Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective

Y ou’ve finished the 6-week beginner series. You know your Rock Step from your Triple Step. You can count to six. But then, you walk into a social dance venue—perhaps our local Richmond Shag Club or one of our Collective events—and you freeze. The lights are dim, the music isn't the same track we used in class, and the floor looks like a chaotic, swirling puzzle. You know the steps , but you don't feel like a dancer . This is the "Gap." It is the terrifying space between Classroom Performance (executing a move when a teacher counts it out) and Social Dancing (navigating a crowded floor with a partner in real-time). We built our new 6-week course, "The Kinetic Connection Bridge," to close that gap. We are moving beyond the mechanics of "where do I put my foot?" to the deeper substance of the Carolina Shag and Swing legacy: the art of non-verbal conversation. It’s Not About the Move; It’s About the Movement In our digital world, we are often disco...

Underhill's Dance Collective - Winter 2026 Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective Winter 2026 Class Listings Loading Class Schedule...

As a Recreation Specialist, Dance Instructor and a long time advocate for the Kinetic Connection of partner dancing, I am gravely concerned. A quiet shift is happening in Carolina Shag and other vernacular dance clubs and partner dance venues,  across the Southeast and beyond, and if we don't look at it critically, we may be watching the "slow death" of a beloved dance in favor of something far less connected. The Rise of the Solo-in-a-Group We’ve all seen it: the lights dim, the Beach Music or Rhythm & Blues stops, and a high-energy pop or country track comes on. The floor—once a series of linear "slots" where couples held a non-verbal conversation—suddenly transforms into a stationary "grid" of individuals performing synchronized choreography. Line dancing is fun, accessible, and requires no partner. But when it begins to move from a "supplement" to a "substitute," the very quality of our instructional opportunities and socia...

Hey Dancers! We've all been there: You're in a workshop, the instructor demonstrates a beautiful new pattern, and it looks so smooth and natural. But then, you try it, and movements to one side just... stick . Your brain feels like it's fighting itself, and that "simple" left turn or right rotation feels like learning a whole new language. If this sounds familiar, I'm here to tell you: it's not you, it's your brain! And understanding a bit about how your brain is wired can unlock a whole new level of learning and enjoyment on the dance floor. My "Aha!" Moment: The Left-Side Labyrinth For years, I noticed a distinct pattern in my own dance journey. New patterns or complex movements that involved going to my right felt intuitive and clicked almost immediately. But anything requiring a sustained movement or sequence to my left ? It felt clunky, disconnected, and took three times the effort to commit to memory. I used to get so frustrated, but ...

As a passionate advocate for social partner dancing, I've been watching a trend emerge that fills me with both understanding and deep concern. It's happening in Carolina Shag clubs, in general dance halls, and at social events across the country: line dancing and other solo-in-a-group choreographies are increasingly offered as a substitute for, rather than a supplement to, partner dancing. And frankly, I think it poses a significant threat to the very essence of what makes partner dancing so special. The Allure of the Accessible: Why Line Dancing is Booming Before we delve into the potential dangers, let's be fair. It's not hard to see why line dancing has exploded in popularity: No Partner Needed: This is the big one. Show up alone, and you can still hit the dance floor immediately. No awkward asking, no waiting to be asked, no uneven lead/follow ratios. Lower Barrier to Entry: Most line dances are based on memorizing a sequence of steps. While they require coordinat...

Intermediate Carolina Shag: A 6-Week Journey Intermediate Carolina Shag Dance Your Way to a Sharper Mind & Effortless Flow 🧠 Enhance Brain Health Connect dance practice with scientifically proven benefits for memory, plasticity, and cognitive function. 💃 Master the Dance Deepen your mastery of Shag's smooth style, intricate footwork, and partner connection. 😊 Find Your Flow Cultivate musicality and improvisation to experience the exhilarating "Flow State" on the dance floor. The 6-Week Journey to Mastery ...