Garrett Humphries

Garrett was born in Gaffney, SC on March 15, 1979 and introduced to the shag at the age of 16 by his mom, Loretta O’Donald.  In 1996, he entered and won his first shag contest in Greenville, SC with partner, Brenna Bedenbaugh, which resulted in his love and appreciation for the dance.  Through the years, his passion for the dance lead to numerous junior and pro shag contests, a spot on the National Shag Dance Team in 2001, winner of the National Shag Dance Championship Non-Pro Division in 2005, inducted into the Beach Shaggers National Hall of Fame “Keepers of the Dance” in 2011, chosen to represent the SC State Dance on the National TV program, “The Bachelorette” in 2017, inducted as a “Youngblood” for the Charlotte Area Shaggers Hall of Fame in 2018, and was inducted into the South Carolina Shaggers Hall of Fame in 2020.

Garrett graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2001 with a double business major in Marketing and Management and a minor in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management.  He then pursued a master’s degree in HRTM, graduating in 2002.  While at USC, he served as the beloved mascot, “Cocky”, from 1998-2001.

He has taught and promoted shag in multiple states as well as internationally.  He continues to help preserve the dance as a Pro Dancer with the Competitive Shaggers Association, a weekly instructor in the Lexington & Columbia areas, Director & Workshop Program Chairman for the Ellen Taylor Foundation, Director for the Hall of Fame Foundation, and current President of the Junior Shag Association.

Currently, Garrett is a NeuroPsych Specialist for Neurocrine Biosciences and resides in Columbia, SC with his husband, Jordan Humphries.

Garrett is dancing with Naida Rutherford!

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