1. North Carolina’s Official State Folk Dance
Clogging
North Carolina’s Official State Folk Dance

2. Origins
People who settled in the Appalachian Mountains in western NC came from many different backgrounds
African,
European (mostly English, Irish, and Scottish)
Those cultures brought their own dances and then they mixed together to form clogging.

3. African Dance Influence
Poly-rhythms
Percussive music and steps
African Rhythms video

4. European Influence Irish step dancing and other dances similar to it
Little use of arm movements
Major use of feet and leg movements
Riverdance

5. Beginnings of Clogging in NC
Late 1800s –
Closely resembles Irish dancing (many residents were still 1st or 2nd generation European)
Men's Clog Competition 1890s

6. Established Mountain Dance Form
Early to Mid 1900s – (1950-ish)
Well known dance among residents, performed for fun and is firmly a part of the Appalachian culture
Has elements of square dance, partner dance, done to guitar, banjo, country/folk music
Clog Dancing on the Porch - Buncomb County, NC

7. Becoming a Performance Art
Mid-1900s (1960-ish) –
Adding elements of performance to the dance form
Adding formations, unison movements, rehearsed and polished instead of improvised
Blue Ridge Mountain Dancers

8. Performing Dance form
Rest of 1900s to Present – uses country/folk music or popular country music
Closely resembles tap dance
Uses “jingle taps” on shoes
NC State clogging team - folk music
NC State clogging team - country music

9. Expanding Our Horizons
Present day – clogging steps are being mixed with different types of music to expand the popularity and reach cultures outside of the South
All That male clogging group on TV