A step-by-step process for beginner and intermediate dancers that teaches tons of steps plus how to combine them to become a smooth and musical dancer. JOIN THE WAITING LIST!
Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging Academy
• A beginner who’s always wanted to learn more about the style but hasn’t had access to the right teacher or community.
• Someone who knows a bunch of steps but needs some extra support and a proven formula for putting it all together to improvise with fluency.
• An experienced dancer in another genre who’s always wanted to learn this particular style of dance.
• A performer or musician who regularly finds yourself in jam sessions and attending festivals where you want to make real “music with your feet” and even showcase your dancing onstage as part of your set.
You’re someone who loves Appalachian music, dance, and culture, and you’re ready for an accessible, thorough, and FUN course that contains EVERYTHING you need (yes, everything!) to become a great dancer at your own schedule, pace, and location.
Mastered a formula for improvising like a boss with fiddle and banjo tunes.
Developed your own small, stylistic elements to make the dance your own (even if you are a complete beginner)
Gained a massive toolkit of steps, stretches, dance-worthy tunes, practice routines, and historical and cultural tidbits to keep you dancing for years to come. (And best of all, it's all yours for life!)
Solidified your muscle memory for all the foundational steps, making them feel natural and automatic in your body.
Learned TONS of versatile steps (instead of just basics, chugs and walking step)
Learned a process for diving deeper into the steps so that you can create unlimited combinations.
In just a few monthss, you'll go from feeling dance overwhelm and confusion to feeling confident and comfortable in your body, as you build your Appalachian dance vocabulary and learn specific techniques for becoming a fluent dancer and improviser.
The course that will give you the tools, inspiration, and unparalleled support on your journey to become the dancer you’ve dreamed of being!
Introducing...
By the end of this course, you will have:
- Eileen O'Connor-Ramsey, musician/dancer/artisan
"I was apprehensive about switching from Irish dancing to flatfooting, but Carla made my transition easy! She is passionate about sharing what she knows. She breaks complicated steps down into bite-sized chunks and builds on that until before you know it, you've got the step! If you want to learn to flatfoot, I can't think of a better, more caring teacher than Carla"
'I can't think of a better, more caring teacher than Carla'
- Haydee Canovas, Nurse Practitioner/Playwright
Carla Gover’s flatfooting class is the real deal. She is a thoughtful and knowledgeable teacher since she herself grew up in the music and dance traditions of Kentucky’s Appalachian mountains. Besides learning to clog, I enjoy learning the history of the dancing.
'Carla Gover’s flatfooting class is the real deal'
With so much more than just the steps, this course has information you'll need about shoes, tunes, and playlists, and other fun goodies! Plus there's an app, so you can carry the course in your pocket!
Total Toolkit
Downloads and links to tunes each week that go with the steps you're learning, as well as lots of information about WHAT kind of additional music to look for and WHERE to find it.
Tunes for Dancing
Stretching and body care mini-course for dancers, to help you strengthen your body before and after dance sessions
Stretching Mini-course
Access to our Members-Only Group Coaching Sessions with Carla, including beginning, continuing, and guest teacher classes each month!
Group Coaching Sessions
Printable PDF practice guides and flash cards to help you with your practice of the steps.
Practice guides and flash cards
Lifetime access to 8 self-paced digital modules and 75 video lessons, which you can complete on your own schedule and refer to again and again.
Lifetime Access
Here's what's included:
I’m an 8th-generation Kentuckian from a musical family, and I’m seriously stoked to share that heritage with my students.
Since I’m a musician, I bring that knowledge and awareness to my dancing and teaching, to help you get inside the fiddle tunes and learn how crush your improv game.
I have a MA in Education, with all the pedagogy courses and reflection on my teaching style that comes with that.
I have 27 years of experience teaching mountain music and dance, so I’ve learned the ways that work best for teaching this material.
I spent 3 years as a consultant designing digital courses for kids at our Kentucky PBS station, so I know how to deliver digital content in an engaging format!
It’s an honor and a privilege to teach, and here are a few reasons why I feel confident that I can be a great teacher for you:
Howdy! I’m Carla Gover
- Joe Burdock, fiddler/dance caller
"I've taken a few flat footing workshops and had impromptu lessons over the years but never quite got it until I attended a workshop with Carla. She broke it down to simple steps for us and then helped us string those steps together so I could actually dance."
'She helped us string those steps together so I could actually dance'
- Lee Atkinson,
Singer/Mother/Lifelong Learner
"For a long time I looked for a fun, non-threatening way to learn flat-footing. I am not a dancer, but I have always loved watching people do this; I wanted to be a part of the fun and to learn something new. Carla's classes fit the bill perfectly. She is a wonderful dancer and a patient, fun and easy-to-follow teacher. Five Stars! *****"
'She is a wonderful dancer and a patient, fun and easy-to-follow teacher'
An experienced dancer in a different style who wants to add Appalachian dance to their repertoire
Someone who wants to dance at jams and festivals without looking like a durn fool!
Ready to take a joyful journey of Appalachian Music, Dance, and Culture!
A beginner who wants a resource that will help lay great foundations and keep you learning in the future.
An experienced dancer who wants to learn more steps, or learn to be a better improviser
Someone who enjoys learning in a community of like-minded people
This is for you if:
Will you be accessible and available to answer my questions during the course?
I don’t have a lot of time, and I’m worried that I just won’t be able to complete this course
I’m afraid of buying this course and not using it, like that stack of DVDs gathering dust in my corner.
I’m feeling overwhelmed by all of the things I’m going to need to learn and execute in the course. Are you sure I can do this?
Burning Q’s I hear from students
When I join AFCA, will I get immediate access to all the lessons and modules?
Can I still take this course if I’m a complete beginner?
My knees (hips/back) are not what they used to be. Will I be able to do this course?
YES! I believe in you, and I know that your desire to be a lively, joyful dancer, keep fit, and have fun will take you as far as you want to go in this style. I’ve been teaching for 27 years, and I’ve learned a thing or two about how to help and support my students in really getting the material. Plus, we’ll be exploring how the dance and music fit together, which helps you begin to understand the dance form on a much deeper level.
I’m feeling overwhelmed by all of the things I’m going to need to learn and execute in the course. Are you sure I can do this?
You’ll get a big dose of inspiration right out of the gate, because you’ll have the community AND me to help keep your motivation up. Also, everything is EASY TO FIND in this course---gone are the days of trying to wade through DVD menus and fast-forwarding to try and find what you need. With the clear, easy-to-follow layouts, you’ll be able to progress through the course, mark off the lessons you’ve already completed, and easily find the individual steps by name since each will have its own mini-video!
I’m afraid of buying this course and not using it, like that stack of DVDs gathering dust in my corner.
The individual modules are created in short, manageable bites of 5-10 minutes, so you can get some quick wins, even when you only have a short spell to dance. Quick wins = motivation, which helps you keep coming back. You’ll be able to pop in to the course (and watch the Zoom recordings) anytime that’s convenient for YOU. And remember, the course will be yours FOR LIFE, so even if you don’t get through everything during our time together, it will be there for you whenever you need it.
I don’t have a lot of time, and I’m worried that I just won’t be able to complete this course
Yes, 100% That’s why the Academy has a live component--you wouldn’t get as much out of it just going through the modules on your own! I’ll be available in our monthly classes to help trouble-shoot your issues, break down steps you need extra help on, and give you a little nip of inspiration. I’ll also be accessible in the FB group during the week. For your time in the Academy, I’m your personal dance coach and cheerleader!
Will you be accessible and available to answer my questions during the course?
You’ll get one module per week for each of the 8 weeks of the course. I’m doing it this way to protect your time, attention and focus AND so that I can provide personalized attention and instruction as you progress through the course. It also means you’ll have a bunch of other students doing the course at the same time as you, for support, inspiration, and community! At the end of the course, the material is yours to keep, so you can go back as much as you want, whenever you want!
When I join AFCA, will I get immediate access to all the lessons and modules?
Yes! Module 1 is FULL of the foundational building blocks of the dance, and you can spend as much time on it as you want before moving on to the additional steps and sequences. I break it all down slowly and it’s organized according to individual steps, so you can go at your own pace, knowing that you have all the tools you need for beginning AND continuing your dance journey!
Can I still take this course if I’m a complete beginner?
I’m not a doctor, and you should definitely check in with yours before you begin ANY new exercise course. But having said that, I do my best to provide alternative steps and modifications for dancers who have knee challenges, as well as providing warm-up and cool-down stretch classes to help you care for and support your body. My goal is to be able to dance for my whole life, and for you to, as well.
My knees (hips/back) are not what they used to be. Will I be able to do this course?
- Valerie C
This is a great way to learn new steps, or start from the beginning. There's tons of cultural and musical history woven into the class. The instructional videos are super clear and you can revisit them over and over again. The sequences built on the steps really help to solidify the learning. It is fun and lighthearted. You can't go wrong.
'It is fun and lighthearted. You can't go wrong'
- Donna P.
If you want to take a thoughtful, pedagogically sound course on how to do some flatfooting and clogging steps in a way that breaks down the material into appropriate chunks for adult learners, then this is the course for you! Even if you are an experienced dancer, you will get a lot out of this course and it is worth every penny. Carla is positive, upbeat, and breaks every step down in a manner that is easily understood. More teachers need to be as positive and encouraging as she is. Carla is honestly one of the best instructors I've ever had
'Carla is honestly one of the best instructors I've ever had'
Or you can dive right in to our self-paced Kentucky Tour de Dance to meet Kentucky musicians and get started working on steps and improv techniques!
Sign up for my waiting list, and you’ll be the FIRST to know when the course registration opens next time. And OF COURSE there’ll be a special bonus for you!