Appalachian clogging is an Amercian step dance. Its origins are an amalgamation of Irish and English clog dancing, African-American buck dancing, and American Indian dancing. Traditionally this type of dancing was done to old time fiddle music as originated in the Appalachian region of the United States.

The Hot Pepper Steppers was created in 1988 as a result of the desire of Mary Allgire and Claude Stephens of the Old Time Dance community for Tallahassee to have a traditional (Green Grass style) clogging group such as the Cross Creek Cloggers from Gainesville, Florida.  When it was learned that Chris Bittle, who had moved to Tallahassee in 1987 from Chapel Hill, NC, had formed a traditional clogging group while living in Lafayette, Indiana and had danced with the Hoofin' High Cloggers of Denver, she was approached to teach and choreograph for a new clogging group in Tallahassee.  Thus the Hot Pepper Steppers (HPS) was formed.  The original members of the HPS were Chris Bittle, Mary Allgire, and Marc Weininger.  Chris, Mary, and Marc still remain as group members.  Since the inception of HPS many persons have participated in and left the group. We encourage all persons interested in clogging who reside in or near Tallahassee to join us for lessons and dance.

The Women of HPS

The Men of HPS

Members of the Group:

Performance Schedule

April 19, 2008, Southern Music Rising Festival, Monticello Opera House, Monticello, FL

November 10-11, 2007, 55th Annual Florida Folk Festival, White Springs, FL

October 20-21, 2007, Florida Fiddlers' Convention, Keystone Heights (Crystal Lake), FL

Memorial Day Weekends, 1990-2006, Annual Florida Folk Festival, White Springs, FL

Performance Photos and Movies

May, 2002: Tallahassee Museum Spring Festival, Tallahassee, FL (photos)

May 25, 2002: 50th Annual Florida Folk Festival, White Springs, FL (photos)

May 23-25, 2003: 51st Annual Florida Folk Festival, White Springs, FL  (movie of 12x6 routine , needs Quicktime Player)

 
Dancing at the Florida Fiddles Convention, 2000-
left: six-person routine; right- paddy-cake rountine

Routines

1. Four person routine

2. Six person routine

3. Paddy Cake routine (for 3) and (for 4)

4. Last Tango in White Springs

5. Green Grass rountine

Clogging Products

Talking Feet video tape

contact webmaster : mweininger@mac.com