Blue Ridge Mountain Cloggers

NC Mountain State Fair Clogging Competition

ARDEN, NC -- September 9 & 10, 2011

Two championships in one evening!!  Duo & Duet competition on Friday at NC Mountain State Fair was definitely an evening to remember.  Two of our pairs earned Grand Champion Awards and we are so proud of them.  Christina & Joey won the overall Grand Champion Duo/Duet award while Abbey and Callie earned the Grand Champion honors in the short duo/duet category.  We are looking forward to continued success from these and our other duos/duets. 

A slight chill in the fall breeze and the smell of a country fair all combine to make this competition one of the truly special events that we go to each year.  After a summer of many family vacations and scattered performances, with the teams being at less than full strength, this is the place to measure where teams stand as they are preparing for the Fall and the world championships.  This was a long summer when many people wondered, "Why didn't we just take this month or that month off?"  The answer to that question and the reward for those 2 months of hard and sometimes frustrating practices came in the way of one of our most successful fall competitions in a long time.  We were successful and earned awards in team, duo/duet and solo competition.

This two day event got off to a very strong start with our duos and duets.  All  11 duos placed in their division and category.  We quite simply owned the traditional categories where our dancers always finished at the top of the division.  Our pairs were only outscored by another one of our pairs, never by those from another team.  The crowning touch on Friday evenings activities was when Christina and Joey were awarded the Overall Grand Champion honors of all 28 pairs.  Quite an accomplishment for their second competition.  Abbey and Callie continued their winning ways by earning Grand Champion Honors in the short duo/duet category.  They unveiled their new contemporary duo routine and gave another great performance of their show routine.  We are so proud of all of our dancers and the duos and duets are just one of the areas where our commitment to teamwork shows.

 Saturday morning started off strong and early with the team dance competition and solo competitions where we once again had an outstanding day.  All team dances placed with 7 earning first place awards.  Quite an accomplishment in this strong field.  The teams were lead by Shady Grove traditional line that scored one of the highest scores of the competition.  Mountain Express, Mountain Thunder and  Mountain Wildfire also had very good dances that placed and scored well.  Oconee Bells looked amazing in their new outfits with the reworked team dances in traditional line and hoedown.  Great things are ahead for all of these teams. 

Shady Grove Traditional Line -  Really high scores and First place.  At this competition the scores and placing reflected what we have been knowing through all the hard work and frustrations.  This is an amazing group of young people that know how to dance.	Oconee Bells takes a moment to pause with Miss Loretta for a picture in their new dresses.  Really sharp looking group of young ladies that is on its way to some great things.

TEAM RESULTS

Duo / Duet Results  Christina & Joey  - Traditional Buck & Wing - Elementary  - 1st place - Overall Grand Champion Duo / Duet   Abbey & Callie  - Short Duo/Duet - Elementary  - 1st place - Grand Champion Short Duo / Duet   Abbey & Callie  - Show Duo/Duet - Elementary  - 1st place   Augusta & Sierra - Traditional Duo - 1st place   Destiny & Macy  - Traditional Duo - 1st place   Holly & Madison  - Traditional Duo - Elementary  - 1st place   Abbey & Callie  - Traditional Duo - Elementary    - 2nd place   Christina & Morgan - Traditional Duo - 3rd place   Rachel & Sidney  - Traditional Duo - Junior  - 1st place   Nicole & Stephanie  - Traditional Duo - Junior  - 2nd place   Allison & Callie  - Traditional Duo - Junior  - 3rd place Abbey & Callie  - Contemporary Duo/Duet - Elementary  - 2nd place

Talk about being sharp and on top of their game...Sidney and Rachel just continue to amaze us with one great dance after another one.  You have to really love the way they put so much into it.

When these two are on there is no one better and they were definitely on this weekend.  You just have to love their stage presence...	Augusta & Sierra First place in their first outing... Great job girls

Hard work pays off.  This weekend was an example of the work ethic that these kids learn each week in class.  Parents know that their child will have a class of quality instruction without goof off time.  This weekend taught us and these children why working hard and following instructions is important. Yes there are some nerves but you can look at the faces in these pictures and see a lot of confidence.

Our dancers also had a very good day in solo competitions with some new dancers placing very well in their competitions.  .  A summary of our dancers solo results is listed below along with a small sampling of some of the pictures from the day.  Many more pictures may be found in the photo gallery of this event and on our facebook page.

SOLO RESULTS

Name	Age	Placing
Traditional- Female
Destiny Revis	6-7	1st
Macy Williams	8-9	1st
Emma Burrell	8-9	3rd
Christina Rollins (Friday)	10-11	1st
Madison Addington	10-11	1st
Abbey Bolick	10-11	2nd
Holley Whiten	10-11	callback
Sydney Lyle	12-13	3rd
Rachel Babb	14-15	1st
Allison Durham	14 -15	3rd
Kelley Addington	16-19	1st
Wendy Critchfield	51+	1st
Traditional Male
Joey McCannon	12-13	1st
Contemporary – Female
Madison Addington	10-11	1st
Abbey Bollick	10-11	2nd
Callie Durham	12-13	3rd
Rachel Babb	14-15	2nd
Kelley Addington	16-19	1st
Contemporary Male
Joey McCannon	12-13	1st
Flatfoot Solo
Abbey Bolick	15 & Under	1st
Holley Whiten	15 & Under	2nd
Choreographed Solo
Abbey Bolick	10 -12	2nd

Who are we?? B - R - M - C