NORTH HILLS : Appalachian Clog-Dancing Has a Following

About 60 people of various ages are noisily stomping, clapping, and twirling at a school in North Hills.

It’s not some strange ritual, but an Appalachian clog-dancing class.

“It’s my favorite thing,” said homemaker Diane Kaisanlahti, one of the enthusiastic students. “I’d even miss Roseanne’s show (for it).”

The class is taught by Walt Spellmeyer and his wife Helen, who first became hooked on the dance form after they saw a group of cloggers at a Rock-a-thon picnic in 1980. Two years later, they taught their first class at Moorpark College and they have been spending at least four days a week teaching or dancing with their exhibition group ever since.

According to the Spellmeyers, clogging was born in the Appalachian Mountains and has become the trademark of Southern country dancing. The music is usually hoedown-style and tennis shoes with taps glued to the bottom will do for footwear.

“Sometimes people call clogging ‘hillbilly tap-dancing,’ ” Walt said. “It’s not only lots of fun, it is also great exercise for all ages.”

The Spellmeyers’ students agree. “You get a lot of freedom clogging,” said Bob Mershon, who has been stomping for about three years. “You learn to relax, because to do it well, you must be limber and relaxed.”

Stuntman Tom Morga, who has worked on shows such as “Star Trek, The Next Generation,” heard about clog dancing about a year and a half ago. “I’m so hooked I became part of the Spellmeyers’ exhibition company,” he said.

The Spellmeyers formed the exhibition group, The Original Clogging Company, in 1982 and have performed at Knott’s Berry Farm each summer as well as at benefits.

There is a one-time registration fee of $1 for the clogging course. Weekly classes run from $4.50 for adults to $2.50 for children ages 14 and under, who must be under adult supervision. A beginning course, which is given three times a year, lasts 15 weeks, while intermediate and advanced courses are continuous.