Swing Stuff from TC Swingin' Hepcats! DANCE&SHINE!

Collegiate Shag: A simple Slow Slow Quick Quick is the secret of an exciting and cool looking 6-count swing dance from the 30s and 40s: The Shag. Shag is easy to learn. With its hops and kicks it is a lot of fun. If you like to have close contact to your partner and still don’t want to miss the energy of swing than Shag is the dance for you. Mostly danced in closed position, but also with open and separating elements, Shag can be danced from medium to fast music. Shag was spread all over America some years before Lindy Hop became popular and different styles were popular in different regions. This tape series is about the Double Time Shag that was danced a lot among the college students, which why it is often referred to as Collegiate Shag. It should not be confused with Carolina Shag or St. Louis Shag. Even it was a separate dance Shag can be easily mixed with other Swing styles. Revived in the Los Angeles Swing scene Shag made a strong comeback since the early 90s and spread on the side of his dancing cousin the Balboa around the World. Shag is taught again at many international dance camps and workshops and hasn’t lost its popularity. Marcus and Bärbl have studied extensively with original shag dancers from the swing era, as well as with dancer and dance historian Lance Benishek. We are confident you will enjoy these DVDs!

Collegiate Shag, 1 & 2, DVD

This DVD is for the Beginner/Intermediate Shag Dancer.

Part 1: Section 1 Hop Basic, Turning & Traveling, Zig Zag; Section 2 Chug Basic, Cuddle, Open Position, Truckin’; Section 3 Separation Turn, Show your socks, Break To Front, Break To Side; Section 4 Kick Basic, Opposite Cross Kicks, Double Hand Hold, Cuddle with Kicks, Traveling with Kicks, Shag Kicks; Section 5 Camel Kicks, Separation With Camel Kicks, Skater Knot, Skater Knot Front, Skater Knot Back, Sliding door; Section 6 Single Turn, Single Turn With Travel, Changing Places Vars., Organ Grinder’s Swing; Section 7 Moon Basic, Propeller Basic; Extra Interview and Jam. 96 min., 2003 (DVD out in 2004).

Part 2: Section 1 Double Shag Kicks, Multiple Shag Kicks, Connie Kicks, WOS Kicks; Section 2 Cuddle and Flip; Run Around & Cut Off, Rotation turn left & right, Rotation turn right; Section 3 Scorpion, Hand to Hand Shag Kicks, Hand to Hand Shag Kicks with Twist, Kick Away; Section 4 Click Basic, Click Brake, Heels Up Brake, Collegiate Basic / Triple Basic; Section 5 Sailor Basic, Sailor Basic in dancing, Camel Hops, Skippies; Section 6 Jumping Jacks (Hampelmann), Hop Scotch, Chucks, Chuck Turns; Section 7 Hip to Hip Breaks, Break to Open Position, Mixed Breaks, Lunges and Pecking; Extra Interview and Jam. 93 min., 2003 (DVD out in 2004).

Collegiate Shag, 3 & 4, DVD

Part 1: Section 1 Double Kicks, Pumps, Rotating Pumps, Heels Up, Scoops, Mixing Steps; Section 2 Jig Trot, Jig Trot with Heels Up, Kick Pull (Pull Ups), Pull Kicks; Section 3 Mixing Step 1 - Guys, Mixing Step 2 - Dolls, Mutual Kicks, Mixing All Up; Section 4 Shag Rocks, Shag Rocks under Chin, Shag Rocks in Open, Roll off the Log; Section 5 Lock Brake, Swingaroo, Popeye Kicks, Legomania; Section 6 Sailor Step, Back to Back Break, Extreme Break; Section 7 Corte Break, Cont. Lunges, Pecking Flips; Extra Jams. 89 min., 2003 (DVD in 2004).

Part 2: Section 1 Trip, Gallagher's Cross Step, Drag Suzy-Q, Side Travel, Double/Triple Turn; Section 2 Outer Scissor Basic, Inner Scissor Basic; Section 3 Sling Shot, Inside Passes, Pass with an Inside Turn, Swing Out, Double Hook, Boss Turn; Section 4 Double Stab, Kick Ball Change, Double Kick Pull, Hammer Combination; Section 5 Pick-A-Boo, Single Time Cross Kicks; Section 6 Continuous Kicks, Minoru Step; Extra Jams. 79 min., 2003 (DVD in 2004).

Balboa was very popular among the College Kids in the mid 30’s and it is very popular again. Originally Balboa was a closed position swing form with intricate footwork predominantly based on 8-count patterns. But when the hot Swing music really hit the scene some of the younger dancers like Maxie Dorf and Lolly Wise added break-aways and swing turns to the Balboa, which nowadays is often referred to as Bal-Swing.

Balboa can be danced to any speed of music, from slow songs at 120 beats/min. till very fast ones at 300 beats/min. Pure Balboa is probably the easiest way to dance to fast swing music and enjoy it.

With Marcus & Bärbl and Steve & Denise you can learn from the best international renowned instructors. Steve & Denise won all major Balboa Championships in the US among them the National Balboa Championship 2001. They appeared in many movies and were headline instructors for one year at the famous Derby.

Balboa, 1-3, DVD

Part 1: Section 1: One-Step, Basic, Crab Walks, Crabs on 3 & 7, Paddles.
Section 2: Transition, Cross Breaks, (He/She Crosses), Come Around Swing Step, Swing in a Circle. Section 3: Inside Turn, Reverse Turn, Adlibs, Double Time, Shuffle. Extra Interview With Original Dancers And Jams. 78 min, 2002 (DVD in 2004).

Part 2: Section 1: Long Beach Basic, Swivels, Maxie’s Stop Step,
Section 2: Both Cross Break, Salsa Break, Johnny‘s Drop, Transition + Slide. Section 3: Multiple Turns, Inside Pop Turn, Outside Turn, Jason‘s Favourite. Section 4: Fan Step, Triple Time Basic. Section 5: Slide Boy, Slide Girl, Slide Both. Extra Interview With Original Dancers And Balboa Jam. 88 min, 200. (DVD in 2004).

Part 3: Section 1: Apache, Snap Turn, Combination, The Dream.
Section 2: Ed’s Hangman, Bart Leg, Hal‘s Roll. Section 3: Maxie‘s Slide, Marcus‘ Slide, Beach Turn. Section 4: Cuddle (Fred), Ray Hirsch, Scotty‘s Drag. Section 5: Ducking Turn, Bal-Whip, Dizzy, Super Dizzy. Section 6: Double Kicks, Jig Trot. Extra Demonstration of original dancers. 116 min, 2002 (DVD in 2004)

Dean Collins' Version of the Shim Sham
with Marcus and Bärbl

The Shim Sham originated as a tap dance choreographed by Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant in 1928. Intended for a show finale that could be done by all the performers it was adopted by many dancers and became one the most well-known and wide-spread routines of all time. It is danced around the world today!

One of those dancers was Dean Collins, the most influential Lindy Hop dancer on the West Coast. His non-tap version became very popular around the world. Based on the original Shim Sham he spiced up the footwork and extended the original routine with additional steps. This fun dance can be danced alone, next to a partner or with a huge crowd.

Boogie Woogie 1 (6 Count Swing), with Marcus and Bärbl

For those who already know how to dance six count swing - now you can learn to Boogie Woogie with Marcus and Barbl, the Boogie Woogie champion dancers of the world. This is a beginning-to-intermediate instructional tape of boogie woogie, a spiced up version of what we call east coast swing. It is fun, lively, and watching them float across the floor is so much fun. Try doing it!!! Includes: single time basic, Under Arm Turn, Changing Places, Shoulder Grip, Duck Walk, Double Time Basic, Triple time basic, Right to Left turn, Right to Left Spins, Walking Basic, Kick Ball, Change Basic, Basket and Sit, Jojo, Rubber Legs (and Marcus can do them!), Tunnel, The Hook, Polka, Teasing the Girl, Heel turn basic, Variations. (80 minutes)

Boogie Woogie 2 (6 Count Swing), Intermediate with Marcus and Bärbl

Level: Intermediate

Boogie Woogie 2 is addressed to the intermediate Boogie Woogie dancers, who know their basics, but want to learn more. This instructional video offers a lot of material and technique to improve your dancing and to increase your dance vocabulary.

Every step is broken down and well explained. Marcus & Bärbl emphasize lead and follow for each step and demonstrate them to music of different speeds. Additionally you can watch most demonstrations from a different angle. (Press menu button when "Alt" is displayed.)

As a special bonus you will see a Jam of top Boogie Woogie dancers and Champions recorded on many different places around the world. The video contains over 35 moves organized in 6 sections and a bonus section:

Basic Review, Intro, Counting the Steps, Basic Variations, Sweet Spot

Section 1 (Classic Moves): Elbow Stop, Simple Lasso, One-Hand Flirt, Jojo With A Catch, Roll-In And Catch, Rubber Legs With Diver, Kick Skips; Section 2 (Changing Places): She Turns He Turns, She Turns Right, Pass With Free Spin, Both Hands Crossed, Shake Hands - He Turns Right, Change Hands Behind The Back, Making Up New Variations, Under The Leg; Section 3 (Turn Variations): Right & Left Turns Behind The Back, Leading Turns With Different Body Parts, Corkscrew With Variations, Corkscrew With Sit; Section 4 (Cool & Crazy Stuff): The Patrick, Twist Jumps, Switch Kicks, Twist Around, Popo Bump & Shock Clap, Kick & Cross Over; Section 5 (Stops & Breaks): Breakin' The Basic Step, Breakin' The Dancing, Stops During Changing Places, Breakin' With The Sit; Bonus Section (Dips & Tricks): Tango Variations, Tango Drag, Push Away And Drop, Throw Out.

Total Run Time: 151 min, 2005.

Click here for Page 2 of Marcus and Bärbl's DVDs
Or here for these DVDs:

Master Trick Steps for Guys and Dolls

Charleston

How to Jitterbug

Click here for this & additional Marcus and Bärbl material, VHS