Last Thursday night, a group of Czech Cloggers came to Brasstown. Chitter and Chatter’s clogging team-The John C. Campbell Folk School Cloggers had been anticipating their arrival for the last few weeks.
Both groups were to perform in The Keith House at the folk school. My girls were a little nervous-I mean some of the Czechs didn’t even speak English-and if they were professional cloggers-wouldn’t they think the JCCFS team was a little silly?
So how did the night turn out? Wonderful.
There was a totally amazing waltz clog with jump ropes routine.
Chatter, Chitter, and another clogger brought the house down with a new routine they’ve recently learned. (they learned it for Berea-so hopefully I can video it at the festival and show you later)
The Czechs clogging ability went above and beyond anything we could have imagined-as you can see they even seemed to float in mid air part of the time. And if I do say so myself-The JCCFS Clogging Team out did themselves on every routine as well.
After the performance was over, Jan-the leader of the Czech Team said he wanted both teams to do a dance together. He explained-if he called the moves in Czech the folk school cloggers wouldn’t understand him-but if he called the moves in English-his own cloggers wouldn’t understand him.
He made a joke about trying to call them in German-then maybe everyone would understand! But in the end the dancers instinct took over-and whether the clogger spoke English, Czech, or both-they seemed to know exactly what to do-and it was pure magic.
Jan led them around the Keith House-around the audience-around in front of the stage. I was lucky enough to be sitting on the front row-I could literally feel the energy in the air and the sounds coming up from the floor through my feet and the metal of my chair.
On the way home that night I asked the girls how it felt to be part of the clogging throng-they summed it up in one word-Amazing!
Wish you’d been there to see the Czech Cloggers? Here are few videos posted by the John C. Campbell Folk School:
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCWAzjdTvjk (fancy footwork)
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eytx1q7gpfo (acapella)
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgWvPCl60w4 (jump rope)
Tipper
I can only imagine how fun that was!
What were the Plaids doing while the Czecks were dancing?
I remember liking to watch some of the children practice their clogging , during recess..when I was attending Elementary School. (In the 1940”s). The JC Campbell Folk School sounds very wonderful, and your girls are amazing.
Oh, that’s great Tipper. Those Czech Cloggers are good! Glad Chitter and Chatter got to dance with them. Gives the girls a whole new perspective on Clogging!
Tipper,
Please show us more of the girls clogging…Loovveee it…and the girls are changing and growing up so much….Were the girls a little shy or timid (backerds) during the meeting of the Czech cloggers? Also, how about you…I don’t think so since you all are in your element…LOL
Oh, How I wish I could have been there…Loved the videos..as well.
Thanks Tipper for an informational post.
PS…How old are the Czech cloggers?..You had better watch those four “chinkapin eyes” LOL. Don’t you know they were fasinated by those pretty twins….
Amazing! Your girls are going to have so many memories when they follow in your footsteps and write about their own heritage.
I checked out one of those video, oh what I would give to be young again and able to do that again, we used to square dance and clogged a little. I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful information on my bottle I looked at all the ones on ebay I also have a vaporub jar with lid but no label.
I agree with Ed. Was great.
Tipper,
I liked the dancing. Bet you all had a great time. Sometimes I wish I had learned to dance but, too late now besides, I ain’t got no rhythm.
Great as always! I felt like I was right there in the front row with you when I watched the videos!
THanks so much for sharing this wonderful evening!
I have two left feet, but I love to watch the dancing. I find it just amazing, especially admiring the skill, grace, and rhythm. Thanks for sharing!
Would like to have been there to see it. Know it was great.
That sounds like a truly amazing experience for everyone – dancers and audience alike! Congratulations to all the cloggers.
Your girls look lovely 🙂
I do wish I had been there to see it!~
I ain’t much into dancing but I do like to watch clogging. My daughter used to be clogger. As far as doing it myself, I’d look like somebody that just stepped on a rattlesnake.
Really enjoyed these videos. Want more!