Capitol City cloggers loved Fourth of July parade in D.C., despite heat

Where is it said the feet of a clogger have it easy?

Take the feet of Capitol City clogger Lacy Sheck. Clogging down Constitution Avenue in the mile-long Fourth of July parade in Washington, D.C., even her feet felt the insufferable pressing humidity. And afterward had the blisters to show for it.

"It was 100 degrees, and 95 percent humidity," said Sheck, who noted it was something like the hottest day since 1903.

But the moist, irritable breath of the Chesapeake Bay did not keep the eight Capitol City cloggers from enjoying their trip to Washington.

"Everyone was really happy and really excited to be there," said Carson City clogger Denise Ramsey. "For me, it was kind of an overwhelming experience to be in our nation's capital on the Fourth of July. It was awesome."

Dressed in red and white skirts and blue-starred tops, the Capitol City troupe was part of the International Clogging Exposition. More than 1,300 cloggers participated in the parade, following the Hare Krishna, another seemingly inescapable element of the District.

Earl Mussett, the only man in the Capitol City cloggers, wore blue pants and a red, white and blue vest.

"We had a really great time," Ramsey said. "It was very hot and very humid. Still, tons of people at the parade were watching. The crowd was fantastic."

The Capitol City cloggers received video tapes from the International Clogging Organization in January. The videos provided the dances the cloggers needed to learn for the parade.

For the Capitol City cloggers, the fun started July 3 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Dressed in Nevada white and blue, the Capitol City cloggers performed the "Star-Spangled Special" in front of Abe.

"Standing at the Lincoln Memorial at the steps, and with Lincoln behind us, and the Vietnam memorial near us, just standing there in awe of what it all represents, if you don't break into the Star-Spangled Banner or tears, it's just incredible ... " Sheck said. " ... if you don't melt from the heat."

The group also had breakfast with Nevada Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign in the Capitol.

And although the group will keep on clogging locally, their first national clogging venture may lead to international clogging. The group is considering clogging in Normandy, France, in celebration of the the 60th anniversary of D-Day in two years. Not only are their horizons expanding, the group is too. First there were eight; now there are nine.

Clogs are similar to tap shoes except an extra tap is attached to the toe and heel of the clogging shoes, making more sound and exuding a more vibrant rhythm.

"It's good exercise," said Sheck, owner of Real Scoop ice cream in Carson City. "It's good to get out and move around and enjoy performing for local groups and functions. It's a great bunch of people. We enjoy dancing together. "