Churchmouse: clog dancing has been around for as long as anyone can remember, like folk dancing, morris dancing etc, for a couple of hundred years at least (tho morris dancing antler horns were recently discovered to be 2,000 years oldand brought over by the Vikings). Similar dancing is found all over the world. Clog dancing enjoyed a revival in Victorian times, mostly in mill and mining towns of the north, but went out of fashion again. Recently, it's been enjoying a new revival, possibly encouraged by the success and 'trendyness' of the Irish dancing as promoted by Riverdance. It is a cross between Irish dancing (same foot movements and arms decommissioned) and also a bit like tap (mostly danced on one spot and no holding hands), but done wearing clogs - wooden soled, laced up shoes with leather uppers. This was originally cheap footwear of choice for people who worked in mills and other places where floors might be flooded. It was taken to America and danced by the Northern Irish/Ulster Scots settlers (known over there as 'Scots Irish') in the main places they settled, eg Tennesee, Kentucky, etc. You might remember the late great actor Buddy Ebsen dancing it. Good for keeping fit.
