This is a popular swing line dance that originated as a tap dance back in the 1930s. It is still being enjoyed by people all around the world. It is done in ten (10) phrases of thirty-two (32) counts. The song by the Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra is the best for people new to the dance, because it calls out the dance moves before you do them.
PART 0: THE BREAK
The Break is a common 8-count step that is used in other swing line dances, like the Jitterbug Stroll. Since it is repeated throughout the Shim Sham, we are putting it first. The most important thing to keep in mind about the break is that it starts on the "eight" (in fact, most of the Shim Sham sections start on the "eight")
RIGHT, TOUCH, LEFT, TOUCH, STEP, STEP, STEP, STEP
8Leaning slightly forward and to the right, step down with your right foot
1Tap your left foot behind your right
2Step back down on your left
3Tap the right behind the left
4Step your right foot down behind the left
5-6-7Take three more small steps back (left, right, left)
PART 1: THE SHIM SHAM
This is the first phrase of the dance (which is probably why the dance is named Shim Sham. Or, it could be the other way around). Just like the break, the Shim Sham starts on the "eight."
STOMP, DRAG 4 TIMES (RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHT)
8-1Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left taking weight on the right
2-3Stomp your left foot out diagonally forward to the left, drag the left foot back next to the right taking weight on the left
4-5Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left
6-7Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left taking weight on the right
STOMP, DRAG 4 TIMES (LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, LEFT)
8-1Stomp your left foot out diagonally forward to the left, drag the left foot back next to the right taking weight on the left
2-3Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left taking weight on the right
4-5Stomp your left foot out diagonally forward to the left, drag the left foot back next to the right
6-7Stomp your left foot out diagonally forward to the left, drag the left foot back next to the right taking weight on the left
STOMP, DRAG 4 TIMES (RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHT)
8-1Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left taking weight on the right
2-3Stomp your left foot out diagonally forward to the left, drag the left foot back next to the right taking weight on the left
4-5Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left
6-7Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left
BREAK
8-7(See above)
PART 2: THE CROSS OVER
This is the one part of the Shim Sham that starts on the count of 1. To fill in the remaining count 8 from the previous Break, you need to add the following single count before starting the Cross Over:
8Clap
(RIGHT SIDE) BUMP, BACK, BUMP, BACK, BUMP, HITCH, CROSS, STEP
1Angle your body to the right and push slightly in that direction, placing a little weight on your right foot and pushing through your hips
2Pull your hips back
3-4Repeat 1-2
5Repeat 1
6Swing your left foot forward and up
7Step the left foot across in front of the right foot
8Step your right foot to the right so that your feet are shoulder width apart
(LEFT SIDE) BUMP, BACK, BUMP, BACK, BUMP, HITCH, CROSS, STEP
1Angle your body to the left and push slightly in that direction, placing a little weight on your left foot and pushing through your hips
2Pull your hips back
3-4Repeat 1-2
5Repeat 1
6Swing your right foot forward and up
7Step the right foot across in front of the left foot
8Step your left foot to the left so that your feet are shoulder width apart
(RIGHT SIDE) BUMP, BACK, BUMP, BACK, BUMP, HITCH, CROSS, STEP
1Angle your body to the right and push slightly in that direction, placing a little weight on your right foot and pushing through your hips
2Pull your hips back
3-4Repeat 1-2
5Repeat 1
6Swing your left foot forward and up
7Step the left foot across in front of the right foot
8Step your right foot to the right so that your feet are shoulder width apart
This is one of the phrases that does not end in the break
(RIGHT THEN LEFT) BUMP, HITCH, CROSS, STEP, BUMP, HITCH, CROSS
1Angle your body to the left and push slightly in that direction, placing a little weight on your left foot and pushing through your hips
2Swing your right foot forward and up
3Step the right foot across in front of the left foot
4Step your left foot to the left so that your feet are shoulder width apart
5Angle your body to the right and push slightly in that direction, placing a little weight on your right foot and pushing through your hips
6Swing your left foot forward and up
7Step the left foot across in front of the right foot
PART 3: TACKY ANNIE
STOMP OFF, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP
&8Stomp right foot behind left foot, stomp left foot next to the right foot
1-2Tap the right foot behind the left, step back down on the right foot
3-4Tap the left foot behind the right, step back down with the left foot
5-6Tap the right foot behind the left, step back down on the right foot
7Tap the left foot behind the right, putting weight slightly onto the left foot for the next "stomp-off"
STOMP OFF, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP
&8-7Repeat the previous 8 counts exactly
STOMP OFF, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP
&8-7Repeat the previous 8 counts exactly, ending with full weight on left foot on the last tap so you can go into the break with the right foot
BREAK
8-7(See above)
PART 4: HALF-BREAK
HOP, HOP, KICK BALL CHANGE (TWICE)
8Hop lightly forward onto your right foot
1Hop lightly back to your left foot
2Kick your right foot out (or you can shuffle the ball like a tap move)
&3Step your right foot down behind you, shift your weight to your left foot
4-7Repeat the previous 4 counts exactly
BREAK
8-7(See above)
HOP, HOP, KICK, AND STEP (TWICE), BREAK
8-7Repeat the previous 16 counts exactly
PARTS 5 THROUGH 8: REPEAT 1-4 WITH FREEZE
At this point, you will have completed the first full chorus of the Shim Sham (comprised of the first four phrases of the dance). For the next chorus (four phrases, or 128 counts) do everything the same, except, wherever you previously did the break, freeze for 8 counts. (By freeze, we mean stop moving completely. Stand like a statue. Don't move a muscle. We do not mean do a grapevine as the term "freeze" is used in some places.) You will then have completed 8 of the 10 phrases of the dance. And so we move on to the ninth phrase; Boogie Back And Forward
PART 9: BOOGIE BACK AND FORWARD
The Boogie Back is a common swing move that is often used as a way to "play" with your partner in the middle of a dance. You'll often see Lindy Hoppers on the dance floor, facing each other as they boogie back away from one another, then boogie forward towards each other
KICK BALL CHANGES MOVING BACK
8Kick out with your right foot and clap at the same time
&1Step back with your right foot, step left foot next to right
2&3Repeat 8&1
4&5Repeat 8&1
6&7Repeat 8&1
BOOGIE FORWARD
8Brush your right foot forward to the left (raise your hands and snap your fingers on the beat)
1Twist slightly and step down on the right side
2Brush your left foot forward to the right (snap)
3Twist slightly and step down on the left side
4-7Repeat the previous 4 counts exactly
KICK BALL CHANGES MOVING BACK; BOOGIE FORWARD
8-7Repeat the previous 16 counts exactly
And the tenth and final phrase; Boogie Back And Shorty George
PART 10: BOOGIE BACK AND SHORTY GEORGE
KICK BALL CHANGES MOVING BACK
8Kick out with your right foot and clap at the same time
&1Step back with your right foot, step left foot next to right
2&3Repeat 8&1
4&5Repeat 8&1
6&7Repeat 8&1
SHORTY GEORGE
8Kick right foot out to right side, shifting hips to right, raising left heel up so that you are up on the ball of the left foot
&Step together with right foot
1Step forward on ball of left foot. You are now on the balls of both feet. Bend both knees and shift both knees to the left side, hips are shifted left also. This is a "boogie walk" or "Shorty George" from the vaudeville days
2Step forward on ball of right foot (on balls of both feet, keep knees bent, shift both knees & hips right)
3Step forward on ball of left foot (on balls of both feet, keep knees bent, shift both knees and hips left)
4-72-3 two more times
KICK BALL CHANGES MOVING BACK, SHORTY GEORGE
8-7Repeat the previous 16 counts exactly
While doing the Shorty George, make sure your index fingers are pointed down and keep your toes and hips pointed forward. Do not twist your knees and hips. If you know Jo Thompson's dance "Shakin' The Shack", and you learned it from Jo, then you've already seen the correct form for the Shorty George steps. The steps here are exactly the same as in Jo's dance
REPEAT
It is common at Lindy Hop dances for the dancers, instead of repeating the dance, to grab the nearest partner and do a couples Lindy Hop for the rest of the song. Line dancers may just repeat the whole 10-phrase Shim Sham as a solo dance until the music ends
This version of the Shim Sham is based on the original dance created back in the early thirties. Another common version taught in the swing world is one where there is no clap after the Shim Sham break, and the cross overs start on the (8) immediately following the break. When doing it this way, just shift every move back by one. For example, the first push is on the (8), the second on the (2), the third on the (4), the kick up on the (5), you step down on (6), step out on (7), then start the process again in the opposite direction, starting with the (8). The most significant difference you'll notice with this version is that when you have finished the whole phrase and completed the two quick cross overs at the end, your legs will not be crossed when you start the transition to the Tacky Annie. They will be about shoulder length apart. Since the Tacky Annie starts with a "right-left" stomp off, you'll have to push up slightly on your left foot so that you can do the first stomp on the right. This can be a little tricky since you would have just stepped down with your right foot and most of your weight will be on the right. In the "clap" version, since the last step ends on the (7) with your legs crossed (left in front of right) and your weight on the left foot, stepping down on the right to do the Tacky Annie stomp off is a little easier. As far as we're concerned, both ways are enjoyable. You should try it both ways so that no matter where you go, you'll be prepared. Here's a hint as to when you should be prepared to do the clap version and when you shouldn't. The world renowned Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association (sponsors of Swing Camp Catalina and the Harvest Moon Ball) do the Shim Sham without the "clap." If you're in southern California and you visit the Satin Ballroom dance or Camp Hollywood, be prepared to "bring back the clap!"
Because this dance is so old, it has seen many, many hundreds of variations. Tap dancers have their own version that can be danced alongside Lindy Hoppers and line dancers, and they have all sorts of extra fancy stuff they throw in, including something called the BS Ending, where BS stands for pretty much what BS stands for anywhere. The history and lore of Shim Sham is fascinating and deep. Feel free to make some history of your own
PART 0: THE BREAK
The Break is a common 8-count step that is used in other swing line dances, like the Jitterbug Stroll. Since it is repeated throughout the Shim Sham, we are putting it first. The most important thing to keep in mind about the break is that it starts on the "eight" (in fact, most of the Shim Sham sections start on the "eight")
RIGHT, TOUCH, LEFT, TOUCH, STEP, STEP, STEP, STEP
8Leaning slightly forward and to the right, step down with your right foot
1Tap your left foot behind your right
2Step back down on your left
3Tap the right behind the left
4Step your right foot down behind the left
5-6-7Take three more small steps back (left, right, left)
PART 1: THE SHIM SHAM
This is the first phrase of the dance (which is probably why the dance is named Shim Sham. Or, it could be the other way around). Just like the break, the Shim Sham starts on the "eight."
STOMP, DRAG 4 TIMES (RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHT)
8-1Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left taking weight on the right
2-3Stomp your left foot out diagonally forward to the left, drag the left foot back next to the right taking weight on the left
4-5Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left
6-7Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left taking weight on the right
STOMP, DRAG 4 TIMES (LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, LEFT)
8-1Stomp your left foot out diagonally forward to the left, drag the left foot back next to the right taking weight on the left
2-3Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left taking weight on the right
4-5Stomp your left foot out diagonally forward to the left, drag the left foot back next to the right
6-7Stomp your left foot out diagonally forward to the left, drag the left foot back next to the right taking weight on the left
STOMP, DRAG 4 TIMES (RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHT)
8-1Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left taking weight on the right
2-3Stomp your left foot out diagonally forward to the left, drag the left foot back next to the right taking weight on the left
4-5Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left
6-7Stomp your right foot out diagonally forward to the right, drag the right foot back next to the left
BREAK
8-7(See above)
PART 2: THE CROSS OVER
This is the one part of the Shim Sham that starts on the count of 1. To fill in the remaining count 8 from the previous Break, you need to add the following single count before starting the Cross Over:
8Clap
(RIGHT SIDE) BUMP, BACK, BUMP, BACK, BUMP, HITCH, CROSS, STEP
1Angle your body to the right and push slightly in that direction, placing a little weight on your right foot and pushing through your hips
2Pull your hips back
3-4Repeat 1-2
5Repeat 1
6Swing your left foot forward and up
7Step the left foot across in front of the right foot
8Step your right foot to the right so that your feet are shoulder width apart
(LEFT SIDE) BUMP, BACK, BUMP, BACK, BUMP, HITCH, CROSS, STEP
1Angle your body to the left and push slightly in that direction, placing a little weight on your left foot and pushing through your hips
2Pull your hips back
3-4Repeat 1-2
5Repeat 1
6Swing your right foot forward and up
7Step the right foot across in front of the left foot
8Step your left foot to the left so that your feet are shoulder width apart
(RIGHT SIDE) BUMP, BACK, BUMP, BACK, BUMP, HITCH, CROSS, STEP
1Angle your body to the right and push slightly in that direction, placing a little weight on your right foot and pushing through your hips
2Pull your hips back
3-4Repeat 1-2
5Repeat 1
6Swing your left foot forward and up
7Step the left foot across in front of the right foot
8Step your right foot to the right so that your feet are shoulder width apart
This is one of the phrases that does not end in the break
(RIGHT THEN LEFT) BUMP, HITCH, CROSS, STEP, BUMP, HITCH, CROSS
1Angle your body to the left and push slightly in that direction, placing a little weight on your left foot and pushing through your hips
2Swing your right foot forward and up
3Step the right foot across in front of the left foot
4Step your left foot to the left so that your feet are shoulder width apart
5Angle your body to the right and push slightly in that direction, placing a little weight on your right foot and pushing through your hips
6Swing your left foot forward and up
7Step the left foot across in front of the right foot
PART 3: TACKY ANNIE
STOMP OFF, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP
&8Stomp right foot behind left foot, stomp left foot next to the right foot
1-2Tap the right foot behind the left, step back down on the right foot
3-4Tap the left foot behind the right, step back down with the left foot
5-6Tap the right foot behind the left, step back down on the right foot
7Tap the left foot behind the right, putting weight slightly onto the left foot for the next "stomp-off"
STOMP OFF, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP
&8-7Repeat the previous 8 counts exactly
STOMP OFF, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP-STEP, TAP
&8-7Repeat the previous 8 counts exactly, ending with full weight on left foot on the last tap so you can go into the break with the right foot
BREAK
8-7(See above)
PART 4: HALF-BREAK
HOP, HOP, KICK BALL CHANGE (TWICE)
8Hop lightly forward onto your right foot
1Hop lightly back to your left foot
2Kick your right foot out (or you can shuffle the ball like a tap move)
&3Step your right foot down behind you, shift your weight to your left foot
4-7Repeat the previous 4 counts exactly
BREAK
8-7(See above)
HOP, HOP, KICK, AND STEP (TWICE), BREAK
8-7Repeat the previous 16 counts exactly
PARTS 5 THROUGH 8: REPEAT 1-4 WITH FREEZE
At this point, you will have completed the first full chorus of the Shim Sham (comprised of the first four phrases of the dance). For the next chorus (four phrases, or 128 counts) do everything the same, except, wherever you previously did the break, freeze for 8 counts. (By freeze, we mean stop moving completely. Stand like a statue. Don't move a muscle. We do not mean do a grapevine as the term "freeze" is used in some places.) You will then have completed 8 of the 10 phrases of the dance. And so we move on to the ninth phrase; Boogie Back And Forward
PART 9: BOOGIE BACK AND FORWARD
The Boogie Back is a common swing move that is often used as a way to "play" with your partner in the middle of a dance. You'll often see Lindy Hoppers on the dance floor, facing each other as they boogie back away from one another, then boogie forward towards each other
KICK BALL CHANGES MOVING BACK
8Kick out with your right foot and clap at the same time
&1Step back with your right foot, step left foot next to right
2&3Repeat 8&1
4&5Repeat 8&1
6&7Repeat 8&1
BOOGIE FORWARD
8Brush your right foot forward to the left (raise your hands and snap your fingers on the beat)
1Twist slightly and step down on the right side
2Brush your left foot forward to the right (snap)
3Twist slightly and step down on the left side
4-7Repeat the previous 4 counts exactly
KICK BALL CHANGES MOVING BACK; BOOGIE FORWARD
8-7Repeat the previous 16 counts exactly
And the tenth and final phrase; Boogie Back And Shorty George
PART 10: BOOGIE BACK AND SHORTY GEORGE
KICK BALL CHANGES MOVING BACK
8Kick out with your right foot and clap at the same time
&1Step back with your right foot, step left foot next to right
2&3Repeat 8&1
4&5Repeat 8&1
6&7Repeat 8&1
SHORTY GEORGE
8Kick right foot out to right side, shifting hips to right, raising left heel up so that you are up on the ball of the left foot
&Step together with right foot
1Step forward on ball of left foot. You are now on the balls of both feet. Bend both knees and shift both knees to the left side, hips are shifted left also. This is a "boogie walk" or "Shorty George" from the vaudeville days
2Step forward on ball of right foot (on balls of both feet, keep knees bent, shift both knees & hips right)
3Step forward on ball of left foot (on balls of both feet, keep knees bent, shift both knees and hips left)
4-72-3 two more times
KICK BALL CHANGES MOVING BACK, SHORTY GEORGE
8-7Repeat the previous 16 counts exactly
While doing the Shorty George, make sure your index fingers are pointed down and keep your toes and hips pointed forward. Do not twist your knees and hips. If you know Jo Thompson's dance "Shakin' The Shack", and you learned it from Jo, then you've already seen the correct form for the Shorty George steps. The steps here are exactly the same as in Jo's dance
REPEAT
It is common at Lindy Hop dances for the dancers, instead of repeating the dance, to grab the nearest partner and do a couples Lindy Hop for the rest of the song. Line dancers may just repeat the whole 10-phrase Shim Sham as a solo dance until the music ends
This version of the Shim Sham is based on the original dance created back in the early thirties. Another common version taught in the swing world is one where there is no clap after the Shim Sham break, and the cross overs start on the (8) immediately following the break. When doing it this way, just shift every move back by one. For example, the first push is on the (8), the second on the (2), the third on the (4), the kick up on the (5), you step down on (6), step out on (7), then start the process again in the opposite direction, starting with the (8). The most significant difference you'll notice with this version is that when you have finished the whole phrase and completed the two quick cross overs at the end, your legs will not be crossed when you start the transition to the Tacky Annie. They will be about shoulder length apart. Since the Tacky Annie starts with a "right-left" stomp off, you'll have to push up slightly on your left foot so that you can do the first stomp on the right. This can be a little tricky since you would have just stepped down with your right foot and most of your weight will be on the right. In the "clap" version, since the last step ends on the (7) with your legs crossed (left in front of right) and your weight on the left foot, stepping down on the right to do the Tacky Annie stomp off is a little easier. As far as we're concerned, both ways are enjoyable. You should try it both ways so that no matter where you go, you'll be prepared. Here's a hint as to when you should be prepared to do the clap version and when you shouldn't. The world renowned Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association (sponsors of Swing Camp Catalina and the Harvest Moon Ball) do the Shim Sham without the "clap." If you're in southern California and you visit the Satin Ballroom dance or Camp Hollywood, be prepared to "bring back the clap!"
Because this dance is so old, it has seen many, many hundreds of variations. Tap dancers have their own version that can be danced alongside Lindy Hoppers and line dancers, and they have all sorts of extra fancy stuff they throw in, including something called the BS Ending, where BS stands for pretty much what BS stands for anywhere. The history and lore of Shim Sham is fascinating and deep. Feel free to make some history of your own
