Sam WestBorn: July 14, 1972
Sam started shag dancing at age 9 after his mother, Barbara,
became interested in dancing. During his school years
Sam also enjoyed soccer, baseball and basketball.
As a junior shagger Sam danced with several partners
including Terri Alberty, who he won two junior national
titles with. Terri's father, Shad, who many consider
one of the best shag dancers ever, worked with Sam and was the biggest influence on Sam's dancing career.
In 1994 Sam and partner, Melissa Calabrese, won the
Non-Pro National title on their way to becoming the Overall
National Shag Champions.
Then in 1995 Sam partnered up with his sister, Sarah, and
they went on to capture 8 Professional Division titles and 4
Overall titles.
Sam also won the Pro and Overall Shag titles in 2001 with
Jackie McGee and again in 2006 and 2007 with Jessica
McAlhany.
Sam is a 6 time champion of the Carolina Shag Division at
the USA Grand National Dance Championships and a 3 time US
Open Shag Champion. Twice at the Grand Nationals Sam
has been named Entertainer of the Weekend, first for his
portrayal of super spy Austin Powers and second for a
Country/Swing number with his very pregnant wife to Two
of a Kind Working on a Full House. He has also
been a member, captain and choreographer for the National
Shag Dance Championship Dance Team.
Sam has made several appearances on national and local TV
and was a featured dancer in the movie Shag and in
Alabama's Shaggin' on the Boulevard music video.
In 1999 he and his sister, Sarah, were the first inductees
into the Shagger's Hall of Fame Keepers of the Dance.
Lisa West
Born: March 7, 1964
Lisa didn't start her dance career until age 27.
During her Jr High and High School days she was a
competitive gymnast and cheerleader. She attended the
University of Alabama from 1982-87 where she served as a
Varsity Cheerleader for four years and was on the 1984
National Championship squad.
Lisa's love of dance began on the Country Western dance
floor where she learned two-step, waltz, east coast swing,
west coast swing, polka, and cha-cha. She taught
dance line dance and couples dance at Dance Connection
studio in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
She began competing on the swing and cabaret circuit with
friend, Barry Durand. They took advantage of her
gymnastic and cheerleading background and performed
many daring overhead lifts and drops. Some of their
more memorable numbers include "The Wizard of Oz" and
"Butterfly Kisses."
Together Barry and Lisa won the 1997 US Open Cabaret
Championship and were two-time winners of the American Swing
Dance Championships in the Showcase Division.
In 1998 Lisa met Sam at the USA Grand Nationals in
Atlanta when they shared the practice floor before
competition. Sam says she chased him but Lisa says he
wasn't too hard to catch.
Together they have been teaching a promoting shag
throughout the country and have even held workshops in
France, Spain, England, the Netherlands and aboard cruise
ships.