San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival (June 2005)
by Ian Enriquez

There is truly no experience greater for the Barbary Coast Cloggers than to celebrate dance at the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. Not only do we get to share what we do with a fantastic audience at the Palace of Fine Arts, we get to experience it with a diverse group of people who share our passions. This is what American cultural experience is all about and it is something that lies in the true essence of clogging. Clogging began as immigrants from around the world got together and shared each others dances, jumping in the middle of a room and sharing their culture while in return experimenting with the music and movements of the other groups there. It was truly such a pleasure backstage to work with the Tahitian group Te Mana o Te Ra as they played the dramas and taught all the other dancers how to move in their style. These moves could not be further away from the movement vocabulary of the cloggers, yet we did it. Most importantly we participated in the very tradition that gave birth to clogging in the first place. The Dunsmuir Scottish Dancers were also very eager to learn how to clog, so Brian Wines stepped up to the plate and shared what we do with them and we are looking forward to continuing this exchange with them once their performance schedule allows them to come sneak in to our Monday night classes.

The great thing about this year’s Ethnic Dance Festival is the effort they put in to designing transitions between each performance group. It gave many of the groups an opportunity to briefly connect and exchange with another culture on stage. This spirit also carried on at the end of the show as the various dancers paraded out to the main lobby to celebrate with each other and the audiences. Several of the bands performed there as various dancers pulled audience members into the circle. The Scottish and Tahitian dancers continued to show their great spirit as they joined in at every opportunity. It was an unexpected treat to watch the Kalanjali Indian dancers jump in with Sidesaddle’s bluegrass music and do their thing. It was a truly magical weekend and we would love to thank everyone involved who shared in this incredible experience. To love, to life, to dance!

With all that said, two of our dancers have decided to hang up their clogging shoes for the time being and pursue other ventures in their life. Dale Petros and Scott Terry have both decided to move on for now, but we certainly hope that their paths will find its way back to us in the future. Best wishes to both of you and know that you are always welcome here with us.

California Bluegrass Festival (June 2005)
by Matt Ellinger

What a treat is was for Barbary Coast Cloggers to perform to the sweet sounds of Sidesaddle at the California Bluegrass Association’s 30 th Annual Fathers Day Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley! The group was well received by the music fans attending the festival, and the response from the event staff and the other performers was especially gratifying.

BCC was booked for two thirty minute late afternoon performances, and the sometimes scorching summer days up in foothills gave way to a beautiful breeziness. What was very hot, though, was Sidesaddle. This classy bluegrass ensemble puts together a special configuration of musicians when playing for us. They are Kim Elking on mandolin, Diana Donelly on guitar, Sonia Shell on banjo, Lisa Burns on bass, and Lee Ann Welch on fiddle. The girls trade off on vocals, but Diana sings lead on most including a tune called “Bucket to the South” which they arranged and learned just for us.

Jeff Porter and Ron Jenkins were tapped to explain our dancing and all about Barbary Coast Cloggers to a worldwide audience of satellite radio listeners on the XM radio network. Part of our show was broadcast as well! That was a first for us: clogging on the radio!

BCC performed nine pieces each show ranging from the Celtic-inspired hornpipe to the classic Rocky Top Stomp. Old timers Doug, Dale, Matt and Richard were matched step by step by our “new guys” Jeff, Scott, Ron, Brian, Ian, and Dan. We also performed a couple of gospel numbers and a very challenging Canadian style dance called Red Rose Reel. Congrats to all for a very fine show.

And a big thanks to Lisa Burns and the California Bluegrass Festival for the honor of performing at this tremendous event.

News Briefs

Barbary Coast Cloggers featured in the San Francisco Chronicle on May 30, 2005.

Check out more reviews on the BCC!

Learn to Clog: 

Matt Ellinger, our artistic director, teaches clogging on Monday evenings in San Francisco!

• Our class schedule
• Listing of west coast instructors

Seeking Performers

The Barbary Coast Cloggers are looking for cloggers with previous performing experience. We're looking for men with talent, energy, great stage presence and an ability to work (and play) well with others. We offer exciting high-profile performance venues and a rowdy good time! Interested?