The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-08-08
THE ART OF CLOG-DANCING.



American VS.. English Dancers.
The clog dance, which seems to have
lost its popularity in New York, is still
a favorite accomplishment in some parts
of the country, while in England it is Il
standard attraction, the most popular
of all the acts of the variety theatre
programmes. The professors of the art
in this country still make a good living
through giving instructions in this
branch of the saltatory art.
The roller skaters in perfecting them
selves in their exercise are adding terp-
sichorean accomplishments to their
saltatory skill on wheels. A roller ex-
pert who can not dance a JIG on skates
doesn't rank tirst-class now. To learn
the steps he has to take lessons, and
here is where the professor of the clogs
comes in with his big charges. These
pupils are male and female.
There is no doubt, said "profes-
sol" that roller-skating is attracting
general attention to the education of
the lower extremities. More ladies,
high in social circles, and children are
learning to dance than ever before.
Many OF them learn fancy steps, such as
iigS, clogs, hOrnpipes, etc. In teaching
a lady 10 dance a clog-dance,' the pro-
fessor continued, 1.-THE very first thing
is to teach her to roll her feet, as it is
technically called. This is the key of
the whole business, and when u dancer
can do this successfully the remainder
of the lesson is comparatively easy
Rolling ones foot is merely raising the
hip, turning the foot in and striking the
toe on the floor. The whole motion
must be gone through with gracefully
and without effort. As the right side of
the body is generally more flexible than
the left-smply because it has been
used more freely generally begin
rolling the left foot first, in order to
counttfact the usual tendency in favor
of the right.
The distinguishing characteristic of
the clog-dance is the clear, bell-like tap
of the toe or heel on the floor The
slightest shuf1ling ruins the effect, while
in jig-dancing shuffling is the prime
merit. In the JIG the sand is relied on
! for what may be called the music, while
in the clog the shoes make the melody.
Jingles are inserted in great many
clogs, and what do you think they are
made of?'
"Giye it up"
'In many cases of the old-fashioned
copper cent. a hole is cut in the heel
of the clog, and cent set in so that its
broad side is flush with the surface of
the heel. Then it is fastened through
the middle with a screw, and is left to
play loosely in the socket. Other de-
vices are of course used to reach the
same effect, but jnglcs and rattles have
seen their day. There was a time when
it was necessary to 90 to England to see
| the c!Og-dancing in its glory. The peo-
| pie over there take much more interest
| in such things than we do, and the
| Judging between the comparative merits
of two dancers is considered q very Sc
rious piece of business.
The judges generally retire into the
| cellar, we may call it under the stage,
| there to remain until both dancers have
separately gone through with a series
of steps. They have no knowledge, OF
course, as to which dancer makes the
| first exhibition, and as the ringing of
the clogs is even more distinct under
| than above the floor, the merits Of the
dance can be thus readily Judged with
J DAT a possibility of the Judge seeing the
| dancers and allowing his decision to be
biased by personal prejudice"
Here the Professor grew emphatic
and tapped the writer on the chest with
| his fore-tingcr.
But let the American dancer 90 on
the English stage, among the English
people in a concert hall, and it is
dollars to cents that he VIII break down
before he has danced ten minutes
"Why?"
because they are much more
thorough over there than we are. The
artist who makes his appearance o+ a
London variety stage must understand
his business thoroughly. Surprising he
is dancing a hOrnpipe, the chances are
ten to one some voice in the audience
will shout: Give us a reel" or Give us
Il dead march = and the orchestra will
Immediately desert the hornpipe and
| drop into reel or dead march with
out giving the dancer moment 5
warning. Few of our men can stand
that ordeal. They have repertoire of
some half a dozen dances and continue
grinding out those dances, with varia-
tons, 10 the end of the chapter. ~
Y. Star.