Blue Ridge Mountain Cloggers

ACHF World Championships - Maggie Valley NC

October 23-25, 2009

This years National Championships at Maggie Valley was more successful than almost any of us would even dare let ourselves dream!  Our teams and dancers simply had an amazing championship with awards coming in so many areas. 

The test of your year ultimately comes every fall at the ACHF World Championships in Maggie Valley.  Did all of your teams qualify?  Will they place? How will they place?  What about solo's?  Can our dancers stand out and compete?  In all of these questions BRMC received a very solid endorsement and earned the awards that they have worked so hard for this past year.  The new 3-day format for the competition proved to be a real help for the teams and the families that were there.  The officers and directors of ACHF are to be commended for taking the steps to make this event much friendlier to the families and dancers.  

A highlight of this event is always the naming of the All-American teams.  BRMC was honored to have two excellent dancers earn this distinguished honor.  On Friday evening, Brooke Johnson was named to the Jr. All-American Team.  During the awards session on Saturday, Megan Cison became just the fifth BRMC dancer to earn the prestigious honor of being named to the All-American Team.  Those of us who have been here with BRMC for the past few years know the dedication and hard work that these two have given to clogging and to BRMC and that they really deserve this. 

Our teams were very successful in the 3-day competition. All 12 of the BRMC competition dances qualified for the championships this year.  That in itself is quite an accomplishment.  11 of the dances placed in the top 3 of their categories.  Friday the children teams took the floor in hoedowns, traditional line and line formation.  BRMC hoedowns were really competitive, with each team placing and scoring well.  Saturday saw the adults on the floor and they kept up the pace with a 2nd and 3rd place award in some quality competition.  BRMC undoubtedly put two of the most unique dances on the floor Sunday with  Mountain Thunders Exhibition that earned 2nd place honors and the BRMC Show.  Once again the crowd favorite was the show routine.  It had the entire audience watching, stomping their feet and just generally having a good time. 

Little Mountain Wildfire  - Open Hoedown - First Place -  Great Job Ladies.	Shady Grove Hoedown --owning the floor with energy and rhythm.. This group really came on strong...Several 1st place awards.
Mountain Rhythm - Rocky Top - Second place	Beverly Hillbillies take their bow - one last time... Thanks for the fun times!!

A summary of Team Results is given below. 

	The dancers of BRMC also had a great day and represented us well in solos both traditional and contemporary.  Several of our dancers earned "call backs" in addition to those that placed.  This in itself is quite an honor at this competition.  Our duos and duet also did really good jobs on Sunday.  Good job to all of our dancing duets and duos for your devotion and hard work in this.  It takes a lot of work and practice in this division.
Show them how to do it Darby!
Abbey in Traditional Solo	Holly with her Contemporary Solo
Kaitlin and Haleigh 1st place traditional duo	Call backs in 12-13 traditional Female ..Rachael, Allison and Brooklyn (not pictured)
Below - Abbey and Callie Below perform their Show Duo --Earned quite a fan club as well.

A SUMMARY OF SOLOS & DUO/DUETS IS GIVEN BELOW. 

We had the opportunity to say thank you to a great friend of Traditional Southern Appalachian Clogging... Mr. Earl Powell
And then there are just all of the fun things that happen on the floor with the wonderful friends from BRMC!!

Click here for  a complete photo gallery of this event.