Addison Rapper & Clog

Addison Rapper & Clog was formed in 1977 by a group of friends who met at a folk club. Based in Gateshead, the team took their name from the Addison colliery which stood on  the banks of the Tyne at Hedgefield in County Durham. The team has around 30 members aged from 5yrs to about 30 something.

The Northumbrian rapper sword dance is traditional to Northumberland and County Durham in England. The dance was originally performed by miners in the pit villages of Tyneside and has gradually spread with revival groups worldwide. The heyday of rapper came between 1850 and 1930, during that period a large number of pit villages in Northumberland and Durham had their own teams and their own style of rapper dance performed only by their village. Most of these dances are now lost, but of the few which still survive Addison regularly dance three, the  dances of Winlaton, Swalwell, and figures from the High Spen dance.

Clog dancing was introduced in the 19th Century (from at least 1870) when miners and mill workers wore clogs. Even small children used clogs for everyday footwear. Tapping toes and heels to create dance steps became a popular pastime and so Clog Contests began.

Addison Rapper and Clog not only enjoy doing these dances, but feel that they are helping to keep alive some of the traditions of their area.