Illinois Prairie Clogging Association
Michigan's Shane Gruber, National Clogging Instructor, started his clogging career in November, 1989, with Mo's Clogging Fever. In 1991, Shane joined the Michigan Clogging Instructor’s Council (MCIC) as an apprentice. His first workshop teach was in 1992 at the first MCIC workshop in Kalamazoo, MI. Shane soon began teaching at other workshops around the state.
While attending Central Michigan University, Shane joined the Orchesis Dance Theater. He stayed five years with the Company and choreographed 13 pieces. One piece, which he co-choreographed, went to 4th place at the American College Dance Festival in 1994. Also at Central, Shane developed and taught a clogging course where students received 1 college credit for 8 weeks of class.
In the fall of 1996, Shane started a side dance group called the Outsiders, which performed a clogging piece for the Orchesis show twice a year. By 1998 the group had grown to 50 cloggers of all ages. Outside of college, Shane was teaching dance to 5th & 6th graders 4 times a week at the Renaissance Public School Academy.
Shane entered the Certified Clogging Instructor’s (CCI) program in 1995 and earned his CCI in November of 1996. Soon afterward, he became a member of the CCI teaching staff.
In April of 1999, Shane participated in Rhythm Dance, a show performing in Branson, Missouri. In those six weeks, Shane learned invaluable lessons that he brought back to his clogging classes and workshops.
Shane took over as Instructor for the Country Club Cloggers in October of 1998. It was then that the club renamed itself The Shane Gang Cloggers. In the Fall of 1999, Shane was also teaching clogging to kids at the Bravo Dance Studio.
Today, Shane still keeps busy with his Shane Gang classes and performances, and teaching workshops throughout the U.S., Canada, and Germany. In addition, every year Shane is one of the honored guest instructors at the National Clogging Convention. Shane just received his 10 year jacket for teaching at the Nationals.
For over 20 years, Dustin has added his own special blend and unique style to the dance world. At the tender age of six, Dustin began studying percussive dance in rural Indiana. He quickly became known for his ability to take traditional dance styles and techniques and fuse them with modern and cutting edge hip hop and urban pop choreography. This afforded him the opportunity to teach, dance and choreograph across the globe for numerous top-notch teams and groups. Dustin has earned a reputation for his explosive but smooth execution of powerful choreography and has won numerous national championships and titles. Following his love of clogging and tap, Dustin began studying jazz, ballroom and classical forms of dance from professionals all over the world. Distinguished teachers include Violette Verdy, Jacques and Virgina Cesbron, Fred Walton, Pat Treymore, and Bill Evans. Dustin is trained in many different styles and techniques including Graham, Taylor and Luigi. Upon graduation from Indiana University and studying at the Jacobs School of Music, Dustin was offered a teaching position at the University to teach Hip Hop Dance and his innovative percussive dance style to undergraduates.
He was then offered a full time position at the Walt Disney World Resort for two years performing in many different shows and parades, actively expanding his knowledge of top notch family show production. He continues his partnership with Walt Disney World Entertainment seasonally working on special programs and events. Dustin has showcased his choreography talent for many exciting events and a wide range of engagements. From performances at the world famous Grand Ole Opry to shows in Vienna, Dustin continues to bring professional quality, excitement and polished appeal to each performance. It is Dustin’s hope to always bring an element of surprise and the unexpected as well as infuse innovative thinking into his art. Dustin is pleased to announce his return to the Indiana University Kinesiology Faculty as an adjunct lecturer for the 2010 Fall Term.
