Clog dancing is a traditional dance that dates back to the 18th century in the Netherlands.
There are also versions of the dance that can be traced back to areas of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Clogs don’t look like the most comfortable dancing shoes, and that’s probably because they’re not. They were originally used as protective work shoes (think, 18th century steel-toe boots) but music always finds a way.
The tap tap tap noise that they make inspired some creative soul to start dancing, and it spread throughout the world.
Would you want to slip your feet into a pair of these? I’ll think I’ll take my padded, breathable running shoes, thanks.
Fast forward to our modern day, where people have come somewhat to their senses and created a more comfortable shoe for dancers to clog in.
Traditional clogging does still exist, but especially in countries where the dance has been adopted from the Netherlands, the style and the shoes are slightly different.
This team of bright young cloggers have come to compete in Utah.
The competition is held at The Lagoon Amusement Park. So dancers not only get to dance their hearts out and compete for awards and bragging rights, but they also get a weekend of rollercoaster rides!
The team roll out onto the stage in adorable vintage bellhop costumes, complete with a bellhop baggage cart and luggage bags.
The 1920s-style music plays and the young dancers gather together on the stage.
They break into perfectly in-sync footwork, tapping their feet in time to the beat.
Their clogs look more similar to tap shoes – less heavy and certainly less wooden than their traditional counter-parts.
It allows the dancers to lift their legs high and shuffle their feet quickly and precisely.
But of course, this is clogging, not tap. So while the shoes look very similar, they have some key differences.
Tap shoes have just one tap attached to the toe and heel, but clogging shoes have an extra tap on top of that. They’re called bell taps, which fit in nicely with this bellhop theme, don’t you think?
In fact, the bellhop outfits are a major hit. Many YouTube commenters made note of how cute the costumes are. They’re so unique they may have contributed to the team’s overall score!
Some contemporary moves have been added to the traditional style, making it a fun and accessible way for every dance lover to enjoy!
It’s also more in keeping with the age group of the performers, who are high school students.
I wonder how many of the dancers have Dutch heritage or any other cloggers in the family. It seems like an unlikely sport for a teenager to pick up, but they all look like they’re having a lot of fun!
Their costumes twist and twirl, highlighting how in sync all the dancers are as they move. It’s no small feat to dance in time with fifteen other people!
Especially when the exact sound of your steps makes such an impact on the performance.
The team’s impressive performance earned them first prize at the Clogging Nationals – a well deserved title.
Watch the video below to see this modern clogging masterpiece!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
