Building community through dance, one step at a time.
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Founders & hosts of Swing Dance Wednesday Night Twin Cities, the Minneapolis & St. Paul area's longest-running weekly swing dance night featuring exceptional live music.
Instruction, performance & events in 20th century swing, jazz, and social dances of the United States - from rare to iconic dances - from Ragtime to Rock & Roll
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A Few of the specialty dances of the 20th Century they teach and perform:
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1900-1920/Ragtime: Castle Walk, One Step, Fox Trot, Turkey Trot, Animal Dances
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1920s: Charleston, Black Bottom, Raccoon, Jazz Steps
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1930s-1940s: Collegiate Shag, Original Big Apple, Box Shag, Heel Shag, Little Apple, Lindy Hop, Shag dances in Single, Double, & Triple Rhythm
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1950s-1960s: 6-count Swing, Bop, Rock & Roll Stroll, The Stroll, Hully-Gully, Mid century fad & go-go dances.
Events - Miss Shannon's Sock Hop
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The Live Music Event:
Miss Shannon's Sock Hops are events with live local and national dance friendly bands, from traditional jazz bands -through 1950s roots music. Join us every 4th Friday of the month at the Eagles #34 in Minneapolis. Free, drop-in dance lesson at 7pm will get you ready to dance, no partner or dance experience needed.
Join our Miss Shannon's Sock Hop Facebook Group
Vintage Dance Performance and Instruction:
Miss Shannon's Sock Hop is also the name of our interactive performance. Come along with us as our dancers take you on a historic tour through the Golden Age of social dancing in the United States. From the rare and unusual, to the iconic dances of the Ragtime, Jazz, Swing and early Rock & Roll era, Miss Shannon's Sock Hop is a family-friendly show - all are invited.
Looking for a bespoke experience? Tell us your vision, and we will work together to custom tailor a unique show for you, highlighting a particular era, connecting the material to school curriculum, adding an educational, or interactive component. Add excitement and entertainment for themed corporate events, fundraisers, private events and wedding parties.
Contact us for rates and availability.
Find our group performing at the Minnesota State Fair on the Cosgrove Stage, and the State Fair's Kickoff to Summer.
Our next public performance is at the Kickoff to Summer at the Minnesota State Fair's Kickoff to Summer on the Christensen's Family Farm Stage:
Dates and times to be announced:
Follow Miss Shannon's Sock Hop on Facebook​.
Click image to RSVP on Facebook
January 2025 Vintage Dance Series
Collegiate Shag Introduction
Join us for an Introduction to Collegiate Shag on May 23rd for the May Vintage Dance Series with Miss Shannon. I'll cover classic 1930's styling of this dynamic swing dance.
No partner, or dance experience needed, comfortable footwear is recommended.
6pm-6:55 Collegiate Shag Beginner level
$10 at the door.
This lesson does not include the evening Miss Shannon's Sock Hop dance with Honky Tonk Jump.
Past Events:
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Join us at the Eagles #34 for a 2-hour Crash Course Workshop featuring 1930s swing era dance Collegiate Shag
This Course is designed to get you dancing Collegiate Shag in a day. We'll start with fundamentals, and add some fun moves and breaks.
30 minute deejayed practice follows the second class in the course.
$15 per 1-hour Class
$25 for 2.5 hour Crash Course
$25 for
11:00 am Collegiate Shag Fundamentals 1
12:00 pm Collegiate Shag Fundamentals 1
Collegiate Shag is a swing era dance which reached peak popularity in the late 1930s and danced in the US from the East Coast throughout the Midwest and along the West Coast. We'll cover a classic 1930s styling popular in the New York to Midwest area (which included the Twin Cities). This dance is commonly done to mid to up-tempo swing music. Comfortable shoes are recommended. No pre-requisite, partner, or dance experience necessary. All are welcome. $15 at the door, or pre-register at Swing Dance Wednesday Night.
The July Vintage Dance Series features 2 of our favorite dances of the 1930s.
12pm Intro to Collegiate Shag
1pm Collegiate Shag
2pm Original Big Apple-the called version which swept the nation from 1937-1938.
Once we have a group of Original Big Apple Dancers, I will start calling Big Apple Dances during the band breaks on our Swing Dance Wednesday Nights.
No partner or pre-requisite needed. Open to all ages and levels.
$15/class$40 for the session
Join us at the Eagles #34 for a 4-hour Mini-Workshop featuring 2 popular dances from the 1930s swing era:
Collegiate Shag and Original Big Apple, and one uncommon dance of the era: Heel Shag
Join us Saturday, June 22nd for Vintage Dance Series with an introduction to a rare and also fun vintage dance Heel Shag, an Introduction to Collegiate Shag and the 3rd most popular dance craze of the 20th Century Big Apple
Heel Shag: 12:00 pm-1:15 pm (+15 minute practice session afterwards)
Collegiate Shag: 1:30 pm-2:45 (+15 minute practice session afterwards)
Original Big Apple 2:45 pm-4:00
$15/class
$40 session
About the Heel-Shag:
Little is known of the origin of the vintage swing dance, Heel-Shag. Research indicated the dance was done in the 1930s, and nearly forgotten until dance historian Lance Benishek began teaching the dance in the early 1990s. Shannon Butler taught and performed with Lance for over 20 years, she has been dancing and teaching Heel Shag since the mid 1990s. Together Shannon & Bill have taught Heel-Shag, across the US and abroad and have added many steps and shapes to the dance. They are delighted for the opportunity to share this fun, low impact, and versatile dance to the local community.
No partner or pre-requisite needed. $15
Collegiate Shag:
The dynamic swing dance Collegiate Shag reached its peak in the 1930s. It was danced in New York, in the Northern East Coast, and across the Midwest. Shannon's grandparents, both from the Twin Cities area. were Shag dancers. Shannon also trained and taught with Lance Benishek in Collegiate Shag, (and a variety of shag styles, and other vintage dances). Shannon & Bill have taught shag nationally and overseas are are excited to teach this dance in their hometown.
No partner or pre-requisite needed. $15
Big Apple:
The Big Apple was the biggest swing dance craze from 1937-1938. This social dance was done in a circle and the moves were called. Dance historian Lance Benishek researched and documented over 400 calls/moves. Shannon Butler trained and taught with Lance for over 2 decades and is grateful to have been able to train and teach with Original Big Apple dancer Betty Wood who debuted the dance on Broadway in the 1930s. This course will cover core moves, flow and putting moves together.
For event information or updates visit our Facebook Event
Miss Shannon's Sock Hop at Kickoff To Summer Minnesota State Fair
Saturday May 24th 3pm & 5pm
Miss Shannon's Sock Hop is back for two dates at the Great Minnesota Get Together - The Minnesota State Fair. Join in the fun as Miss Shannon & the Sock Hop Dancers take you on a whirlwind tour of dances from the United States of the 20th Century.
From the rare to the iconic from Ragtime to Rock & Roll.
Dates to be announced - check back with us for dates and times
Cosgrove Stage (outside of the Education Building)
Event is free with entrance to the Fair & open to all attendees. All are welcome.
Brought to you by the Minnesota State Fair
Tinglers at Miss Shannon's Halloween Sock Hop October 24th 2025
Click image to RSVP on Facebook.
Join us for a night of live music and dancing to the Tinglers! They are coming to the Twin Cities to play this special pre-Halloween show just for us. Get into the spirit of the season in a Halloween costume, or come as your are. Either way the Tinglers are sure to deliver the best in classic 1950s rock & roll and will keep the floor hoppin' all night!
Sock Hop School: "Vintage Dance Series" $10: Arrive early for our Miss Shannon's Sock Hop "Vintage Dance Series: A pre-event specialty Dance Lesson. Every Sock Hop at 6pm, we teach a vintage dance to fit the style or era of the evening's band. The material is different from the 7pm drop-in lesson.
October 25th: Hully Gully, 1950s Fad Dances $10
Main Dance $10
7pm Dance Lesson (free with admission)
8pm Tinglers
DJ Miss Shannon during the band breaks
The Venue: Eagles 34 2507 E 25th St, Mpls
​Visit Miss Shannon's Sock Hop on Facebook for more information
Fridays Swing At the Eagles #34
1st Fridays (The odd months) with Katia & The Upswing
1st Fridays Swing at the Eagles #34 with Katia & The Upswing.
7pm Dance Lesson with Shannon Butler
8pm Katia & The Upswing
$10 at the door includes the dance lesson
4th Fridays: Miss Shannon's Sock Hop
Every 4th Friday, Miss Shannon's Sock Hop features live music, dancing and 2optional dance lessons
The band changes every month, follow us on Facebook or join our email list for the latest on band lineups, special events & upcoming shows
6 pm: Miss Shannon's Sock Hop School "Vintage Dance Series" $10
A pre-event specialty dance lesson at 6pm where we'll teach a vintage dance (or dances) to fit the style or era of the evening's band. The material is different from the 7pm drop-in lesson.
Main Dance $10
7pm Dance Lesson (free with admission)
8pm Live Music with a rotating cast of local, regional and national dance bands
DJ Miss Shannon during the band breaks
The Venue: Eagles 34 2507 E 25th St, Mpls
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The Eagles #34 has a large, newly refinished dance floor, free on and off street parking, lots of seating, full bar, dining available until 9pm, and some of the most welcoming dancers and music fans to hang out with.
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May 23rd Miss Shannon's Sock Hop
