Local cloggers participating in national competition

The Southern Jewels Emerald Team will participate in the National Clogging Championships this weekend in Spartanburg.

The National Clogging Championships will be held Jan. 24-26 at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. This is the first year the event has been in South Carolina.

The solo competition and duo/duet competition will be Friday to determine the Grand Champion cloggers in various categories. Kristin Mabry, a member of the Southern Jewels Ruby Team, will be competing in the solo category Friday.

Saturday, there will be 205 team dances throughout the day, beginning at 8 a.m. Teams from all over the United States will be in Spartanburg to participate. Team winners from all clogging dance categories, such as precision, open line, traditional line, hoedown, artistic expression, exhibition, etc., will then dance off from 7-8 p.m. Saturday.

The Southern Jewels Emerald Team will compete Saturday evening. Team members are Caroline Alexander, Taylor Batchler, Rebecca Campbell, Mirranda Davis, Alayna Downey, Jenny Harris, Delaney McCraw, Olivia Moss, Kayla Parker, Allison Pennington, Taylor Pennington, Ariel Queen, Emily Russell, Mary Beth Wood and Sydney Wood. The team is directed by Chip and Misty Harrison and Claudia Fowler.

"The Emerald Team has competed in clogging events throughout the past year to qualify to participate in this Showdown of Champions," Fowler said. "They have worked really hard to prepare for the event and would appreciate support Saturday beginning at approximately 7 p.m."