The art of dance has been evolving into myriad forms and styles basically since people started walking. As a new era of dance moves emerge from the mashup and blending of different dance styles, we’re bound to see and find favorites among these new dances. Even so, that doesn’t mean we’re about to forget our old favorites.

Sometimes a dance is just so perfect it can’t be replaced by a new one.

For seasoned dancers Jay Rollins and Tobitha Stewart, the Carolina Shag is the perfect example of a timeless favorite. The couple is both clearly well-versed in the fancy footwork of this classic dance. So much so that they set fire to the stage at the USA Grand National Dance Championship in 2018 with their silky swift moves.

Their flawless execution of the dance will send you through a time-warp.

In the day and age of the glorified booty-shakers, the name Carolina Shag might have you picturing something along the lines of a horizontal hustle, but when you watch the video below you will soon be disillusioned.

That’s right, my friends, this special number is ALL about the footwork. Let us tell you, Jay and Tobitha will show you where the meaning of “cutting a rug” comes from. It’s nothing short of mesmerizing watching those countless steps executed in such an epic, upbeat fashion.

The way that Jay moves alone is enough to make you think he’s Gumbie’s dance-loving cousin.

“OMG are his legs made of rubber? This is all new to me, first time i heard of a dance called the SHAG let alone see it performed so beautifully,” wrote Youtube viewer Catherine.

Known as “the swing dance of the South” the Carolina Shag has been gracing the southern beaches since the 1930s!

If a dance has been around that long, you can bet your sweet little tuckus that there’s a reason for it! Described by Southern Living as “a cold beer on a warm night with a hot date and no plans for tomorrow,” the Shag is a dance that everyone who sees it seems to love.

The perky, feel-good dance is a traditional dance that’s still alive and well in the south, and can be seen gracing various dance competitions throughout the nation.

“One thing that makes the Shag such a popular dance is that anyone can do it – whether you’re six years old or 96 years old. It breaks barriers and brings everyone together with one common purpose: to have fun and enjoy the music,” explains Discover South Carolina on their website.

Watching the way these two hammer out the dance so effortlessly, it comes as no great shock that both Jay and Tobitha are highly-accomplished and celebrated dancers.

Both Jay and Tobitha are members of the National Living Legends of Dance. A prestigious honor bestowed to Tobitha as well as her husband, Ashley, in 2015, while Jay was inducted in 2018. If you like their moves, you’ll be happy to know that Tobitha and Jay are also both Shag dance instructors in North Carolina.

As they beat their feet to the classic jocular tune, “Boogie The Joint” by Buddy Skipper And The Code Blues Band, everyone is overwhelmed by their passion for the dance.

Thanks to the fancy footwork Jay and Tobitha presented that day, they were able to add even more to their growing list of accomplishments. On top of becoming the official Master Shag Champions, they also received a huge following after uploading their video to YouTube. Tobitha shared it to her and her husband’s channel where it quickly received over a million views.

To see the way they light up the stage with their version of the Carolina Shag, check out Jay and Tobitha’s video below.

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H/T: See It Live