From the Polar Bear Plunge and a dessert auction, 2022 is keeping it interesting with an invitation to attend the 34th anniversary/birthday bash of the Savannah Shag Club held at the Odyssey Lounge on West Fairmont, Jan. 12.
SSC president Lynette Hohnerlein has been most diligent in welcoming me to their weekly Wednesday dance night and is waiting at the front door with her beau, Bill Whelan. Learning that Lynette's brother taught her to shag dance 60 years and that Bill's Irish parents and five sisters taught him Irish jigs as a wee lad, I find that dancing at an early age is a common theme throughout the night.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
While on the dance floor talking to Lynette and Bill as they twirl past me, I am introduced to the man that started the Wednesday night dance fest. Meet Bob Cawley, a personal financial analyst who takes a seat with me to give a little history on how it all started and the difference between the Savannah Shag and the Charleston Shag.
"Driving back from Charleston, I stopped at a place called Pivots and was impressed with how a shag club that had people arriving with covered dishes could have such a family atmosphere. I wanted to bring something like this to Savannah so people could have a safe, clean place to dance and meet people. On our first night meeting at the Fred Williams Building, we had 40 people. It grew to 300 people," shares Bob.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
While telling me how the boom time or heyday of Shag dancing was around 1988 to 1992, he points out the dance floor and says, "Look at Walter Purcell and Gloria Moak. They were our first Carolina Shaggers - can you see how their dance style is more smooth and sensual than the Savannah Shag that has more body movement."
Of course I have to meet the Savannah natives, hear about how they met 34-years-ago and have dated for the past 21 years. After a pic of Bob with Walter and Gloria, I head over to meet the "we are family" ladies Gayle Spilliards, Lonnette Lodge and Jeanne Shurling.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Sliding across the dance floor, I find long-time friend Johnny Altman hugging up on Sharon Polcyn, snap a pic of Henry Lewis and Roxie Bryant then meet former deputy sheriff Shawn Taber and his wife Laurie. Loving the story of how Shawn proposed to Laurie during a shag lesson at the American Legion Post 184, I listen to the couple talk about how the dance is all about "respect and honesty" when dancing with different partners.
Sharing this sentiment is my petite friend Bonnie Bouchillon. She, along with her fiancé Dale Hardie sit down with yet another engaged couple Larry Saturday and Gail Fawcett to talk about how this dance group has "rekindled old relationships and gives people our age somewhere to socialize."
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Glancing over and seeing a few dozen men and women line dancing, I continue talking with Dale about being a Shriner, his extensive car collection and the restoration of Ottawa Farms Pete Waller's '41 Model A Ford while checking out pics of his elaborate man cave.
Sitting next to us is Visiting Angel Susie Kaye and "single country singer" David B. Redwine. A competitor on the Voice and a singer with Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and George Strait, the quiet cowboy may be trying to court the lovely caretaker of the elderly so I mosey to check out club deejay, shag dance instructor and Savannah High Class of '67, Warren Brooks.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
With so many people to talk to, I finally make it over to meet another Savannah High School grad, Almeta Cash. With the club for 21 years, I ask Almeta how long she has been dancing. "81 years," is her answer. Surely I have heard wrong.
Nope, this petite powerhouse giggles while nodding, makes sure I know that her dance partner R.J Hodges is a "younger man chasing an older woman" (he is also 86-years-old) and that I need to take a pic of her dancing queen friend Ruth Murphy with Judge David Cavender.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
By now, the 34th anniversary key lime pound cake has been cut, Lynette has introduced Bob to everyone, I have met club owner Arthur Williams and have learned that this non-profit organization is donating to the 200 Club and the Ronald McDonald House this year.
Making sure I know that the Savannah Shag Club is open to dance lovers of all ages and that they will even offer free dance lessons at their Wednesday dance night, I leave Lynette with a promise to bring back a group of good friends for the most free fun you can have on a Wednesday night!
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tappin' toes and spinning loved ones at the 34th anniversary of the Savannah Shag Club
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