THE STATE DANCE

The Shag is the official Dance of the State, designated by Act No. 329, 1984. The Shag, one of the great developments of terpsichorean culture and native to this State, is performed to music known as rhythm and blues. Both the music and dance are structured on time signature and can be performed to almost any tempo, as long as the basic step is maintained and kept in time to the music.

THE STATE POPULAR MUSIC

Beach Music is the official popular music of South Carolina, designated by Act No. 15, 2001. Beach music has contributed tremendously to the enjoyment of our citizens and has become synonymous with the Shag.

THE STATE LOWCOUNTRY HANDCRAFT

The General Assembly designated the sweetgrass basket as the official State Lowcountry Handcraft by Act No. 234 of 2006. Famed for their intricacy and beautiful patterns, sweetgrass baskets of the SouthCarolina Sea Islands have become collectors novelties. Sweetgrass

basket making, a family art, is more than three hundred years old and is one of the oldest art forms of African origin in the United States. These baskets are made from sweetgrass (Muhlenbergia filipes) because of its pleasant fragrance and were historically used as breadbaskets, fruit baskets, sewing baskets, and for clothes storage.

Shag Dance

Beach Music

THE STATE FISH

The Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis), designated by Act No. 1333,1972, is South Carolina’s State Fish. The State’s most famous game fish, its large size and aggressive nature make it an angler’s favorite. The Santee Cooper Lakes were the original home of the landlocked Striped Bass. Some of the best Striped Bass fishing in the world can be found in these lakes, with many stripers weighing 30 to 40 pounds. These great game fish have also been stocked in all of the State’s major reservoirs.

THE STATE MUSIC

The General Assembly designated the Spiritual as the official music of the State by Act No. 64 in 1999. The Spiritual is a song originating in the slave era that deals primarily with a religious or sacred theme.

Much of thismusic originated along the coastal regions of South Carolina which was a major port of entry for slaves in North America. Performances of The Hallelujah Singers, a popular South Carolina singing group, characterize this type music.

Striped Bass