American Racket Cloggers
About American Racket
American Racket (Dance Company) features the sights and sounds of one of our, well, noisiest traditions... American Clogging and percussive dance! Productions feature some of the finest dancers in the country in a celebration of (loud) living traditions. These dancers have represented the United States in Brazil and Costa Rica and have opened for artists cuch as Bill Cosby, Sugar Ray, Ted Koppel, Dane Cook, Jimmy Lovelace, and Wayne Brady. American Racket is a guaranteed toe-tapping, hand-clapping good time for all and a celebration of what young adults are doing to revive and reinvent the dance culture of the United States.
The Buzz on American Racket
"Sainte-Marie is under the spell of American Racket."
Journal de Beauce-Nord (Sainte-Marie, Quebec)
"American Racket of Florida lived up to its reputation. The group, bursting with energy, won over the audience with its clogging American Racket stole the show with a furiously fast performance that knew no idle time."
"I saw the movie Happy Feet, but frankly those animated penguins dont have a thing on the whirling, twirling, clicking, clacking feet of the <American Racket> cloggers."
Orlando Sentinel
"Under Andrew Howards guidance, his clogging troupe is moving a step in the right direction."
Orange and Blue /State of the Arts
"Fun and beautiful."
Megan Alrutz, University of Central Florida / Theatre Professor
Clients and Past Performances
International Performances
Asham Stomper Festival (Reedy Creek, Manitoba, Canada) - 2008
Festival Gigue En Fete (St. Marie, Quebec, Canada) - 2008
Muestra de Folklore Mundial (San Jose, Costa Rica) - 2006
Festival Internacional de Folclore de Passo Fundo (Passo Fundo, RGS, Brazil) - 2002 and 2004
University of Bangor (Bangor, Wales, UK) - 2000
about us
About Andy Howard:
Performance and Choreography
Andy Howard started clogging at age 8 in his hometown of LaBelle, in SW Florida. As a young performer, he was a member of Sidekick Cloggers, frequent entertainers at Dollywood theme park and various regional and national events. Andy founded SoundStage in 2001 while attending University of Florida; the original group comprised students and regional dancers specializing in clogging, tap and other forms of percussive dance. In 2007, the group relocated to Central Florida and adopted the name "American Racket," originally the name of a performance organized and choreographed by Andy for the Orlando International Fringe Festival. Andy was inducted into the All-American Clogging Team in 2002, administered by the American Clogging Hall of Fame.
Andy has taught clogging and other forms of dance since 1995. He organized and taught courses for credit at Florida State University Department of Dance and has been a featured presenter and/or choreographer for Santa Fe College, University of Florida, Florida Dance Festival, Douglas Anderson Fine Arts Magnet, and Florida Folk Festival. Andy has been a regular featured instructor at the National Clogging Convention (C.L.O.G., inc.) in host cities across the nation and at various conferences and workshops organized throughout the country.
Performance credits include Walt Disney World Resort (cast member and special entertainment), Carolina Opry with "All That" male clogging ensemble, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Six Flags Over Georgia, "Good Morning, Costa Rica" television show, and University of Florida Gator Growl; other performances with American Racket, including clients/events such as GoodYear Tires, SeaWorld Orlando, HardRock Casino, National Association of Home Builders, Crisco's Great American Pie Festival, Orlando International Fringe Festival, and American Camp Association. Howard and American Racket have shared the stage with popular entertainers including Bill Cosby, Sister Hazel, Kenny Lovelace, Jimmy Osmond, Ted Koppel, Dane Cook, and Harland Williams; Andy and American Racket, under his direction, have represented the United States as "cultural ambassadors" at international festivals sanctioned by C.I.O.F.F. (International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art, affiliated with U.N.E.S.C.O.: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in Costa Rica, Brazil, and Canada (Quebec). Additionally, Andy has performed in Manatoba, Canada, and at the University of Bangor, Wales, UK.
Education
Andy holds a B.A. from the University of Florida College of Libaral Arts and Sciences and a M.A. in American Dance Studies from the College of Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance at Florida State University. At FSU, Andy participated in "FSU in NYC," a domestic study program bringing students in direct contact with leading arts organizations, resources, and administrators in New York City. "Step Into My Groove," choreographed by Howard, Sterling, and company, was featured in the juried "Days of Dance" concert program.
Andy's thesis research, "American Team Clogging as Pilgrimage and Heritage Ritual" was approved and published by Florida State University, available at Strozier Library and online through FSU's Electronic Theses, Treatises, and Dissertations (ETDs).
Arts Administration
As an arts administrator, Andy currently leads Alumni Affairs and Marketing for the University of Florida College of Fine Arts, comprising School of Art + Art History, School of Music, School of Theatre and Dance, Digital Worlds Institute, Center for World Arts, and Center for Arts in Healthcare Research and Education. Andy is Editor of Muse Magazine, published by the UF College of Fine Arts. Previously, Andy served as Marketing Manager for Orlando Repertory Theatre (a "theatre for young audiences" in partnership with University of Central Florida) and as Director of Public/Community Relations and Education for Orlando Opera Company.
Production/Media
Andy received a Telly Award as producer of "Beyond The Music," a documentary with Orange TV, and also produced "Orlando Has Culture" with WMFE-TV (Orlando/Melbourne/Daytona) which has been used widely to promote arts and culture in Central Florida by organizations such as the City of Orlando Department of Economic Development, United Arts of Central Florida, Red Chair Project, and University of Central Florida College of Arts and Humanities. Andy was a guest reporter on WMFE-TV's "Arts Connection" and has appeared on "Cultural Advantage," "Community Cafe" and "Good Morning, Costa Rica."
Honors and Affiliations
our director
media gallery
January
Country Rhythm Clogging Workshop - January 29 - 30 (LaBelle, FL)
February
United Arts' "Arts Fest" Performance - February 7 (Osceola Performing Arts Center, Kissimmee, FL) **Free performance, no reservations required. Family-friendly. 1:00 p.m. (50 minutes). Features Inisheer Irish Dance Company. Sponsored by United Arts of Central Florida as part of "ArtsFest" (www.artsfestfl.com)
(Competition) South West Florida Fair - February 27 (Fort Myers, FL)
events
Contact American Racket
Director: Andy Howard (352) 494-0104
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