Competition Clogging: Preservation And Innovation In Mountain Folk Dance

Competition clogging circuits have contributed much to the preservation and innovation of mountain folk dance styles over the last century; however, most researchers dismiss or ignore their role in the continuation of the art form. Drawing upon personal experiences in the competition circuits, historical documentation of these competitions, and the new and innovative living traditions of competition clogging, this thesis contributes to a broader history of the changing genres in American folk dance in the 21st century. A brief historical survey of the competition circuits, originating in the 1928 Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in Asheville, NC grounds this thesis in historical context, while theories of tradition provide a new understanding of this dance form. A constant state of revivalism among competition clogging circuits affect the community’s engagement with tradition, and further demonstrates the synchronization that occurs between the invocation of tradition in Traditional clogging routines and the living tradition exemplified in Contemporary clogging routines.