The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #62012   Message #1000217
Posted By: GUEST,Sharon G
11-Aug-03 - 10:09 AM
Thread Name: Folklore: English Clog Dancing/ Clogging
Subject: RE: Folklore: English Clog Dancing/ Clogging
My very good friend does Appalachian style clogging (not the precision style, but more of the free-form "flat-footing" style) Through our interest in Irish music and our childrens' participation in Irish step dancing, we've come into contact with several people who have commented on her clogging: "that's just like what my grandmother/grandfather used to do". Including the looser stance and movement in the arms- unlike the stiff upper body and motionless arms expected in competitive step dancing.

In particular, one of the judges at a feis (Irish dance competition) took a great deal of interet in seeing a demonstration of her clogging. He was   probably 60-70 years old, and noted the similarity with a grandparent- not just in the steps, but in the way that the steps were not restricted to choreographed 8 bar sections as they are in contemporary step dancing.

I'm sure she could add more, but I'm not sure if she's going to be available to a computer to jump in on this topic...