10 And 11-Year-Old Dancers Win Hearts At Grand Nationals

Apr 17, 2020 by apost team

You might not have heard of Shag Dancing but you have definitely seen it. Seen in movies from the 1940s, it is a fun classic style being kept alive by talented dancers of all ages. Some young dancers are even making it their own in some really impressive ways!

This performance from the USA Grand National Dance Championship 2012 showed what exciting performances are possible in the Junior Shag Division! 11-years-old Ethan Alban from Florence, South Carolina, and 10 years-old Karsyn Folds from Atlanta, Georgia, stole the show with their impeccable dancing.

Ethan Alban from Florence, South Carolina, 11 years-old and Karsyn Folds from Atlanta, Georgia, 10 hit the dance floor ready to knock everyone’s socks off. In their matching costumes, they lined up and waited for their music to start. Studio All-Stars’ Mercy – (Tribute to Duffy) began to play and if anyone was surprised with the unorthodox song choice (shag is usually associated with beach music) they didn’t have time to stay that way for long.

apost.com

If you enjoy watching children show off a talent that goes beyond their years, you will love this performance. According to the Northern Virginia Shag Club “The basic Carolina Shag step is a 6-count, 8-step pattern danced in a slot.” you can see Ethan and Karsyn staying in that basic pattern but with plenty of fancy footwork to spare!

As amazing as their performance begins, it just keeps getting more and more impressive. They add drops and even the splits to add their own unique flavor and charisma to the dance. As one person on YouTube commented:

“Can you believe this little young couple? Wow amazing. Can’t you just see them when they are 88 and still the best Shaggers ever.”

Shag dancing got its start in the 1940s with beach culture in the Carolinas. It now holds the honored distinction of being the “popular dance” of North Carolina and the “State Dance” of South Carolina.

Like other forms of swing dance, there is plenty of room for improvisation and personalization. This is what makes it so exciting to watch it in the hands of talented young dancers like Karsyn and Ethan!

Their video has been catching fire on YouTube with one viewer commenting:

”Do they have rocket-propelled jello in their joints? Sublime!”

We certainly agree, and apparently so did the USA Grand National Dance Championship. The organization got its start in 1995 in order to preserve the art of several swing dance genres. They state their mission as:

“To provide a fun, friendly, and organized competitive dance environment where separate dance communities can become inspired by the other to share, create, and merge into one dance while maintaining the integrity of each dance individually”

Karsyn and Ethan certainly fit into that! They came in fourth place in the competition, not too shabby (or shaggy.)

See their amazing dancing for yourself. Can you dance the shag or do you know anyone who can? Send this wonderful video to your friends, as no one should go without being hypnotized by these fast footed young dancers!