Sharon Leahy has dedicated her life to traditional music and dance. She has performed around the world with her percussive dance company, Rhythm in Shoes, and has been teaching clogging basics—along with the highly anticipated team clogging routine—at Ashokan’s annual Southern Week since the early 1980s. She is passionate about helping people feel “in their bodies,” connecting with the music and with each other.
“Being ambassadors for this is more important than ever. People aren’t moving enough,” Sharon observed in a recent phone interview. Indeed, the antidote to sitting and isolation seems to be that visceral experience of moving together—something dance provides in abundance.
What makes clogging or flatfooting different from other Southern Week dance forms like two-stepping, waltzing, or square dancing? While all of these styles offer joy and a way to feel the music in your body, percussive dance might provide an even deeper connection. “Making rhythm together—your heartbeats and breathing sync up,” Sharon explains.
Last November, she and collaborator Becky Hill hosted the first annual Step-a-Tune Dance Weekend in Floyd, VA, an event designed for intermediate and advanced percussive dancers seeking a challenge.
Now, inspired by the idea that dancers of all levels should have the chance to experience this transformative art form at Southern Week, Sharon, Becky, Matt Gordon, and Nicole Ball are teaming up to expand the clogging offerings like never before.
Southern Week 2025 will feature:
- Two levels of drills
- Two levels of improvisation
- Two levels of choreographed team clogging
Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a total beginner, there will be daily opportunities to make rhythms with your feet and take that next step (no pun intended) into the world of clogging.
Drill It Until It’s in Your Bones
For longtime Ashokanites, “Drills” class might bring back memories of “clog-aerobics,” a fondly remembered nod to Fonda. The idea, Sharon explains, is simple: “Repeat it until your body is doing it without your mind.”
The Level 1 class will be accessible to everyone—even musicians looking to join in the fun—while the Level 2 class will pick up the pace with more complex combinations. “We’ll keep going until you get it and really internalize it,” Sharon promises.
Improvisation: Listen, Create, Move
This class will encourage dancers to listen deeply to rhythmic structures and find inspiration not just in music, but in nature—even the sounds of a kitchen! “Find a way to execute with your body and explore a new rhythmic pattern that you’ve found,” says Sharon. “Then vary it, reverse it, move it across the floor, put it into a different part of your body.”
It’s an opportunity for new dancers to feel creative and for experienced dancers to break out of their habits.
Team Clogging: A Tradition Continues
Anyone who has attended Southern Week before knows how special the Friday night Team Clogging performance is. This year, dancers will have two options:
- Level 1 Team: A lower-intensity experience that uses square dance figures and variations, mostly with a freestyling step throughout.
- Level 2 Team: More technical choreography, intricate footwork, and perhaps a faster tempo—like this.
When asked to describe the feel of the Level 1 team, Sharon shared some amazing old videos for inspiration: My God, Aren’t These 1960s Bluegrass Clog Dancers Magnificent to See? and Blue Ridge Mountain Dancers with Pete Seeger.
Can You Take Both Levels?
Absolutely! If you’re somewhere in between, Sharon encourages you to try both levels and stick with one (or both) as the week progresses.
How to Prepare? Make Some Noise!
Wondering how to get ready for this deep dive into clogging? Maybe your regular exercise routine could become a bit noisier.
Sharon, who also practices and teaches Ashtanga yoga, says she dances daily at home to her favorite old-time playlists. “The discipline of daily clogging practice is a great way to quiet the mind.”
See you on the dance floor!
Southern Week 2025
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason host a fun and friendly full-week of Southern traditional music from the Bayou to the Blue Ridge Mountains and beyond. Have fun learning and playing together!
Reserve your spot while spaces are still available!
By Ruth Ungar Merenda
Ruth Ungar Merenda is a musician, songwriter, and educator known for her work with The Mammals, the duo Mike + Ruthy, and the Jay Ungar & Molly Mason Family Band. A passionate singer, performer, and teacher, she fosters confidence and joy in her workshops, including Making Music Together, a fun and inclusive class for musicians of all levels. She grew up admiring the cloggers at Ashokan and jumped in with both feet in her 20s. She’s more excited than ever to be a part of it this year. “I won’t lie—those old clogging videos make my eyes misty every time,” she confesses. “Something about the pure joy transports me to another place and time. Let’s make it again, folks!”
