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The Green Grass Cloggers
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The Green Grass Cloggers is the original high-stepping Appalachian mountain clogdancing dance company. Formed in 1971 by students at East Carolina University, the Cloggers quickly gained national recognition because of their original eclectic style of dance, which was radically different from the traditional North Carolina team clogging of this period. The footwork is a combination of mountain-style flatfoot and buck dancing with head-high kicks and other original unconventional steps. These steps are known by the dancer bringing it to the group. If you are a clogdancer and have steps in your routines such as "Karen's Kick", the "Hunt Mallett", the "Earl", or the "Eddie", chances are that your clogdancing team has its roots from a former Green Grass Clogger. These unconventional steps were incorporated with choreography based on four-couple Western square dance figures, and the routines have changed very little since their creation in the 1970s and early 1980s. The original routines were designed to be short and highly energetic for audience appeal. Costumes for the guys included blue jeans, calico-decorated shirts, and black shoes; white painter pants were introduced later especially for summer wear. Costumes for the ladies were old-time calico dresses of original design and black shoes. These costumes are still used today. By 1974 the Green Grass Cloggers had achieved a national reputation, having won two world championships, and were invited to perform at major folk festivals throughout the United States and Canada. From 1977 to 1987, some of the dancers went on tour internationally and became known as the "Road Team" while the remaining dancers (the "Home Team") stayed in Greenville and performed at local festivals throughout the state. In 1980 the Road Team relocated permanently to Asheville, North Carolina, and they still perform 2-3 times per year at selected venues. The Home Team in Greenville remains active and keeps the tradition of the Green Grass Cloggers alive, still dancing the original routines and continuing to recruit and train new dancers. The Green Grass style of clogging has become world renowned and today represents the predominant style of "Appalachian" clogdancing.
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