Tappalachian at Folk at the Maltings, St Albans

Folk at the Maltings will be stepping out into dance next Friday, April 4, when London Colney-based dance group Tappalachian feature in a stage show entitled Across the Pond and Back Again.

With music from its band, Tappalachian will present a programme of lively music, dance and song from the Appalachian Mountains, woven around the story of the way its dances originated from Britain and elsewhere, and evolved to the present day. Tappalachian’s dance style is characterised by its use of tap shoes and its original association with American Old Time music.

The dance style known as Appalachian Clogging evolved from the traditional English, Irish and Scottish step and clog dance of early settlers and incorporated other influences such as dances brought over by slaves and some native Cherokee Indian ritual dance steps.

It developed into the free-form solo flatfooting traditions found in south eastern states of the USA.

Since the 1930s, it has become a team dance and was brought back to the UK in the late 1980s by American dance groups.

The performance starts at 8pm at the Maltings Arts Theatre in St Albans and tickets are £10, with concessions for students, children and unwaged people £8 and £6 for under 16s.

They can bought on the door or in advance, online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo, by phone on 0844 870 0887 or in person at St Albans Tourist & Information Centre.

For further information go to www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk or email info@stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk.