Talk:Collegiate shag

Need better explanation
Hi to whoever is writing these dance articles:

Look, I think it's great that you are adding topics in your own special interest. However, a principal guideline to follow is "every article must stand on its own". When I read ..."Collegiate Shag is similar to Balboa by changing the footwork slightly. It could be called triple time Balboa, but it is in itself a different dance." ... I really didn't know any more than before I started. I didn't even know that "collegiate shag" was a dance until I got to the third line.

It is best to write each article from the assumption that your readers have never heard anything about your subject before. I still do not know what you mean by "footwork", "lead and follow" or some of the other terms you used. I haven't modified any of your text, because I have no expertise in the topic, but they could be improved into something really useful with a few additions. Explain your terms, or link to other articles that explain them.

Also, maybe it's an American thing, but when WE talk about collegiate shag, we mean something quite different. - Manning Bartlett 18:40, 28 November 2001


 * I have to agree, with both the comment on the article *and* the sentiment about the different meaning of the term. Out of curiosity, to the Americans out there, has the success of Austin Powers led to much actual usage of the term "shag" in general conversation? --Robert Merkel


 * The brief popularity of Austin Powers led to a moment of 'shagaliciosity', but soon, at least in the American South, 'shagging' went back to being the word for describing the ultimate frat-boy dance -- one of whose greatest songs is 'Shagging in the Carolinas'. -- MichaelTinkler, who dances the Shag only indifferently, having foolishly attended college in Texas and at a non-fraternity school.


 * In South Carolina, Shagging is the state dance. Everywhere else, you're just screwing around. GregLindahl 17:02, 1 December 2001

Thanks for the insight. I am one of a few serious Lindy Hoppers that are working on these pages right now. I came across Wikipedia by accident but felt I should add something into it. I will start working on the footwork explanation and the lead and follow explanation. Keep looking... it will look better sooner.

Shag was created long before Austin Powers, but now when one talks of Shagging the general populace seems to automatically revert to Austin Powers. Collegiate Shag and Balboa were both very popular in the 30's and 40's, the two swing dances intermix so well unless you are well versed in both, it is hard to tell which one they are doing. Does anyone remember the disney cartoon to the song "All the cats join in"? The cartoons are dancing Collegiate Shag. It is definately a shock that you could actually steal moves from a cartoon.


 * In Australia, "shag" was used as a term for intercourse long before Mike Myers ever dreamed up Mr Powers, and has never been used to describe a dance (presumably the same dance is given a different name here, but I don't know it). This has apparently led to some amusing cultural misunderstandings from time to time when Australian university students went to American student functions :-)  --Robert Merkel

How things change.... in 2006 (2 years after this article was last edited), shag is a popular swing dance in lindy hop communities around the world. Including Australia. -- PlainJane 11:33, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Well, since no one else is acting, I'll go ahead and try to shape up this article. I'm fairly knowledgeable about collegiate shag and do the dance myself in my spare time. I'm also a technical writer - so maybe I can clean up some of the language here too. --Rpqmartin (talk) 20:17, 3 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Please keep in mind that in wikipedia chats the most recent talk goes to the bottom. Please also don't separate your signature from the text by newlines: it creates certain difficulties in keeping track of talk. - 7-bubёn >t 19:04, 5 February 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for the tips, Buben (I think that's your name). I am new to Wikipedia editing, and I'm still learning. That being said, I am trying to make this article more accurate. It will take time. The changes that I made yesterday (and got removed) were made for several reasons. 1.) I got rid of the opening line about Collegiate Shag being like Balboa because the two are separate dances - though both from the Swing family. To say that Shag is visually similar to Balboa depends upon your experience level.  For the most part only someone who is new to either Shag or Balboa would describe one as looking like the other.  Plus, it seems to suggest that Balboa is/was primary to Shag, which is not true.  They are each great dances in their own right.  2.) Someone had the article read that historically Shag was danced mostly to mid-tempo. This seems misleading to me. I myself have carefully studied all the old film clips that I could find on the dance and I don't think a single one of them is done to mid-tempos. They were all up-tempo songs, the same as people dance Shag today. 3.) To compare the shag hold to a ball-room hold is probably a bad idea given that, historically, ballroom dancers felt the shag hold was improper (maybe even vulgar) because the lead and follow hold one arm straight up in the air.--Rpqmartin (talk) 21:17, 5 February 2009 (UTC)