photo by Herb Nygren Jr. Cloggers dance at the Tyler Senior Center Tuesday Sept. 16, 2014. The clogging group meets every Tuesday at the senior center.

The rhythmic double taps of the Senior Cloggers accompanied the sounds of Bob Seger’s classic “Old Time Rock and Roll.”

With hands firmly on their hips, the ladies danced to the beat, tapping and shuffling their feet, lifting their knees and stepping from side to side.

Some smiled broadly like seasoned performers. Others appeared more focused on making sure they completed the routine correctly.

As the music faded, they ended with a high kick, arms outstretched and an exclamation of “whew!”

The Senior Cloggers meet every Tuesday for one hour to practice clogging at the Tyler Senior Center.

The group, which is open to men but presently made up only of women, performs at community events and nursing homes.

“It is good fellowship,” clogger Pam Bennett, 64, of Lindale, said. “It is good fun and it is good exercise.”

Clogging instructor Sheila Preddy, 76, said the dance is great for the memory, promotes social involvement and strengthens the core muscles of the body.

Some of the dancers also said it builds stamina and balance, especially when they perform multiple dances in a row.

Clogging comes from the Appalachian Mountains dances, which came from step dances performed in Ireland and Scotland, Ms. Preddy said.

Clogger Janice Adams, 73, said clogging uses different steps than tap dancing.

Clog shoes also are different than tap shoes. Tap shoes have one solid tap attached to the toe and heel of the shoe whereas clogging taps, which often are called “double taps,” have another piece connected to the solid piece, according to the Walworth County Cloggers website. The “double tap” gives clogging its trademark sound, according to the website.

On a recent Tuesday, the dancers practiced four numbers for an upcoming performance.

The Senior Cloggers have about 10 routines in their repertoire and perform to songs from many genres. Some of their numbers included 1920s jazz, classic country and classic rock.

Ms. Preddy said the patriotic numbers really appeal to the men in their audiences, many of whom are veterans.

The clogging group is made up of retirees, most with prior dancing experience.

Earlena English has been clogging with the group for about two years and said she already knew the steps before she started.

“I’ve been dancing all my life ever since I realized that my feet would move,” Ms. English, 76, of Tyler, said.

She said she likes dancing for the exercise and the opportunity to entertain the public, especially other senior citizens.

“That’s the reason I try to stay in it,” she said.

Barbara Farnum, 65, of Tyler, has been clogging with the group for about two years. She said a clogging group came to the St. Louis School when she worked there and she decided she wanted to do that when she retired.

Although the current group members are experienced and have their routines memorized, the clogging class is open to anyone.

“We all learned it one step at a time,” Jane Praytor, 67, of Swan, said.