#ThisIsThePlace: Clogging becomes more popular in Pender County

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — Burgaw is known for lots of things. It’s the oldest train depot in North Carolina. It’s the home of the Annual Blueberry Festival. It was also the back drop for the TV series “Under the Dome” and “I know hat you did last summer.” What you may not know is that Burgaw is where the Cripple Creek Corner Dance Studio started.

Mondays are the loudest day of the week at this Burgaw dance studio filled with folks young and old, men and women, clogging.

“I’ve really never not been in dance,” Cripple Creek Cloggers Co-Director Jason Aycock said.

Jason says he was born into dancing.

“When I was growing up, we actually lived here in the dance studio, seriously!” Jason said.

His parents, Nancy and Lewis Aycock, started the studio back in 1982 offering a variety of classes like jazz, tap, ballet, but clogging has always been the most popular choice.

“Irish step dancing, tap, African American dancing, Native American dancing, all kind of mixed together as a melting pot of dance in order to make what has become American clogging,” Jason said.

From beginners to national champions, the studio is where it all began.

17-year-old Joseph Lee has been clogging since he was 3 years old.

“I love getting to see all the little kids in the crowd and stuff like that when I go and they are like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so cool. I want to be a clogger one day.’ I love showing what I do to people,” Lee said.

Clogging is a dance that is done by listening to the music and using your heel to keep with the rhythm.

“A lot of physical discipline, learn the moves, learning the timing, learning how it should sound, how it should look, the proper techniques, but all of it really worth it,” Joseph said.

Joseph is a junior at Harrells Christian Academy with a goal of becoming a missionary after high school.

“I want to carry clogging with me as I go to anyone, to anyone who loves art, loves dancing,” Joseph said. “It’s a piece of home being from North Carolina. It’s a piece of me that I grew up into to, you know it’s a folk dance and it’s a part of our rich culture and I want to share that.”

9-year-old Riley Drew Brooks has been clogging since she was 4 and is a part of the competition team.

‘I like the steps and the rhythm, I like the hear the beat of the clogging,” Riley Drew said. “It’s really amazing.”

While Riley is still in her early stage, Joseph says keep it up.

“Just keep with it,” Joseph said. “Stay in not for the competitions or the awards, but stay in to just make people smile.”

This old building has always been occupied by lots of sounds, even a car dealership.

“When my parents started this studio, it was not just used as a dance studio, there were youth dances, community events held here,” Jason said.

This studio is now a gathering place for dance lovers alike.

“We still do partner dances and square dances that helps you get to know each other because you can talk to people while you’re dancing, and it’s sort of a great way to bring the community together,” Jason said.

Four walls containing a lot of history within them including the past and the future of the Cripple Creek Cloggers.

“Clogging has always been kind of a staple to the Burgaw community,” Jason said.

The students are currently practicing for a recital that will be held later this month along with the pender county spring festival which is may 2nd.