Monday, March 9, 2015

MONDAY DIARY: ALMOST EXCRUSIATINGLY TRUE STORIES: A HISTORY OF DANCE

 
 Irish Dancing
 It is said it started when English soldiers went to Ireland and disapproved of the dancing taking place there.  So, keeping the bottom half of Dutch door closed, they would dance with their feet while keeping their arms still so it wouldn't look as though they were dancing.
 
English Clogging
 Wooden shoes were preferred by those working in the dampness of the cotton industry.  Legend says they would tap their feet in rhythm with the machinery to keep their feet warm.  That is where English Clogging originated.
 
Northeast Ohio Stomp and Shuffle
With tons of snow falling on the populace and not wanting to soil their parish church with slush, this dance originated from parishioners stomping the snow from their feet and then shuffling on rough mats to get as much water of the bottom of their boots as possible so that they wouldn't go "SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK" walking down the main aisle. 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Excellent analogy! Lots of stomping going on around here!