| March/April Feature Team: The Orange Cloggers |
Orange Cloggers
In 1979, Louise and Floyd Moubray went to Busch Gardens in
Williamsburg, Virginia with friends. One of the friends suggested that
Louise go to one of the tents to see some dancing. It was the first time
Louise saw someone clog. She couldn’t take her eyes off of them and she
thought “I’ve got to learn how to do this”!!!
The next day, Louise called all of her local newspapers in an attempt to
find a clogging group in the Orange County area or to find out where she
could take lessons. She heard about a clogging group in Fredericksburg,
Virginia called the “Good Time Cloggers”. Louise called the director,
Shirley Himes. Shirley told Louise that if Louise was able to get 30
people who were willing to learn, Good Time would send their instructor,
Denise Wolf, to teach them.
Floyd and Louise got 30 people and Denise began teaching the class at the
Old High School on Belleview Avenue in Orange, Virginia and in 1980 the
Orange Cloggers were born! The Orange Cloggers performed in various
places such as area nursing homes, street festivals, and pageants. They
performed at the Virginia State Fair in 1988.
The Orange Cloggers began competing in the East Coast Clogging
Championships held in Chesapeake, Virginia in 1986. They won 26
trophies in one year and finished their competitive streak in 1993 with a
total of 84 trophies. The Orange Cloggers also won Grand Champion at
the Upper East Coast Clogging Championship held in Clinton, Maryland
in 1989. While not every trophy is large, they are all valuable and close
to our heart such as the first place trophy for the Best Float in the 1985
Gordonsville Fireman Parade.
Louise and Floyd spent many years with the Orange Cloggers finally
retiring from the group in 1993. Louise acted as director and Floyd was
the Beginner Instructor. In fact, Floyd taught the current director of the
group when she was a beginner!
The Orange Cloggers were under the direction of Donna Meadows from
1993 until 1999 when she retired due to illness and passed the group on
to the current director, Betty Clayton. Under Betty’s direction, the group
is now recognized as a Non-Profit Organization through the State of
Virginia and the Federal Government and has a web address at www.
orangecloggers.com. Betty is currently taking steps to further insure the
future of the Orange Cloggers in a permanent location in hopes that the
group will continue to prosper for many, many more years.
In 1979, Louise and Floyd Moubray went to Busch Gardens in
Williamsburg, Virginia with friends. One of the friends suggested that
Louise go to one of the tents to see some dancing. It was the first time
Louise saw someone clog. She couldn’t take her eyes off of them and she
thought “I’ve got to learn how to do this”!!!
The next day, Louise called all of her local newspapers in an attempt to
find a clogging group in the Orange County area or to find out where she
could take lessons. She heard about a clogging group in Fredericksburg,
Virginia called the “Good Time Cloggers”. Louise called the director,
Shirley Himes. Shirley told Louise that if Louise was able to get 30
people who were willing to learn, Good Time would send their instructor,
Denise Wolf, to teach them.
Floyd and Louise got 30 people and Denise began teaching the class at the
Old High School on Belleview Avenue in Orange, Virginia and in 1980 the
Orange Cloggers were born! The Orange Cloggers performed in various
places such as area nursing homes, street festivals, and pageants. They
performed at the Virginia State Fair in 1988.
The Orange Cloggers began competing in the East Coast Clogging
Championships held in Chesapeake, Virginia in 1986. They won 26
trophies in one year and finished their competitive streak in 1993 with a
total of 84 trophies. The Orange Cloggers also won Grand Champion at
the Upper East Coast Clogging Championship held in Clinton, Maryland
in 1989. While not every trophy is large, they are all valuable and close
to our heart such as the first place trophy for the Best Float in the 1985
Gordonsville Fireman Parade.
Louise and Floyd spent many years with the Orange Cloggers finally
retiring from the group in 1993. Louise acted as director and Floyd was
the Beginner Instructor. In fact, Floyd taught the current director of the
group when she was a beginner!
The Orange Cloggers were under the direction of Donna Meadows from
1993 until 1999 when she retired due to illness and passed the group on
to the current director, Betty Clayton. Under Betty’s direction, the group
is now recognized as a Non-Profit Organization through the State of
Virginia and the Federal Government and has a web address at www.
orangecloggers.com. Betty is currently taking steps to further insure the
future of the Orange Cloggers in a permanent location in hopes that the
group will continue to prosper for many, many more years.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Orange Cloggers at the 2007 Orange County Fair |
| Betty Clayton, OC Director and Instructor |
Welcome
Cloggers!
Cloggers!
| Frank Flinsch, Assistant Director, Instructor & Choreographer |
| Susan Crosby, Pee Wee Instructor |
| Allen Snow, Competitive Director and Instructor |
Frank Flinsch was born in New Jersey in 1968. He had a love of dance from an early age
and was lucky to have a mother who helped encourage it. Frank started with Ballet and
Tap, later on moving into ballroom dancing. Square Dancing eventually came into his life
where a friend then introduced him to clogging in 1986 and he has been hooked ever
since. In 1988, Frank moved to Virginia. In 1989, he found the Orange Cloggers and ever
since Frank has been an active member as much as life would allow.
With the group, Frank has had many responsibilities thru the years. From performer, to
choreographer, to instructor, to even temporarily stepping in as Director when it became
necessary. Currently he is Assistant Director, Young at Heart Instructor, Beginner
Instructor, choreographer, maintains the group’s webpage, is the main contact for the
Orange County Clogging Competition, and of course performer with both the Senior and
Young at Heart divisions of the group. Volunteering his time for the group is something
that helps to make it more worthwhile. While he wishes that he could just do this full
time, he also knows that then it might become something that he has to do. As any active
member of any group would know, it is not just the time spent at practice and
performances. There is also the hour commute twice a week to practices, handholding and
guidance, the late night phone calls, the listening to the same song over and over again to
and was lucky to have a mother who helped encourage it. Frank started with Ballet and
Tap, later on moving into ballroom dancing. Square Dancing eventually came into his life
where a friend then introduced him to clogging in 1986 and he has been hooked ever
since. In 1988, Frank moved to Virginia. In 1989, he found the Orange Cloggers and ever
since Frank has been an active member as much as life would allow.
With the group, Frank has had many responsibilities thru the years. From performer, to
choreographer, to instructor, to even temporarily stepping in as Director when it became
necessary. Currently he is Assistant Director, Young at Heart Instructor, Beginner
Instructor, choreographer, maintains the group’s webpage, is the main contact for the
Orange County Clogging Competition, and of course performer with both the Senior and
Young at Heart divisions of the group. Volunteering his time for the group is something
that helps to make it more worthwhile. While he wishes that he could just do this full
time, he also knows that then it might become something that he has to do. As any active
member of any group would know, it is not just the time spent at practice and
performances. There is also the hour commute twice a week to practices, handholding and
guidance, the late night phone calls, the listening to the same song over and over again to
| Frank Flinsch Founder, Assistant Director, Instructor & Choreographer |
figure out what steps work out best, the uncountable number of cd’s burned, care and maintenance of the equipment, and
doing one’s best at keeping people happy. Donating his time and energy is because this is something that he wants to do
and enjoys doing it.
For Frank, the Orange Cloggers have brought about the most important parts of his life. He met his wife thru them. He
has some of his best and closest friends thru them. Because of the friends he has made thru them, he and his wife have
become very active as foster parents and recently adopted a wonderful young girl now called Savannah who is also an
active member of the group. All of their foster kids have spent time with the Orange Cloggers.
The favorite part of being part of the Orange Cloggers for Frank is that he feels he is doing something that makes a
difference and impacts people’s lives. He says that most people think that it is just some people dancing, but it is more.
We give people something to do that is affordable to everyone. We provide a safe environment where people learn not
only clogging, but also self-confidence, self-discipline, and how to laugh at ones self. Bonds of friendship are brought
about that can last a lifetime. We lean on and support one another when needed as well as celebrate together. He thinks
of the kids as he would think of his own. The Orange Cloggers are more than a group to him, they are a family.
doing one’s best at keeping people happy. Donating his time and energy is because this is something that he wants to do
and enjoys doing it.
For Frank, the Orange Cloggers have brought about the most important parts of his life. He met his wife thru them. He
has some of his best and closest friends thru them. Because of the friends he has made thru them, he and his wife have
become very active as foster parents and recently adopted a wonderful young girl now called Savannah who is also an
active member of the group. All of their foster kids have spent time with the Orange Cloggers.
The favorite part of being part of the Orange Cloggers for Frank is that he feels he is doing something that makes a
difference and impacts people’s lives. He says that most people think that it is just some people dancing, but it is more.
We give people something to do that is affordable to everyone. We provide a safe environment where people learn not
only clogging, but also self-confidence, self-discipline, and how to laugh at ones self. Bonds of friendship are brought
about that can last a lifetime. We lean on and support one another when needed as well as celebrate together. He thinks
of the kids as he would think of his own. The Orange Cloggers are more than a group to him, they are a family.
Betty attended a school assembly in the 5th grade where the Orange
Cloggers performed. She couldn’t wait until the show ended to the get
the information about joining. Betty immediately went home and
begged her mother to let her join. Her mother made her promise that she
would stick with it and Betty made the promise that she kept for 25
years.
Betty started clogging with the Junior Division of the Orange Cloggers
in 1982. She slowly moved up to the Senior Division and began
competing in Virginia and Maryland winning numerous trophies.
In 1993, Betty joined the Air Force but continued to find other dance
groups or individuals throughout her world travels. Betty had a
daughter in 1995 and returned to Virginia and the Orange Cloggers in
1997. She began teaching the Senior Division and enjoyed teaching the
dances that she choreographed.
Betty assumed the role of Director in 1998 and other in a brief hiatus in
2007 (Thank you Frank for covering) and has been director ever since.
She currently teaches the Junior Division in conjunction with the
Director responsibilities. The rest, as they say, is history.
Cloggers performed. She couldn’t wait until the show ended to the get
the information about joining. Betty immediately went home and
begged her mother to let her join. Her mother made her promise that she
would stick with it and Betty made the promise that she kept for 25
years.
Betty started clogging with the Junior Division of the Orange Cloggers
in 1982. She slowly moved up to the Senior Division and began
competing in Virginia and Maryland winning numerous trophies.
In 1993, Betty joined the Air Force but continued to find other dance
groups or individuals throughout her world travels. Betty had a
daughter in 1995 and returned to Virginia and the Orange Cloggers in
1997. She began teaching the Senior Division and enjoyed teaching the
dances that she choreographed.
Betty assumed the role of Director in 1998 and other in a brief hiatus in
2007 (Thank you Frank for covering) and has been director ever since.
She currently teaches the Junior Division in conjunction with the
Director responsibilities. The rest, as they say, is history.
| Betty Clayton Director and Junior Division Instructor |
Allen has attended and won several clogging competitions in
categories such as Line, Hoe Down and Free Style. Allen’s
unique style of dancing shows his passion for the art and has
awarded him with several fans that literally follow his
clogging tour!
In 1995, Allen became the father of a beautiful girl named
Kelsey and later gained a step son named Bailey. Bailey has
obtained the same style of dance as Allen and has become a
member of the Orange Cloggers, as well as,
Allen’s daughter who also clogged with the group for a while.
Allen has choreographed several competitive routines for the
2008 competition season, as well as, routines for the group’s
performance schedule. He is actively instructing the Senior
Division in preparation of these events.
categories such as Line, Hoe Down and Free Style. Allen’s
unique style of dancing shows his passion for the art and has
awarded him with several fans that literally follow his
clogging tour!
In 1995, Allen became the father of a beautiful girl named
Kelsey and later gained a step son named Bailey. Bailey has
obtained the same style of dance as Allen and has become a
member of the Orange Cloggers, as well as,
Allen’s daughter who also clogged with the group for a while.
Allen has choreographed several competitive routines for the
2008 competition season, as well as, routines for the group’s
performance schedule. He is actively instructing the Senior
Division in preparation of these events.
| Steven Allen Snow Competitive Instructor & Senior Division Instructor |
Allen began clogging in 1982
when his sister, Betty came home
from class and showed him the
new steps she had learned. He
said “I can do that! Show me!”
Allen has been clogging with the
Orange Cloggers for 25 years. He
is currently the Competitive
Director and Senior Division
Director for the group.
when his sister, Betty came home
from class and showed him the
new steps she had learned. He
said “I can do that! Show me!”
Allen has been clogging with the
Orange Cloggers for 25 years. He
is currently the Competitive
Director and Senior Division
Director for the group.
Susan Crosby was born in
Anderson, Indiana in 1966. She
discovered her love for dancing in
her early 20’s and has been
dancing ever since. While living
in California, in the early 90’s,
she was introduced to country
dancing and found she had a
knack for it. She danced 3 to 4
| Susan Crosby Pee Wee Instructor |
nights a week dancing not only line dances but the
couple dances as well. She and her husband moved to
Virginia in 1999 and dancing was put on hold, but
after seeing the Orange Cloggers at many of the local
events decided it was time to get back into dancing.
Susan joined the Orange Cloggers in 2006 for some
extra exercise and her love of dance. She frequently
brought her 3 yr. old daughter who also developed a
love of clogging. Susan's talent and leadership
abilities quickly showed thru so when help was needed
she rose to the occasion, stepped in and became the
Pee Wee instructor. She now trains and guides the
youngest of the orange cloggers bringing out their
talent, potential, and helping them discover the joy of
clogging. Susan dances with the Young at Heart
division of the Orange Cloggers and has quickly made
herself an integral part of the group.
couple dances as well. She and her husband moved to
Virginia in 1999 and dancing was put on hold, but
after seeing the Orange Cloggers at many of the local
events decided it was time to get back into dancing.
Susan joined the Orange Cloggers in 2006 for some
extra exercise and her love of dance. She frequently
brought her 3 yr. old daughter who also developed a
love of clogging. Susan's talent and leadership
abilities quickly showed thru so when help was needed
she rose to the occasion, stepped in and became the
Pee Wee instructor. She now trains and guides the
youngest of the orange cloggers bringing out their
talent, potential, and helping them discover the joy of
clogging. Susan dances with the Young at Heart
division of the Orange Cloggers and has quickly made
herself an integral part of the group.