Teens' Dance Moves Impress Judges Securing 1st Prize At Grand Nationals

Mar 06, 2020 by apost team

More often than not, traditional dance styles aren’t mastered by today’s youth. You’re more likely to find them doing contemporary, hip hop, krumping, or whatever the latest trendy craze is.

But in the case of young Mack West and partner Trinity Davis, they’ve proven to be the exception, and have brought the excitement back to a dance known as the shag, clinching first place in the Grand National Junior One Championship in 2017.

First seen in the 1940s on the beaches of South Carolina, this dance was all the hype for the youngsters at the time. The way the movements and steps are laid-back, fluid, and smooth gives the dance a kind of swag (sure, they had swag in the ‘40s) and is a nod to the carefree beach lifestyle, says Discover South Carolina.

It consists of numerous series of steps forwards and backward, while the partners switch their weight from one side to the other.

Back then, young people would dance the shag on the beaches for a fun and relaxing pastime. It sure beats playing the Xbox in your friend’s basement. But then again, these were different times.

apost.com

Mack and Trinity proved that the shag did not die with the older generations, and were able to breathe exciting new life into the style with their fun performance, which won them first place at the Junior Shag Grand Nationals, as seen in this infectious video.

They walked onto the stage with complete composure and seemed very relaxed. As soon as “NYC song” started playing, by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown band, the two teens start stepping without missing a single beat.

They make the whole number look effortless, showing off both their natural ability and expertise in this particular dance style.

Mack stays cool and calm as he leads Trinity around the floor with fancy footwork. Her moves mimic his, and they move in perfect unison, often breaking out more complicated and twirls and tricks as they go.

The look of pure joy on the senior members of the audience is likely coming from memories of times past when things were simpler and dancing the night away with your friends was a normal Friday night.

The whole performance was a phenomenal display of joy and fun and was executed with a perfection that takes hours of training and preparation. Their first-place award was well deserved.

As they continue their performance, picking up the pace, they provoke applause and praise from the crowd. It’s clear that Mack can schmooze the crowd, and Trinity’s smile is contagious, especially when Mack pulls out an impressive spin and bounce.

As the music finishes, the cute partners embrace and the crowd shows their amazement with a standing ovation.

All the time and effort they’ve put into this number has clearly paid off. And when it comes time to bring a joyful and flawless performance, these two can deliver. What’s your favorite dance? Have you ever been impressed with young dancers that seem to dance beyond their years? Tell us about it! Make sure your friends and family get to see these two teenagers who transport us back in time.