The time arrived to pack up the Mighty Cruze and head north to Mansfield, Ohio for the first clogging workshop of the year!
I arrived Friday afternoon in time to experience one of Mansfield’s major attractions:
Richland Carrousel Park opened in 1991, and was recently closed briefly for maintenance work. It looked all shiny and new!
As we continue “chugging” into a new year of clogging, Fancy Free took time to honor the accomplishments and special moments of 2019 with our annual awards banquet.
This event was once tied to the Christmas party, but has morphed into a celebration to look forward to after the holidays are done. Plus, it gives us an excuse to eat twice!
We gathered together in late January (minus a few out sick, because ‘tis the season) to carry on the tradition.
Clog Camp 2019 at Fancy Free Studio has it all: Halloween theme, dance studio sleepover, toilet paper toss, team spirit, dance-off, and so much more.
This annual event is not what you might expect. We don’t spend the whole weekend dancing, and non-cloggers are heartily welcomed. It’s more of a team-building and bonding weekend, although previous years have included campers from Chillicothe Dance and the Riverside Cloggers.
Fancy Free Cloggers paid a visit to our West Virginia “sister team” to perform at the 2019 Mothman Festival. Many thanks to Riverside Cloggers for inviting us to share this fun show with you!
Paid parking at nearby Krodel Park approached capacity by midmorning Saturday. Word is out about this cool festival! Don’t bother waiting in the shuttle line if you can walk the distance to Main Street; enjoy this mural, chuckle at the name “Piggly Wiggly” as you stroll past the grocery store, and try to cross the street with folks pushing strollers. Traffic will stop for a stroller. For me, not so much.
Do you prefer your bridges natural, broken, bouncy, or with cow? Fancy Free Cloggers encountered ALL of these during our annual Hoedown Island visit!
For those who have never been, Hoedown Island is located within Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade, Kentucky. Jane Bolin hosts fun dances every Saturday night during the season, which runs May - October. Hoedown Island regulars and visitors alike can partake in clogging, two-stepping, line dancing, the Virginia reel, and even the Hokey Pokey!
Fancy Free Cloggers traveled to Maggie Valley, NC for our first competition of the year. Things have changed a bit since we last clogged at the Stompin’ Ground; Shindig in the Valley is now part of the United Clogging Association circuit. This means a different rule set, different group of competitors, and a new vibe.
Still recovering from Smoky Mountain Encore, I made a much shorter drive to Columbus, Ohio for a rare opportunity hosted by the Yellow Rose Cloggers.
One Day Only: Clog with Josh provided a rare opportunity to learn from Josh King, an acclaimed clogging instructor who originally hails from Texas but will soon be returning with his family to Melbourne, Australia.
Even if you don’t know his name, you probably know some of his choreography. Does “All Shook Up” ring a bell?
Smoky Mountain Encore workshop in Gatlinburg, TN is a favorite for Fancy Free Cloggers. Many non-dancing family members tag along to enjoy a mini vacation while we clog our feet off. Our young dancers were particularly excited about this year’s Disney theme and the chance to dress up as princesses in the show.
Regarding phone games, I haven’t progressed beyond Words with Friends. Shout out to high school classmate Aaron, my toughest opponent! However, a screenshot from Fancy Free Clogger Dustin expanded my gaming repertoire at least temporarily to include Homescapes.
Why? The game contains a surprise clogging reference!
