RUSTY AND
LINDA CAROLAN, ALWAYS PREPARED
Director Linda Carolan writes:
Fire
on the Mountain Cloggers performed at an old timey festival at Ft. Clark Springs. Our show followed a very nice presentation
of dulcimer music. The musicians did not
use microphones, but there were so many in the circle that their volume was
quite good and very melodious. (We found
out later that these folks are the RiverPickers
… great music.)
Texas cowboys were well
represented with an authentic chuck wagon parked near the stage. In fact, we had everything we would really
need close at hand: food from the chuck
wagon, a nice shade tree if anyone needed a nap, an authentic looking outhouse
(not in working order, thank goodness) and even a jail. We could always put the rowdy cloggers in
there to cool their heels a bit.
Actually, it was very interesting to step back in time and participate
in a different way of life. Apparently
there were many snow birds still in Texas because we had quite a few people
come up to talk with us after our presentation. Those from Virginia and
Kentucky could especially relate to our style of clogging.
And now the story BEHIND the Certified Clogging
Instructor journey …
The plane touched down on the
runway with a jolt and I wondered if this would be an omen for the upcoming
week in Las Vegas. I had signed up to
participate in the Fast Track portion of the Certified Clogging Instructor
Program at the National CLOG Convention and had submitted my required
documentation, teaching video and original cue sheets months earlier.
My mind raced back twenty
years earlier to a time and place much calmer and more peaceful than Las
Vegas. Our rental car putted along the
winding roads and backways toward Fontana Village, North Carolina in November
of 1983. It was there that the National
Clogging and Hoedown Council (in conjunction with CLOG) held the one time only
Academy of Teaching. It was there on
those wooden floors that the clogging “greats” passed their experience on to us
fledgling instructors. Rusty and I had
been teaching only two or three years so we were both eager to learn more about
the art of instructing.
This was called the Clogging
Leaders’ School and it focused on such items as teaching beginner and
intermediate clogging classes, team directing and management, trouble-shooting
and choreography, history of clogging, among other subjects, and ended with
overall testing. One of the workshops
was entitled “How to Motivate Your Team,” and another portion of the school was
on cueing, directing and organization of classes. We were taught how to choreograph a
routine and I was instantly hooked. I’ve
been listening to music, counting beats, and dreaming up steps ever since.
So twenty years later, after
teaching clogging nationally and internationally, what am I doing in Las Vegas,
seemingly at square one again? I was interested
in the CCI certification primarily for credibility. I was also keenly interested in seeing if,
after twenty years, the sessions were different or not.
The CCI Sessions were held at
Caesar’s Palace: elegant towers pointed
majestically to the heavens, the halls were filled with opulent decorations,
and brides in resplendent wedding dresses paraded throughout the hotel. On the Saturday that we arrived, the program
indicated that weddings were scheduled in various “chapels” every thirty
minutes. “Caesar” and his entourage
strolled the wings of the Palace, posing for interested photographers. We got lost several times and finally
discovered the best path from our room in the Roman Tower to the Palace Tower convention
area was to take a short cut through Appian Way and turn Right at the
Rear. Er, uh. There was a GIANT statute of David (in all
his glory) at the intersection where we needed to veer to the right. While in Vegas we learned the secret of
gambling and succeeded in scoring a win every time we plunked down our
money. The coins jingled as they entered
the slot and trickled down into the bowels of the machine. The brightly lit box coughed and spluttered
as it spewed forth its contents. A
winner every time!! I just LOVE to play
those Coke machines.
The CCI Sessions were
expertly staffed by top national instructors.
We reviewed Leadership, Management, Promotions, Marketing, Voice
Production, Microphone Technique, and Cueing Dances. One of the classes focused on my beloved
pastime of choreography. We counted
beats and parted music and wrote a routine to Bossa Nova (by Elvis,
naturally). I listened to the music so
many times I dreamed the steps later that evening. (Rusty can verify that I kicked him all night
long.)
Other sessions included
Teaching Tiny Tots, Beginners, Teens, and Adults. We also reviewed Teaching Workshop Routines
and Figures (including Southern Appalachian Mountain Figures … one of my
favorites).
I made new friends (from the
US, Canada and Australia) and got to reminisce about past adventures with
friends I had not seen in many years.
Although I was sick with allergies the entire time I was at the
Convention, the good Lord was with me and I was successful during both my written
test as well as my teaching session.
Fast Track is really the way
to go. Because of my many years of
experience in teaching and leadership, I was able to meet all the requirements
and be accepted into the CCI Fast Track Program. Thus, I was able to attend the sessions and
take the written and practical tests all at one convention. All experienced instructors should definitely
consider this route.
So now I can sign my name:
Linda Carolan, CCI
As directors of the Fire on the Mountain Cloggers, Rusty
and I leave you with the admonition to “Keep smiling” and with this verse:
“Do
not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you
go.” Joshua 1:9