Director and Choreographer: Patsy Chase
Address: 38114 S. Desert Star Dr., Tucson, AZ 85739-1004
Phone: (520) 825-2737
Email: tappatsy@aol.com
Style of dance: The Clogging Desert Stars perform Appalachian-style clogging. This dance is similar to tap dance, yet it is done flat-footed while tap is done more on the balls of the feet. The group emphasizes their technique of "clogging with a flair", which means that the basis of their dance is traditional clogging, but unique choreography is then included. The group consists of eight women who not only clog, but perform various other forms of dance as well, such as Scottish, Maple Leaf Rag, and Cajun.
Training and background: Patsy Chase, director and choreographer of The Clogging Desert Stars, has been teaching all types of dance for many years. She comes to the Tucson area from Maine, where she taught dance for fifteen years. She began clogging in 1996 when she attended a clogging class. She found that clogging was similar to tap, which she had done for most of her life, but it was less strain on her feet. After trying to join a group that had too many members, the director of that group advised her to start a group of her own. So in 1997, Patsy formed The Clogging Desert Stars. Since then, the group has performed in many places around Arizona, including the Square and Round Dance Festival held every January in Tucson, as well as Las Vegas and even as far as Austria.
Availability: Normally, the group performs anywhere they are asked. To hire this group for performance, contact Patsy Chase.