We have reasons to be thankful about many aspects of our lives! This being a clogging blog and all, here are 7 dance-related reasons for an attitude of gratitude:
The clogging team that stays together, um, stays together...
On a recent trip to Chicago, my clogging team tried something new for accommodations: Airbnb!
We normally do the hotel thing, sharing rooms to cut down on cost. That works fine, but we aren't all together, we're usually cramped in a small room, etc.
During the planning process for this trip, one of my teammates spoke up about her experience with Airbnb. She offered to research options through that service.
Five clogging steps that feel WRONG on the right foot.
Why is it that certain clogging steps NEVER start on the right foot? It isn't a matter of difficulty; advanced cloggers are expected to perform pullbacks bilaterally, but most will hesitate when asked to perform these easier steps on the opposite foot!
Next dance class, challenge your teammates to give these steps a try on the right:
Clogger's Dictionary: Ripple (noun)
Today's vocabulary word is an element seen in many clogging routines: the ripple! Synonyms are not frequently used in this context, but could include a wave or a progressive movement.
Here's my official definition:
Ripple (noun): A movement performed by different dancers at different times to add visual and/or auditory interest to a routine.
Clogging for a cause: Diabetes Dance Dare!
Have you heard about the Diabetes Dance Dare? If not, let's get you caught up - it is all the rage with cloggers who want to support a good cause!
According to the American Diabetes Association, someone in the United States is diagnosed with diabetes every 23 seconds. The dare is to post a video of yourself dancing for 23 seconds, make a donation to the association, and challenge 3 others to do the same.
Celebrities such as Shaq and Usher have created videos in support of the campaign, but I honestly never heard of this challenge until Kay Trimm and the Clog Wild Cloggers posted a video and challenged fellow cloggers to support the cause!
Clogging Competition BINGO!
The girl with the clogging tattoo: Erica
How much do you love clogging? Enough to get a clogging tattoo? For Erica Haning, director of the Riverside Cloggers, the answer is YES!
This is Erica's second tattoo. Her brother previously worked in a tattoo shop, and he applied her first ink. She was so pleased with his work, she enlisted his services once again during a recent visit to his home in Florida.
Bad Moon Rising - national dance list/fun dance challenge update
Clogger's Dictionary: Sweat towel (noun)
Favorite quirky place to clog: Mothman Festival!
While I enjoy clogging at fall festivals in general, I have a special love of the quirky ones. The kind where people watching is every bit as fun as the sanctioned events. Mothman Festival in West Virginia tops my list!
This show isn't even my team's gig; Riverside Cloggers (our "sister team") hails from Point Pleasant, and they always invite Fancy Free Cloggers to join one of their performances. Please keep inviting us!
What color clogging shoes should you wear today? A clogging quiz!
How you feel while clogging vs how you actually look...
Clogging feels awesome! I am bouncy and energetic and full of confidence as I make lots of noise with my taps! THEN, someone displays photos or video of my performance and ruins it all...
Okay, it doesn't really ruin things; it helps you perform better in the future. It's just SO awkward and painful in the moment.
All That! and a trip to the beach.
Myrtle Beach, SC. Friday, July 15, 2016. Section B, Row 4, Seat 13. My vacation became way more awesome with a ticket to see All That! at the Carolina Opry!
I saw All That! perform in their "home" theater once before - the last time Dieter held his Beach Jam competition - but the audience was full of cloggers. What would it be like on a "normal" summer night?
Clogger's Dictionary: Clogging director (noun)
This is probably the toughest entry Clogger's Dictionary has tackled to date: clogging director. Common synonyms include clogging teacher, clogging instructor, clogging coach, etc. All of these terms are woefully inadequate as a job description, but they do at least fit on the back of a tee shirt...
Perks and perils of clogging to live music.
For most of us, the typical clogging performance includes bringing music of our own. Predictable music. Exactly as practiced. Always sounds the same (with the exception of music technology glitches).
Sometimes, cloggers get to perform with live music instead! This brings a special level of fun and challenge!
What's the big idea? Give your teammate's clogging idea a chance!
Not every suggestion for a clogging routine is a great one. Sometimes, an idea that shows promise is just not right, due to a lack of time or other resources. Other times, only one team member has a vision for a particular plan, so it quietly dies.
The next time that happens, hear the clogger out! Otherwise, you could miss an amazing adventure.
I only recently learned this lesson.
Here's what this clogger is currently...
It's August! What's going on in the life and times of cloggers right now?
(Share your update in the comments - let's have fun with this!)
Here's what THIS clogger is currently...
Learning:
"Bad" - choreography by teammate Dustin.
"Work" - choreography by teammate Sabrena.
"Bad Moon Rising" - choreography by Steve Smith (routine from the CLOG National Dance List.) Working on my national dance list/fun dance challenge!
Calls for our new competition hoedown!
Excited about:
In search of clogging at Jungle Jim's...
Folks who participate in other sports have no problem randomly finding items related to their hobbies. Soccer, basketball, football - there is STUFF everywhere! Clogging? Not so much!
My mother-in-law and nephew are visiting from Florida this week, and one of our activities was a trip to Jungle Jim's International Market in Cincinnati, OH. I decided to go on a search for clogging-related merchandise!
Clogger's Dictionary: Practice (verb)
Signs you are maturing as a competition clogger...
Those healthy enough and lucky enough to compete as cloggers into adulthood know that the game changes with time. (Not necessarily a bad thing.) Here are 10 signs that may indicate you are THERE:
10. All costumes must be planned around your most supportive bra - no exceptions!
9. On competition day, the timing of your Aleve/Tylenol dosage is considered crucial strategy.