by Kelli M. McChesney
Copyright © 2005 Kelli M. McChesney
Please contact Kelli for permission to use or reprint any portion of this information...thank you!

I enjoy receiving your e-mails and am more than happy to provide clogging assistance; however, due to the overwhelming number of e-mail messages I receive (many asking questions on the same topics), I'm unable to respond as quickly as I'd like. Therefore, I've created this Frequently Asked Questions list with the goal of providing you with timelier assistance on more common clogging topics, as well as reducing the number of e-mail messages I receive to a more manageable number.

I ask that you please look for the answer to your question on this list before e-mailing me, as in the interest of time, I will disregard any e-mails that can be answered from the information in this list. Otherwise, I will do my best to respond in a timely manner!

Please also keep in mind that I own the copyright to this FAQ list. You're welcome to link to this page, however if you wish to copy any part of this list on your own web site or in any other publication, please ask me for permission first.

Thank you for your cooperation, and happy clogging!

• What is Clogging? / Is it difficult to learn?
  
  
• How can I learn to clog? / Where can I take clogging lessons? / Is there a clogging group in my area?
  
  
• Where can I find shoes, taps, music, cued music, sound equipment, instructional videos, clogging jewelry, t-shirts, costumes, and other clogging merchandise?
  
  
• Where can I get a copy of the music playing on your web site?
  
  
• I don't know what clogging shoes and/or taps to order - what do you recommend?
  
  
• Is there a clogging magazine?
  
  
• Do you have a clogging routine to (song name)? / Where can I find cue sheets?
  
  
• Can I learn or use your routines in my class or performances?
  
  
• Do you have instructional videos for your routines?
  
  
• How can I choreograph?
  How can I become an instructor and/or start a Clogging team?
  What do I need to teach clogging in my area?
  What should I teach to beginners?
  
  
• How can I get into competition?
  
  
• Are there any clogging events in my area?
  
  
• Are you available to teach at workshops? What do you charge?
  
  
• Is your clogging group (1st Klass Kloggers) available to perform at my event?
  
  
• Will you add my link to your web site? Can I add your link to my web site?
  
  
• I want to create a clogging web site. Can you design one for me?
  
  
• I don't see my question(s) answered here. Can I e-mail you for more help?

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Click here to read my article "What is Clogging?". With a "can do" attitude, patience, and some practice, Clogging is rather easy and fun to learn, even for those with two left feet.

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Consider the following suggestions to help you locate clogging classes, instructors, groups and teams in your area:

• At the Clogdancing.com Directory you'll find listings of clogging groups for the United States and throughout the world.
• Don't be afraid to contact an instructor who isn't necessarily from your area...if they're in the same state/province, they may know of other teams who aren't listed online or in other clogging directories.
• Visit my Clogging Links page and take a look at (A) the Groups/Teams section, and (B) the Clogging Organizations' web sites, as many of those also offer instructor listings.
• The Double Toe Times monthly magazine - While a subscription is required, each issue provides instructor and team listings from around the world.
• Web search - Try your favorite web search engine using terms like "clogging team" or "clog dancing <your state here>".
• Try contacting dance studios listed in your local telephone directory, or evening recreation or community education programs that may be offered through your city's recreation department, chamber of commerce, or college/university.

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All of the vendors and resources I know of for clogging-related merchandise are listed on my Clogging Supplies page.

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The music you hear on my web site are "midi" files (computer-generated replicas of the original songs) and were found by doing an Internet search for "free midi". While many of the midi songs are sequenced the same as their original counterparts, several of them are sequenced differently and the sound quality is much poorer than the original recordings. Therefore, I don't recommend using these files for public performances, but feel free to get up and dance in front of your computer. :)

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However, I can let you know that clogging shoes come in U.S. street shoe sizes, so if you normally wear a size 7, most likely you'll want to order a size 7 clogging shoe. Narrow, regular, and wide widths are available (even if you don't normally wear a wide width, I recommend trying these for additional comfort), and for women with hard-to-fit feet, men's shoes are an option since they generally run wider than women's shoes and look exactly the same.

There are several brands to choose from (depending upon the vendor), though my favorites are Ms. Stompers (Mr. Stomper and Kid Stomper for men and children, respectively) because of the soft, flexible leather, and Hoedowners because of their appearance (a nice rounded toe). There are a few new clogging shoe brands that have emerged in the past few years that I have yet to try and therefore cannot comment on.

As for shoe style, the most common is the "lace-up" oxford style. There are "scoop" shoes (like "Mary Janes") available that I've seen mostly used by square dancers and traditional-style cloggers. Clogging boots are available and are fun, but I wouldn't recommend ordering these if you are a beginner (they may slide around on your feet). I recommend ordering the oxford style shoes, unless you belong to a clogging group that requires a different style.

There are also several colors available (again depending upon the vendor), although white and black are the most common. As with shoe style, check with your clogging group for the color they prefer…otherwise my recommendation is white (think of them as a blank canvas if you need a different color in the future).

The vendors listed at my Clogging Supplies page offer several types of clogging taps as well. If you are a beginner, my recommendation is to use Stevens Stompers (a.k.a. "jingle" taps), which are the most commonly used clogging taps. These taps consist of two metal plates connected with rivets that are then either nailed or glued onto the heel and toe areas of your shoes. It is your preference to purchase either "regular" or "Buck Toe" taps (which have a small metal flange covering the tip of the toe), although I like the latter because they make more sound while protecting the tips of the toes. Other tap styles are available and can be used for creating different sounds; for example, I like using Staccato taps because you get the "clogging" sound with a little less "jingle", while others may like single "tap dancer" taps for the clearest sound possible.

Clogging taps generally come in three sizes: Men's, Women's, and Children's, with Men's being the largest and Children's being the smallest. You want to order the correct tap size for your shoe (your taps should cover most of the heel and toe areas) or it may not feel right when you dance.

New clogging shoes with taps can range in price from $45-$70. While this is fairly inexpensive compared to some shoes used for other dance styles, there are lower-cost options available for cloggers. Used shoes may be available from dancers within your clogging group or on the eBay auction site. Taps can also be glued onto inexpensive sneakers, or beginner dancers might first try dancing in tap shoes (in my area, these are available for approximately $15 at Wal-Mart and Payless Shoe Source).

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• CLOG Today (bi-monthly newsletter with general clogging news)
• Double Toe Times (monthly magazine with general clogging news)
• Step-In-Time (quarterly cue sheet publication)

Many clogging organizations have newsletters also…visit the organizations' web sites at my Clogging Links page for more information.

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Do you have a clogging routine to (song name)? / Where can I find cue sheets?

At my Choreography page you'll find a list of all of the workshop routines I've choreographed, as well as links to other cue sheet resources.

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Can I learn or use your routines in my class or performances?

However, all of my choreography is done from scratch and the sequences of steps are 100% original, so I ask that you please respect the time and effort I put into in my choreography and understand that adapting my choreography does not make it your own creation. As is the case with all original creative works, if you make any adaptations to my original routine, it is good practice to add a statement to the revised cue sheet such as, "Choreographer: Kelli McChesney; Adapted by: <your name here>". Thank you!

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Do you have instructional videos for your routines?

Yes, please e-mail me for details.

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How can I choreograph?
How can I become an instructor and/or start a Clogging team?
What do I need to teach clogging in my area?
What should I teach to beginners?

Visit my choreography and instructor resource pages to find suggestions and resources on these topics.

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How can I get into competition?

• America's Clogging Hall of Fame (ACHF)
• America On Stage
• Clogging Champions of America (CCA)
• National Clogging and Hoedown Championships (of CLOG, Inc.)

Visit each organization's web site for competition rules and more information about their events.

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Are there any clogging events in my area?

Visit the upcoming event calendars at www.clog.org or www.clogdancing.com for event listings.

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Are you available to teach at workshops? What do you charge?

Yes, as a National Clogging Instructor, I am available to teach clogging at workshops and conventions throughout the world. Please e-mail me and I'd be happy to discuss the particulars of your event (dates, arrangements, etc.) and see if we can come up with an arrangement that meets our mutual needs.

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Is your clogging group (1st Klass Kloggers) available to perform at my event?

Yes, depending upon dancer availability. Please e-mail me to discuss the particulars.

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Will you add my link to your web site? Can I add your link to my web site?

Yes! Feel free to add my link to your web site. And I'm more than happy to add your link to my site, provided your site is clogging-related, family-friendly (no obscene/offensive sites), and an original creation, i.e., I do not link to sites that use my information (whether verbatim or paraphrased), design, format, or code without offering appropriate credit to the original author.

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I want to create a clogging web site. Can you design one for me?

While I'm currently unable to offer web design services, I can give you some resources to help you get started on your own:

• If you know HTML, then you can use a simple text editor to create your web site. However, there is more sophisticated web design software out there (you can do an Internet search) or at the very least you can use Microsoft Word to create your web page (I cannot offer assistance with specific programs…thank you!).
• To enhance your site, there are many free graphic and free midi (music) resources online (again, do an Internet search). Please be mindful of others' work and always give appropriate credit if you use someone else's materials.
• Once your site is created, you'll want to look for a place to host your web site where others can access it. You may want to consider free web hosting services such as Clogdancing.com (specifically for cloggers!), Angelfire.com, or Tripod.com (some of these services also offer "do it yourself" web design editors).
  

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Certainly, and I thank you for checking this FAQ list first. Feel free to e-mail me at danceaddict (at) windstream.net (replace the (at) with the @ symbol). Please mention in your e-mail that you did not find an answer on this list (or that you are inquiring about my instructional videos, workshop availability, or 1st Klass Kloggers availability), and I will do my best to assist!

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