You would be incorrect to initially underestimate this dance routine’s mesmerizing power.
Irish dances like clogging, which are usually rather stunning, are characterized by their complex footwork and little upper body movement.
The routine shown in this video, however, gives the conventional approach a novel and thrilling twist.
This exciting clogging duet, performed by Madison and Morgan, was the highlight of the 2013 Clogging Champions of America – Showdown of Champions in Knoxville, Tennessee. Set to the lively track “Hit the Ground Runnin’” by Keith Urban, their performance departs from the traditional Irish music typically connected with clogging.

Madison and Morgan, dressed in white pants, clog shoes, and plaid shirts, break stereotypes from the very beginning.
The crowd roars with excitement as the two take the stage with their backs to the spectators, creating a thrilling atmosphere for their performance.
When the music starts, you can feel the excitement rising as Madison and Morgan whirl around quickly, beaming with joy. The pair is launched into motion by their coordinated footwork, hand-holding, and elegant spins.

The girls combine classic clogging techniques with contemporary flair throughout the routine, including stage circles, high kicks, and even an amazing high jump. Every motion in their dance is precisely timed, and it is flawlessly performed.

Madison and Morgan give the traditional dance style a modern twist by including upper body arm and hand moves that give the routine a lively, fun feel. A riveting performance that captivates audiences is created by fusing classic and modern components.
Viewers were astounded by the smooth transitions and deft footwork, and many expressed their amazement in the comments area. Some lauded clogging’s exuberance, while others got into a heated argument on how to categorize it.
Despite dissenting views, one commenter highlighted the rich cultural history of clogging and how it developed into a contemporary Irish-American dance form. Another confirmed the routine’s legitimacy by recognizing the classic steps mixed with modern components and drawing from their own expertise teaching clogging.
Typhoon Kong-rey Has One of Largest Eyes Ever Seen: ‘Absolutely Massive’

Ameteorologist has pointed out the sheer size of Typhoon Kong-rey’s eye as the massive storm approached Taiwan on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Typhoon Kong-rey had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, according to the website Zoom Earth. The storm has weakened slightly since Tuesday night, when it was categorized as a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane. Forecasts anticipate that Typhoon Kong-rey will weaken further by the time it makes landfall in Kaohsiung in the early morning hours on Thursday.
On Tuesday night, meteorologist Noah Bergren of TV station WOFL in Orlando, Florida, commented on the size of the storm’s eye.
“Super Typhoon Kong-rey is easily one of the largest eye’s in a major tropical system you will ever see on Earth,” Bergren posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Thing is absolutely massive.”
A wave crashes outside of Fugang Harbor in Taitung, Taiwan, ahead of Typhoon Kong-rey on Wednesday. The storm is expected to make landfall in Taiwan early Thursday morning. Annabelle Chih/Getty
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alan Reppert told Newsweek that having a large eye doesn’t necessarily imply anything about the storm’s strength.
“It just means the winds with it are farther away from the center than if it was a smaller eye,” he said. “It doesn’t necessarily have any major defining characteristic of the storm.”
Reppert added that a stronger storm that’s been around longer usually has a wider eye than a newer storm.
Most spaghetti models—or computer models illustrating potential storm paths—show Kong-rey making landfall on Taiwan’s southeast coast and cutting across the island before emerging with maximum sustained winds of around 75 mph. Models indicate that the typhoon will exhibit a northeastern turn away from China, which will take it out to the East China Sea.
Kong-rey’s strength is uncharacteristic for this time of year, The New York Times reported, adding that the typhoon is expected to make landfall equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.
Reppert warned that strong winds up to 140 mph with higher gusts could hit southern Taiwan, though the storm is expected to weaken as it moves over the island. An AccuWeather report warned of “significant structural damage, mudslides and landslides” from the storm, as up to 3 feet of rain is expected to lash Taiwan. The storm could either maintain its intensity or strengthen before it makes landfall early Thursday.
Eastern China and Japan also are expecting heavy rain as the storm progresses.
A typhoon is classified as a severe tropical cyclone occurring in the Northwest Pacific. A hurricane is the term for the same type of storm in the Northeast Pacific and Northern Atlantic. Outside of these regions, the storms are called tropical cyclones.
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