THE SHIM SHAM LINE DANCE Instructional

This instructional is on The Shim Sham line dance. Taught by Paolo of the COVID Busters Swing Team, we break down each of the steps with explanation taking you from the start through to the final patterns. Then when you're ready you can pull up our demo on youtube for FREE and join along to dance with our Swing Team.

The Shim Sham originated as a tap dance choreographed by Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant in 1928. The piece was originally intended as a show finale that could be done by all the performers. Thanks to some of the all-time greats of Lindy Hop, like Frankie Manning, this dance also became the staple line dance in the world of swing.

Thanks to some of the all-time greats of Lindy Hop, like Frankie Manning, the Shim Sham also became a tradition of being danced at your local swing dance whenever the song Ain’t What You Do, It’s The Way That You Do It” would come on. This version that Frankie is known for having choreographed (beginning at The New York Swing Dance Society) is today the staple line dance seen in most every swing community world wide.

THE STEPS
Stomp Offs
Stomp Offs
Stomp Offs
Shim Sham Break

Pushes Cross Over
Pushes Cross Over
Pushes Cross Over
Cross Over, Cross Over Freeze

Tacky Annie
Tacky Annie
Tacky Annie
Shim Sham Break into

Half Breaks, Half Breaks
Shim Sham Break
Half Breaks, Half Breaks
Shim Sham Break

Repeat all 4 patterns and phrases again.

Then

Boogie Back
Boogie Forward
Boogie Back
Boogie Forward

Boogie Back
Shorty George
Boogie Back
Shorty George (to your partner to finish dance)

credits:
music BenSound.com