Traditional Dance - Appalachian Clogging (Stepping)

A how-to-do-it tutorial by Rosie Davis

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Fancy Bits 2

Indians (Injuns)

In this step the Two Beat Walking Step is interrupted with a one legged chug, it gives the feeling of doubling up the step like doing "two on one leg". The free leg can be casually swung or carefully placed depending on style and situation.

The sound is a steady tock tick
beat, with a slide backwards and a one legged chug forwards. The free leg swings forward and straight as the working foot slides backwards then swings in and relaxes as the working foot chugs forward. This opposite action of the legs is very characteristic and exciting to watch, it should look and feel flowing and easy. However it can feel very awkward at first as it takes up a lot of energy. To help develop a flowing action, hold on to a chair for support and work each part separately. Get both legs bending and stretching with the music, you will find that both are stretched on the OFF
beat and both are bent on the ON beat.

Once this is comfortable start thinking of where the slides and chugs come and gradually introduce them. Try changing feet by doing a single ordinary Two Beat Walking Step in between Indians. The "Precision" style for the free leg in Indians is with the thigh parallel and the shin perpendicular to the floor good luck.

The chug here is on one leg and slides forward.          
1
tock step
R
&
tick slide
R
2
tock
chug

R
&
tick slide
R
3
tock
step

L
&
tick slide
L
4
tock
chug

L
&
tick slide
L
5
tock step
R
&
tick slide
R
6
tock
chug
R
&
tick slide
R
7
tock step
L
&
tick slide
L
8
tock chug
L
&
tick slide
L

Step and toe lift.

This step is very like the Two Beat Walking Step but instead of making the tick
by sliding, makes it by lifting and tapping the toe of the weight bearing foot. This will take some practice and will probably be easier if the weight is centered slightly further back than normal.

1
tock
step
R
&
tick tap
R
2
tock step
L
&
tick tap
L
3
tock step
R
&
tick tap
R
4
tock
step
L
&
tick tap
L
5
tock
step
R
&
tick tap
R
6
tock
step
L
&
tick tap
L
1
tock
step
R
&
tick tap
R
8
tock
step
L
&
tick tap
L

Try this step sitting down playing the banjo or fiddle!

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