Clogging is an American rhythmic dance in which the feet produce sounds to accompany the beat of the music. It is differentiated from other percussive step dance by the up and down movement of the body. The body is down with bent knees on the step (on the down beat) and it is up with straight legs on the up beat, also called the off beat (the beats in between the down beats). This is the general pattern in clogging, but more complex steps may deviate from this pattern.
Clogging is built around the shuffle (two sounds from your toe), the step (dropping your weight onto a flat foot) and the rock (stepping on the ball of your foot). It also frequently uses brushes and chugs. A brush is a single sound from either the heel or toe; the heel as your foot moves forward and the toe as your foot moves backward. A chug is an up or down movement of the body produced by a slight backwards hop that raises you up on the balls of your feet, followed by a slight forward movement that drops your weight down on your flat feet. Another style within Appalachian clogging is 'flat footing' which is based on the walking step (see below).
Old-time dance music has a rhythmic melody, traditionally provided by a fiddle and/or banjo. For more about old-time music go to http://mikeseeger.info . Standard tunes are counted in 8 beat sections. The beats that are the numbers (1, 2, etc.) are the down beats on which your body goes down on a step. The beats in between are counted as "and" (& 1 & 2, etc.), these are the up beats when your body goes up (as on a rock or a shuffle). A shuffle is two sounds, the first on the upbeat and the second just after (your toe goes forward then back). The shuffle would be counted "and a" before the one ( & a 1 ). A completely subdivided beat would be "and a 1 e" (& a 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e, etc.).
For example, two consecutive shuffle steps (singles) would be counted as follows:
& a 1 & a 2 shuffle step shuffle step
To accomplish this you would have to alternate feet (stand with your weight on the left foot while your right foot shuffles slightly to the front, then step putting your weight on your right foot). Your left foot is now free to shuffle. Then step on your left foot so that your right foot is free to shuffle:
& a 1 & a 2 Right shuffle step, Left shuffle step
When you step, place your foot beside your other foot at about the instep. The foot that will shuffle next is actually being raised simultaneous to the step. Think about how you walk. You don't put one foot securely down before raising the other foot. When walking fast there is a moment when both feet are off the ground.
A shuffle step rock step is a set of movements called "the basic". It takes two beats of music and would be counted: & a 1 & 2. To accomplish this you would again alternate feet. Start on your right foot and shuffle step as described above, but instead of shuffling, step on the ball of your left foot. Step either beside your other foot, or slightly back, raising your body upward. Then drop your weight on your right foot (after the basic your left foot is free to shuffle):
Right Basic & a 1 & 2 Right shuffle step, Left rock, Right step Left Basic & a 3 & 4 Left shuffle step, Right rock, Left step
It may look confusing written out, but you'll feel it when you dance.
Clogging steps can be done in place with your upper body remaining stationary, as when dancing on a clogging board, or while travelling around the dance space. Clogging is a very loose, relaxed form of dance. Your hands and arms can hang loosely at your sides or be used to give a look of energy to steps, especially those involving jumps. The hands and arms should not be held rigidly. Women wearing skirts can swish them with their hands to add more visual movement. Performance dance, either group dance doing figures or solo dance, relies upon visual appeal, however, clogging is percussive dance and the sound should not be sacrificed for the visual.
R = Right foot L = Left foot Single = Shuffle step (on same foot)
& a 1 & a 2 R shuffle R step L shuffle L step
& a 1 & 2
Right Basic R single, L rock, R step
& a 1 & 2
Left Basic L single, R rock, L step
& a 1 & a 2 & a 3 & 4
Right Triple R single, L single, R single, L rock, R step
& a 1 & a 2 & a 3 & 4
Left Triple L single, R single, L single, R rock, L step
& a 1 & a 2 & 3 & 4
Right Fancy Double R single, L single, R rock, L step, R rock, L step
& a 1 & a 2 & 3 & 4
Left Fancy Double L single, R single, L rock, R step, L rock, R step
Chugs
Forward chug: A small slide forward dropping on a flat foot with a bent knee.
Backward chug: A small slightly airborne hop backward landing on the ball of the foot while the body pulls up on a straight leg.
Double Chugs (Chugs on both feet, forward on downbeat, back on upbeat)
Chug forward (feet straight to front), chug back (feet are straight to front)
Variations on Double Chugs
Point feet diagonally to right side on forward chug, chug back
Point feet diagonally to left side on forward chug, chug back
Point left and right feet diagonally out, chug back
Point toes in, chug back
Heel An easier alternative to a chug. Heels can be substituted in some steps by dropping your weight straight down on your heel.
Heel brush The heel hits as the leg goes forward and up, lifting at the knee.
& a 1 & a 2 & a 3 & 4
Right Bertha R single, L single, R single, L heel brush, R chug
& a 1 & a 2 & a 3 & 4
Left Bertha L single, R single, L single, R heel brush, L chug
& 1 & 2 &a3&4
Right Eddy L brush back, R chug, L brush forward, R chug, L basic
& 1 & 2 &a3&4
Left Eddy R brush back, L chug, R brush forward, L chug, R basic
Right Kick the Can (left foot chugs) & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 Brush to left, chug, brush to right, chug, brush left, chug, brush right, chug Left Kick the Can (right foot chugs) & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 Brush to right, chug, brush to left, chug, brush right, chug, brush left, chugVariations on Kick the Can include slapping your foot with your hand or the first two brushes being in front of your body and the last two in back. Keeping the knee of the swinging leg stable improves the step.
Right Wagon Wheel (Right lower leg swings in a circular motion behind body.) & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 R circle, L chug, R circle, L chug, R circle, L chug, R circle, L chug Left wagon wheel (Left lower leg swings in a circular motion behind your body.) & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 L circle, R chug, L circle, R chug, L circle, R chug, L circle, R chugVariations on the Wagon Wheel
The Indian can be started on either by stepping on the downbeat or chugging back on the upbeat.
1 & 2 & & 1 & 2
R step, chug back, chug forward, chug back or R chug, chug, chug, step
3 & 4 & & 3 & 4
L step, chug back, chug forward, chug back or L chug, chug, chug, step
Walking steps can be done while travelling forward, as the name implies, or done in place with the upper body remaining stationary. After the step is mastered, try crossing your feet to the front each time. The toe should hit in the front center stepping into the space vacated by the chugging foot.
Two Sound Walking Step (Pull step)Start with your weight on one foot. Chug back on that foot, on the up beat. Step putting your weight on the other foot, on the down beat. Then chug back on the newly weight bearing foot and step on the opposite foot (&1&2....). Both knees are straight on the chug and bent on the step. The knee of the non-chugging leg is bent and raised in front during the chug.
Three Sound Walking StepThe body goes up and down as in the two sound walking step. Start on the chug back and add a toe brush back with your free leg, between the chug and the step (&a1 &a2....). Your body is still up on the toe brush. The knee of the free leg is bent and raised up in front during the chug back. While the knee is dropping the toe is brushed on the floor. Then step on a flat foot.
Four Sound Walking Step (Tennessee Walking Step)A fourth sound is added after the step, and before the chug, by brushing the heel of your free leg as it moves forward (&a1e&a2e....). (Your body is still down, knee slightly bent, on the heel brush.)
FlatfootingFlatfooting and clogging are two names for the same American percussive dance form, but there are stylistic differences between them. There are also many differences of opinion about what are the differences between clogging, flatfooting and buck dance. As well as many different names for the same steps. Clogging and flatfooting are choreographed into routines but both remain in essence a solo dance form. Some dancers blend styles. No matter which name or style is used, each dancer ultimately creates their own unique style. The folowing are the opinions of Cross Creek Clogger Eleta Sucsy in regard to clogging and flatfooting styles.
Clogging relies upon the shuffle step, the single, as the essential part of its sound. Clogging tends to emphasize large more showy steps raising the feet high. The up and down movement of the body is more noticeable. Flatfooting "flattens out" the up and down movement of the body. It keeps the feet low to the ground (this can be interpreted very strictly). However, the heart of the difference between clogging and flatfooting is the absence, or limited use, of the shuffle. One form of flatfooting replaces the shuffle with a chug back. The sound of the core rythm changes from &a1 &a2... into & 1 & 2 .... The integration of the walking step adds in more beats, changing the core rythm from & 1 & 2... into &a1e&a2e. All styles, of course, use a variety of steps varying the rhythmic patterns. Buck dancing is yet another name that tends to be applied to a flatfooting style integrating the alternating heel toe heel toe (pitter patter) into clogging steps like the Basic. It can also describe the replacement of the toe toe shuffle with a heel toe shuffle.
I hope this helps whoever wants to learn this fun, entertaining and dynamic type of dance! --Eleta Sucsy
Warning: Clogging is a strenuous excercise that is not recommended for the frail and weak, pregnant women, and people with heart conditions, back problems or other serious medical conditions. Please contact a medical professional before starting a clogging program.