News and Articles

Missouri Clogging Council

Serving cloggers in Missouri & surrounding states.

News and Articles

"Adding Style": Clogging Shoes Care

We all have at least one thing in common and that is Clogging. In Clogging, shoes are an important part of this style of dancing. Clogging shoes range in price from moderate to expensive, depending on the style of the shoe and type of taps attached. I would like to address shoe care and how the appearance of our shoes can add style and enhance your dance performance.

Let's start with polishing your shoes. Whether your shoes are black or white, adding a coat of polish before a performance will instantly improve the appearance of the team when performing. Keeping your shoes clean and polished will add to the life of your shoes as well. I carry a polish cloth with me at all times so I can quickly clean my shoes before putting them away after I am finished dancing. I also place each shoe in its own shoe bag to keep the taps from scuffing the tops of my shoes while in transit. Shoes are the single most important piece of equipment you will buy as a clog dancer and nothing speaks volumes of a team when the shoes are freshly polished instead of shoes that are scuffed and weathered.

When dancing, we want to leave a lasting impression with the event organizer of a fun and exciting group performing at their event. The one impression we do not want to leave is a damaged dance floor from taps that are pitted, rivets that are worn, or nails that need to be reset. Any one of these tap problems will tear up a dance floor in no time. Inspecting your taps regularly to see if you need to reset the nails, have the taps replaced, or have the pits in your taps smoothed out will prevent damage to the dance floor. Our team is fortunate to have the tools to replace worn taps and offer free tap replacements to our members. If you do not have the necessary tools to correct tap problems, you can take them to your friendly neighborhood cobbler and, within five minutes, your taps will be back in good shape. I know of at least three of our dancers that are on first name basis with their cobbler, who takes care of their shoe repair needs. We have had our taps brushed smooth, reset the loose nails, and had the toes of our shoes polished to correct the damage from dancing on concrete surfaces.

These are simple things that each dancer can do with very little effort to make a big difference in adding style to a show.

Robert Kennedy - Thunder and Lightning Cloggers of Southern Illinois

SPECIAL NOTE: Rob will be one of our guest instructors at our upcoming 2008 Fall Workshop. Hope we see YOU there!

We would like to thank Robert Kennedy for his contributing editorial and contribution to clogging!
If you would be interested in submitting your story or article for consideration to be listed on this website, please send an email to YourMCC@aol.com. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

2007 Fall Workshop DVDs now available!

Professionally produced DVDs of MCC's 2007 Fall Workshop can now be ordered. Not available in any retail location and available through this web site, cloggers can now own this highly sought after DVD. Featuring seven National cuers who will walk you step-by-step through THIRTEEN (13) new routines, from Beginner to Advanced levels. Whether you're a novice dancer or well experienced instructor, you can enjoy these routines in the privacy of your home or studio, where you can go over them again and again until you get them just right. No embarrassing spectators to watch you fumble learning the steps. Great for personal use or to give as a gift to your favorite clogger. Tax deductible for teachers or anyone in the business. Shipping is available worldwide. Price is just $21.95 as our Spring SALE Special! Get yours TODAY! Available in limited quantities. Look for the order form on this web site or drop us an email at: YourMCC@aol.com and let us know you need a form. Payments canl be accepted by check, M.O. or Paypal.

MCC's Annual Workshop Location for 2008 Announced

See you in St. Louis for our annual workshop / state convention, to be held Friday & Saturday, Sept. 5 & 6 at the Olivette Community Center in Olivette, MO. We have some great things planned for this workshop! We will pamper you with WOODEN FLOORS, foot spas & massages, entertainment & exhibitions, vendors and much more.

More detail to be announced as they become available.