Legend Shorty George Snowden dances the Charleston & Breakaway in After Seben (1929)

Learn to dance like this with JazzMAD, the authentic swing and jazz dance academy in North London. Sign up for workshops and courses at: In this clip: George Snowden aka Shorty George, and his dancers from the Savoy Ballroom (Harlem, New York), dance in a faux contest to music by Chick Webb And His Orchestra, in the 1929 film “After Seben.“ The announcer, James Barton, also dances in an eccentric style. George Snowden is the third leader to dance, the couple is announced as “Shorty Stumps & Liza Underdunk“. No resources seem to list the real name of his partner. I’m always troubled by the way swing dance history remembers leaders and forgets followers. From my research, I believe this is Mattie Purnell, Shorty’s partner during this period. There are references to George & Mattie being “the smallest pair on the floor“, and Liza Underdunk certainly matches that description in this clip. Please comment if you have information oth