ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, June 19, 1996 TAG: 9606190020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LU STAFF WRITER
The Confederate Cloggers of Christiansburg will add some New River Valley magic to the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World on June 25, when they take Dock Stage with a 25-minute show.
"We were so delighted when they called to tell us we had been selected to perform," said Amy Rush, the Confederate Cloggers director. "We're very honored to be doing something like this."
The group consists of 25 dancers from around the valley whose ages range between six and 40. The show will include traditional music such as "Rocky Top," popular country like "Get Rhythm," and special features like "Mickey and Minnie On a Moonlit Night," performed especially for the occasion.
The group was formed in 1989 and has already earned numerous trophies at various dance competitions. Besides performing for places such as local festivals and nursing homes, the cloggers also have put on shows for many international delegations.
Last year, the dancers were invited to perform aboard the Dolphin IV Cruise Ship sailing to the Bahamas. This year, about 80 family members of the dancers will go with them to spend five days at Disney World.
"We try to choose places that we're interested in going and that families would enjoy seeing," Rush said. "The clogging group is really one big family."
Clogging was originally done with wooden shoes, hence the name. But the dancers now use special tap shoes that have a piece of metal across the toes and the heels.
Though there are about 180 cloggers in the group, Rush could only choose 25 to perform in Orlando.
"We chose the ones who were in the higher performance team," Rush said. "We also picked those who wouldn't mind getting up in front of a crowd and showing off."
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Gene Dalton. The Confederate Cloggers performed recentlyby CNBat the New River Valley Mall. color.