No inside photos allowed! Posing outside the fence by the FCI sign are Jo Helms, Sylvia Bonesky, Pat Tiefenbach, Diane Korn, Pat Cox, Donna Leonard, Carol Jones and Stephanie Cady.
Diane Korn
In February the Coyote Country Cloggers had the experience of a lifetime performing at the Federal Correctional Institute in Tucson. Our troupe of eight cloggers had to go through extensive background checks to enter the facility. When we arrived we were subject to more screening procedures, similar to that done by airport security, but it was worth the voluminous paperwork.
Once inside the prison we were graciously welcomed by both staff and inmates. We performed seven dance routines for an audience of about 40 people: 30 female inmates and about a dozen prison staff. Much to our surprise, the prison warden and the assistant warden were present for the performance!
The excitement amongst the inmates in the room was palpable. They applauded vigorously before we even performed our first dance! While we danced, the inmates clapped and stomped their feet to the catchy country western tunes. The audience especially enjoyed the part of the program where Carol Jones, our director and instructor, demonstrated how she teaches basic clogging steps.
I know I can speak for all the other dancers in saying that this truly was an experience unlike any of us had known before. We felt truly blessed to be able to offer a positive distraction to the inmates. For one brief hour we filled their lives with music and happiness.
The joy on the inmates’ faces coupled with the heartfelt thanks we received at the end will surely nourish our souls for years to come. We have been invited to return to the prison for another performance later this year. Go figure. Clogging at the prison. Who would have thought?