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Shag Dancing Etiquette
(reprint from SOS Winter Edition with author's permission)
With 12,000 SOS cards sold this year, you can be sure there were several
virgins on hand at the Fall Migration. You could pick them out of the crowd by
the look of awe on their faces. After only a few nights in OD, however, the
virgins began to look just like the rest of us, slightly haggard but smiling. A
word of advice to you first-timers, what happens at SOS stays at SOS. There are,
however, some rules of etiquette that should be adhered to at all times. They
are not really rules; they are more like a code to live by. Once you learn the
code you will find that you are fully accepted by all shaggers everywhere.
The first code concerns drinking. You will find that we don't care what you
drink or how much you drink, but you must never, ever take a drink onto the
dance floor. This can and has happened to the best of us. It shows that you are
either totally uninformed or totally inebriated. If this should happen to you,
you may find yourself embarrassed by a total stranger who grabs your drink or
worse, asked to take your patronage elsewhere by the management.
To avoid the possibility of stress caused by drinks on the floor, I suggest that
your group appoints a DDW. The designated drink wrangler will be responsible for
holding your drink while you are dancing. This person is usually the one who had
the most fun on the previous night and is therefore avoiding drinking, dancing
or anything else that might cause more pain to their already throbbing temples.
The only problem with DDWs is that they have a tendency to turn in early.
Breakers of Code # 1 are usually people who are already breaking Code # 2. The
second code of shagging is Thou shall not stand on the dance floor. When the
song is over, escort your partner back to the DDW, get your drink, and step off
the floor. You will find there are shaggers who will be determined to perform a
six-kick or sweep right where you are standing if you do not abide by this code.
They will do this even if the rest of the floor is empty. Do not take this as a
personal assault; they are only trying to teach you.
As you move from club to club, you will inevitably come upon folks who insist on
standing on the edge of the floor, talking. These people are only there to be
noticed, usually because no one notices them when they are dancing. Take a good
look at them and then move on to another establishment. Otherwise you may find
yourself tempted to learn the six-kick.
Code # 3 involves asking someone to dance. True shaggers, male or female, will
rarely turn down a proper invitation. Since most people are a part of a couple,
it is best to ask his/her partner first. Their response will be something like,
"You'll have to ask him" or "It's up to her". There are no hidden meanings in
these words but the request is proper. Male shaggers will find that dancing with
different people will cause them to have to lead, while females will find their
ability to follow improves drastically.
Once you have properly asked someone to dance and the DDW has your drink, you
will find yourself on the dance floor where Code # 4 comes into play. As I
pointed out, there were 12,000 cards sold in 2004, so floor space is at a
premium and your dance area may be very small. Code 4 states, Thou shall dance
in thine own slot.
If the terms, dancing in your slot, or dancing the walls, seem foreign to you,
go back to the people who taught you and ask them for a refund. They probably
got the rest of it wrong, also.
These codes are not meant to dampen your fun in any way, on the contrary they
are meant to allow you to enjoy SOS to the fullest. They are strictly the
opinion of this writer and may or may not reflect the opinion of the paper.
Opposing viewpoints are welcome.
Mike Marr 6115OakridgeRd Clover, SC 29710
marrshag@bellsouth.net
Member of the York Shag Club
And a former resident of Oak Island
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