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Swing technique6 minutes

Practice the Collegiate Shag basic step in six counts

By Mary De LucaUpdated

In a nutshell
  • The Double-Rhythm basic step in Collegiate Shag consists of Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick over six counts.
  • Each Slow lasts two beats: you take a step and bounce on the same supporting leg.
  • The two Quicks are single steps on counts five and six, each with a weight change.
  • In a couple, the leader starts on the left, the follower on the right, with small steps and soft knees.

With fast music, this sequence can quickly feel hectic, even though your feet need very little space. The key is to keep moving between two steps without accidentally adding an extra change of feet.

What you'll need for the exercise

  • A flat, clear floor with good traction
  • Comfortable clothing and flat, well-fitting shoes
  • An audible, steady musical beat
  • A second person for the final partner exercise
  • Pain-free, slightly bent knees and ankles

A Slow stays on one supporting leg for two beats

In Double Rhythm Shag, Slow doesn’t mean you perform a step in slow motion. The weight change begins on the first beat, followed by a small, springy action on the same leg on the second beat. As a reminder, you can say step, hop, step, hop, step, step. The hop is a low rebound, not a jump into the air. Your free foot can lift slightly off the floor, but it doesn’t take any weight yet.

This gives you four weight changes over six beats. A common mistake is to switch feet on every audible beat. That makes the two Slows disappear, and you end up dancing six equally quick steps. A rigid pause on two and four is also unhelpful. The pulse continues there, only the supporting leg stays the same.

Keep your knees mobile and your upper body upright. The spring comes from the interplay of your ankles and knees, not from forcefully lifting your shoulders. Choose a tempo that lets you land quietly. If you’d like to practise for longer or at a faster tempo later, the guide to gradually increasing your dance workload can help. For classes with this specific learning goal, the guide to choosing the right swing dance class shows you how fundamentals classes differ from figure classes.

Soft footfalls let you hear whether your movement stays controlled or whether you're already landing too hard.
Soft footfalls let you hear whether your movement stays controlled or whether you're already landing too hard.

Build and connect the basic step on your own

  1. Bounce lightly to the beat

    Stand with your feet about hip-width apart and shift your weight to the right. Bounce gently for a few beats with relaxed knees, without switching feet. Keep your head and shoulders steady instead of bobbing up with every beat.

  2. Place the first Slow on the left

    On one, place your left foot a small step beside or slightly in front of your right, and transfer your weight fully onto it. On two, give a small bounce through your left leg; keep your right foot free without taking an extra step.

  3. Place the second slow to the right

    On three, place your right foot down with a small step and shift your weight to the right. On four, follow with a low hop on your right foot; if you can briefly lift your left foot, your supporting leg is clear.

  4. The quicks on five and six

    On five, step to the left, and on six, step to the right, each with a small step. There is no extra hop beat between these two quicks; keep your feet close underneath your body instead of reaching far out to the sides.

  5. Connect multiple sequences without pausing

    After six, start again immediately with your left on the next one. Say the whole sequence out loud slowly and repeat it several times; you’ve got the connection when you don’t need a gathering step and each new round starts with your left again.

  6. Mirror the sequence in pairs

    Take a relaxed closed hold: the leader places their right hand on the left shoulder blade area, and the follower places their left hand on the leader’s right upper arm. Connect your free hands loosely and dance small steps on the spot, the leader starting with the left, the follower with the right.

  7. Stay on the Same Beat with the Music

    First, listen to the beat together, then count several six-count sequences to the music. If either of you is on the wrong supporting leg on count two or four, stop and start again. Only increase the tempo when you can stay in sync without pulling on each other's arms.

These corrections make the sequence clearer

Like this

  • Keep your free foot close to the floor during the slow
  • Keep your knees flexible when your foot touches the floor
  • Place your step underneath your body
  • Keep your connected hand at roughly the same height

Not like this

  • Swing the free foot far forward during the Slow
  • Land with your knees locked
  • Step far away from your partner with every step
  • Jerk the connected hand up with every hop

Check off your practice sessions by time

Before the first run-through

Start

After the solo exercise

Control

After the Partner Exercise

Wrap-up

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. No, a very low, soft bounce is enough for this basic exercise. During the hop, your standing foot may briefly leave the floor, but getting height is not the goal. If you land hard or raise your shoulders, make the movement smaller and slow down instead of jumping with more force.

Partner dance classes for your next practice sessions

If you want to practice the basic step together, you'll find partner dance classes on udansa and can search specifically for Collegiate Shag.

See all matching classes

Keep the six-count rhythm together

On udansa connect, you can find dance partners to practice Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick with. Mention Collegiate Shag and your practice tempo so you can start with the same goal.

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Keep the six-count rhythm together

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