Don & Debbie At The 2008 National Shag Dance Championship
More Photos of National Shag Dance Championship

Update: Debbie and I had a great time at the National Shag Dance Championship at Studebakers in Myrtle Beach. This was the 25th Annual National Shag Dance Championship. I am pleased to say that I was there to dance in the very first one back in 1984. Barry Thigpen has been the promoter and chairperson for this event the entire 25 years and has done a great job. Many members on his committee have served with him the entire time. In addition to this contest, Barry has done so much to promote our dance, The Shag. If you ever get a chance to go to the National Shag Dance Championship, I encourage you to do so. It is held the second weekend in March.

Debbie and I finished in 3rd place in the Master’s Division.  

Original Portion This Item-This weekend is the annual National Shag Dance Championship, the granddaddy of all shag contest. Debbie and I are going to be dancing in the Masters Division. This will be our first shag competition ever together although not my first time in the Nationals. The contest is a lot of fun. Barry Thigpen, the promotor of the contest, does a great job. Debbie and I are really looking forward to it.

The contest is in Myrtle Beach, SC at Studebakers. For more information about the contest visit http://www.shagnationals.com/

If you have any questions about shag lessons or events, please contact me with the form located on my contact page.

Thanks,
Don

CONGRATULATIONS
I would like to extend my congratulations & welcome the newest members of the Shaggers Hall Of Fame. The selections for the 2006 Shaggers HOF inductees was held Shag Attack Weekend, March 17 - 18, 2006 in North Myrtle Beach. Those who were selected were inducted into the Shaggers Hall of Fame in October, 2006. Their names are listed below. When you look at the list, if you know the home town of any of the names listed, please send it to me at don@donbunn.com.

Congratulations to the newest members of the Shaggers Hall Of Fame. These members were inducted into the Shaggers Hall Of Fame in October, 2006.

Female

Debbie Rickard - Thomasville, NC
Kay Young - Charlotte, NC
Barbara Cannon Keiger - Atlantic Beach, NC
Carol Myrick Walker - Durham, NC

Male

Phil Pritchard
Carl Smith
Jimmy “Spider” Kennedy
Glenn Daub

Keepers of the Dance

Nikki Kontulas - Raleigh, NC
Sy Creed

This group were inducted into the Shaggers Hall Of Fame at the Hall Of Fame ceremony the weekend of October 13 & 14, 2006 in North Myrtle Beach.

These members were inducted into the Shaggers Hall Of Fame in October, 2005.

O’Neal Bourne
Candy Brooks
Sandy Lowder
Vanessa Tompkins
Danny Bean
Johnny Barringer
Jeppy McDowell
Rick Shackelford

Charlie Boone Memorial

Walt and Beth Graves

Keepers of the Dance

Michael Norris
George Hamrick
Jessica McAlhany

These members were inducted into the Shaggers Hall Of Fame in October, 2004.

Betty Jean Jernigan
Phyllis Tiller
Cathy Gurley
Mary Lynn Myrick
Ronnie Joyce
Charles Jernigan
Ronnie Duggins
Mack Windham

Keepers of the Dance

Chris Stephenson
Patrick Hiatt
Mandy Holt

These members were inducted into the Shaggers Hall Of Fame in October, 2003.
Curtis Nivens - Greenville, SC
Milton Nowell - Goldsboro, NC
Dave McInnis - Sumter, SC
Ed Tindell - N Myrtle Beach, SC
Susie Beaver - High Point, NC
Mimi Marshburn Benedict - Calabash, NC
Pam Wood Bennett - N Myrtle Beach, SC
Carol Reeves - Charlotte, NC

Charlie Boone Memorial
Bert and Kitty Novotny - Portsmouth, VA

Keepers Of The Dance
Carol Gurley - Raleigh, NC
Kenneth Calcutt - South Carolina

LARGE CROWD ENJOYS THE FUN

Don Bunn was inducted into the National Living Legends of Dance in a ceremony November 2004, at the Little Creek Naval Base, Virginia Beach, VA. Don joined 19 other dancers from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, New York and Texas in receiving this prestigious award. AC Williams, good friend of Don and Shag Instructor in Fayetteville (Teaches Shag along with wife Cathy who was inducted in 2006), and good friend, Kathryn Monsour of Fayetteville, were also inducted the same weekend.

The National Living Legends of Dance is an organization that recognizes dancers from all over the country, not only for their dancing ability, but also for their other contributions to betterment of dancing. The process to be selected into the National Living Legends requires the selection committee to accept a recommendation from someone of a person; then the person must receive a formal nomination. After being nominated the candidate must be voted into the National Living Legends of Dance by the selection committee. Once voted into the organization the person is sent a VIP invitation to attend the induction ceremony where they are officially inducted.

The National Living Legends of Dance weekend is all about dancing and the induction ceremony. The first night is party night complete with Music and Gourmet Breakfast Buffet. The party atmosphere continues Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening with a lunch buffet, music and dancing. The dancing is interrupted only long enough on Saturday night for the induction ceremony and then the music is cranked up again. This is a fun weekend.

Many Raleigh Shag Club members attended the event including Debbie Peterson and members of the Shag Class Dance Team, Jimmy Dickens and Sandra Price, John and Susan Leggett.

Don wants to give his special thank you to those from Raleigh that attended the ceremony and to his friends from Fayetteville that were there and supported him during the ceremony. Also, thank you to Berta Lull, Chairman of the National Living Legends of Dance and to others on the committee that supported Don’s nomination.