Shim Sham R, L, R (ending in ball dig) (8+12+34+5+6+7, 8+12+34+5+6+7, 8+12+34+5+6+7)

Stamp R fwd, toe tap L, step L bk, hop L, step R bk, hop R, step L bk, tap step R, ball change LR (8123+(4)+5+6+7)

 

Drop L, shuffle R (side), drop RXFL, drop L bk (R leg out), drop RXBL (L leg out), drop L (R leg out) (8+a1234)

Leap into air clicking heels together on R side, land L. Rep (5+(6)+7)

Hop L, shuffle R (side), drop RXFL, drop L bk (R leg out), drop RXBL (L leg out), drop L (R leg out) (8+a1234)

Leap into air clicking heels together on R side, land L. Rep step RXFL (5+(6)+78)

Tap step L, ball change RL (to bk), hitch R leg and turn to front, step R (+1+234)

Kick L (side), step LXBR, step R side, step LXFR, kick R (side), step RXBL, step L side, step RXFL, step L (side) step RNL (567812345(6)7).

Repeat all starting the Shim Sham with the LEFT foot.

 

Shuffle step R, shuffle step L, shuffle step R ((8)1234+56+7)

Shuffle step L, clap, shuffle step R, shuffle spring L (812clap34+56+7)

Shuffle R, hop L, shuffle spring R, shuffle L, hop R, shuffle spring L, shuffle R, hop L, ball dig R (+8+1+2+3+4+5+6+7(8))

Shuffle R, hop L, shuffle spring R, shuffle L, hop R, shuffle L, hop R, step L (1+2+3+4+5+6+7(8))

 

Tap step heel beat R, L, R, L (travelling fwd) (+12+34+56+78)

Heel dig R, heel dig L, pick-up step R, pick-up step L. Rep. (+1+2+3(4)+5+6+7(8))

Step heel beat R, hop R, step L bk, hop L, step R bk, step L, step heel beat R (123+(4)+5678)

Step heel beat L, hop L, step R bk, hop R, step L bk, step R, step L (123+(4)+567)

 

You can then go back to the beginning and keep repeating through until exhaustion kicks in !!

This dance uses a lot of patterning which I’ve tried my best to explain (in italics), and looks great. It’s best done in groups of 16 but can be adapted to suit whatever number. The music is Rondo Alla Turca. There are many different versions of this song - the one you use needs to have the first phrasing (16 counts) 6 times, and ideally be quite an up tempo version.

 

Groups line up off stage/to side of floor and follow leader from back of stage/room snaking round to finish in 3 lines. 5 each in the first and second line, and 6 in the third, doing the following step.

 

Walk R, L, R (hitch L leg), walk L, R, L (hitch R leg), walk R, L, R (hitch L leg), step L, R (turning), step L, ball change RL. (123(4)567(8)123(4)567+8) Repeat this 5 times altogether. ‘Aeroplane’ arms on the walks.

 

Front line - step heel beat R, step heel beat L, ball change RL, step R. Rep starting L (1+2+3+45+6+7+8)

During this the other two lines do 8 walks pushing slowly forward.

The front line then cast off (3 to the right and 2 to the left) to the sides of the floor/stage. While this is happening the second line (who are now the front line) do the ‘step heel beat’ section above, and the back line continue with 8 walks.

The second line then do 8 walks - the person on the left joins the other 2 from the previous line and the other 4 turn around. The back line continue to do 8 walks pushing forwards.

Finally the back line do the ‘step heel beat’ section. They then cast off - one each from the end left and right to join the bottom end of the 3 side people and the other 4 walk straight backwards.

You should now be in an inward facing square with 4 people on each side.

 

13 beat riff R, 4x ball change LR turning to the right (+a1+a2+a3e+a4+5+6+7+8) Repeat on L. 4 walks inwards, curtsey or bow (4 counts). 8 walks to next positions. These 8 walks are going to make a 4 pointed star. The people on the left end of each side of the square make the centre and the people on the right are the ends. You should end up ready to travel in an anticlockwise direction.

 

Hop L, flap R, ball change LR, hop R, flap L, ball change RL, 4 walks (+a1+2+a3+45678) This should move the whole star a quarter turn. 4 steps on the spot turning 180°. Step R fwd, step L bk and turn 180°, step R, L. Repeat.

 

8 walks, then 4 half speed walks to new positions. These walks split the group into 3 sections - one group of 5 will be downstage right (A, another group of 5 are downstage left (B) and the final group of 6 are upstage centre (C)

 

A - Stamp RL, toe clip, ball beat RL, jump and clip heels together, land (1+2+3+4)

B-  Stamp RL, toe clip, ball beat RL, jump and clip heels together, land (5+6+7+8)

C - Stamp RL, toe clip, ball beat RL, jump and clip heels together, land (1+2+3+4)

ALL - Stamp RL, pullback, step R, slap L thigh twice (turning), step L (+5e+a6+7+8)

 

Shuffle R, hop L, step RXFL, step L, step RXFL, shuffle L, hop R, step LXFR, step R, step LXFR (e+a1+2e+a3+4)

Open ball change RL, step RXFL, open ball change LR, step LXFR (5+67+8)

Shuffle R, hop L, step RXFL, step L, step RXFL, shuffle L, hop R, step LXFR, step R, step LXFR (e+a1+2e+a3+4)

Open ball change RL, step RXFL, open ball change LR, step LXFR, stamp R (5+6+7+8)

 

Step R, brush L, step L, brush R. Repeat (12345678) Cane under R arm

Step R, 3x ball change LR taking quarter turn to R, step L, ball dig R step R, ball dig L, step L (1+2+3+45+(6)+78)

Repeat 2 more times

Step R, brush L, step L, brush R, step R, brush L, step L (turning to front) (1234567(8) Hold cane horizontally in both hands on final step.

Spring R, shuffle L, ball change LR, spring L, shuffle R, ball change RL. Repeat (+1+a2+3+a4+5+a6+7+a8) Cane horizontal for first 2 and tilted for next 2.

 

Hop L, step R side, step LXBR, step R side, step LXFR, step R, ball change LR, step L, ball change RL (+12345+67+8)

Step R, 3x ball change LR turning (1+2+3+4) Cane held vertical in R hand and touching floor

Sway L, tap floor with cane, sway R, tap floor twice with cane (5+(6)+78)

Hop R, step L side, step RXBL, step L side, step RXFL, step L, ball change RL, step R, ball change LR (+12345+67+8) Hold cane horizontally in both hands

Step L, shuffle R, hop L, toe tap RXBL, step R, hop R step L bk, hop L, step R bk, step L fwd (1+2+345+(6)+78)

 

Tap step heel beat R, tap step heel beat L (taking quarter turn to R) (+12+34) Repeat 2 more times (+56+78+12+34) Tap step R, heel beat L, heel beat R, tap step L, heel beat R, heel beat L (taking quarter turn to R) (+5+6+7+8) Cane under R arm

Step R side, step LXFR, step R, tap cane, Rep to other side (12345678) Cane swings over drawing semi-circle in air then taps floor

Sway R, tap cane, sway L, tap cane (1234) Cane swings over drawing semi-circle in air then taps floor

3 steps R, L, R (567(8) Cane under R arm

 

Step R, brush L, step L, brush R. Repeat (12345678)

Step R, 3x ball change LR taking quarter turn to R, step L, ball dig R step R, ball dig L, step L (1+2+3+45+(6)+78)

Repeat 2 more times

Step R, brush L, step L, brush R, step R, brush L, step L (turning to front) (1234567(8)

Open ball change RL, place one end cane on floor with both hands on other end, kick cane with R foot and allow to swing up - holding one end with R hand. Cross L arm over R and catch cane with L. Bring into body then step L to LDF with L arm outstretched holding cane.

For this next dance Maurice used the song 'Sisters' from the album Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook. You can improvise for the intro and the routine begins when the singing starts.

 

Suzie Q with 1 twist (hop L , shuffle R (side), stamp RXFL, tap step L (side), pick-up R, stamp RXFL) (8+a1+2+3)

Suzie Q with 1 twist (hop R , shuffle L (side), stamp LXFR, tap step R (side), pick-up L, stamp LXFR) (4+a5+6+7)

Suzie Q with 2½ twists (hop L , shuffle R (side), stamp RXFL, tap step L (side), pick-up R, stamp RXFL, tap step L (side), pick-up R, stamp RXFL, tap step L (side)) (8+a1+2+3+4+5+6)

Pick-up R, hop L, toe tap RXBL, hop L (+7+8)

Fwd brush R, pick-up one foot R, bk brush R, hop L, shuffle R (side), hop L, tap step R(to RDF), ball change LR, spin to left, step L to LDF, stamp R, stamp L (+a1+2+a3+4+5spin67+8)

Pull-back R, step R, shuffle L, hop R, step LXFR, step RXFL, step L (side), step R (turning), step L (e+a1+2+a34567(8))

 

Spring R, shuffle L, ball change LR, spring L, shuffle R, ball change RL (+1+a2+3+a4)

Step R, fwd brush L, hop R (or pick-up one foot or 3 beat wing one foot), bk brush L, spring L, toe tap R, hop L (5+6+7+8) Repeat (1+2+3+4)

Step R, tap step L, step R, shuffle L, hop R, shuffle step L, fwd brush R (5+a6+a7e+a8)

Hop L, flap R, tap step L, tap step R, stamp L (nw), pick-up L, ball dig LNR, stamp L (nw), pick-up step L, pick-up step R, step L (lifting R leg up in front with knee bent) (+a1+2+3+(4)+56+7+a8)

Step R, L, R, L (lifting R leg up in front with knee bent) - small on the spot steps (1+a2). Repeat (3+a4)

Step R, L, R, L, R, L, R, L, R, L (lifting R leg up in front with knee bent) (5+a6+a7+a8)

 

Drop R, shuffle L, pick-up change R, toe tap R, step R (1+2+a34). Repeat with L (5+6+a78)

Drop R, shuffle L, pick-up change R, toe tap R, Repeat, step R to RDF (1+2+a34+5+a67)

2x stomp R, gallop L to LDB with heel clip, step RXFL, gallop L to LDB with heel clip, step RXFL, step L to front (812+a345+a678)

Stamp R, stamp L, toe clip, ball beat R, ball beat L, heel clip, heel beat R, heel beat L, step R (preparing to turn) (+1+a2+a34)

Step L, join feet together and turn to L, lunge L wrapping arms around body (567(8))