What Dreamers Do
Hi, I’m Carla Gover, an Appalachian musician, flatfoot dancer, mama, and DREAMER from Kentucky. I'm on a mission to share fierce love, good humor, and inspiration to help you live a life of creative freedom. I decided to start the What Dreamers Do Podcast to help answer the question: How can we use our gifts and talents to build a better world, and have fun along the way? You’ll also find musings about Appalachia as well as interesting conversations with songwriters, poets, dancers, educators, world-changers, social justice warriors, and other people like you who are working to make a difference using their art, their skills, or just the way they live their lives. On every episode, you’ll hear ideas, conversations, and actionable items to help you unlock your creativity and live your purpose. Grab a mason jar full of sweet tea (or something a little stronger) and pull up a chair, cause it’s time to get YOUR dream on!
What Dreamers Do
Carryin' On: An Interview with Appalachian Dancer Rodney Clay Sutton
In this episode, you'll take a deep dive into Appalachian Flatfooting, Clogging, and the general dance history of the Carolinas. You'll also hear the origin story of Rodney Clay Sutton, recognized as a Master Folk Artist in North Carolina.
With a lifelong career in music and dance, Rodney is both a preserver and an innovator in Appalachian Percussive Styles, and was an early member of the world-renowned Green Grass Cloggers.
We spend time talking about Rodney's influences and early life, the evolution of the dance stylings of the Green Grass Cloggers, walking the line between tradition and innovation, and how some of the steps and dances in the GGC repertoire came about.
Other topics include:
- The importance of LIVE MUSIC for performance
- How dance contests affect the perpetuation and evolution of a style
- The relationships between old-fashioned and contemporary clogging
- Cultural sensitivity in dance education
- Dancers and educators like Willard Watson, Robert Dotson, Dudley Culp, Amy Sarli, and more
Links Mentioned
Rodney's Website
Rodney's Facebook Page
Talking Feet Film
Green Grass Cloggers
Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging Academy
Music Used:
Sugar Hill by Jim Couch (Harlan County, Kentucky)
Digital Library of Appalachia
Follow Carla on Instagram
Buy Carla a coffee
Get your free Mountain Mama Digital Care Package