The Green Grass Cloggers - ProfilesArchive

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History of the GGC The Green Grass Cloggers 1971-present. The Green Grass Cloggers is a clogging team founded in 1971 by students at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Inspired by seeing traditional mountain-style clogging teams, but more influenced by older flatfoot and buck dancers met at fiddlers conventions, they developed an original, eclectic style which was a radical departure from the traditions of North Carolina team clogging of the time. Unlike the big-set mountain square dance figures of the traditional freestyle clogging teams, the Green Grass Cloggers used choreography based on four-couple Western square dance figures, in short energetic routines, consciously designed for audience appeal. While the groups footwork was synchronized, as in precision clogging, their free-spirited performances included head-high kicks and other unconventional steps. Dressed in old-time calico dresses, blue jeans, and black shoes, their appearance contrasted with the clean-cut look of polyester and white tap shoes common to most other groups in the 1970s, making them a crowd favorite at the clogging competitions in which they danced. This popularity with audiences helped them win the title of World Champion Cloggers in both 1972 and 1974, at Fiddlers Grove, NC. By 1974, with an established reputation as top-notched performers, the Green Grass Cloggers began to be invited to perform at major folk festivals throughout the United States and Canada. From 1977 until 1987, the "Road Team," which relocated to Asheville, North Carolina, toured full-time nationally and internationally as a professional dance company, while the "Home Team" remained active in Greenville and throughout North Carolina. By the end of the 1970s, clogging groups inspired by the Green Grass Cloggers had formed in many places across the country. Overseas, the Green Grass Clogger-style was adopted by groups in Japan and in England, where currently it is the predominant style of Appalachian clogging. The Green Grass Cloggers road team no longer performs regularly, while the Home Team in Greenville continues to perform throughout North Carolina. In recent years a reunion group of the road team, celebrating 30+ years of clogging, has danced at a few festivals and other events including the Swannanoa Gathering (2001), the Lake Eden Arts Festival (2001), Appalachian Stringband Festival (2002), the Smithsonian Folklife Festival (2003), and a revisit to the Philadephia Folk Festival (2004). -- Phil Jamison Dance Editor, The Old-Time Herald (and former Green Grass Clogger) Hello everyone!! My name is Robert(Robby) McLawhorn and I am a founding and still active member of the home team. I have set this Myspace profile up as a means for all former and current dancers as well as all friends of and bands that have played with or know the group to come home to..... just got the hardwood floor swept off and all the chairs are against the walls --so tune up the fiddles and crank 'er up boys and gals--and Walt you still got them chicken feathers in you hair after all these years!!!!!!!Green Grass Cloggers at Shakori Hills

Add to My Profile | More VideosGreen Grass Cloggers (2) at Shakori Hills

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Member Since: 4/10/2006
Band Website: greengrasscloggers.com
Band Members:WE ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING ALL CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY TO JOIN THIS PROFILE SO WE CAN KEEP IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER" border=0
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Influences: A dear friend of mine asked if I would list persons, bands , and events that influenced us and helped create our unique "style" of dance. We started out as a group of friends who participated in an international dance program offered by the local university, ECU. The teacher Mrs Grey taught us the basic figures to western square dance, contras, and round dance. Without her help, we would have never been able to take all those steps everyone was coming up with at practices and put into a routine of dance figures.We were fortunate to have a local oldtime stringband in town that provided music for practices and for some of our first performances. The Flatland Family Band as they were known consisted of 3 actual families of players and it was with them that we ventured to the first western N.C. fiddle conventions and Fiddler's Grove dance competitions. Once we started going to the festivals on a regular basis ,we befriended many bands from all over the U.S. The most notable, Swamp Root String band --oh , how our guys had a crush on sandy and thank you for all the Cream Ale you brought down with you from Rochester. Later came along The Highwoods String Band who played for us at the Philly Folk Festival and Goose Creek ---well till brian crashed into Charlie's guitar at Philly folk festival while feeling really good!! We will be forever grateful to Willard Watson who saw beyond what the locals were focused on ---the nontraditional steps and attire, but rather the drive and desire to make it a fun thing to be doing and for others to enjoy seeing. His encouragement for us to continue our dance style was a turning point from this being something fun to do on weekends to actually persusing it as a full dance group . Thus came the "Road Team" who fulfilled all hopes and dreams of us that for whatever reasons never made it to the "road". Williard's own style of flatfoot dance was embraced and incoorporated into almost everyone's own style of dance and even into some of the routines.Through the years came the Red Clay Ramblers, John Hartford and Merle Watson's visit to the big green bus at Angiers - ( our girls going ga ga!!), Zydecohos --yeah Brian, The Stairwell Sisters--Ms Evie a jr. GGC at 6 yrs old--, Nancy banjo, Joe, and the gang from Pilot Mtn. Bobcats and everyone at Bobville, --Tommy Jarrell--the Union Grove, Charlotte festivals and your fiddl'n, my soul brother Earl White that took up the bow after uncle Tommy passed on, Nickel Creek-- and our (my) sweet Eileen of Footworks, The Dukhs--,our Canadian festival friends, Benton Flipen who kept winning the 1st prize away from Swamp Root!!!This will be an ongoing deal as there are people sending me info to add everyday.Here are our friends Hell or Highwater doing a most excellent routine!!Hell or Highwater August 2006

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Sounds Like: WE WERE THE FIRST OF OUR KIND AND HAVE LEFT OUR STYLE ON MANY OTHER TEAMS THAT FOLLOWED BEHIND US
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My Blog

seeking former members of SWAMP ROOT STRINGBAND

Back in the 70's there was a new york based old time string band that played many fiddle conventions in n.c and va.members consisted of the following folks but i can't remember any last names:joe p...
Posted by The Green Grass Cloggers on Tue, 25 Jul 2006 06:43:00 PST

35TH REUNION OF THE GREEN GRASS CLOGGERS

35th REUNION to be in fall of 2006 Current mood: thankful We will be having a 35th reunion of the GGC at the fall Grassroots Festival at Shakori Hills . Special camping site ...
Posted by The Green Grass Cloggers on Wed, 12 Apr 2006 03:44:00 PST

GREEN GRASS CLOGGERS NEW HOME

THIS WILL BE THE NEW HOME OF THE GREEN GRASS CLOGGERS .I AM TRYING TO MOVE EVERYBODY OVER AS FAST AS POSSIBLE
Posted by The Green Grass Cloggers on Tue, 11 Apr 2006 06:28:00 PST