Shagging on the Beach and the Boulevard

In the United Kingdom, "shagging" has a far different meaning than it does where I grew up on the North Carolina coast. That much was clear from the shocked look on the face of my English friend Pete when I told him that the annual beach music festival saw people shagging on the beach. 😄

The Shag or Carolina Shag is a dance with its origins in the Carolinas and the dance certainly has its enthusiasts, particularly in the Carolinas. The satellite radio company, SiriusXM, even has a channel devoted to beach music, which I am sure is tuned in by Shag enthusiasts. One of my friends and physical education classmates at East Carolina University was one such Shag enthusiast.

I once had the opportunity to watch her strut her stuff at her graduation party in Wake Forest, North Carolina in the early 1990s. In hindsight, I really should have taken the opportunity to get her to teach me the dance. After all, her and my other female classmates were willing to patiently and good-naturedly bear with me and the other male students that were not fully acquainted and comfortable with the various dances covered in the mandatory dance class required for physical education majors. I don't recall stepping on too many toes, but I was not exactly a graceful and proficient dancer.

I freely admit that I am not a dancing enthusiast. Oh, I have done my share of slow dancing, particularly at the end of the night with someone that I came in with or that I met before closing time. But the freeform, up-tempo social dancing that is so common in bars, clubs, and at wedding receptions really isn't my thing. If you have seen me dancing something other than a slow dance or a dance covered in my university physical education class, you have almost certainly seen me intoxicated. Well, unless you and I were just having fun dancing and cutting up somewhere more private like at home.

Now I have heard the advice to "dance as if no one is watching you." But everyone realizes that is total bullshit. People ARE watching you. There was an episode of Seinfeld that dealt with Elaine's bad dancing. And I have heard and read where women judge how good a guy is likely to be in bed based upon his ability to shake his groove thing on the dance floor. Let's just say that my best bedroom moves are not coming out on the dance floor unless I am REALLY drunk. If you judge me on my ability to dance, I can assure you that you have misjudged my "abilities." I would suggest that not every woman (or man) that can dance is a good lover. Moreover, I would suggest that, like with dancing, it helps if you have a complimentary partner.

And while fast social dancing has never been my thing, I have danced outside of my comfort zone on occasion. Clearly, I had to dance to successfully complete my dance course at East Carolina University. I used to two-step at a country bar with a young woman that I was dating at the time because she was willing to teach me the dance and bear with my clumsiness as I was learning. I once even won a limbo contest. So I have danced in spite of some insecurity and social anxiety about dancing in public.

One of my favorite scenes from the movie Clerks II is when Rosario Dawson's Becky teaches Brian O'Halloran's Dante how to dance on the roof of the fast food restaurant where they work because he is nervous about the prospect of dancing at his wedding reception. She initially scoffed at his trepidation about making a fool out of himself in front of his wife's family and friends, but then she took the opportunity to teach him in a more private setting. I have had a few young women attempt to drag me onto the dance floor, but not a one of those women that I dated ever proposed that we dance at home. That seems kind of odd if you really enjoy dancing. I suppose that they needed an environment like a club.

Anyway, as someone that grew up on the Carolina coast, I feel that I should know how to shag. I certainly enjoyed dancing (and drinking) during the annual beach music festivals of my youth. Now I live in the Midwest and I find myself after reading some articles in Garden and Gun and Southern Living thinking that I should learn this particular dance if I live long enough to do so.

I am certain that I can find some online courses, resources, and tutorials. And I can likely convince someone to dance with me. I don't know that I will get around to learning to shag in 2023 (I have struggled with a number of my 2023 resolutions). But I would really like to be able to shag the next time I find myself on the beaches of North Carolina or South Carolina.

My female friend at East Carolina University would have been an excellent teacher through. She was a physical education major studying to be a teacher and an athletic trainer. She knew the dance. And I was comfortable around her and she could put me at ease. I can remember her amusement at my inability to nail a cartwheel in our gymnastics class while ironically being able to adequately perform some more advanced gymnastics techniques. Yet she never made me feel embarrassed for it.

Below are links to a couple articles on the Carolina Shag and to a song about "Shaggin'" and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (approximately 90 miles or so from the coastal communities where I grew up). Enjoy! 🌞🌊🏖️😎

"Dancin', Shaggin' On The Boulevard" (Alabama)

"Step into the World of the Carolina Shag"

gardenandgun.com

Step into the World of the Carolina Shag

For almost a century, one dance has captured the spirit of the coast and beyond. Follow along with three generations of the Free family as they pivot, belly roll, and boogie walk to keep the tradition alive

"This Is How To Shag—And Why You Should Learn The Dance"

www.southernliving.com

This Is How To Shag—And Why You Should Learn The Dance

The shag is a quick, fun, and very social dance from the beaches of South Carolina, which makes it the perfect dance to learn for a party.