Depending on the occasion, Joc and Dil are often asked to do a small clog stepping display. It gives you a chance to have a short rest and allows you a brief insight into an interesting part of folk history.
Well known clog dancers

A number of well known names in entertainment started their careers as clog dancers. Dan Leno won the clog dancing championship belt in Oldham in 1883. Charlie Chaplin started out as a clog dancer and toured with the Lancashire Lads and appeared alongside Stan Laurel at the Sunderland Empire in 1913.

It's only the feet that move - Hollow wooden floors give the best sound

 What happened to it?

The popularity of clog dancing declined with the Music Halls after the 1920’s and the new Tap Dancing fashion demanded a more delicate type of footwear. Fred Astaire however, was taught by a well known clog dancer of the era, Anne Liscomb who emigrated to the USA. Pitmen competitions are no more but a few enthusiasts still try to maintain this important aspect of our English cultural heritage

 

During the dances John plays the concertina

 Origins of Clog Dancing

The origins of Clog Dancing are not clear but it is probable that it is an industrial development of the more rural step dancing. It centred mainly around the mining communities. Like the other interests of pitmen such as leek shows, brass bands and whippet racing, the miners’ love of competition is also apparent in clog dancing. Before the 2nd World War, clog dancing competitions were fairly common all around the North of England.

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The clogs were often hand made and fairly ornate, made mostly from ash to get a good clear beat.