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Welcome
Cloggers!
Cloggers!
| Frank Flinsch Director of Heart of Virginia Cloggers |
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 became
an active member as much as life would allow.
Frank has had many responsibilities thru the
years with clogging. From performer, to
choreographer, to instructor, to even temporarily
stepping in as Director when it became
necessary. When the Orange County Fair Board
approached Frank about having a competition at
the fair, Frank and Chris rose to the challenge and
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 became
an active member as much as life would allow.
Frank has had many responsibilities thru the
years with clogging. From performer, to
choreographer, to instructor, to even temporarily
stepping in as Director when it became
necessary. When the Orange County Fair Board
approached Frank about having a competition at
the fair, Frank and Chris rose to the challenge and
with the help of Betty Clayton and several others, started the Orange County Clogging Competition.
Life brought about the chance for him to start his own clogging group this year. With how things have
worked out with the Heart of Virginia Cloggers, Frank knows that this is where he is supposed to be. From
the help and support that he has received, to how the new group has been there to help others and make a
difference in peoples lives. It has been wonderous for him to see how the dancers come together and
support each other. Not only with getting steps down and learning routines, but how they help each other
with homework, and they always know they have someone to call and talk to.
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 commute several times a week to practices, handholding and guidance, the late night
phone calls, the listening to the same song over and over again to 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, clogging has brought about the most important parts of his life. He met his wife thru clogging.
He has some of his best and closest friends thru it. Because of the friends he has made, he and his wife
have become very active as foster parents and have adopted a wonderful young girl now called Savannah
who is also an active clogger and helps with teaching with the new group. All of their foster kids have
spent time with clogging.
The best part of being part of the Heart of Virginia Cloggers for Frank is that he knows 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 teammates
as he would think of his own relatives. The Heart of Virginia Cloggers are more than a group to him, they
are a family.
Life brought about the chance for him to start his own clogging group this year. With how things have
worked out with the Heart of Virginia Cloggers, Frank knows that this is where he is supposed to be. From
the help and support that he has received, to how the new group has been there to help others and make a
difference in peoples lives. It has been wonderous for him to see how the dancers come together and
support each other. Not only with getting steps down and learning routines, but how they help each other
with homework, and they always know they have someone to call and talk to.
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 commute several times a week to practices, handholding and guidance, the late night
phone calls, the listening to the same song over and over again to 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, clogging has brought about the most important parts of his life. He met his wife thru clogging.
He has some of his best and closest friends thru it. Because of the friends he has made, he and his wife
have become very active as foster parents and have adopted a wonderful young girl now called Savannah
who is also an active clogger and helps with teaching with the new group. All of their foster kids have
spent time with clogging.
The best part of being part of the Heart of Virginia Cloggers for Frank is that he knows 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 teammates
as he would think of his own relatives. The Heart of Virginia Cloggers are more than a group to him, they
are a family.