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Intro to Clog Dancing
featured in the Morning Star
newspaper, Vernon!
We thank the Morning Star
newspaper of Vernon
for an advance article about
our Intro to Clog Dancing
in the city that took place
back in 2016 on Sun. Dec. 18.
They published the details in
their Fri. Dec. 16
issue under the headline
"Rhythmic Tapping will
Soon Echo in Vernon."
We had over 15 new dancers
attend to try clogging!
Many saw us in the
Okanagan Sunday newspaper
back in March of 2016!
We thank the Daily Courier's
Okanagan Sunday publication
for a great photo spread on
page A-3 of their Sunday
March 13, 2016 edition!
It profiled the previous day's
"Intro to Clog Dancing" event
that was held in West Kelowna.
See the fun that we had in
13 pictures found in the
newspaper's "Photo Gallery"
at the following link:
ABOUT THE
CLUB
We teach and enjoy
the contemporary, precision style
of modern clogging.
It's a true North American folk dance!
All ages can learn to clog.
No previous experience necessary.
Dancers bring their own drinking water.
Our regular dance season
fee is a very reasonable
$10 per lesson.
Clogging Definition:
A percussive, high energy dance
usually performed in shoes
with double taps to live cues
and a wide variety of music.
Wonderfully rhythmic & great fun!
The club offers beginner,
intermediate and advanced levels
of clogging at various venues
in the Okanagan Valley
For reference, here's how
our programs looked
in recent years:
Vernon
FALL PROGRAM
Monday sessions
Beginners - 6:00 pm
Easy level dancers - 7:00 pm
Intermediate dancers - 8:00 pm
Location:
Halina Centre, 3310 37th Ave.
West Kelowna
Saturdays in West Kelowna
we conduct sessions for
cloggers accomplished at the
"intermediate plus" level,
9:30 to 11:00 am.
Location:
Westside Senior
Citizens Activity Centre,
3661 Old Okanagan Highway.
Drop in and watch the fun!
Peachland
In April, 2016, we began
new clogger sessions
Wednesdays at 6 pm in the
Peachland 50 Plus Activity Centre.
Those dancers have graduated to
the next "easy intermediate" level.
"Advanced" dancers follow them
at 7 pm.
Drop in and watch the fun!
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
Your shoes must have backs--
no slides, crocs, etc.
The dancers wear double (or jingle)
stainless steel taps on their shoes
but only after completing their
new dancer sessions.
Once upon a time,
cloggers wore wooden shoes.
When you're ready to slip into shoes
with double taps, we have a selection
of taps that glue to your shoe.
Alternatively, you can order new
from Susan Woods of
Rocky Mountain
Clogging Supply, based in Moyie,
just south of Cranbrook, B.C.
Shoes can be purchased with
or without the taps.
Web links:
When new dancer sessions are underway,
we start you off by teaching the
beginner level in a 10 to 12 week program.
After that, you advance to a level of your choice.
It's a progressive dance form where you advance
as your abilities and comfort level increase.
Go all the way to the challenge level
if you've got the energy!
INTERESTED?
If you're interested in learning to clog,
pop into one of our active venues
& watch for awhile:
West Kelowna--Saturday mornings
Westside Senior
Citizens Activity Centre,
3661 Old Okanagan Highway.
9:30 to 11:00 am -
"Intermediate Plus" level.
Peachland--Wednesday evenings
50 Plus Activity Centre,
5672 Beach Avenue.
6:00 - Easy Intermediate Clogging
7:00 - Advanced Clogging
Vernon--Monday evenings
Halina Centre,
3310 37th Avenue, Vernon
6:00 - New clog dancer lessons
7:00 - Easy level Clogging
8:00 - Intermediate Clogging
For more information about the sessions,
contact:
Lynda Colautti, CCI
Kelowna, BC
Instructor/Club Leader/Clogging Caller
Mobile: 250-718-3088
Questions?
Select by clicking on an index topic:
What exactly is taught as you start clogging?
What benefits are there in clogging?
Describe the various styles of clogging
Just how social is clogging as an activity?
To exactly what levels can a dancer advance?
About the Instructor/Club Leader/Clogging Caller
What exactly is taught as you start clogging?
As a newcomer, you'll learn the rhythm of the dance,
double toes and all of the beginner steps. There will
be lots of review and practice to facilitate proper
execution and reduce frustration.
What benefits are there in clogging?
As well as having a lot of fun learning and a social
time out, there are many health benefits to derive
from clogging. Many students say they have lost a
few pounds & improved their cardio-vascular system.
They develop a better overall sense of well-being.
Clogging helps to keep you physically and mentally fit.
Describe the various styles of clogging
Clogging is done in a variety of styles but most cloggers
dance in the contemporary precision style. They do gain
knowledge, though, of performing the traditional,
freestyle, flatfoot or buck styles.
The following describes each style:
Contemporary Precision
Performed in unison to choreographed dance routines
Traditional
Performed in figures, similar to square dancing
Freestyle
Wide open--the dancers perform their own
choice of steps
Flatfooting
The dancers keep their feet close to the floor
and shuffle their steps
Buck
The dancers add extra toe and heel
taps to each step
Just how social is clogging as an activity?
Clogging is very social. You get to spend time
every week dancing with your new friends.
Sometimes there's a special "party night."
Also, a number of times during the year, other
clogging groups in other cities will hold a workshop.
If you participate in one of those, you'll
meet lots of other cloggers from all over the
continent and enjoy dancing with them.
To exactly what
levels can a clog dancer advance?
Following the Beginner level of instruction, you
can progress next to Easy Intermediate. There,
new steps are introduced and a larger variety
of music is enjoyed. A greater emphasis
is put upon learning to turn and
move the steps in different directions.
Then you can move on to Intermediate--
the most comfortable level for most dancers.
You learn many more new steps, some of which
are of increasing difficulty. It is at this level
that you learn the different clogging styles.
Advanced introduces more intricate steps
including how to make four distinct sounds
to one beat of music.
The Challenge level in clogging is generally
taught at workshops and the steps there are...
well--unbelievable!
Are there videos to see cloggers in action?
Yes, YouTube has many videos showing clogging.
Got 2 B Cloggin teacher, Lynda Colautti,
says that her favourite instructor is Eric Bice.
In the following video, he's seen on stage at a
2013 Texas clogging rally, dancing
solo without music:
Here are links to videos of clogging
exhibition groups that show just
how entertaining clogging can be:
Clog America, USA
About the Instructor/Club Leader/Clogging Caller
Lynda Colautti has clogging in her blood.
Through careful study and practice, she
has attained the status of
Certified Clogging Instructor (CCI).
She started clogging in the early 1990's
in Victoria under the tutelage of the
talented clog dance leader, Susan Woods.
She began to assist Susan teaching dancers
at Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island.
When Susan moved away from the area,
Lynda took over the class despite only having
about 6 months of clogging activity.
Gaining further experience in both B.C.
and Ontario, in 2011 she wrote exams in
clog dance teaching, doing the practical
portion in the state of Texas.
Contact Information:
Lynda Colautti, CCI
Kelowna, BC
Instructor/Club Leader/Clogging Caller
Cell: 250-718-3088
This web page is produced by the
Communications & Marketing branch
of the Okanagan Square & Round Dance Assn.
in conjunction with the site host,
the British Columbia Square & Round Dance Federation