over the years the shag has been changing and evolving from inside. There are always beginning and intermediate shag classes going on, which are taught by Cathy and A.C. Williams. The phenomenal two are three-time national and one generation to the next. There is now a Junior Shag Association for dancers under age 21. The age categories are 4 through 12 years and 13 through 21. The three-time grand national dance champions and two-time team champions. junior SOS is being held in Myrtle Beach at the end of July. "There are young and Whether it's the instructors or the dancers, on the dance floor, everyone helps out athletic kids who can do unusual splits and drop on their knees and pop up. For me, everyone else. I can go down, but I won't get up," Baggett joked. "People watch, but they don't critique. We learn from each other and become No matter how much shag has changed from its original form years ago, FASA better dancers by dancing," Dennis Johnson, club president, said. just wants it to continue. "The goal is to continue membership and continue the The open atmosphere goes hand-in-hand with the dancing. There have been dance and music," Johnson said. The group hopes to offer new beach bands and instances where a person doesn't have a partner and he or she goes up to a stranger possibly country and pop songs that still have the 4/4 count. to ask to dance and it turns into something more. Cathy Williams affirms that seven Come out to Mavericks Saloon with family or come alone! You don't even have marriages and two engagements resulted from being partners on the FASA dance to dance to have a good time. "Many people come and never dance. They come for floor. One of those couples just so happens to be Johnson and his wife Susan. They the fellowship and the music and just watch," Baggett said. So if you want to try dated for two years and have been married for five. something new or meet new people, this is where you want to be. FASA also participates in community events like Fayetteville after 5, and has given For more information on FASA visit fasadance.com and for shag lessons at the Cumberland County Library and local nursing homes. Shag information on taking lessons at dancing doesn't stop here in North Carolina. In the Association of Carolina Shag Mavericks Saloon call 910-980-1767. Clubs, there are about 98 clubs that vary from New York to Virginia to Tampa and ALEXANDRIA RAPPE Intern, COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomLessons run for four Mondays each Jacksonville, Florida to South Carolina and as far west as Tennessee. There are even ingweekly.com. month and are $40 per person. workshops in Las Vegas and Georgia. One popular event is hosted by the Society of WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JUNE 19-25, 2013 UCW 13