Clogging
Clogging is a true American folk dance whose roots are buried deep
in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains which runs through the eastern
states of Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia. The
word "clog" is Gaelic for "time". (Gaelic is an ancient Irish and Scottish dialect). Clog dancing, therefore, is "time" dancing, with the heel being the time keeper.
Clogging of old was done impromptu to the foot tapping blue grass music that also has its roots in the Appalachians. As clogging slowly moved out of the mountains to the flatlands, special taps were added to give the dance its distinctive sound. In the last 20 years, clogging has become increasingly popular in areas far removed from the Appalachians, including Louisiana, Texas, Utah, California and Florida as well as numerous other countries around the world.
Precision clogging (all dancers doing the same step at the same time) seems to be the most popular form of clogging in Australia today. In this style of clogging, set routines are danced to a specific piece of music and a cuer instructs the dancers what steps to do next. Taps are worn on the bottom of the shoes - these were added in the late 1970's to provide the distinctive clogging sound.
Since clogging is a form of folk dancing, individual expression is encouraged. That means that there is no right or wrong way to clog. Individuals can vary the amount of energy they expend depending on their age and fitness level. It is a fun, enjoyable, challenging and healthy activity for people of all ages.
