Monday, January 24, 2011

Shagging Shoe Shopping

Today at 6:15, I have my first shagging dance class. (Read: I'm very very nervous). I've posted about shagging before, but decided to bite the bullet and enroll in a class. I figured it would be fun to take a random class with no one I knew and put my best foot forward. Low and behold, a know very many people in class (which I think is good and bad) and one of my best friends, Colleen, signed up for my moral support (I'm still thankful...). For anyone who's not entirely familiar with shagging, here's a good video to watch:


My professor is pretty strict about what kinds of shoes we can wear to class and sent us (5) an email about all the kinds of shoes we couldn't wear. They had to be closed toe, no black bottoms, no sneakers, no streak-leaving, no sandals, no heels, that were comfortable enough to dance in. What was I left with? Nothing. She said boat shoes were acceptable, but this girl doesn't own any...can you believe that? In an effort to go shagging shoe shopping--say that five times fast--Colleen and I hurried over to the mall yesterday morning. I was lucky enough to find two pairs of boat shoes (a preppy pink and green pair and a standard brown pair that would match anything) and they were included on a BOGO sale!
I used to have two pairs of Sperrys, but one was the wrong size (there's a HUGE difference between a 9.5 and a 10!) and the other was a pink leather traditional boat shoe that gave me horrible blisters (also a 9.5!) and now I have two pairs that I can rely on. I'm really looking forward to having both pairs because they're so functional plus I can pop them on with shorts or in place of Jack Rogers with some outfits! I definitely needed a pair of these for a few years!

So here goes nothing...I haven't taken a dance class in YEARS! The last formal dance class I took was Irish dancing and this is certainly a departure, but how can you graduate from a Southern school and not know how to properly shag?! You just can't! Even my dad knows how, so here goes quite the class. Hopefully I won't be as nervous once 6:00 rolls around!

xxKatie

18 comments:

Annie said...

Oh that sounds like so much fun! Have the best time!

Ashton said...

Are you taking it through USC? I took shag when I was a Senior. I took the class with Childs. She is great. I was an avid shagger before taking the class, but it was good to go back to the basics and learned a lot of new techniques. The best shagging shoes are ones with a slick leather sole. I shag in my Jacks in the summer and my nicer ballet flats in the winter.

I hope you love the class. Don't worry about the nerves...shagging is suppose to be fun! Just do what feels right!

Pink, Green, and Southern said...

Good luck! You'll be great. I'm an awful dancer, but even I can shag!

megan said...

I always wanted to take that class at USC but it always filled up so quickly!

Buckhead Belle said...

Oh my gosh, I took shag at Clem and loved it! You will have so much fun!

Short, Sweet, and Petite said...

What an interesting class! Hope you have fun! :)

pittsburghprepster said...

What a neat class to take. Does it satisfy your fine arts? I took a dance class last semester just for fun, but afterwards decided I would stick to piano for the rest. The shoes are adorable, I found a pair of Angelfish Sperry Topsiders that have plaid on the side, and are a little bit more feminine than traditional boat shoes. Have so much fun in your classes!

Mere said...

I've heard shagging is so fun! But I have never been. Enjoy yourself though and have fun tonight! And cute shoes, by the way! I just got Sperry's for Christmas and LOVE them...so comfy and pretty stylish

:)

Courtney said...

Good luck! I am sure it will end up being so fun!

I love the pink and green boat shoes. I wear my Sperry's all the time!

Sandra said...

I'm so excited for you. Keep us posted!! xoxo

Mary Beth said...

Oh, I am sooo jealous! I have always wanted to learn to shag! I know you'll have a great time!

L.A.S. said...

I took 2 semesters of shag at Clemson and absolutely loved it! It's something you'll never forget! Hope you had fun today!

Miss Janice said...

I applaud you for taking the Shagging class! {Just thinking about the music you will be dancing to makes me happy} Have fun!

Ashley said...

Sounds like such a fun class, I wish i would have taken it this semester at USC :( but keep us posted, im sure you will do fine!!

What Kate Wore said...

Good heavens, that looks like so much fun! Although I can hear the anxiety, I danced for years (and years) but haven't taken class in at least three or four years and would be uber-nervous if I were starting a new one. Good for you on doing it, can't wait to hear how it went.

And the Sperry's are TDF!
tp

bevy said...

The most important thing to learn is how to shag well... and not spill your drink on the dance floor. That the advice my mama gave me. So now I'm passing it on to you!

Anonymous said...

I gotta say I was a bit worried when I first saw the title of your post. Shagging mean something completely different in Wales, where I grew up. There it's a crude word for sex. But I hope your dance class goes well! The Sperrys you picked were super cute.

Cigar Heiress said...

I am new to reading your blog and found it looking for info on shagging shoes. My boyfriend got me lessons for my birthday and all the shagging shoes are ugly and expensive. What have you been using? How do you like it? I live in Myrtle Beach, the Shag Capital so I can't wait to try out my skills.