WHAT IS APPALACHIAN CLOGGING?

In the early eighteenth century, English, German and Scots-Irish pioneers settled in the Appalachian Mountains. Because of the isolation of those mountains and 'hollers,' the music, song and dance of that community developed in unique ways.

Appalachian clogging, also known as flatfooting, is the percussive stepdancing that accompanies old-time southern music. The two main influences were the Irish and Scottish steps the pioneers carried with them from their home places and dance steps they learned from the native tribes in the area. The intricate rhythms come from the European heritage while the sense of dancer sitting back on her heels comes from the native influence.

WHERE DID THE NAME "CLOGGING" COME FROM?

Appalachian clog dancers do not actually wear wooden clogs. Nobody really knows the true answer to this, but I've been told that "clog" is originally the gaelic word for "time," which would mean time dancing.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAPE BRETON, FRENCH CANADIAN, AND IRISH STEP DANCING?

Good question! Cape Breton, French Canadian, and Irish stepdancing are close relatives but each with a unique style.

Irish stepdancing, as we know it today (a la Riverdance), has become more and more regulated over time due to competitions. It started in a much simpler form that we call today "sean nos" or "old style" which is much closer to the floor, highly improvisational, and highly self-expressive. Some people still do the old style today. Modern competition style is highly formalized with very intricate and fast steps. Modern dancers stand up stiffly, not moving their arms or upper bodies at all. The focus is not just on the feet but on the legs, providing a lightness and grace as the dancer jumps through the air. The legs are crossed, the feet are turned out, and the dancers are very high up on their toes. They dance to reels, jigs, slip jigs, hornpipes and set dances.

Tiny Cape Breton island is part of Nova Scotia, Canada. Cape Breton stepdance is a solo hardshoe dance form. Free of the restraints of competition, the steps are close to the floor, improvisational, musical, and self-expressive. Cape Breton dancers have looser arms than the Irish cousins as well as a "broken ankle" move that makes the dancers look like they have rubber ankles. They stand on the balls of their feet with their heels just off the floor. They dance reels and strathspeys, with a few jig steps.

French Canadian stepdancing has strong roots in the old styles of Irish dancing that were fit to match the style of music in French Canada. It, too, is fairly close to the floor with looser arms and straight body, on the balls of the feet, just off the heel. French Canadian step has a "double shuffle" move that you don't find in the other two forms. They dance to reels, jigs, hornpipes, and waltzes. Ottawa Valley stepdancing is the more competitive style with flashier, fast, high-off-the ground steps.