Dance Assignment

1. Even though the shag is danced to music that is 4/4 time, how does the dancer count when they are dancing the shag?

The shag is a 6 count dance.  The dancer counts 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5,6. 

2. Discuss the Big Apple building. Discuss its features architechtural feature of Columbia, and a brief history. What was the first name of the building?

The Big Apple building has a wooder floor and the outside of the building is also made out of wood.  There is a balcony on one side of the building.  The building had high ceilings.  In the middle of the building was a dome with a stain glass window in the center of it. The building is well lit with natural lighting.  There are multiple windows going around the room.   The building was originally used as a Jewish Synagogue.  It was known as the House of Peace Synagogue.  In the 1930's it became known as the Big Apple Night Club.  The night club was used by the African Americans and the white people were not allowed to participate in the dances.  They watched from the balcony.  They began calling the dance "The Big Apple" and it started to spread across the nation. 

3. Discuss the Shag. What is the history of the shag and what is its relevance to South Carolina?

The shag refers to the nationally popular dance of the 1930's.  The dance came from the Aftican American's from Myrtle Beach and the white students of the 1940's.  The dance was originally known as the jitterbug but the dance and music both slowed down and it became known as the Shag.  The Shag is also the state dance for South Carolina.