We encompass most genres; English, Irish, Scottish and American dancing styles, whilst being faithful to the individual styles and ensuring an authentic rendition of each.As well as putting on regular events throughout the year at resplendent venues around London, and even the odd barn in the sticks (see next event section), Cut A Shine have also performed at local community events and mainstream music festivals. We have forged links with local community groups, and our aim for the coming years is to develop these links, to run workshops and classes in schools and at community events and festivals. Lastly, we aim to take the ‘barn dancing phenomenon’ to mainstream music festivals around the country – to show the masses how much fun they are missing out on!

Where the phrase comes from

It is believed by some that the phrase ‘Cat A Shine’ originates from a small mountain community in Surrey County, North Carolina, circa 1802, to describe the act of dancing vigorously at the local clapper board barn dance. It is asserted that, before the monthly dance, those good mountain folk would adorn their Sunday best, get out their finest chewing tobacco, and shine up their boots, only to have the ‘shine’ ‘cut’ by exertions on the dance floor.
However, researching the phrase more deeply will yield the fact that the phrase can in fact be traced back to medieval England, long before the settlers stole the phrase and took it over the pond to the colonies, and claimed it for their own. The exact meaning here is lost in the archives, although it there are sources that indicate it most likely refers the peasantry act of shining cobble stones before royal soirees.