Another Time

Stepping into Fat Harold's Beach Club was more like stepping back in time-back in time to the 40s, 50s, or 60s.  You see, Fat Harold's is a dance club.  It's a dance club that specializes in teaching the Carolina Shag- the state dance of North and South Carolina.  Any child of the 80s may remember a teen movie of the very same name.  

Harold's isn't all that fancy inside.  The lighting is dim, perhaps to keep the patrons from getting a closer look at the worn pile carpet.  The bar is set off to the left side of the room leaving most of the area of the establishment free for a large wooded dance floor and a dj booth.   Tuesday night the place offers free shag lessons to anyone who wants them, so tonight when my group walked in to check out the local scene we were greeted by a full dance floor.  Two instructors stood in the front mic'd up so all could hear the dance steps being counted out.  


I wasn't there to learn.  Simply stated- I don't have much rhythm. Counting and stepping at the same time would not be something in my wheelhouse.  I watched as 50 or so others practiced the eight-step dance.  The teaching was slow going.  Eventually break-time arrived and the real dancers took over.  The four or five couples that took the floor were a little older, about 60 or so. Couples danced together- in step and in time.  They glided across the dance floor like they were gliding in from another era.