Little Switzerland Cloggers
The Little Switzerland Cloggers were founded in 1989. The group began
learning beginner and intermediate routines under the instruction of Debbie
Whorl. The early practices were held at the old Burnsville School in
Burnsville, Virginia.

In the early 90’s, the LSC moved to McDowell, Virginia to the Stonewall
Ruritan Building, formerly the McDowell Primary School. Being an old school
building the set up was perfect for the now three levels of LSC, the
beginners, intermediates, and advanced groups. At this time some of our
advanced routines includes steps such as Chains and Buckin’ Wings and
were performed to such songs as “Rockin’ Robin”, “Fiddlin’ Man” and “Cry,
Cry, Cry”. The LSC continued to entertain audiences at lawn parties and
local festivals and fairs.

A few years later, LSC said good bye to practices at the Stonewall Ruritan
Building and made a jump across the street to the McDowell Fire
Department. The LSC settled down there for about 10 years passing
through a couple different instructors including Elaine "Sissy" Miller, Lori
Botkin & Debbie Cornelius (temp instructors), Lisa Johnson, and Dorothy
Stephenson.

In 1999, the Little Switzerland Cloggers attended their first exhibition at the
Spring Fling in Pigeon Forge, TN at the Grand Resort. Sherry West of the
Tennessee Hoedowners came to teach 10 of LSC's advanced cloggers a
routine to "Everybody Dance Now".  The team of dancers then traveled to
Tennessee in March of 1999 and attended the workshop and competition.
This was their first taste of competitive clogging. A nervous and excited
group took the stage competing under the Exhibition category. Though the
team did not place, the experience was trophy enough. Those dancers
included Shelly Roberts, Dorothy Stephenson, Sarah Harman, Shelly
Triplett, Tiffany Hotz, Jason Triplett, Deidre Hiner, Kari Botkin, Elizabeth
Botkin and Katie Cornelius.

With the new millennium, came a new instructor. Lisa Johnson of Augusta
County came to the Little Switzerland Cloggers in 2000 bringing with her a
new and more modern way of clogging. Lisa brought styles of Buck,
Canadian and Modern Clogging to the group. Soon after Lisa’s arrival the
Little Switzerland Cloggers were asked to perform at the Miss Virginia
Preliminaries. LSC opened the pageant with a routine to Britney Spear’s
“Crazy”. As the song ended, group members posed on stage as the lovely
Miss Virginia contestants strolled in. During judge’s deliberations, a
performance of “Dirty Pop” by N’Sync was given by the group.

In 2001, the LSC, still under the instruction of Lisa Johnson, went to the first
annual Clog Attack in Suffolk, VA. The group took first in the two categories
they competing in with "Rocky Top" in the Hoedown category and "Dirty
Pop" by N'Sync in the Line category. LSC also took home the title of Novice
Grand Champions. Many of our dancers competed individually for the first
time at the Clog Attack.

In 2003 and 2005, Little Switzerland traveled to Radford, VA to attended the
Radford Univeristy Clogging Workshop and Showcase. In 2003, Lisa
Johnson took the LSC to Radford and 2005 marked Dorothy Stephenson's
first year.

In 2003, we also started attending the Potomac Double Down in Haymarket,
VA. Hosted by the Bull Run Cloggers, this workshop is held in a school
building and it is a great workshop to go to.

March of 2005 brought another change in instructor. Lisa Johnson had to
make the hard decision to leave Little Switzerland. Stepping up into her
place was veteran LSC member Dorothy Stephenson, who had been with
the group since their first practices at the old Burnsville School building.
Dorothy continued the style of her mentor, Lisa, performing modern
clogging as well as the traditional styles that everyone loved.

During the Spring of 2006, the LSC was growing and needing more space.
We loved our home and family at the McDowell Fire Department but we
found a new space at The Highland Center in Monterey. So in May 2006 off
we went once more. Later that year, the group decided to make one more
change making Dorothy Stephenson sole Business Manager and Director
of the group.

The Little Switzerland Cloggers entertain to all different genres of music
including country, blue grass, pop and rock. We currently have about 15-20
cloggers and perform in the local Virginia area, as well as West Virginia.
Several of our members compete in the American Clogging Hall of Fame
competitive circuit and have won several group and individual honors.
Above all, the Little Switzerland Cloggers love to perform, entertain, and
wow their audiences!