Jazz routines: The Shim Sham
If you’ve ever been to our Friday night dance, you’ve probably seen dancers do a line dance at some point in the evening. This line dance is called the Shim Sham, and Lindy Hoppers dance it the world over.
Originally a tap routine created by Leonard Reed in 1927, the Lindy Hop Shim Sham is danced to any 32 bar tune. At Cat’s, we usually play T’aint What You Do (It’s the way that you do it) by Jimmie Lunceford, or Tuxedo Junction by either Erskine Hawkins or Ken Hips Johnson.
Shim Sham (for Lindy Hoppers)
Shim Sham right
Shim Sham left
Shim Sham right
Shim Sham break “Break time”
Pushes and crossovers x 3
Double crossover
Tacky Annie’s x 3
Break Time
Half Break x 2
Shim Sham break (Break time)
Half Break x 2
Shim Sham Break (Break time)
(Repeat and replace the Shim Sham break with a freeze)
Boogie Back
Boogie Forward
Boogie Back
Boogie Forward
Boogie Back
Shorty George
Boogie Back
Shorty George
See a full transcription of the Lindy and Tap Shim Sham routines.
Videos: the original tap routine by Leonard Reed (near the end of the clip); Frankie Manning leading the Lindy Hop Shim Sham at LindyFest; Mike and Nina doing the Al & Leon Shim Sham.
Other jazz routines: The Big Apple.
