The Shim Sham

Lindy Hoppers the world over dance the Shim Sham, aka. the Shim Sham Shimmy, and you should too!

The Shim Sham was originally a tap dance created by Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant. It became a dance that musicians, singers, and dancers would perform together to close out the show. The Shim Sham spread to the Savoy Ballroom where Lindy Hoppers would dance it without the taps.

Frankie Manning introduced the Shim Sham to the swing dance community in the 1980s and we’ve all been dancing it every since!

This is what the first chorus of the Shim Sham would look like:

Right Shim Sham Left Shim Sham Right Shim Sham Shim Sham Break
Push, Push, Crossover Right Push, Push, Crossover Left Push, Push, Crossover Right Double Cross Over
Tack Annie Tack Annie Tack Annie Shim Sham Break
Half Break Shim Sham Break Half Break Shim Sham Break

Then for Chorus #2 – freezes in place of the Shim Sham breaks

Right Shim Sham Left Shim Sham Right Shim Sham FREEZE
Push, Push, Crossover Right Push, Push, Crossover Left Push, Push, Crossover Right Double Cross Over
Tack Annie Tack Annie Tack Annie FREEZE
Half Break FREEZE Half Break FREEZE
Boogie Back Boogie Forward Boogie Back Boogie Forward
Jump Boogie Back Shorty George  Jump Boogie Back Shorty George

DANCE!

Frankie Manning and Erin Stevens dancing the Shim Sham:

Frankie Manning and Chazz Young killing it:

My feet: