The Hyder Mountain Stomp

I'm sure you've heard of Blue Mondays, Manic Mondays, Don't Want To Get Up Mondays-but I bet you haven't heard of Hyder Mountain Stomp Mondays. That's the kind of Mondays we have at our house.

Chitter and Chatter have been clogging with a great team for almost 2 years now. They love it! The Deer Hunter's Uncle refers to clogging as The Hyder Mountain Stomp. So on Monday afternoons the girls do some stomping.

Clogging originated in Appalachia. The Irish, Scottish, English, and Dutch Germans who settled the mountains brought their style of dancing with them. A mixture of all the styles evolved into Clogging. Over the years many other types of dance have influenced Clogging, but it is still a dance done in time or in rhythm to the music. I'm always amazed their teacher can tell how the team is doing without looking at them-just listening she knows if they have it or not.

Clogging makes me happy for many reasons. Of course the main reason-the girls love it. I like that we live 5 minutes from the school where they practice and it only costs 50 cents a week. 50 cents.

In the winter they practice in a beautiful old auditorium that has a huge fireplace. In the summer they practice in an open barn. The girls like it better since there is more room.

I enjoy the traditional bluegrass music. But sometimes they mix it up and use a contemporary country song or even recently a bluegrass rap song Old Faithful Bluegrass.

My favorite thing about the team-it has folks of all ages-from Grandmothers to little Cutie Pies younger than Chitter and Chatter. The mix of old and young is important to me, it seems the way things should be. The young learning from the old.

I can remember asking Pap if I could clog when I was young-I swear he told me it was a sin. He denies it. But I know he did-I know too he didn't look forward to another drive into town when I already played softball, basketball and was always asking to be took somewhere.

What about you? Have you ever done the Hyder Mountain Stomp or maybe it was the Nutcracker or Swan Lake for you? Maybe you played first base or was a point guard? Leave me a comment I'd love to hear about it.

Tipper

Comments

[Toni Love Hyder Williams]

My maiden name is Hyder (Mary Love) and I like to google and see what I can find. Our Hyder Bunch Were from Tennessee.
The Hyder Mountain Stomp sure caught my attention! Us older ones love Bluegrass and Country Music. We have several singers in our family.
I love this!! I will spread the word to my family, I know they will enjoy this too! Toni

[Bobbi in KY]

When I was in grade school-clogging was the big thing around here. I haven't heard of a clogging group in years though, I would have loved to do it!!

[Vonda]

I think clogging looks like so much fun but nope never tried it. I used to tap dance and take ballet as a child. My mother was an amazing tap dancer and performed on stage for some local events. Never did get anywhere near her ability.

[Patti]

I've never done the Hyder Mountain Stomp or any other clog, but I think done Morning song in the Keith house that looks just like that beautiful old auditorium. Our local school had clogging for several years and competition until the teacher retired and no one would take over.
What great exercise the girls are getting too.
Osagebluffquilter

[carolyn]

out here in crazy old Berkeley we do scottish country dancing ( soft shoe)--ancestor to your clogging and one of the teachers Cape Breton hard shoe.

[Miss Cindy]

Never danced or participated in sports. I seemed to lack the necessary coordination. I grew up around Square Dancing and Clogging, my cousins danced.
The director of the hospital I worked in was on a clogging team and they have danced all over the world. Isn't that amazing, our Appalachian dancing is popular all over the world!
PS: Tipper, your family values are showing again, and it is beautiful!
I saw a Riverdance performance by Irish dancers. It was absolutely magnificent and it was just like our clogging! There is a rhythm in it that speaks to my soul.

[Stacy A]

That looks like a riot. Dancing was never in my blood though. My softmore year however, I did try out to be the school mascot, the bulldog. My Mexican friends who had moves made up this disco dance for me to Jive Talkin' by the Beegees. It was hilarious, I think I can still do it. I didn't win, conspiracy of course, but I did get a standing ovation. That's my only claim to dancing fame.
It really is special that your girls can do something native to their roots, and along with young and old. I feel very strong about that as well. It is how we all learn.

[Irma]

Hi Tipper, thanks for dropping by my blog. Our dogs Tipper and Wolfie were adopted by my son as his friend could no longer keep them and did not want to give them to the dog pound.

How sweet that your girls love to clog. I love to see this type of dance.

Please come back to visit. I will stop by again.

Irma :)

[noble pig]

How fun for them, I bet they are great!

[City Mouse/Country House]

I am always amazed how many parallels there are between Irish/Scottish/English folk culture and the Appalachians. I listen to a lot of folk music from both traditions, but I had never put together the clogging thing. Thanks - very interesting!

[Jennifer in OR]

How fun! I've never learned to clog, but would love to! I played volleyball, softball, was a cheerleader, and loved to run. Now...I think I mostly chase kids around. :-)

[Renaedujour]

50 cents a week? That's awesome. There's a special place in heaven for the stomper teacher.

[Renaedujour]

50 cents a week? That's awesome. There's a special place in heaven for the stomper teacher.

[Carrie]

I love watching people clog!! I think it is a true art from yester year! How cool that your girls love it, keep it up girls!!

[Renna]

I've never clogged, but I do love watching it performed. :-)

[cathy]

I tell you, it would be a sin for me to dance anything. I mean ANYTHING. Let's just say tht I was blessed with an abundance of left feet.
:)

[Teresa]

I grew up going to a dance school, doing tap, jazz, pointe, etc. Was the sugar-plum fairy my senior year of high school. But now I'm more sugar-plum than fairy! My dad clogged for a while and I keep debating joining a group. I know I'd love it and already know several steps from having taken tap. Shuffle fa-lap!

[old school acres]

Boy does that bring back memories. I didn't clog (too shy), but my 3 cousins did and it was so fun to watch them.

[Jessica]

Never did any classes/sports until I was in junior high and the school offered them.

I'm thinking of starting my girl in dance this fall though...mostly because I love Shirley Temple. ;-)

[Beckynsc]

I used to clog every weekend. Loved it! And before that I did the hustle and the bump...I'm giving my age away, aren't I?
I stayed skinny that way. Need to do it again!

[dana]

I love many things about clogging. The music. The rhythm. The young and old joyfully dancing together. The old wooden floors where they dance. The way that my feet can't stay still while I'm watching. Call it clogging, flat footing, buck dancing or Hyder Mountain Stompin', I love them all!

[Carolyn]

I could never clog ... bad knee prevented it. My sister, however, has been a sugarplum fairy in a school play and learned to clog when she moved to Berkley Springs, WV. She can't do it anymore ... bad knee now too, but she loves watching others do it whenever she can. I know Mia, from the Stoned Knitter, still does it and talks about it on her blog. xxoo