Clogging taps girl’s love for dancing

At age 2, Emma Peckham made a pest of herself while her mother taught clogging, a type of percussive folk dance often associated with bluegrass music.

“I ran around after the cloggers,” she said recently, laughing at the memory.

Always underfoot, she’d try imitating the big kids’ steps and movements. Finally, at age 4 1/2, she started taking lessons herself.

Now a senior at Mead High School, she’s still dancing.

Peckham’s early interest in clogging has expanded to include a variety of dance styles. She began ballet as a preschooler and later added modern dance. Both types have served her well on the school’s dance team and cheerleading squad. Peckham has also explored lyrical dance. She described it as “a cross between modern and ballet,” focusing on a visual interpretation of a song’s lyrics.

But no matter how many styles she studies, she doesn’t forget her roots. Clogging is in her heart – and in her toes. She teaches the skill every Monday to a class of 3- to 7-year-olds, and she relies on it as a foundation for all other dancing.

Even when auditioning for a college scholarship.

Months ago, Peckham went to Brigham Young University for a dance seminar. There, she met faculty members who encouraged her to attend BYU after high school. They described their dance department as the best in the country.

That’s why, last October, Peckham found herself in Provo, along with dozens of other prospective dance students, auditioning for scholarships. She felt prepared, except for one problem.

“I was really, extremely sick that day.”

Her plan had been to audition with a modern dance routine, but she said, “I didn’t have the strength for it.” Instead, she explained her predicament to the professors, who graciously allowed her enough rest periods to make it through the day. As she was able, she performed other dance styles – with a focus on clogging.

That was enough to convince the judges, and weeks later Peckham received notice of the scholarship. Because of her interest and skills in folk dance, she will participate in BYU’s World Dance group, which will study a variety of cultures and traditions. She said a three-hour daily dance rehearsal will fill out her rigorous schedule of academic classes and homework.

The busy college routine won’t bother her, though, thanks to the discipline she’s maintained through her years as a dancer. She currently manages activities including studying piano, serving on the Teen Advisory Council of the Chase Youth Commission and cheerleading.

Now far removed from those pesky days in her mother’s class, Peckham believes a future in dancing can lead to a variety of careers. “I have a love for choreography and for teaching,” she said. “I might someday own a studio, or I might teach at someone else’s studio.”

Either way, it’s safe to assume clogging will be a part of the curriculum.