Documentary: Floating Dancer: The Story of Robert Dotson, the Walking Step, and the Green Grass Cloggers

 

Floating Dancer: The Story of Robert Dotson, the Walking Step, and the Green Grass Cloggers acquaints viewers with Robert Dotson and the Walking Step, a percussive dance step the Green Grass Cloggers deciphered from Robert’s flatfooting style of dancing in 1978 and helped spread far beyond Robert’s home community of Sugar Grove, NC, where he lived for the majority of his 91 years (May 13, 1923 – January 13, 2015). Teaching the Walking Step has proved to be an effective way for the NC-based Green Grass Cloggers and other clogging teams to introduce new dancers to flatfooting and clogging at festivals and workshops in several states and countries.

© 2016 Pilcrow, Possum & Persimmon. Directed by Leanne E. Smith. Produced by Leanne E. Smith & M. Chad Smith. Edited by M. Chad Smith & Leanne E. Smith.

Read more here about the Green Grass Cloggers
http://www.greengrasscloggers.com

 

Foot Notes: Flatfooting with Charmaine Slaven (DVD or streamed)

Charmaine’s new flatfooting instructional DVD is now available! You can access it on digital streaming through the Roots Channel for $17 (lifetime access) or order the physical DVD for $24. Both formats available here: http://charmaineslaven.com/Charmaine_Slaven/Flatfooter.html

A review from Nic Gariess ““Charmaine Slaven is rapidly gaining renown as an invigorating presence in the West Coast old-time music & dance scene. Here, she shares her personal flatfoot style, drawing on Appalachian percussive dance combined with her own singular creativity and musicianship. Throughout this cozy instructional DVD, Charmaine leads us, woodstove-side, through the basic rudiments of freestyle old-time solo dance. Along the way, she shares helpful tips and insight, making this project an invaluable tool for anyone seeking a glimpse inside the structures and style of American mountain dance.”

– Nic Gareiss, percussive dancer and ethnochoreologist”

Below was filmed by MoonshineV (Portland Oldtime Gathering, 2012)