Carlton Vinson & Brandi Dockery

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

We occupy a rare position in the Carolina shag world: we're not just competitive dancers, we're stewards of the sport itself. We both currently serve on the Board of Directors of the Competitive Shaggers Association (CSA) — Brandi as Treasurer, Carlton as a Member at Large — putting us at the table where competition standards, judging criteria, and tour operations for shag competitions across the Carolinas get decided.
That insider's view of the sport shows up on the dance floor too.

In 2022, we competed together at the National Shag Dance Championships in Myrtle Beach, one of the most demanding stages in the sport, placing 10th against a deep field of competitive pairs.
What sets us apart from many instructors isn't just how we dance — it's how we think about the sport as a whole.

Serving on the CSA board means understanding shag from the judge's chair as much as the dance floor: what separates a technically clean pattern from a truly musical one, how competitions are scored, and what the sport's governing body actually values as it evolves. That perspective is baked into how we teach.

When you work with us, you're not just learning steps. You're learning from two people who help define what good shag looks like at the competitive level — and who bring that standard down to the studio floor for every dancer, from first-time beginners to those with their own competition ambitions.