What is Clogging?
Clogging is truly an American art form and very much a part of our heritage. It began in the Appalachian Mountains brought to America by Irish, Scottish, English, and Dutch Germans who settled there in the 1700s. Our Native Americans, African Americans, as well as Canadian, tap, and jazz influences have added to form the style of clogging so popular today. The word “clog” means “time” in Gaelic. It is one of the few dances considered a sport. Combinations of heel and toe movements accompany the music in a lively and rhythmic high stepping dance.
Many people think clogging is a dance performed in wooden shoes, but cloggers actually wear taps. Tap shoes have a single tap attached to the toe and heel. Clogging taps have another piece riveted to that piece, therefore considered “double taps” and make more of a “jangle” sound. Clogging differs from tap dancing in one basic way. In clogging, the heel keeps the downbeat.
