Clogging Club Taps Into Fun Of Keeping Fit

What do you get when you mix one part tap dancing and a little bit of Irish? Why Clogging of course, and sometimes you may hear of it being called Hillbilly Tap.

Clogging is described as an expressive style of American dance with origins in the folk dances of the British Isles, Africa and pre-Columbian America. Settlers in the American South took elements of these styles to form a unique American dance style, Appalachian clog dance.

In New Zealand this originated after a Square Dance convention when an American couple did a demonstration. This enthused many of the ladies to start a group. Six clubs were formed ranging from Auckland to Invercargill. Tapes were used and videos sent from Auckland to the clubs for learning dances.

A Clogging group has been formed in Hawkes Bay , meeting at the Clive Hall on Monday mornings. This is a great hall, having tongue and groove flooring with chipboard so you get the sound and the buoyance needed for this dancing.

There are a few basic advantages to Clogging. You don’t have to learn the dance, just basic steps, and we expand from these. You don’t need a partner, it is all done in lines.

Steps are choreographed to the beat of the music, with the cuer standing at the front of the group, having their back to the dancers. The steps are cued and demonstrated for them to follow.

There is no competition whatsoever. There are no exams, its easy for people - women, men and all ages. We do this for fitness and the enjoyment of music and dance. And we make some good friendships.

You dance in casual clothing, with soft soled shoes and if after dancing a few classes you can purchase the taps to be glued to the soles. The soft sole should be able to bend.

Sometimes if we all get going, the sound of the taps overtakes the music, which then has to be turned up.

We can be silly, but have fun – it doesn’t have to be serious.

Click here to start clogging: Clogging! (linkandlearn.nz)