The Shorty George
The Shorty George is a classic dance move that appears in Solo Jazz and Lindy Hop. The name derives from the African -American Lindy Hop dancer “Shorty” George Snowden (4 July 1904 – May 1982) who devised the step to add comedy to his Lindy Hop dancing. With his partner, Big Bea, the couple would use their difference in height to comic effect and his signature walk was born in the 1930s
There is little footage of the original move but we have collected various videos of The Shorty George. From the founding members of the Solo Jazz movement to contemporary dancers, you will see how it’s been stylised since its inception and evolved to help you practice.
Full breakdown of the Shorty George with Frankie Manning
Frankie Manning is considered one of the founders of Lindy Hop along with George Snowden and many other dancers from the Savoy Ballroom from the 1930s. This is the perfect place to start if you want to learn the step from one of the founding members of the Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz genre. In this clip from 1995 Frankie Manning and Erin Stevens break down the step in their tutorial of the Shim Sham routine from 34 mins into the video. Frankie in this video is around 80 years old and still dancing!
Fred Astaire & Rita Hayworth’s tribute to the Shorty George through Tap Dancing
Taken from the film You Were Never Lovelier, this is an interesting clip as we see the move not only transitioning into Tap Dance but also becoming a mainstream move and popularised by one of the most famous dancers in modern history, Fred Astaire.
Remy Kouakou Kouame and Ryan Francois
Jumping forward to the modern day, we still see the move performed in music videos. In this video dancers Remy Kouakou Kouame and Ryan Francois pay tribute to two other original dancers from the Savoy Ballroom Al Minns and Leon James. These dancers show off many Solo Jazz and Charleston steps with perfect precision including the Shorty George at the end of the film.
Ksenia Parkhatskaya
Ksenia Parkhatskaya is one of the best known Jazz & Swing Dancers on the circuit today and has put together her own tutorial of the Shorty George which gives another perspective on how the move can be stylised.
MyCharleston and the Shorty George
If you need some help to start practicing the move, here is Elena from MyCharleston drilling the Shorty George. Why not try dancing along with her?
We would love to see your own interpretation of the Shorty George so please email us at hello@mycharlestondance.com any clips you want to share with us.