QUINCY, IL -- Certain images, music or moves may come to mind when you hear the word, "clogging."
The fast-step, loud-stomping art form has been around for ages.
Clogging is a life-long passion for one Quincy woman who moved to the area a few years ago.
She brought a piece of her roots to the Tri-States to help others learn the dance, all while getting a great cardio workout to a percussive beat.
Sunna Heston moved to Quincy from where many refer to as the Clogging Capitol of the World -- North Carolina. She moved from a place that had hundreds of cloggers to an area that didn't. So she started her own classes that she now teaches at Cheryl Loatsch Studio in Quincy. Introducing - the Gem City Cloggers.
Sunna Heston said, "I love the loud noise. It's different from anything else. It's not hip hop, it's not tap, it's not ballet. It's a conglomeration of a lot of things. We do steal some things from tap. We do take some moves from hip hop. But it's a very nice variation."
Glenda Farkas started because she wanted to get some exercise during the evenings while having fun with others.
Farkas said, "I'm in a very stressful job during the day. I know I can look forward to coming out here, and exercising and having a great time. You always leave feeling so much better, and we laugh the entire time. So it's great for stress. It's great for exercise, and you just burn a lot of calories and have a great time doing it."
Sydney Heston and Kelsey Rees have a combined seven years of clogging experience.
Sydney Heston said, "I just like the steps. It has a bunch of movement like our dance, 'Black or White.' We get to move and have fun."
Kelsey Rees said, "I love being in there with all my friends, and we have some pretty cool songs that we dance to."
Rajah said, "I think it's neat you're clogging to AC/DC and Michael Jackson."
Sunna Heston answered, "That's a common misconception about clogging. Many people think backwoods mountain, bluegrass or old country, and that's not the case at all. It has evolved immensely since I started doing it when I was 8-years-old."
What does it take to show up to your class? Heston answered, "The courage to show up! I have a lot of people who say I want to do that, but they don't actually walk through the door. You don't know unless you try. I can teach you rhythm. A lot of people think they can't keep a beat to a song. Clogging will help you do that, because you are taught how to do the beat the first thing."
If you're interested in learning more about clogging or are interested in becoming a Gem City Clogger, you can contact Sunna Heston at (217) 779-4732 or cloggingrox@yahoo.com. Beginner classes are available on Wednesday nights.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKHQA