Tap dancers, Cloggers, Irish Step Dancers, etc.

Women who make percussive sounds with their shoes while dancing.  Some histories claim that tapping evolved from clogging which evolved from Irish dance (along with dance forms from other countries as well).  American Irish/Clog/Tap dance began in Appalachia, and evolved to include the dance steps of New Orleans performers.  The states with the most women performing these talents include the traditional Appalachian states as well as states with heavy influence from Broadway.

States with the most Tap/Clog/Irish dancers (1954-2014-tv years)
8-North Carolina (6-Tap; 1-Clog; 1-Irish)
7-West Virginia (6-Tap; 1-Clog)
6-Arkansas (5-Tap; 1-Clog)
6-Missouri (6-Tap)
6-New Hampshire (5-Tap; 1-Irish)
6-South Carolina (4-Tap; 2-Clog)
5-Georgia (5-Tap)
5-Iowa (4-Tap; 1-Irish)
5-Maine (4-Tap; 1-Clog)
5-New York (5-Tap)
5-Oklahoma (4-Tap; 1-Irish)

Each state has sent an average of 2 women to Miss America in the last 60 years with one of these talents.

Ten (10) states have not sent a woman to Miss America in the last 60 years with one of these talents.

Twice in the television years (1954-2014), we have seen THREE Tap Dancers in the Top 10:  1998 and again in 2012 (and those three woman all made the TOP 5).

Top 10 Semi-Finalists
Tap Dancers
1976-Linda Mouron (California)-3rd Runner-up-Puttin On The Ritz
1980-Cheryl Flanagan (New York)-Top 10 & Talent Prelim-Medley from That's Entertainment, 2
1993-Kara Martin (Georgia)-1st Runner-up-Mack the Knife
1996-Kimberly Massaro (Missouri)-4th Runner-up-Favorite Son (Will Rogers Follies)
1998-Julie Payne (Oklahoma)-Top 10 & Talent Prelim-Hound Dog
1998-Nicole Messina (District of Columbia)-Top 10 & Talent Prelim-Sing, Sing, Sing
1998-Erin Wheatley (Arkansas)-Top 10-(Tap & Vocal)-I Got Rhythm
1999-Brandy Rhodes (Arkansas)-Top 10-American Rhapsody
2001-Jessie Ward (Arkansas)-Top 10-Michael Jackson Medley
2002-Tanisha Brito (Connecticut)-Top 10-Let's Face the Music and Dance
2004-Elizabeth Kinney (Oklahoma)-Top 10-Crazy Little Thing Called Love
2005-Shannon Schambeau (District of Columbia)-4th Runner-up-My Strongest Suit from Aida
2006-Amanda Kozak (Georgia)-2nd Runner-up-Baby, I'm a Star
2008-Olivia Myers (Iowa)-2nd Runner-up-Fever
2012-MALLORY HAGAN (NEW YORK)-MISS AMERICA 2013-Get Up Offa That Thing
2012-Alicia Clifton (Oklahoma)-2nd Runner-up & Talent Prelim-Can't Buy Me Love
2012-Mariah Carey (Iowa)-4th Runner-up-Scatman

Cloggers
1985-Sherry Thrift (South Carolina)-1st Runner-up-Clog-Are You From Dixie
1992-Tonya Mullins (Kentucky)-Top 10-Clog-Banjo Fantasy

2001-Stacey Essebaggers (Michigan)-Top 10-Clog-Medley from Moulin Rouge

Irish Step Dancers
2010-Caitlin Uze (Virginia)-Top 10-Irish-Riverdance Finale
2011-Betty Thompson (Oklahoma)-1st Runner-up & Talent Prelim-Irish Step-Warriors

2013-Kaitlyn Tarpey (Connecticut)-Top 10-Irish Step-Reel Around The Sun

Did I miss anyone?  Updates, corrections, and additional information may always be posted on Facebook on the Crowned page or by sending me an email at crownedmissa@gmail.com.