The St. Louis Shag: Gateway Style
The world of swing dance is a dazzling constellation of styles, each with its own rhythm, flair, and hometown pride. From the aerials of the Lindy Hop to the smooth sophistication of Balboa, these dances tell stories of American music and social history. But nestled in the heart of the Midwest, born from the smoky jazz clubs and riverboat revelry along the Mississippi, lies a dynamic, fast-footed gem: the St. Louis Shag. More than just a series of steps, it is a pure expression of Gateway Style—energetic, precise, and irresistibly joyful.
Roots on the Riverfront: Birth of a Dance
The story of the St. Louis Shag begins, as so many great American art forms do, at the crossroads. In the 1930s and early 1940s, St. Louis was a powerhouse of jazz and ragtime. The city’s vibrant Gaslight Square district and bustling riverboat dance pavilions provided the perfect incubator. Here, dancers fused elements from the popular Charleston and the emerging Lindy Hop with a distinctive, local flavor that prioritized intricate footwork and a tight, contained partnership.
Unlike the traveling, circular patterns of Lindy Hop, the St. Louis Shag is typically danced more in place or in a slight slot, making it perfect for crowded dance floors. It was developed by a generation of young, talented dancers—names often lost to time but immortalized in the style they created. The dance was a product of local competitions and social gatherings, where showing off “fancy feet” was the ultimate goal. It was fast, it was competitive, and it was undeniably cool.
Anatomy of the Shag: The Six-Count Rhythm
So, what exactly does Gateway Style look like in motion? The St. Louis Shag is fundamentally a six-count dance, typically structured in a pattern of kick, kick, step, step, kick, kick. But that simple description belies its complexity and charm. Dancers maintain a strong, upright posture with a slight forward lean, connected in a closed position but with a focus on what’s happening from the knees down.
The signature move is the “shuffle” step—a rapid, brushing motion of the ball of the foot against the floor. This creates a rhythmic, percussive element that complements the driving jazz beat. The dance features sharp, clean kicks (often called “flicks”) at knee level or below, syncopated rocks, and quick weight changes. While partners stay connected, the emphasis is on individual footwork virtuosity, danced in a joyful call-and-response. The overall aesthetic is crisp, precise, and powerfully energetic, without the large, sweeping movements of other swing styles.
The Soundtrack: Jazz, Ragtime, and “Skip” Music
A dance like the St. Louis Shag doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it is a physical manifestation of the music that fueled its creation. The perfect soundtrack is uptempo, classic jazz and ragtime from the era, typically between 180 and 220+ beats per minute. Think of the driving piano of St. Louis native ragtime composer Scott Joplin, or the hot jazz of bands that traveled the riverboat circuit.
This music is often referred to by dancers as “skip” music for its bouncy, skipping rhythm that perfectly matches the dance’s quick, shuffling steps. Songs like “C Jam Blues” by Duke Ellington, “Limehouse Blues” by the Charlie Shavers, or “Everybody Loves My Baby” by the Sidney Bechet provide that relentless, joyful energy that makes the Shag so exhilarating to perform and watch. The staccato rhythms of the trumpet and clarinet seem to directly command the dancers’ feet.
Preservation and Revival: Keeping Gateway Style Alive
Like many regional dances, the St. Louis Shag faced a period of decline after the Big Band era waned. For decades, it was kept alive by a dedicated few, often overshadowed by the global revival of Lindy Hop in the 1980s and 1990s. However, the turn of the 21st century saw a dedicated revival effort led by swing dance historians and enthusiasts determined to preserve this piece of American cultural heritage.
Key to this revival were legendary dancers like George and Irene Edsel, whose original steps were documented and taught to a new generation. Today, workshops dedicated to the St. Louis Shag can be found at national swing dance events, and vibrant local scenes, particularly in its hometown, continue to practice and social dance to skip music. This revival isn’t about museum-piece preservation; it’s about reconnecting with the raw, improvisational, and social spirit that gave birth to the dance in the first place.
How to Experience the St. Louis Shag Today
Feeling the urge to try those fancy feet yourself? The good news is that the St. Louis Shag community, while niche, is welcoming and passionate. Your journey into Gateway Style can start today. First, immerse yourself in the music. Listen to uptempo classic jazz and ragtime playlists to internalize that skipping rhythm. Next, seek out instructional resources. Many online platforms now offer video tutorials breaking down the basic six-count pattern and signature shuffles.
Most importantly, look for local or regional swing dance scenes. While not every city has a dedicated Shag night, many swing dance communities have instructors or enthusiasts who know the basics and offer workshops. Events like the St. Louis Swing Dance Festival often feature this hometown style prominently. Remember, the spirit of the Shag was born in social dancing—so even if you start practicing in your living room, the goal is to eventually hit a wooden floor with a partner and a live band.
A Living Legacy: More Than Just Steps
The St. Louis Shag is more than a historical dance style; it is a living artifact of American creativity. It represents a time and place where music and movement converged to create something spontaneous, competitive, and deeply social. It embodies the innovative, hard-working, and joyful spirit of the city that created it—a true Gateway not just between east and west, but between sound and motion.
In every sharp kick and shuffling brush of the foot, you can hear the echo of riverboat whistles and the wail of a saxophone in a Gaslight Square club. It reminds us that cultural treasures aren’t always found in museums; sometimes, they’re found in the rhythmic connection between two people, a piece of history kept alive one quick step at a time. So, put on some skip music, try a basic step, and become part of the story that keeps the Gateway Style swinging forward.
