Green Mountain Cloggers
Exhibition Dance Team

 ( Amazing Grace performed by: Hillary Barcomb)

About the instructor

HILLARY BARCOMB:

I was born in Hudson New York in 1979, and started dancing when I was 5 years old, in 1984. I started out with tap, jazz, and ballet at Robin’s Dance and Exercise Academy in Kinderhook New York. My mother was the single money maker and made it hard at times to progress with my dance, but some how she always found a way! Sometimes wearing shoes 2 sizes too small, I NEVER quit no matter how much pain!
In 1990 my father , mother, and my two brother’s moved to Stockbridge Vermont, when I turned 10 years old, and clogging found my heart soon after. My family went to a local hardware store to pick up a few things and when we got there I saw a few things I liked! This is the first time that I ever saw clogging. It was a group called the A.D.I.D.A.C cloggers. (Meaning All Day I Dream About Clogging). They were not accepting any new dancers at the time and I begged and begged to join. So they tossed me a tape of a woman dancing FULL SPEED to a bunch of songs, and they told me that if I wanted to join that I needed to learn 2 of the routines on my own by the following week. I came back the next week and had those 2 routines down and a couple more. They had no choice but to allow me in. I kept my camcorder by my side and learned on my own the routines that they were dancing, and before I knew it as much as they hated it, I was dancing right in with the advanced dancers in a few months!

They ended that group after 25 years of dancing, and I found another group to dance with called the Northern Light Cloggers. This group was fun, not as advanced, which discouraged me. I ended up dancing with them and also joining another more advanced group that was affiliated with them called the New England All Stars. We traveled to North Carolina and we had a falling out. My mother came all the way down to get me. On the long journey home I tried to think of another group to join that suited me dancing experience and made me happy. There were no groups at all to be found! So I then decided to start my own. When I got home I founded the Green Mountain Cloggers Exhibition Dance Team and have been happy dancing ever since! It has been a long road but WELL WORTH IT!

I came to Vermont with the intention to progress in my ballet by starting point, but I just could not get over the energy, and karma that clogging gave to me. I founded the Green Mountain Cloggers Exhibition Dance Team, along with the help of my mother, in 1992 when I turned 13, and began choreographing, and instructing the dance at that time,... and have never stopped!! I have traveled to Durham North Carolina and participated in a free style clogging competition where I returned to Vermont with second place for the country, and also competed in Burlington Vermont and brought the group home a second place metal, as well as competing locally at the Barre Fiddlers contest and winning first place.

I have taught my mother how to dance, and about 200 others over the course of 16 years. Pretty much any one that I can find, to help pass the word how wonderful it is to have a talent, with such history as this. It has the potential to be a year round activity, with AWESOME health benefits!! Did you know that you can burn 400 calories PER HOUR!!

I really enjoy doing our 4 fundraisers a year, performing all over the state of VT, and also in NY, and NH, and MA, as well as organizing our yearly workshop that has instructors come in from all over New England. I look forward to helping other cloggers, and supporting as many clogging groups as I can.


I continue to choreograph routines and instruct to all levels of dance experience ages, 7-70. Clogging will ALWAYS be in the deepest part of my soul. Dance to the music of your dreams, and the steps will bring you joy! I really enjoy instructing my 35 members. I have been told many times over the years by parents and students that they look up to me, and want to become better people and better cloggers. I hope that I set a good example for ALL the members of this organization, and give them a cause to better there own communities, because with out ALL of you, I would not be the person that I am!. THANK YOU ALL!

If you would like to find more clog dancers, and instructors in the state of Vermont please click this link provided!

 

Clogging Clogdancing.com Clog Dancing

 

 

 

 

BAILEY FLORES

 

 

Well, if you know me (which if you're reading this, you do!) than you know I love to dance, absolutely love it, it's in my veins. I've been doing it for so long and have been on countless different teams in 3 different states so far. All of the teams or groups I have been a part of have been awesome and memorable all in their special ways. But I must say that my new team I have joined is, by far, one of my favorites. I have been a part of The Green Mountain Cloggers Exhibition Dance Team for a few months now and I love it. Not the, "oh I get to dance, this is kinda fun" love it, No- It's the "I need this, want this, can't wait for practice" kinda love.

You see, I'm a girl. (duh) And a lot of the groups I have been on have had other girls on them (duh.) And if you know me, you know I hate Drama and I hate bullshit. When it comes to dancing, I absolutely despise having drama, cat-fights, or bullshit anywhere near my dance floor. Dancing is perfect. (because, dancing is Love and Love is perfect right? Ok, won't get that deep again.) And I hate when dancing is tarnished by arguments of who gets to be on the front row, why are they yelling at me like that- who does she think she is, or my feet hurt, I'm going on break or this choreography is stupid, I don't wanna do this or so and so is talking shit about me.... Whahahhahahah....I've heard it all and have tried to cover my ears for the love of dance on many different occasions dating back to high school.

But during the GMC practice and shows all you get is dancing. Not the "la de da, I'm dancing" No- you get the clothes drenched in sweat, Hot, Keep Dancing, need more water kinda practice. That kind of dancing is my high. We don't stop to chit chat about who's dating who or fun weekend plans. On the dance floor we dance. (Most of you might be thinking DUH, but honestly- you would be surprised, I'm serious.) The only other time I have experienced dancing like this was dance classes in New York City and I remember thinking why none of my dance classes could or had never been like this. Where the heart and soul is in the dancing. And you Just Do It. Over and over again. No bullshit, just straight up dancing. If you don't know a dance, you jump out, when you know one, you jump back in. No conversations except with our feet. I'm telling you, that is my high. I would have never guessed that in a little town of Randolph, VT I would be as close to New York City dance classes as I had ever been in my life, but it's true.

Dancing is also competitive. I've had to compete for spots, compete for roles and if you also know me (which, again-you do!) I hate competition. I just don't like competing against people. If I win, other people get hurt, if they win- I get hurt. No love there, in my opinion. But I've done it before and have had some proud moments but I typically don't like it. Another reason I love GMC... I was sure when I wanted to join there would be a lengthy audition process, they would see what I could do, look me up and down, and decide if I was good enough to be "in their group." Been there, done that. Much to my surprise, Hillary (the founder- awesome!) told me just to show up. And Dance. That's it. THAT'S IT???? Just show up. And dance. Throw a donation in the bucket once a month and Just Dance. Wow. Simple concept but one I had never experienced (except in NYC remember) and one that I had been longing for. No bull shit. Your toughest competitor is Yourself. Beating yourself out. Challenging Yourself to be better than the previous week....And THAT (along with clothes drenched in sweat) is what dancing is all about.

much love,
Bailey

 

ASHLEE LABBAY

 

 

 

MIKAYLAH BLAIR:

 

I have always loved dancing. Even in my mother's stomach, they thought I was twins because I moved around so much, they thought they heard two heart beats. I figure it was the tapping of my feet. I didn't think that until after I started clogging a few months ago. Clogging is really different. I started out as hip hop, and worked my way through free style, jazz, even irish step! But I think clogging is the funnest dance I've tried so far.

    I was born in July 7, 1994 in New Hampshire. I was actually never told where, and I definately don't remember that far back! But I lived in South Royalton for about two years, until my parents split up. My mom and I moved to Randolph where we lived with my great grandmother for about a year. After living in Randolph, my parents got back together, and we moved over to Rochester, where I have lived happily for ten years with my Mom, Dad, and my sister who was born the next year.

    I started dancing when I was about 5, but I never actually took lessons or classes. It was always at rec camp, or after school programs, but I loved every minute. Every year at my school we do a Cabaret, which is the biggest preformance in Rochester. I always looked foward to joining and being part of it, but I had to wait until Junior High. When I finally hit seventh grade, I joined, and spent two full months dancing. Afetr that, I took classes with a woman named Shelly Rogers, who used to be a cheerleader. She taught me everything I know about dancing. Well, everything that Hillary didn't teach me!

    The first day of clogging, I joined right in, and caught on pretty fast. As soon as I walked through the door, I knew I would be coming back. I saw how well everyone got along, and how they worked together, and could dance like maniacs! It amazed me that Hillary, Cora, Jacob, and Jamie could move like that. I thought for sure I would make a fool out of myself. But I didn't, and now after a few months of clogging, I tap my feet through the hallways of my school, and when I'm sitting in class.

    So I guess I will continue clogging every Monday, and I will work hard. I love the class, and I love everyone in it. Hillary, Cora, and Jamie for being such great teachers. Molly, Jacob, Libby, Justin, Christian, and Brittni for being so welcoming, and showing me that it is ok to be goofy and make a fool out of yourselves every now and then. But mostly, I love everyone there for being so welcoming, and being such wonderful dancers with a great attitude. The people in that are like my family! :]]

 

THANKS, MIKAYLAH

JUSTIN JOSLIN:

To be perfectly honest, I have never danced before in my life.

JAMIE STONE:

Okay, well my background in dancing is that I have none!!! My nickname was grace (lol, as in I have none) and I was the chubby kid, so self esteem was shot, plus being in the big town of Rochester, VT there wasn’t any dance options unless we traveled and my mom didn’t have the money, and she was in night as soon as I hit middle school and junior high. So I guess I would have to say that the first thing that I really did for any kind of dance was Cabaret. Every year our school did Cabaret and I did that in 9-12 grades. If anyone does not know what that is we picked themes and sang and danced to songs. So during Cabaret I got to watch videos of River Dancers and immediately fell in love with it. I told myself someday that I would do that.

My senior year in high school I met Hillary. Neither she nor I was in any position at that point to have me join her group, but at fairs I would sneak in the back of the crowd to watch her (shhhh she doesn’t know that). Then probably 3 or 4 years later was the first time she said that I should join the group. For the next couple years it was always no, no, no, no, no. During that time I moved to Florida and saw River Dancers live (AWESOME!!!!!!!). So my passion grew stronger by the time I moved back to VT. After I realized that there was NO WHERE that did River dancing, I agreed to give clogging a try. I have probably not made the commitment I should be to it (not because I don’t want to), but I enjoy doing it, and love the group that I am with. It is great to be so excited to see the people in our group every week. I have been dancing with them since late 2005.

I also like the fact that we are such a high energy clogging group and that we don’t do just traditional songs. There is such a great variety of music that we dance to, and it is a good time!

 

Thanks, Jamie Stone

 

                              

MOLLY HOLBROOK & CHRISTIAN INGEMI:

 

 My name is Christian I am a 28 yr old mother of two beautiful girls. I was born and raised in Massachusetts. As a child I tried many things Ballet, Tap, Choir, Saxophone and Piano, I also loved Softball. I have a twin sister and two younger sisters which made it hard on my father who was a single parent to pay for activities and do all the commuting. I was very sensitive to his needs so I would usually quit everything I started to allow finances and time to be spent with on my other sisters.

 

To this day I do the same, I am last in my life. To make up for the things I never followed through with I allow my daughters Molly 6 yrs old and Sophia 1yr old, to take up all the time they want in extracurricular activities.

 

Molly has been dancing since she was 2 yrs old, she is far from a quitter and takes everything she does to they extreme. Some call her a "Drama Queen" I say she has ambition you cant bottle!  She has experience in Clogging, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Cabaret, Hip Hop and Free Style dancing. She also loves to play Electric Guitar, her Ibanez Stratus, learning Tae Kwon Do, and she has recently signed up for Baseball. If the sun didn't set Molly would not rest she is very active and enjoys learning new things. When she has "downtime" she reads to Sophia or teaches her counting and colors in English, Spanish and French.

On Monday nights at the Randolph class I have tried so hard to get the routines down while Sophia is running around or saying "uppy mommy". Parts of me feel I will never get it, but the smile that comes to my face when I see my on daughter "doing it" reminds me I can do anything I put my mind to, and to try, try ,try ,again! Sometimes life is just as simple as the Little Engine that could, and besides she must have got at least some of the intelligent traits form me, right??

 

I found clogging thru "my space" while chatting with a friend of mine Jamie Stone, who has been dancing with the Green Mountain Cloggers Exhibition Dance Team for 2 years.

 

I decided to try clogging with my daughter. Molly is doing fantastic and loves classes. I love to dance with my daughter....it gives us time together sharing and learning clogging together. Molly is excited about summer shows, and my other daughter Sophie loves to run around class while they all dance and show them how it is done!..... I also love to help do fundraisers and give ideas for this group...they are a great bunch of folks!

 

Christian & Molly

 

 

 

MARCIA MAYO BARCOMB:

 

 

When my daughter first started dance in 1984 I was very excited for her future in dance as every parent is when there child starts out on a journey in something that can effect there life forever. Of course there is always that worry as to if there child will remain focused in what they have begun, and you always wonder how to get your child to " finish what they started". That was never a problem with Hillary. She had her mind set on dancing from the very start. I was always excited to see her practice, and really enjoyed to see the excitement in her eyes at recital time! I always did feel left out though, I have to admit. I wanted to dance too....so when we moved to Vermont (after I completed my LPN nursing degree at Albany Regional College in New York), Hillary found a new interest in clogging. This was nothing we had ever heard of before. Hillary's favorite part of dance was tap, so when she found clogging she was already interested in it's movement. I did what any mother does, running their kids back and forth every practice, when finally after a few years Hillary decided to start her own group. I was very excited to be able to help out not only as a mother.....but yes finally after two years of nagging on me, she taught me how to dance clogging as well!

 

It was an honor for me to finally dance beside my daughter, instead of watching from the side lines! The planning for shows, and making costumes together, and finding new dancers to come and join us was always a trial, but so MUCH FUN! She is my only daughter so this made our bond stronger. Stronger that I could have ever imagined. As I have watched Hillary grow, her and I will always smile when we talk of clogging no matter how old we are, and ALWAYS be together dancing.

Staying in clogging was difficult for me at times. I finished my RN degree with honors as Salutatorian, at Vermont Technical College's first ever nursing program! My daughter by my side for graduation. We never skipped a beat together performing shows, and practicing. She found her own life and moved out, had children, but we always met as planned once per week for practice and to me, everything always feels like the old days when she was little again.

I am sorry to say that in present time I have a joint disorder that prohibits me from clogging. I find it hard to even walk certain days. I still every now and then accompany the dancers at practice in Randolph to go over some of the routines I remember. It is always the high light of my day when I dance , but especially when I dance with my daughter. Good luck little girl. The group looks awesome! I love you.

Mom

The week before these letters I had what I like to call a pow-wow with my dancers. I explained to them how I came into dancing and the trials and suffering I went through to be where I am today with my skills, coreography, and instructing. I told them about my life growing up. My mom was the single money maker in my family. I can remember going to practice for tap and having to wear shoes that were 2 sizes too small just so I could dance. I never complained because I WANTED to be there, and I WANTED to be the best. I danced till I could not dance any more, then after I good nights rest I got up and danced some more!  They sometimes think that all of this came easy for me. I explained to them through my tears, how I worked just as hard as they were to get where I am, and that was why I was so proud of all of them!