What is Clogging?

Clogging began in the Appalachian Mountains when the English, German and Scotch-Irish pioneers adopted the Irish Jig and Scottish Highland dancing as their own.  They added a few steps and called it flatfootin' or buck dancing.  Clogging is an Irish word that means dancing to rhythm and time.  Over the years, clogging has been influenced by modern dancing which makes it look similar to tap, although the steps are quite different as is the style of dance.  Today, clogging is done to all types of music and each performer adds their own signature to the dance.  Freestyling is where all dancers dance to their own rhythm.  Precision clogging, which most of our dances are, is where all dancers dance in precision, or exactly the same.  Clogging duets have also become popular, especially in competition.  The different styles of clogging are as different as the people who dance them, but they all have one thing in common--foot-stomping, hand-clapping, and loud-shouting fun!

Our Team

There are about 30 cloggers that make up our tiny tot, intermediate, advanced, and adult teams.   Angie Miller is our Instructor. Rachel Lindigrin assists with the young childrens' classes.   Members of the Advanced Team teach and assist as needed. Our studio is located in Clinton, MS, and most of our cloggers live in the Jackson area.  Beginner lessons are taught in February and again in September, if you are interested in becoming a clogger.  We perform in various places around the state including nursing homes, National Night Out, Relay for Life, Mississippi State Fair, parades, churches, festivals in towns and private parties.  We clog to a variety of music, so whatever your taste, you should see something you like at our performances.  Workshops during the year keep us up-to-date on the newest steps and ideas as well as a chance to catch up with other clogging friends from across the region.  Our favorite workshop is the Mississippi Clogging Extravaganza in August. The main goal of our team is to have FUN!  We love to dance and entertain.

The Mississippi Magnolia Cloggers are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Below are our officers for the 2008 Year:
President - Janet Spitchley
Vice President - Judy Walker
Secretary - Angie Miller