| May/June 2009 Feature Team: Happy Feet |
The Happy Feet Cloggers, directed by Martha Hemingway, is a high-
energy, modern clogging and tap dance troupe from Fairfax. This award-
winning group dances at festivals, local events, private organizations,
and senior communities. The group’s goals are to provide enjoyable,
high-quality entertainment to the community through clogging and tap
dancing and to promote an understanding and appreciation of
clogging. The City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts supports the
group in meeting their goals. Happy Feet is also a member of the Arts
Council of Fairfax County.
Happy Feet practices on Wednesday evenings at Green Acres Center,
4401 Sideburn Road in Fairfax, Virginia. Martha choreographs a
majority of their routines and enjoys adding jazz moves to the dances
when possible. At present, the team has one tap and one jazz routine
as part of their clogging repertoire. Happy Feet performs to many
different styles of music: oldies, disco, pop, Irish, bluegrass, and
country/western.
The dancers wear a creative costume for each routine, which enhances
their choreography and modern clogging style. Although they have a
lot more to lug around, the dancers enjoy wearing the different
costumes. It helps them get in the spirit of the particular number,
adds variety to the routines, and is more enjoyable for the audience.
Happy Feet’s emcee and sound person, Dale Olson (also Martha’s
fiancé), makes it possible for the dancers to change costumes, take a
sip of water, and line up for the next routine. He’s just as entertaining
as the dancers. Audiences love his wit and personality. Happy Feet
could not do their shows without him!
In September 2001 and 2003, Happy Feet competed in the Mid-Atlantic
Clogging Championship held in Maryland each year. The team brought
home a trophy for each category they entered, winning five 1st place
trophies, two 2nd place trophies, and two 3rd place trophies.
In October 2003, Happy Feet won 2nd place in the Adult Specialty
category in the Vienna Halloween parade. The theme that year was
“Saluting the Vienna Fire Department.” Happy Feet clogged down Main
Street to the tune “Hot, Hot, Hot.” One of the dancers wore a white
sweat suit w/ large, black polka dots drawn all over it and dog ears and
a tail. She brought up the rear as our clogging Dalmatian, and the
parade audience loved it!
Happy Feet has had as many as 13 dancers at one time. At the present,
they have 7: 1 is in the process of moving to Florida and 2 are on the
injured list. The Happy Feet Cloggers are Gail Drifmeyer, Martha
Hemingway, Cathy Hill, Lynn Meyer, Donna Riemer, Sara Skoglund, and
Debbie Williams. Lynn maintains Happy Feet’s website (www.
happyfeetcloggers.org) and her husband, Doug Jenkins, is the group’s
photographer.
energy, modern clogging and tap dance troupe from Fairfax. This award-
winning group dances at festivals, local events, private organizations,
and senior communities. The group’s goals are to provide enjoyable,
high-quality entertainment to the community through clogging and tap
dancing and to promote an understanding and appreciation of
clogging. The City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts supports the
group in meeting their goals. Happy Feet is also a member of the Arts
Council of Fairfax County.
Happy Feet practices on Wednesday evenings at Green Acres Center,
4401 Sideburn Road in Fairfax, Virginia. Martha choreographs a
majority of their routines and enjoys adding jazz moves to the dances
when possible. At present, the team has one tap and one jazz routine
as part of their clogging repertoire. Happy Feet performs to many
different styles of music: oldies, disco, pop, Irish, bluegrass, and
country/western.
The dancers wear a creative costume for each routine, which enhances
their choreography and modern clogging style. Although they have a
lot more to lug around, the dancers enjoy wearing the different
costumes. It helps them get in the spirit of the particular number,
adds variety to the routines, and is more enjoyable for the audience.
Happy Feet’s emcee and sound person, Dale Olson (also Martha’s
fiancé), makes it possible for the dancers to change costumes, take a
sip of water, and line up for the next routine. He’s just as entertaining
as the dancers. Audiences love his wit and personality. Happy Feet
could not do their shows without him!
In September 2001 and 2003, Happy Feet competed in the Mid-Atlantic
Clogging Championship held in Maryland each year. The team brought
home a trophy for each category they entered, winning five 1st place
trophies, two 2nd place trophies, and two 3rd place trophies.
In October 2003, Happy Feet won 2nd place in the Adult Specialty
category in the Vienna Halloween parade. The theme that year was
“Saluting the Vienna Fire Department.” Happy Feet clogged down Main
Street to the tune “Hot, Hot, Hot.” One of the dancers wore a white
sweat suit w/ large, black polka dots drawn all over it and dog ears and
a tail. She brought up the rear as our clogging Dalmatian, and the
parade audience loved it!
Happy Feet has had as many as 13 dancers at one time. At the present,
they have 7: 1 is in the process of moving to Florida and 2 are on the
injured list. The Happy Feet Cloggers are Gail Drifmeyer, Martha
Hemingway, Cathy Hill, Lynn Meyer, Donna Riemer, Sara Skoglund, and
Debbie Williams. Lynn maintains Happy Feet’s website (www.
happyfeetcloggers.org) and her husband, Doug Jenkins, is the group’s
photographer.
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| Martha Hemingway Instructor/Choreographer |
Welcome
Cloggers!
Cloggers!
| Visit their website! www.happyfeetcloggers.org |
| Martha Hemingway Happy Feet Instructor and Choreographer |
Martha Hemingway grew up in Hanover County,
Virginia. Her first dance experience was ballet and
pointe during her preschool years. At age 10, she
began tap dancing. Martha attributes her love of
dance and performing to her “Aunt Margie,” who
taught thousands of students throughout her 58-
year career as a dance instructor.
After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in English
from North Carolina Wesleyan College, Martha
taught junior high school English for eight years.
She left the school system to become a technical
editor and is currently working at General
Dynamics, an engineering company.
Her first experience as a dance instructor was
teaching tap and jazz classes for the Fairfax County
Rec Dept. She also taught at The Dance Company
and for the Fairfax County Park Authority. She was
a founding member of and choreographer for the
Good Vibration Dancers, a local tap and jazz
performing group.
Virginia. Her first dance experience was ballet and
pointe during her preschool years. At age 10, she
began tap dancing. Martha attributes her love of
dance and performing to her “Aunt Margie,” who
taught thousands of students throughout her 58-
year career as a dance instructor.
After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in English
from North Carolina Wesleyan College, Martha
taught junior high school English for eight years.
She left the school system to become a technical
editor and is currently working at General
Dynamics, an engineering company.
Her first experience as a dance instructor was
teaching tap and jazz classes for the Fairfax County
Rec Dept. She also taught at The Dance Company
and for the Fairfax County Park Authority. She was
a founding member of and choreographer for the
Good Vibration Dancers, a local tap and jazz
performing group.
Martha first saw clogging at her Aunt Margie’s dance
recital in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Margie’s
daughter attended Appalachian State University, joined
their clogging team, and after graduation, came home to
teach clogging to her dance school’s tappers. Martha
learned to clog when she joined a Northern Virginia This
group danced at many different venues, but their
highlight was performing at the While House on July 4th
for President Reagan.
In September 2000, Martha founded and became the
director/choreographer of the Happy Feet Cloggers, an
adult clogging group in Fairfax City (www.
happyfeetcloggers.org). In addition to Happy Feet, she
teaches clogging classes for the City of Fairfax Parks and
Rec Dept. Classes are held Wednesday and Thursday
evenings at Green Acres Center, 4401 Sideburn Road,
Fairfax, Virginia.
In 2006 through 2008, she was an instructor at the
Potomac Double Down clogging workshop in the
Haymarket/Manassas, Virginia, area. She has also
taught at the WASCA (Washington Area Square Dancers
Cooperative Association) clogging workshop for the last
four years.
recital in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Margie’s
daughter attended Appalachian State University, joined
their clogging team, and after graduation, came home to
teach clogging to her dance school’s tappers. Martha
learned to clog when she joined a Northern Virginia This
group danced at many different venues, but their
highlight was performing at the While House on July 4th
for President Reagan.
In September 2000, Martha founded and became the
director/choreographer of the Happy Feet Cloggers, an
adult clogging group in Fairfax City (www.
happyfeetcloggers.org). In addition to Happy Feet, she
teaches clogging classes for the City of Fairfax Parks and
Rec Dept. Classes are held Wednesday and Thursday
evenings at Green Acres Center, 4401 Sideburn Road,
Fairfax, Virginia.
In 2006 through 2008, she was an instructor at the
Potomac Double Down clogging workshop in the
Haymarket/Manassas, Virginia, area. She has also
taught at the WASCA (Washington Area Square Dancers
Cooperative Association) clogging workshop for the last
four years.
In 2007 Martha was recognized as a clogging “expert” by a new company called Knowlera
Media, who sent a professional filmmaker to Green Acres Center to tape her clogging. The
videographer edited and produced ten “mini” clogging videos, which were put on www.
monkeysee.com, Knowlera’s new web site, where consumers can access thousands of free
how-to videos. After clicking on the site, just type in hemingway in the search box, and
you can clog along with Martha. She teaches 16 beginning clogging steps – just a few of the
steps new dancers learn in her beginner clogging class. These mini videos give those
interested in clogging a chance to experience it firsthand before they decide to join a
class. Martha has also produced and sells a beginner clogging video tape, which includes
38 basic clogging steps that are taught in great detail.
When she is not dancing, Martha enjoys being with her fiancé, Dale; her two dogs, Scooter
and Millie; and her two cats, Mollie and Maggie.
Media, who sent a professional filmmaker to Green Acres Center to tape her clogging. The
videographer edited and produced ten “mini” clogging videos, which were put on www.
monkeysee.com, Knowlera’s new web site, where consumers can access thousands of free
how-to videos. After clicking on the site, just type in hemingway in the search box, and
you can clog along with Martha. She teaches 16 beginning clogging steps – just a few of the
steps new dancers learn in her beginner clogging class. These mini videos give those
interested in clogging a chance to experience it firsthand before they decide to join a
class. Martha has also produced and sells a beginner clogging video tape, which includes
38 basic clogging steps that are taught in great detail.
When she is not dancing, Martha enjoys being with her fiancé, Dale; her two dogs, Scooter
and Millie; and her two cats, Mollie and Maggie.