Shim Sham for Absolute Beginners

Comments · 284

• ME

  @memurphy1223 · 3 months ago

  Would have been nice if they had performed the dance once through facing the camera so we could see how the dance looks when it’s performed.

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• KR

  @krismillerl · 10 months ago

  20 years ago, I knew the shim sham backwards and forwards. I traveled and competed regularly. And then life intervened. Now I have near swing dance aged kids and am plotting my return. I’m shocked by how much I forget, as in many ways this feels like a mere dormant part of my personality when in truth it’s a lifetime away. This recording IMMEDIATELY brought it all back. Really well done.  I don’t know if you guys are top national instructors in the scene these days, or regional teachers, but I felt this was extremely well done, at least for someone 20myears removed from the scene. Great job!!

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• JA

  @jannewlove725 · 3 months ago

  Piece of advice...do the whole dance so everyone knows what it looks like before breaking it down. Helpful to see what the big picture is. Had to go to another video to see what the Shim Sham was. Review each section before going to next section. Also counting off as the other person is instructing is distracting/confusing.

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• BU

  @bubblemum · 3 months ago (edited)

  I just realised that Bill Bojangles Robinson was teaching the shim sham to Shirley Temple in The Little Coronel, and they did it up and down the stairs!

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• SG

  @sg-vp2qg · 3 months ago

  I've had quite a lot of dance lessons, including swing, and I have never heard of this. I also think the dance should have been demonstrated in the beginning, as I had no idea til the end what the actual dance looked like.

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• RO

  @rozchristopherson648 · 3 months ago

  I’m 65. My father was born in 1920 and my mother was born in 1929. They used to talk about the Lindy Hop all the time. 😊

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• CH

  @cheryllundholm8779 · 3 months ago

  I would love to see this as the original tap dance, too!

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• ST

  @stephzinsmeister662 · 3 months ago

  Wow! Extremely talented to talk count and dance lol- I’m totally uncoordinated but love this!

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• HU

  @Hugo-sl4sr · 1 day ago

  Best tutorial Ive seen. The start on 8th beat is the key. Thank you!

• EP

  @eponymousIme · 3 years ago

  The nice (and different) thing about this tutorial is the helpful teaming where one person is illustrating and explaining the steps, while the other person is counting out which beat each step corresponds with.<br><br>People new to this dance routine should know that there&apos;s a lot of individuality in how it&apos;s done: &nbsp;some dancers embellish with flourishes, other people are more conservative and understated in their movements. &nbsp;This variety is a bonus, because people with knee problems do NOT have to do the Shorty George in the classic way it was explained here. &nbsp;Just stay on the beat and do the moves in a way that&apos;s comfortable for you.

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• CI

  @cisilbestenar3757 · 3 years ago

  I have been trying to find a tutorial for shim sham and this is the best one ive found. I have watched 10+ videos. This one is the beeest. Thank youuuu

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• JA

  @JaguwarSims · 3 months ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=268jUcVRdoY&amp;t=804">13:24</a> All hail the silly walk! LOL <br>Joking aside, I&apos;m enjoying this, thank you. I will live vicariously. 😊

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