A diverse array of accomplished dancers fills the online space, spanning genres from graceful ballroom to rhythmic tap, powerful street styles, and traditional morris dancing. Nevertheless, certain videos possess the capacity to astonish viewers, and the performance delivered by Lauren and Kaylee Thomas decidedly fits this description. These young women are accomplished, championship-winning clog dancers. For those unfamiliar with the form, Ridge Runner Cloggers provides this concise definition:
“Clogging is an energetic percussive style of dance where the dancer wears shoes with special taps attached.” Clog dancing is a highly popular activity, and if you are discovering it now, you absolutely must witness Lauren and Kaylee in action. The video featured below was recorded during the 2016 Clogging Champions of America Showdown of Champions.
The footage captures the contemporary portion of the event, though the sisters also participated in the traditional segment. It showcases a duet dance off, and the two girls are absolutely phenomenal! Observing them initially might lead one to assume they are twins; however, Kaylee is actually two years senior to Lauren. Both share blonde hair and are utterly charming, and when they perform, they wear identical outfits, making the initial assumption an understandable error. Another quality they share is that their feet move with astonishing speed!
As the video commences, six pairs of competitors are arranged on the stage, poised for the dance-off. Lauren and Kaylee radiate high energy in their jazzy best, clad in black tops and sparkling trousers. Even with other pairs performing simultaneously, Lauren and Kaylee immediately command attention. They achieve flawless synchronization through every moment of their routine. Together, they execute kicks, spins, and intricate arm twists. The entire sequence is a dazzling display, and their stamina is simply extraordinary.
It will come as no surprise to learn that this competition was not the girls’ first. They have secured the national championships fifteen times! They may not appear old enough to have achieved such a high number of victories, but they did begin at a very early age. They were born in Berea, Kentucky, and Lauren was a mere three years old when she embarked on clogging, while Kaylee started at five.
They quickly demonstrated exceptional natural talent and soon reached a level of skill suitable for competitive dancing. They dominated local events and swiftly advanced to the national championships. Although various forms of percussive folk dance exist globally, this particular style of clogging is distinctively unique to the USA, meaning we will not unfortunately see the girls compete on the international stage. However, alongside their clogging pursuits, the girls require time for necessary relaxation and to pursue their education, so this geographic limitation may ultimately be beneficial.
Beyond their competition achievements, the sisters have also made appearances on the Nickelodeon program Figure It Out and a modern iteration of The Gong Show. This represents a quite remarkable career for two girls who spent the majority of it as children. Many siblings would struggle to maintain the close relationship needed to dedicate so much time to training together, but Lauren and Kaylee share a deep sisterly connection and a profound love of dancing that surpasses any minor disagreements.
It appears probable that as they mature, their individual paths may diverge slightly, yet it seems guaranteed that their shared history in dance will ensure they remain closely connected. If you are eager to see more from this highly gifted duo, seek out their powerful performance set to a medley from The Greatest Showman.
