History of the Green Grass Cloggers

History
The Green Grass Cloggers
1971-Present
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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 group’s 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)

The "Original" Green Grass Cloggers

This is a photo of some of the original Green Grass Cloggers (ECU students, later becoming the "Home team")
taken in 1972 at a farm near Pactolus, North Carolina. If you can help with names, please email the webmaster.
Front row (L to R): Brian DeMarcus, Beverley Cotton, Kackie Joyner, and Pat Jett. Back row: Donna Slater,
Altie Hodson, Jerry Lovelace, Doug Baker, Toni Jordan, horsie (2 left feet), Dudley Culp, Pam Budd, Robby McLawhorn,
Rodney Sutton, and Susan Conway. Photo courtesy of Robby McLawhorn.

Check out our Photo Album for more great pictures of the GGC in action!

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