Over a decade ago, FiddleKicks was formed when cloggers who had recently moved to Philadelphia from Boston and a group of Philadelphia folk dancers met at a clogging workshop at the 1996 Heritage Dance Festival in Plymouth-Whitemarsh, PA. They began meeting regularly in Mt. Airy to practice Appalachian clogging steps and routines to bluegrass and old-time music. As word of these sessions spread, other cloggers joined the group, and soon FiddleKicks expanded in size and scope. By April of 1997, the group received an invitation to perform.

Prominent in performance, education and preservation of Appalachian clogging, FiddleKicks has substantial experience and expertise giving performances and teaching workshops in the Eastern U.S. and England. Concerts usually include narration and audience participation, enabling the public to connect with and personally experience this unique dance form. Repertoire also includes other traditional percussive styles, such as Cape Breton step dances, English clog & sword dances, and South African gumboot. Programs are closely tailored to the audience, and can be up to ninety minutes with musical interludes with between six and fifteen performers. Costumes range from “down-home” pioneer outfits to more modern styles.

FiddleKicks performs the old-fashioned way — to live music by talented singers and musicians who play a variety of instruments such as fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, bass, concertina, flute, accordion, piano, bodhran & harmonica. No matter the audience — seniors, children and families; adults or a mixed crowd — people love this toe-tapping, high-energy dancing and music.