Clogging is a fun and energetic form of American folk dance. We wear shoes similar to tap shoes, but with a double metal tap. The dance form has roots in Irish, Scottish, African, and Native American folk dances. (Modern tap dance is a descendant of clogging!) Clogging developed in the Appalachian Mountains and evolved alongside bluegrass music. Today we clog to any kind of music, from bluegrass to pop, and American clogging has spread all over the world, from Australia to the Czech Republic! Clogging has strong social community, and anyone is welcome to join in and be a part of the fun. In this workshop, you will learn some basic steps and general body movements for clogging, such as basic, triple, chug, and drag-slide. (No special shoes are required to try clogging!)
Sarah Dwight-Gilroy says, “I started tap dancing when I was around ten years old, and I’ve loved percussive dance ever since. I was introduced to clogging in 2009 when a tap dance festival I was attending offered a clogging workshop. I loved it right away, and clogging is now a huge part of my life. I’m on the board of the Northern California Cloggers Association (NCCA) and lead three clogging groups around the Bay Area: The Lonely Juanas (in San Francisco), Mussel Rock Cloggers (in San Francisco), and Silicon Valley Stompers (in Mountain View). I’ve taught at workshops and conventions around California, as well as at the 2014 CLOG National Convention in Reno, Nevada. I became a Ceritified Clogging Instructor (CCI) in November 2016 after passing the written and practical tests at the 2016 CLOG National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. I love the positivity and friendliness of the clogging community, and I love to share my passion for clogging with other people!”