Talk to the Feet

May 2025 Issue

by Mary Hope Roseneau
Photos by Ellen Gifford with Permission

 

“I love it when a plan comes together” was a frequent line from the old A-Team show. And that’s exactly what happened at Beaufort Elementary School when a math coach and members of the Beaufort Shag Club connected. Third and fourth graders got a chance to learn the South Carolina state dance, the Shag, from experienced instructors, and needless to say, everyone had a great time!

Debbie Smith, the math coach at Beaufort Elementary, has been writing and receiving grants for years. She received a South Carolina Department of Education Arts Enhancement grant for Shag dancing lessons two years ago, and the program has been a huge success. The students have learned the steps, gained self-confidence, and most importantly, made relationships with the dance instructors.

Meeting up with three of the Beaufort Shag Club ringleaders on Google Meet, I immediately heard how much they loved the experience of teaching their favorite dance to third and fourth graders. Thirza Duensing, President of the Board of Directors, was my contact to the guys, Rob Blumer, secretary and past president, and Charlie Greenway, who is “Poppi” to the kids and “teacher extraordinaire”.

Teaching shag dancing is a fun and energetic way to share SC history. It is a healthy activity for elementary students, post retirees and everyone in between. Shag dancing builds muscle memory, movement memory, and choreographic recall, as well as coordination, all of which promote better health.

Charlie explained that the first hurdle with the children was they do NOT want to hold hands with each other, so they told them they were NOT allowed to, quelling that fear from the very beginning! Instead, they were to “connect” fingers like train cars, not hold hands like boyfriends/girlfriends. A big sigh of relief for everyone! Charlie always follows it up with “Smile! Look at your partner,” and of course, there are plenty of giggles.

The next thing Charlie told the children was “Talk to your feet!” Instead of counting steps, he made up simple phrases for them to say to help keep the rhythm: “Up a little, back a little, start over.” Other steps include, “side a little” and “triple step” making it easy for the kids.

There were some unwilling participants at first, but by the end of the first class, smiles were everywhere! Whenever Charlie asks if they had fun, he always got a resounding “YES!”

The lessons are 30 minutes long, and that’s perfect. They started with third graders last year, including them again this year as fourth graders, and added a new cadre of third graders. Their goal next year is to have third, fourth, and fifth graders all participating.

The students are proud of their skills and have danced for parents and performed in other settings, too, such as “Huddle Groups.” They love the old beach music, especially “Mustang Sally”!

Rob touted some of the benefits of learning how to Shag dance: physical fitness; mental focus; coordination; cognitive function; and of course, having fun.

For the many positive reasons mentioned above, the Beaufort Shag Club hopes to get this program adopted at other schools in the Beaufort area, as well as all over the state. The Shag originated in North Myrtle Beach, SC, where there are still many huge Shag events. In 1984, the SC State Legislature made the Shag the official state dance. In 1988, Shag, , the favorite cult movie filmed entirely in South Carolina, put the state dance in the spotlight and highlighted some of the dance’s earliest beginnings.

Over the past 20 years, the Beaufort Shag Club has been in operation and actively promoting the Shag dance legacy. Members also participate in charitable endeavors, fun monthly events, parades, and exhibitions. Members have traveled to Myrtle Beach, Shag dance weekend, and even taking Shag-themed cruises! They enjoy meeting up with more than 100 shag clubs in South Carolina and elsewhere for weekend or weeklong dancing and instructions. Adult and junior Shag dancers also compete annually in competitions.

In other words, Shag dancing is not just a dance, it is a culture, a lifestyle, a community, a tradition, and a fun way to stay active…and cool. Just ask the students!

Up Close

• The Beaufort Shag Club is a fun group of local people from diverse professional backgrounds. There are married couples and singles, aged 30-92.

• Weekly dance sessions and scheduled beginner and intermediate lessons are held on Wednesday nights, along with monthly members-only club activities.

• The Beaufort Shag Club participates in the Beaufort Water Festival, the Pelican Plunge, and other local events.

• Visit www.Beaufortshagclub.com for more information.