United We Clog! - Double Toe Times

to four times a year for six
years and even competed in
the Junior Olympics in Detroit
(AAU). Elkin won five gold
medals and six silver medals.
The beginning of his
connection with the clogging
group “ALL THAT” stems from
2005 when Mike Curtis, the
team leader of “ALL THAT”
called and asked if he wanted
to fill in with the group at the
Carolina Opry Show in Myrtle
Beach for the summer.
“We all grew up competing
against each other in the
clogging world and then we
began to work together,” Elkin
said. “I danced at the Opry in Myrtle Beach for the
summer and then I went back to my competition
team for a year.”
The Clogging Sensation team then dissolved as
members of the group went off to school.
“It was sad when the team dissolved,” Elkin said.
“I didn’t clog for three years and then one day in
2009 Mike called me again and asked if I wanted
to do a show with his group, “ALL THAT,” in Hong
Kong for eight days. Of course, I said, ‘yes!’”
Elkin did not have steady clogging work after that
until 2011 when friend Jeff Driggs told him about
an opportunity for a clogging job at the brand new
Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show. He auditioned,
got the job and moved to Pigeon Forge.
“I get to dance for a living and this job is a dream
come true.” Elkin said. “I love the crowd. I love the
fast pace and the high energy of the Hatfield and
McCoy Show. I give a lot of credit to my mother.
There were a lot of moments when I got frustrated
and wanted to quit clogging, but my Mom would
not let me.”
(Left top) Drake with one of many solo champion awards
he has collected throughout his clogging career.
Photo by www.cloggingcontest.com
(Left) ALL THAT awaits the decision of the judges on
America’s Got Talent to determine if they would advance
to the next level of the competition. They did!
Photo by ALL THAT webpage
(Above) Brad Berry dances a solo during a performance
with ALL THAT at the Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach, SC
Photo by JHaas
Elkin and his wife, Nikkole live in Sevierville,
Tennessee. His wife works for Camberra in Oak
Ridge.
Prospect, Ohio native Brad Berry was also
enjoying his first television competition experience
as a member of ALL THAT, but is no stranger to
dancing with the guys. He has been a member
of the group in their Carolina Opry shows for
many years and brings a wealth of percussive
experience to the group. Brad isn’t the only
professional dancer in the family. His twin brother,
Bryan, is a member of a professional tap dancing
troupe touring Germany.
Debbie Speakman said she remembers telling
her twin sons “to ‘Try to find something you like
for a career. As long as it’s legal, I’m behind you.’
It turned out there was something they could do.”
“The two of them, ever since they were about
11 or 12, have done nothing but live and breathe
dance,” Speakman said. “They just love it. I figured
one of the two of them would end up on something
like this.”
Brad Berry said the experience of competing on
the show was “really good. It was really stressful,
especially we made it into the semis. The further
you move on, the less time you have to prepare for
the next round.”
Joanne Cook, owner of Joanne’s School of
Dance on Indiana Avenue in Marion, Ohio said
Brad Berry’s first lessons at her studio were a false
start.
“He started out taking jazz, which was the funniest
The Doubletoe Times Magazine of Clogging www.doubletoe.com 13