Monday Swing: Collegiate Shag

Name: Monday Swing: Collegiate Shag
Start: 2025-10-20T19:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-10-20T22:00:00-07:00
Location: Tango Berretin

Schedule

Mon Oct 20 2025 at 07:00 pm to 10:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

Tango Berretin | Portland, OR

Monday Swing is a weekly vintage swing dance practicum and social dance on Monday nights with DJ'ed music in a cozy SE PDX setting.
Lesson: $5
Dance: Sliding scale $10-20
All ages! No partner needed!
7:00 - 8:00 Collegiate Shag w/Molly & Will
8:00 - 10:00 Social dance & practicum with DJ music
>> Collegiate Shag<<
What is collegiate shag? It's a style of swing dance from the 20's and 30's that's primarily danced to up-tempo and swing styles of music. Part of the swing dance family that came about in the 20s and 30s, the dance originated within the African American community of the Carolinas and later spread across the states during the 1930s. In this series, we will cover the basic and some fun, vintage dance moves great for both beginners and those experienced with this style of swing dance.
*Please note: To cover content for each week, we will not be able to provide a full overview of the previous week’s lesson. If you plan to attend only the later lessons, we ask that you be comfortable with the six-count basic in closed-position as we will continue to build off this during the remaining lessons.
10/6 I'm Crazy About Shag: Basic footwork pattern
We'll also be talking fun turn variations: the tuck turn and a "come around".
10/13 Straighten Up and Shuffle Right
How to transition into open position and side passes (variation with a turn and the "shoulder pass").
10/20 Heebie Jeebies (No Way!): How to transition into side-by-side from closed position.
We'll be adding some style with collegiate kicks and hesitation kicks, too!
10/27 Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart (for Shag)!
Feel your heart skip a beat as we finish out with the shag (swing)out and playful "fish out of water". These moves will add a little vintage style and fun to your dancing!
>>What's a practicum and social dance?
We DJ music just like a regular social dance. You can come out and just dance like normal, or you can come planning to work on something: Ask for feedback, work on a move, play with variations, master a routine.
>>Have a specific question?
Experienced dancers and local teachers are available at practicum to help out with sticky spots.
>> Balboa? Shag? Solo? Learning swingouts?
Let the DJ know what you're working on if you have specific music requests!
This building is physically accessible to enter. If you have accessibility concerns, please contact PLS.
Hosted by Portland Lindy Society