2008 Woodie Awards
Clogging, Not Just a Dance, A Student's Life
Kim Caldwell
Issue date: 4/27/05 Section: A&E
Some might say that Cristy Rice, a 21 year-old, psychology major at Citrus College, was born dancing. According to Rice, her mother went into labor while she was clogging.
In fact clogging is a way of life for the Rice family. Both of her parents and her brother are competitive cloggers.
Clogging is rooted in the Irish jig. It evolved in this country throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. African Americans gave clogging two elements the Irish step dance lacks: syncopation and body movement.
Rice herself has been clogging, since she was 2 years old. The elements of "precision" clogging, the most common form performed in California, involves loud and fast footwork, a very rigid torso, and an up-and-down knee motion.
Virtually all of today's clogging steps are a simple two-tap movement called the double toe. Cloggers execute this step by quickly kicking forward from the knee, then allowing the leg to fall back naturally. Dancers wear extra-loud steel taps on leather-soled dance shoes, sometimes called "jingle taps."
For 19 years now Rice has been clogging with set routines, choreographed to well-known music, all over the United States
"The highlight- and definitely the most memorable performance of my clogging career, to date- was performing at the 1998 Super Bowl pre-game show in San Diego. It was such an exhilarating experience performing in front of thousands," Rice said.
Rice's parents began clogging together in 1976, seven years before she was born.
Her mother Marcia Rice, is the founder of the Southern California Clogging Association, and her father Brad Rice, began the Southern California Clogging Association Convention in 1982.
Her brother Ryan Rice, 18, a Riverside Community College student, also has been clogging since he was 2. He was currently the second-runner up in the United States nationals in 2004.
Rice herself was doing well until November 2003 when, while practicing a stunt, she heard a popping sound and felt an excruciating pain in her right knee.
In fact clogging is a way of life for the Rice family. Both of her parents and her brother are competitive cloggers.
Clogging is rooted in the Irish jig. It evolved in this country throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. African Americans gave clogging two elements the Irish step dance lacks: syncopation and body movement.
Rice herself has been clogging, since she was 2 years old. The elements of "precision" clogging, the most common form performed in California, involves loud and fast footwork, a very rigid torso, and an up-and-down knee motion.
Virtually all of today's clogging steps are a simple two-tap movement called the double toe. Cloggers execute this step by quickly kicking forward from the knee, then allowing the leg to fall back naturally. Dancers wear extra-loud steel taps on leather-soled dance shoes, sometimes called "jingle taps."
For 19 years now Rice has been clogging with set routines, choreographed to well-known music, all over the United States
"The highlight- and definitely the most memorable performance of my clogging career, to date- was performing at the 1998 Super Bowl pre-game show in San Diego. It was such an exhilarating experience performing in front of thousands," Rice said.
Rice's parents began clogging together in 1976, seven years before she was born.
Her mother Marcia Rice, is the founder of the Southern California Clogging Association, and her father Brad Rice, began the Southern California Clogging Association Convention in 1982.
Her brother Ryan Rice, 18, a Riverside Community College student, also has been clogging since he was 2. He was currently the second-runner up in the United States nationals in 2004.
Rice herself was doing well until November 2003 when, while practicing a stunt, she heard a popping sound and felt an excruciating pain in her right knee.