Clogging

          In today’s culture, not many think of clogging as a form of dance. When I hear the word “clogging,” I think of people with pastel colored patchwork skirts with the long flowing woven shirts and the wooden shoes with pointy toes. The clogging clothing reminds me of Appalachia and the stereotypical style of clothes most people wore. Although Clogging is rarely used for things such as dance competitions today, clogging was a common part of Appalachian culture during the 1700s.

          Clogging was a common cultural hobby in the 1700s. It was introduced by the Irish, English, and Scottish that settled in the Southern Appalachian mountain area. Though we call it clogging today, some more common names for it were “jigging, flat-footing, buck dancing, and foot-stomping.” There was no real correct way of clogging back then. Everyone had their own personal touches to make it into their own form of dance, but joined with others to dance to the same sort of music. It once was an individual dance, but as it grew more popular people did it together to where it seemed more like a square dance. Clogging is similar to tap except how in clogging the heel emphasizes the downbeat. The typical music they danced to while clogging was bluegrass.

          Today, Clogging is not used in the same context as it was in the 1700s. Clogging has become a dance for groups to travel and make into competitions. The only people I know who listen to bluegrass anymore are hillbillies. Clogging is done today to much more modern music. In today’s society, precision clogging is what the dance is called. Precision clogging is different in the sense all the dancers do the same steps at the same time.

          Although you hear about clogging as if it was something everyone did on a Friday night in the 1700s, I never hear about anyone clogging in modern day. I feel like tap dance is the new clogging. I hear clogging is harder which might be why more people have switched to clogging. I used to take tap, and I think tap and clogging both take a lot of preciseness in the sense of not getting off beat. Once you’re off beat, it’s hard to continue on with the dance. I don’t really see clogging making a comeback anytime soon.

-M