The Dance Floor Guide

Collegiate Shag: The Bounciest Dance in Swing

By Lindy Hopper, Editor

Upright, bouncy and joyfully quick, Collegiate Shag is the swing dance for anyone who thinks fast music is the best music. Here's what it is and how to start.

What is Collegiate Shag?

Collegiate Shag is a fast, bouncy partner dance from the swing era. Partners dance in a closed hold, fairly upright, and hop through a series of kicks, taps and quick footwork in time to brisk jazz. It is light on its feet, a bit cheeky and great exercise. If Balboa is the cool cat of swing's fast dances, Shag is the excitable puppy.

A quick word on the name. In Britain "shag" has, shall we say, another meaning, which raises a smile at every beginners' class. In dance it simply refers to a family of jitterbug-style swing dances from 1930s America. Collegiate Shag is the one most swing dancers mean today.

Where it came from

Collegiate Shag is believed to have started in the African-American community of the Carolinas in the 1920s, and it spread across the United States during the 1930s. It began as a street and social dance rather than a studio creation, although by the late 1930s dance studios such as Arthur Murray's were teaching standardised versions.

In the 1930s, "shag" was a loose umbrella term, and the dance also went by other names – "flea hop" among them. Dance teachers of the period grouped shags by rhythm: single, double and triple. A "long double" variation, with extra quick steps, had been traced to Charlotte, North Carolina, by 1936. The label "Collegiate Shag" became standard much later, during the swing revival of the late 20th century, largely to tell it apart from other dances that share the name.

Those other dances can cause confusion. Carolina Shag, the smooth state dance of South Carolina, developed later and from different roots. St Louis Shag is thought to have grown from the Charleston. Both took the "shag" name in the late 1940s and 1950s, but neither is directly related to Collegiate Shag.

How it feels and looks

Collegiate Shag is upright and springy. Both partners keep a light, bouncing pulse – a little hop on the slow counts – while the feet kick and flick under a quiet upper body. The closed hold is snug but less chest-to-chest than Balboa, and the couple often moves along a line or rotates gently.

There are several rhythms, but the one you'll most likely learn is double rhythm, a six-count basic counted "slow, slow, quick, quick". Single rhythm (slow, quick, quick) was probably more common in the swing era and is still taught. Typical early moves include:

Basic in closed position – the hop-hop-step-step pattern.
Back taps and kicks – quick footwork flourishes.
Breaks – opening out from closed hold, often side by side.
Turns – including the slow outside turn for the follow.
Kick-outs and swing-outs – borrowed ideas that add variety.

One of the joys of Shag is how it handles speed. Because the steps are small and kept under the body, the dance stays tidy even when the band races ahead, and couples can travel around the floor in a quick, gliding line without bumping into everyone. There's also room for showing off: experienced Shaggers love trading footwork variations, adding kicks on the breaks and playing with the hop so the dance seems to float above the music.

Because it uses a six-count rhythm, Shag feels a little like an off-kilter cousin of East Coast Swing. It sits slightly against the eight-count swing phrase, which is part of its fun.

Music and tempo

Shag lives on uptempo swing and pre-swing jazz – roughly 185 to 250-plus beats per minute. Think hot small groups, brisk big-band numbers and revival bands who like to push the pace. At these speeds Lindy Hoppers often reach for a towel; Shaggers reach for a partner. Beginners learn more slowly at first, of course.

New to counting beats? See our music and tempo guide.

How it relates to Lindy Hop

Shag and Lindy Hop grew up in the same era and the same family of jitterbug dances, but they feel quite different. Lindy Hop, created by African-American dancers in Harlem, is grounded, circular and elastic, built on eight counts and the swingout. Collegiate Shag is upright, springy and compact, built mostly on six counts.

Many dancers treat Shag as a second or third dance. It's a natural partner to Balboa because both shine at high tempos, and it's a good way to strengthen footwork and stamina. Some dancers mix all three on the same night depending on the song.

What a first class is like

Expect energy from the start. A typical first class begins with a warm-up and some bouncing on the spot to find the pulse, then the basic step on its own, then with a partner in closed hold. Teachers usually start with music in the 140–170 BPM range and build up.

Partners rotate regularly, so you don't need to bring anyone. By the end of the hour you should know the basic, a break or two and a simple turn. Your calves will remind you of the class the next day.

Bring water and a spare top – it's a sweaty dance.
Keep the bounce small and light; big hops waste energy.
Stay relaxed in the arms so your partner can feel your rhythm.
Laugh at the name early and get it out of your system.

For general tips, see our first class guide.

What to wear

Wear light, breathable clothing that lets you bend and kick. Shag is athletic, so leave thick knitwear at home. Shoes with smooth leather or suede soles and some cushioning are ideal: you'll be on the balls of your feet a lot, so a little padding helps. Avoid heavy boots and very sticky rubber soles. Our what to wear guide has more on dance shoes, and our shop listings point to UK stockists.

Find a Collegiate Shag class

Dedicated Shag classes are rarer than Lindy Hop, but they pop up in bigger cities and at festivals and weekend workshops. Search our near me page, browse all classes or start with a beginners' course in swing and add Shag later. See how it compares with other dances on our styles page.

Try it on the floor: How to Do the Swingout · How to Do the Lindy Circle · How to Do a Tuck Turn · The Charleston: Kicks, Swivels and a Very Big Grin

Ready to try it? Find a beginners' class or browse Lindy Hop classes across the UK.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-23.