by Kody Brown (Sumter Shag Club)

July 30, 2007

I had been shagging for about 4 months when I was asked if I had ever been to Jr. SOS at a shag party. I had not heard of the JSA so I said no, then I heard about Jr. SOS. This was in August 2006, I had to wait almost whole year to go to my first Jr. SOS. Finally, on July 18, 2007 it was time for my first Jr. SOS. I went to Duck’s Too for the Battle of the Sexes Line Dance Contest. In the practice we put together moves such as “the cheerleader” with cartwheels and lifts, “the chorus line” with can-can kicks, “the robot war” in which Brennar Goree lost a robot dance off to a junior about 10 years younger than he was, and the “the worm race”.  We also made up the “bowling ball” in which I bowled the “ball” (which was really my friend Jeremy Webb doing summersaults) and knocked down the “pins” (which was really the rest of the guys standing in the form of a triangle) and made a “strike” (which was everyone holding there arms in an X above their heads). The guys won the contest that night in their matching JSA shirts when the girls did not dress alike. I also learned the Jr. SOS 2007 step “the freeze” that night.

           The next day I learned some steps called “the trail” and “the Ducks”. Brennar Goree and Autumn Jones taught both of the steps. That night I was walking off the floor after dancing “the tush push” and I saw two women talking and one of them pointed to me and said “He’s good, get him.” So of course, I wanted to know what they where doing and so I asked them, they were from Carolina TV Now, a Myrtle Beach Area news show. They asked me to dance for them to tape and put on the news. I was looking for a good dancer to dance with for them and I ran into Autumn Jones and asked her if she would dance with me for the news, she said yes. This was the most exciting moment of the entire weekend for me because Autumn Jones is the National Junior Shag Champion and I was able to dance with her on the news. When I was dancing with Autumn I asked her to do the Duck’s when she told me she didn’t remember it. I asked why not and she said her and Brennar had just made it up before the workshop that day and she had forgotten it. Afterwards, they wanted us to say their slogan for the camera. So we went outside and in front of Ducks and I had to say “My name is Kody Brown and you’re watching the South Carolina State Dance the Carolina Shag.” Autumn’s line was “My name is Autumn Jones and you’re watching Carolina TV Now.” Afterwards Jeremy and his partner Kayla Granger said the same lines for the camera. This was the most exciting moment of the week for me.

           Friday morning I went to the beach activities where we played volleyball, had water balloon tosses, and played in the ocean. Then I went to the Boulevard Grill where they were giving out free hot dogs. That night I went to the pizza party and social dancing at Duck’s. Ms. Goree announced that they had already ran out of JSA t-shirts for the year. She said that that was proof that the spirit of the dance is growing. That night was the Pro-Am Mixed Doubles where the amateurs danced with the professionals in an exhibition. A mixed Doubles is when you dance with someone who isn’t you’re usual partner and you don’t get to pick your partner either. There where 83 juniors in the exhibition.

        Saturday morning was the Mixed Doubles Amateur and Novice divisions. I was placed in the novice division so I didn’t place but I had a lot of fun. 3 of my good friends placed in the amateur division. Later, I went to some of the workshops and to the social dancing that night at Ducks. The dj announced that Ducks had never so crowded except for an SOS since it has been open. The professional mixed doubles was that night and I had tons of fun watching all the experienced dancers compete with someone they didn’t usually dance with. I was really excited when I got to dance with three girls at once that night.

On Sunday morning, Fat Harold’s hosted the brunch and Gospel Hour. The food was delicious and the dj played gospel music and new shag songs that all of the juniors liked such as “Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stephani, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie, and Beautiful Girls the Jr. SOS song for the week. Traci Rogers hosted the talent exhibition where one junior sang a gospel song , Brennar Goree and Autumn Jones did an exhibition, and Sydney West and Will Dallas also did an exhibition. Sydney and Will are national Junior I champions and Brennar and Autumn are national Junior Overall Champions. Sam West (National Overall Shag Champion) gave a motivational speech about having good sportsmanship when you don’t win a competition and not giving up. Brooklyn (a blind junior shagger from North Carolina) did an exhibition where the dj played a song called “I Wanna See” that Brooklyn sang with the Attractions Band. The song was about Brooklyn praying to God about all the things she wanted to see. It was an extremely touching moment.  I was 15 years old when I went to my first Jr. SOS and I plan to go until I’m way older than 21. I encourage anyone of any age who reads this to go to the next Jr. SOS, whether you can shag or not cause if you cannot you will learn and I promise you will really enjoy Jr. SOS.