Janice Hanzel

"I generally find music that catches my ear. It could be bluegrass, it could be country, rock, pop, oldies, christian - whatever has a great beat, fun sound and makes me want to get up and dance. Lyrics sometimes helps especially with steps. Sometimes there might be a word that has a step already created -- i.e. if I hear the word 'horse' I might be inclined to use a High Horse step. There might be a phrase that say's 'spin around' and I'll do a step that either turns you around or actually do a spin type step. Steps of course have to fit the dance - not just a bunch of steps strung together. The steps and sections have to flow together with the music."

Questions?

Kim Brownlee

Kim Brownlee inspired many cloggers with his energetic dancing and fun-loving personality. Kim was a talented dancer with the Barbary Coast Cloggers, which lead him to teaching the Sutter’s Stompers Cloggers in Sacramento. The Sutter’s Stompers exhibition team was great in number and mighty in energy because of Kim’s infectious energy and natural leadership.

Kim choreographed many of the Sutter’s Stompers performance dances, which reflected his great style and grace while being intricate and interesting to watch. Kim often choreographed to music that was not commonly used for clogging, raising an eyebrow or two in the 1980s. His exhibition team proudly performed these dances, trusting in Kim’s creativity and wanting to please him.

Kim’s clogging classes were very well-attended – a place everyone gathered to dance and connect. Kim’s kindness and caring way nurtured a supportive extended family. Class time represented so much more than weekly clogging lessons. We eagerly looked forward to every minute of it.

Sadly, Kim passed in 1991 but he is fondly remembered in the hearts and feet of many of us.