Shim Sham Mania

I got a little Shim Sham obsessed one day. While there are many more versions than this, I decided to focus on the 5 most popular versions and play them out side by side.

In order from left to right starting with the top row we have the Al and Leon Shim Sham, Frankie Manning Shim Sham, Slip Slop Shim Sham, Dean Collins Shim Sham, and a version of Tap Shim Sham. Here is a little blurb on each and some links if you would like to learn them. Of course, you could just learn off this video here, just pick one to focus on at a time.

Al and Leon Shim Sham

This version was created by Al Minns and Leon Jame. You can see them dancing in this old clip here. This is a great example of what happens when a dancer takes a routine, or steps and alters it to make it their own.

Frankie Manning Shim Sham

This is the most popular version of the Shim Sham created by Frankie Manning. Frankie originally taught this at the New York Swing Dance Society events and spread around the world as he traveled teaching and spreading the joy of Lindy Hop.

Slip Slop Shim Sham

This version was created by Dax Hock and Kevin St. Laurent at Herrang Dance Camp one year when late at night, after way too much sleep deprivation, the slick floor inspired some wild slide session that turned into and what if…we.. did slides in the shim sham!!

Dean Collins Shim Sham