Clogging Class at Main Street Barrel House
In June, the Main Street Barrel House hosted a clogging class taught by Oglebay Institute Instructor J.J. Murrin. The class consisted of several beginners as well as experienced dancers who wanted to share the clogging tradition with their friends and families.
Appalachian clogging emerged in the 1700s. As the English, Scottish, Irish and Dutch immigrated to America, their traditional step dances blended with African and Native American rhythms to create clogging. Originating in the Appalachian Mountains, clogging is a traditional percussive folk dance that focuses on the beat of the music.
Instructor Murrin explained the differences between clogging and tap dancing, which developed from clogging in the early 1900s. “Tap is more on the balls of your feet, lighter, and more to the melody of the song,” stated Murrin. “Clogging focuses on the heels and emphasizes the beat of the music. Also, the dancer’s torso is stationary.”
At age 14, Murrin joined the Ohio Valley Clogghoppers exhibition team and toured North America for seven years. The group performed at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, and Jamboree USA in Wheeling, West Virginia, along with numerous regional fairs and festivals.
Murrin served as the director for the Carolina cloggers in Greenville, South Carolina. He led the team for four years, while refining his choreography skills.
Currently, J.J. Murrin is a clogging instructor at Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance in Wheeling. As he instructs, Murrin states, “I am passionate about preserving and sharing the Appalachian culture.” Murrin advises, “Get out and try it. That’s the big thing. Find somebody who knows the dance, and try it. It is always fun.”
This September, Murrin will be instructing a clogging class at Oglebay Institute of Dance on Thursday evenings. Fall class registration begins August 5.
Several class participants have taken classes from J.J. Murrin before. Garry Stephen shared that his mom and dad, Martha and Richard Stephen, as well as most of his family, went to clogging classes in Wheeling with J.J. Murrin as the instructor many years ago. Stephen stated, “My parents liked Bluegrass music. My dad danced a lot, even well into his 90s.” Stephen continued, “He had his own style. Some of it was like the basic clogging step.”
Stephen was surprised to see Murrin’s face on the class flyer hung at Riesbeck’s advertising this clogging class. He took a picture of the flyer and invited his grandsons to come. Needing smooth-soled shoes, the Stephen boys found their old prom shoes. When asked if they liked clogging and if they would do it again, they all responded, “Yes!”
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