Al Minns and Leon James are perhaps the best solo vernacular jazz dancers from the 1930s. Here in this clip, we see them doing their version of the Shim Sham, originally a tap routine attributed to Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant from the late 20s. Since its conception, there have been several variations of the routine, including the two more popular versions by Frankie Manning and Dean Collins (who popularised the Hollywood Style Swing dancing in many motion pictures). It is a dance that most Lindy Hoppers today know, and it recalls the roots of the dance in solo vernacular movement. This version presented here has also been called the Savoy Shim Sham.
