Clog dancers finding it hard going in the heat

17 hours ago

Kris Hollandand

Andrew Woodger

Fiddlesticks A troupe of eight clog dancers on a paved river bridge. They are wearing calf-length green skirts, black waistcoats and white, short-sleeved collared shirts. They are jigging and holding tassels. People are watching. — Fiddlesticks' Bank Holiday Monday performances included a visit to the footbridge over the River Thames between Windsor and Eton in Berkshire

A clog dancing group said it had to adapt some of its performances as the UK experienced its hottest May day on record.

Norwich-based Fiddlesticks said its Bank Holiday Monday displays along the Thames Valley had been affected as temperatures soared, reaching 34.8C (96.4F) in part of London.

Clog dancing is similar to Morris dancing, but the dancers wear wooden clogs. On very hot days, routines can be sweaty, stamina-testing challenges.

Julie Brown, from the all-female Fiddlesticks, said: "We've been modifying our dances a little bit, putting our most energetic dances at the start of our sets."

Fiddlesticks A troupe of eight female clog dancers on a lawn in front of a large stately home. They are wearing calf-length green skirts, black waistcoats and white, short-sleeved collared shirts. They are jigging and holding garlands. They have two males drummers with them. It is a sunny day. — The dancers also performed at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire - their musicians do not have to be female

She said: "It's been really, really hot for both our band and our dancers... it's been tough."

The all-female group, which has a band made up of men and women, performed in Marlow and Waddesdon on Monday.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, a group member said: "We knew the forecast before we arrived, so we knew we would probably have to [make changes to the sets]."

Fiddlesticks' members range in age from 20-somethings to people in their 80s.

The group has about 20 regular dancers from "all walks of life".

Clog dancing, members said, was "very popular" with sides from around the country "getting a lot of pleasure from it".