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A participant practices clogging to a country song March 22. Even though La Crosse has only 14 percent Irish ancestry, 10-15 people attend each class. Most participants say they saw Mullaney’s group perform at River Fest and decided to attend classes.

Whether tunes from Celtic Thunder or Hilary Duff fill the basement studio, a continuous pulse can be heard and felt. The bass roar isn't from a loud speaker or amplifier; it's from about a dozen women's feet.

“You can clog to just about any kind of music,” Tracy Mullaney, one of the founders and head instructors of Clogjam, said.

Each Monday and Wednesday, the clogging group, ages 7 and up, meets at the La Crosse’s Doerflinger building. During each class, women tap out rhythms to popular music, traditional Irish music and country, trying to keep up with their energetic instructor. Mullaney said clogging is a good way to burn calories and is good exercise for the mind and body.

Participant Patti LaFleur said Clogjam is a fun way to get out of the house.

“I do this so I don’t spend my winter on the couch,” LaFleur said.

Clogging is an American folk dance that has roots in Irish, German, Native American and African dance.

Mullaney and Christi Pfaff began clogging in 2000 and have since become nationally certified instructors.

They began Clogjam in 2005 to spread their knowledge about clogging to the La Crosse community. The group also has a team that performs at a variety of events, like Irish Fest, River Fest and Mardi Gras and at nursing homes and banquets.