Page 13 - Harnett Life Winter 2022

President James Jackson and First Lady Lucrecia Sergeant-at-arms JW Jackson and his wife Becky

and college functions. It’s the dance of choice at sorority for- downtown Dunn once and offers shag lessons at the restaurant.
mals, with bands playing loud and quick.
Beach music is always tops at HASA functions, but DJs and
Lucky Shag enthusiasts and wanna-be dancers here don’t have bands spin other tunes and appeal to the crowd. Club officer
to stalk their mailboxes or inboxes for the next wedding invita- Nancy Blackmon said of the music mashup that 80% of at-
tion or Facebook party invite to bust a move. Since 1989 the tendees are shaggers and 20% are line dancers, but stats vary
Harnett Area Shag Association has been quietly and success- from dance to dance. “Most shaggers line dance, too,” she said.
fully keeping the dance alive and celebrated in these parts. Blackmon likes it all, but of line dancing, she said, “My favor-
ite dances are the Tush Push, Electric Slide, Cupid Shuffle, Cha
HASA is a shag dance club in Dunn dedicated to the enjoyment Cha Slide, Continental and Ms. Jody’s thing. There at thou-
and sharing of the Carolina Shag. With goals to promote and sands to learn.” Others, she shared, come to socialize, meet
preserve the music, culture and pleasure of shag dancing, friends, listen to music and enjoy good food and fellowship.

HASA members are dedicated to perpetuating South Carolina’s With many interests and activities vying for one’s extra time,
official state dance, The Shag. Local people making the club Blackmon explained why she has chosen to stay involved with
a fun reality are officers are James Jackson, president; James HASA as a member and as an officer.
Bailey, vice-president; Ann Bailey, secretary; Randy Wagstaff,
treasurer; Nancy Blackman, assistant treasurer; J. W. Jackson, “I became interested in the Shag back in the late ‘60s when
sergeant of arms; Joe McCorquodale, past president; Robert Robert Honeycutt (current HASA entertainment committee
Honeycutt, entertainment committee chairperson and Tom chairman) provided us with fun and good bands at Williams
Hobgood, website manager. Non-officer members join to help Lake. I started coming to the HASA in 2013 because I like the
decorate, clean up, promote, assist at parties and more. music and camaraderie. I have met a lot of new friends at the
club. HASA offers a good group of fun people and lots of op-
Meeting at the Dunn Shrine Club for monthly dances, the club portunities to meet new friends.”
congregates on the second Friday night, hosting DJs like King
Curtiss Carpenter, Ashley Holland and Billy Layton on most Honeycutt’s love affair with the Carolina Shag started at Wil-
occasions and a band for the holiday season. Cat5 Band, Caro- liams Lake, working with Mr. Clayton Williams, where as a
lina Beach Music Awards Group of the Year, took center stage youth, he watched the teenagers dancing to the jukebox. The
at the Christmas 2021 dance, held Friday night, December 11. young Honeycutt grew up and took over Williams Lake in
The band also won these accolades in 2021: Song of the Year 1965, bringing in bands like Gene Barbour & the Cavaliers,
for “The Beach & The Boulevard;” and Smoothie award for Jackie Wilson, Martha Reece and the Vandellas, Mary Wells,
“Something Said, Love.” Several individual band members Pieces of 8 and Men Distinction. He has attended HASA danc-
were also honored by the CBMA. es since 2005 and said what he enjoys most is “the socializing,
dancing and food.”
In addition to dances, HASA holds its meetings at Mi Casita in

Harnett Life ~ Winter 2022 Page 13