Clogging: What It Takes To Perform It to Perfection?

Clogging is largely associated with foot-stomping, and is one of the shoots of Folk dancing. Musical synchronization of sounds with dancer’s feet is a key element of clogging. In the beginning, bluegrass was the popular music for clogging that went smoothly with all the foot shuffling, stomping, and tapping. But today’s pacey lifestyle have settled for an even pacier form of clogging with teenagers in particular getting more precise with their moves. 

No matter what people say, it is a precise dance form

Elementally, it involves a double-toe tap done with one of the wooden clog. It is started with the left foot by breezing the left toe to and fro, making a continuous ‘tap-tap’ sound. Immediately following that the same sound is made with balls of the left foot, and again stepping onto the balls of right foot, thus repeating the movement again and again.  All in all, the basic step must be remembered, left-toe-tap-forward, left-toe-tap-backward, left-step-ball, right-step-ball, left-step-ball.

Once the Dancers master of art of not putting too much weight on the feet while doing the steps, they can easily shift to trying out their own variations. With a better body balance and flexibility of knees, one can even go for a longer freestyle routines too. The best part is its versatility which allows to perform it solo, with a partner, or in a troupe.

It must be noted that the initial double-toe tap can also be done with heels, being followed in certain parts of the country. The basic flow of movements remain the same, with a slight difference of replacing the toe-tap with heel tap. As heel-tap-forward, toe-tap-backward, step-ball, step-ball, step-ball and so forth.

It can be done almost anywhere

It will be fair to say that the contemporary form of clogging is pretty much location independent. It can be performed anywhere, out in the country, villages, cities, or towns. But when it comes to the surface, it should be fairly hard. The modern clogging is very organized and is done mostly within local groups under the guidance of certified instructors. 

For the purpose of practice and rehearsals, schools, gymnasiums, churches, civic centers, ballrooms, and even garages are effectively utilized by the local groups. Membership includes all ages and types, both adults and youngsters. The members of the groups are no spring chickens, but have reasonable experience at a competitive level too, as regularly participate in regional clogging events. 

Also, the regions where clogging enjoys a lot of popularity, the local dancers randomly collaborates without any formal organization. These people spring up at community parks, or county fairs, where wooden clogs for women and men, a portable wooden clogging floor, and clogging music are arranged. These are mostly open events welcoming both dancers and non-dancers, with guitarists, or a banjo player joining in.