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How to Do the Shim Sham

The Shim Sham, also known as the Sham or Shim Sham Shimmy, was a precursor to the tap dance that Vaudeville performers used to perform in the early 1900s. The dance has its own steps, but is performed in no particular order. Today, the dance resembles a sort of line dance. While the Shim Sham has a variety of steps and often involves improvisation, you can learn the most common routine -- the three-bar Shim Sham Step -- to perform at your next social function.

Instructions

    • 1

      On the eighth count, tap your right foot forward, then tap it back. Keep your weight on your left foot.

    • 2

      Tap your left food forward, then tap it back, with your weight on your right foot.

    • 3

      Tap your right foot forward, then tap it back, with your weight on your left foot.

    • 4

      Tap the right foot forward again, and tap it back, but this time with your weight on both feet to shuffle the left foot going forward for the next bar of eight counts.

    • 5

      Repeat the preceding steps, but start with the left foot.

    • 6

      Dance the third bar the same as the first.

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Tap Dance

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