The Raices Cultural Arts Center is the premier studio for cultural dance in the Sacramento area. It also serves as the home of some of the most talented and community oriented dance groups in the region. The goal of the Center is to foster the learning of cultural arts by providing a collaborative center for local arts organizations and individual artists.
AFTERSHOCK CLOGGING
Clogging is a truly American dance form that began in the Appalachian Mountains and now enjoys widespread popularity throughout the (United States and around the world.
For the most part, clogging evolved as an individual form of expression, with a person using his feet as an instrument to make rhythmic and percussive sounds to accompany the music.
Clogging today is less impromptu and more complicated than the simple rhythmic dance begun by our ancestors. New influences are creeping into the dance because of popular culture. Tap dancing, Canadian Step Dancing, Irish Hard Shoe and even street dancing and hip-hop influences are being seen to bear on the style of steps and dances performed by cloggers today. Performing teams wearing brightly colored costumes, calico or sequins have sprung up everywhere, providing entertainment with impressive precision footwork. Clogging Competitions across the country bring together teams from East and West to vie for trophies, honors and cash prizes. In 2003, clog dancing was included as a competitive dance sport in the AAU Junior Olympics.
As with any form of expression, clogging will continue to put us in touch with ourselves and our heritage, and render upcoming generations with the same joy it has provided us. The Double Toe Times magazine is dedicated to preserving the heritage of this art form and also share its innovations as it continues to grow.
CONTACT:
Kellee Ramirez
E-mail:eellek2@aol.com
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