Swing Kids Shim Sham Class

SONGS THAT THE SHIM SHAM IS USUALLY DANCED TO:

  Tuxedo Junction
  Stompin' at the Savoy
  Shim Sham Song (Bill Elliot)
  'T'Ain't What You Do (Billy May)

CHOREOGRAPHY:  Each number represents one 8 count step

 1. Stomp off starting to the right
 2. Stomp off starting to the left
 3. Stomp off starting to the right
 4. Break

 5. Pushes and crossover to the right
 6. Pushes and crossover to the left
 7. Pushes and crossover to the right
 8. Crossover to left, Crossover to the right

 9. Tacky Annie
10. Tacky Annie
11. Tacky Annie
12. Break

13. Half Break
14. Break
15. Half Break
16. Break

17. Stomp off starting to the right
18. Stomp off starting to the left
19. Stomp off starting to the right
20. Freeze

21. Pushes and crossover to the right
22. Pushes and crossover to the left
23. Pushes and crossover to the right
24. Crossover to left, Crossover to the right

25. Tacky Annie
26. Tacky Annie
27. Tacky Annie
28. Freeze

29. Half Break
30. Freeze
31. Half Break
32. Freeze

33. Boogie Back
34. Boogie Forward
35. Boogie Back
36. Boogie Forward

37. Boogie Back
38. Shorty George
39. Boogie Back
40. Shorty George

41. - end of song: Grab a partner and dance!


DESCRIPTION OF STEPS:

Stomp off starting to the right
-------------------------------
 8,1 Stomp right foot and pull back
 2,3 Stomp left foot and pull back
 4,5 Stomp right foot and pull back
 6,7 Stomp right foot and pull back

Stomp off starting to the left
------------------------------
 8,1 Stomp left foot and pull back
 2,3 Stomp right foot and pull back
 4,5 Stomp left foot and pull back
 6,7 Stomp left foot and pull back

Break
-----
 8   Step right foot
 1   Tap left foot behind right foot
 2   Step left foot
 3   Tap right foot in front of left foot
 4   -hold-
&5   Hop left foot, land on left
 6   Spread both feet apart
 7   Bring feet together

Alternative Break 1 (harder)
----------------------------
 8   Step right foot
 1   Tap left foot behind right foot
 2   Step left foot
 3   Tap right foot in front of left foot
&4   Hop left foot, land on left
&5   Hop right foot, land on right
 6   Spread both feet apart
 7   Bring feet together

Alternative Break 2 (easier)
----------------------------
 8   Step right foot
 1   Tap left foot behind right foot
 2   Step left foot
 3   Tap right foot beind left foot
 4   Step back right
 5   Step back left
 6   Step back right
 7   Step back left

Alternative Break 3
-------------------
MAKE UP YOUR OWN STEP!

Pushes and crossover to the right
---------------------------------
 8   Step back on left foot
 1   Rock forward on right foot
 2   Rock back on left foot
 3   Rock forward on right foot
 4   Rock back on left foot
 5   Rock forward on right foot
 6   Kick left foot crossing in front of right leg
 7   Land left foot with legs crossed

 Think: "and ya push it, and ya push it, and ya, CROSS-OVER"

Pushes and crossover to the left
--------------------------------
 8   Step back on right foot
 1   Rock forward on left foot
 2   Rock back on right foot
 3   Rock forward on left foot
 4   Rock back on right foot
 5   Rock forward on left foot
 6   Kick right foot crossing in front of left leg
 7   Land right foot with legs crossed

 Think: "and ya push it, and ya push it, and ya, CROSS-OVER"

Crossover to left, Crossover to the right
-----------------------------------------
 8   Step back on right foot
 1   Rock forward on left foot
 2   Kick right foot crossing in front of left leg
 3   Land right foot with legs crossed
 4   Step back on left foot
 5   Rock forward on right foot
 6   Kick left foot crossing in front of right leg
 7   Land left foot with legs crossed

 Think: "and ya, CROSS-OVER, and ya, CROSS-OVER"

Tacky Annie
-----------
&8   Step right, Step left in place (Think: "BA-DUM!")
 1,2 Touch right foot behind, step right foot in place
 3,4 Touch left foot behind, step left foot in place
 5,6 Touch right foot behind, step right foot in place
 7   Step left foot behind

Half Break
----------
 8   Step right foot
 1   Step left foot
 2&3 Kick right foot, step right foot behind, step left foot forward
            (otherwise known as a "kick-ball-change")
 4   Step right foot
 5   Step left foot
 6&7 Kick right foot, step right foot behind, step left foot forward

Freeze
------
 8   Fall on right foot (make it dramatic!)
 1-7  -hold-

Boogie Back
-----------
Bend down and get low...
 8&1 Kick right foot (clap!), step right foot behind, step left foot behind
          ("kick-ball-change")
 2&3 Kick right foot (clap!), step right foot behind, step left foot behind
 4&5 Kick right foot (clap!), step right foot behind, step left foot behind
 6&7 Kick right foot (clap!), step right foot behind, step left foot behind

Boogie Forward
--------------
While looking as cool as possible...
 8,1 Brush right foot forward, step right foot
 2,3 Brush left foot forward, step left foot
 4,5 Brush right foot forward, step right foot
 6,7 Brush left foot forward, step left foot

Shorty George
-------------
While your arms are hanging like a scarecrow...
 8&1 Kick right foot to the side, step right foot, 
     step left foot and angle knees to the left
          ("kick-ball-change")
 2   Step forward right and angle knees to the right
 3   Step forward left and angle knees to the left
 4   Step forward right and angle knees to the right
 5   Step forward left and angle knees to the left
 6   Step forward right and angle knees to the right
 7   Step forward left and angle knees to the left