Carolina Shagging, Ocracoke Style

On Saturday, November 22nd, the Ocracoke Community Center will be shagadelic! Starting at 7:30pm, D.J. Robbie Leggett will spin some beach music so couples can take to the floor and spin and shag!

Bob and Ruth Toth retired last fall after twenty-five delicious years of owning and running the much-missed Cafe Atlantic. 

"We'd never had a customer appreciation party," Ruth said, "but we'd talked about it. Last year when we closed, we were just so tired." Then, in December, Ruth had emergency back surgery, and needed time to recover. "We wanted it to be in the off-season so the most local people could come, and we're just getting to it," she said.

So after a year of retirement, rest, and recuperation, Bob and Ruth are ready to throw a party! 

Ruth enlisted some help from her childhood friend, Addie Lou, who shag dances with her husband, Robbie. (He's also the D.J.)

Don't know how to shag? Need a little practice? Stop by the Community Center on Saturday afternoon for one or both of the free shag lessons that Addie Lou will be teaching. The learning sessions will be at 2pm and 3:30pm. Addie Lou is a retired teacher and really likes working with kids, so all ages are welcome to come out and learn the Carolina Shag.

Ruth says that growing up in eastern North Carolina, she "somehow fell through the shag dancing cracks," though she remembers seeing people doing it. 

"People from other parts of the country might not be familiar with the dance," Ruth added. 

Once a teacher, always a teacher: Ruth's party will be fun and educational. 

The shag dance originated in the beach towns between Wilmington, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC in the 1940's and became quite a craze by the '50's and '60's. According to shag historians (of course there are such things!), the name of the dance comes from Carolina Beach, NC. And you've got to have beach music!

During the dance party, Addie Lou will take a break from shagging and lead some line dances, and some dances especially for children. Robbie will play a variety of music to get people moving.

And there will be refreshments provided by Bob and Ruth. If you've missed their cooking, here's a chance to get a taste of yummy hors d'oeuvres.

"We hope the party will be enjoyed by lots of people," Ruth said.