The Traveling Feis Monkey: Maggie in Maine

I arrived in Maine to Maggie's house, and I think I only rested one day.

There's so much that goes into preparing for a school feis - it's almost mind boggling! I helped write competitor numbers, create score sheets, and helped order crystal and trophies!

Handing out score sheets!

I also helped Maggie with her dance blues... She's out for a serious injury and was really bummed she couldn't dance.  I joined her on her crutches.  It must have been nice to have a reminder of dance and where she knows she's going to get back to.

We spent a couple days off of just relaxing, including watching the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics!  I hope I can go visit London... It looks like such a beautiful place.

Saturday morning we were up bright and early.  The competition was fierce and I watched many great Preliminary and Open champions throughout the day.  I also got to watch the pre-beginners dance and recieve their medals!  I spent some time with foster mom Zoe, who competed in Prizewinner on a fractured foot--and still won some trophies.  All and all, this has been a great trip and I'm excited to continue on my adventure!

Emily and foster mom Zoe!

I'm Australia bound!  Follow me on Facebook to keep up to date with my adventures!

The Traveling Feis Monkey: Sara in Virginia

Sara is the first of many awesome Irish dancers I'm going to be meeting this year.  I was born right after Sara was cleared to dance from her major injury in February.  We registered for our first feis of the year, Nation's Capitol in Tyson's Corner.

I helped with all sorts of feis preparation.

This past Sunday was the day I was looking forward to most.  I was loving placed in Sara's dance bag in the morning and toted to Tyson's Corner where I got to hang out at my first feis!  While I was there, I got to see many championship-level dancers show their stuff on the dance floor, as well as meet another dancer from Sara's school.

Unfortunately, the day did not go as planned.  While Sara was warming up, she injured her ankle doing an over.  Luckily, I was there for comfort, however she had to leave before her competition even began.

Where will I go next?  Check out my Facebook page for more of my adventures!

The Traveling Feis Monkey

In my last Irish dance how-to, I made a poodle sock monkey.  Right after her birth, I realized this monkey is destined for something greater than making friends with the duct tape balls in my dance bag.  The way her button eyes looked at me pleaded for more company than ankle braces and hard shoes.  She seemed as if was meant to travel and meet other Irish dancers across the United States, and possibly the world to be social and learn from others.  From then on, she became known to me as the Traveling Feis Monkey, and she is looking for other Irish dancers to have a good adventure with.

What you'll be doing is simple:

• Host the monkey for a week.  Show her a good Irish dancer time.
• Upload pictures of the adventures the monkey goes on: Feiseanna?  Dance camp?  Team practices?  The choice is yours!
• Write diary entries, or even a story of the Traveling Feis Monkey's adventures.  These stories will be featured both on Facebook, and on this blog!
• If you're crafty, make an outfit for her.  Does she become an honorary team mascot?  Will she ever earn her solo dress?  Maybe a 'spray tanning' service?
• After your week, you will send her on her way to the next dancer.

To be a part of the Traveling Feis Monkey's adventures: 

1. Email RinceGoBraghBlog@gmail.com (that's me!)
2. Use "Feis Monkey" as the subject.
3. In the body of the email, enclose your name, what level dancer you (or your child) are, your city and state, and any other interesting thing you think I should know.  Don't worry, I am the only one who will see this info!
4. Entries are due Friday, July 13th at midnight EST!

I will choose 10-15 entries, the number being based on interest in the project.  The final list of participants will be emailed with all the details they need on July 15th.

In the meantime, "Like" the Traveling Feis Monkey on Facebook to see what fun things she is up to right now!

Goals: Each hardshoe dance three times for stamina
Days till Os: 155

Mini update

Injury recovery

• May 16th was a big day for me.  After 98 days of injury recovery, I went to dance class, put on my hard shoes, and danced.  I can only do hard shoe dances at the moment due to not being able to jump/land on my bad foot without it hurting, but at least I can dance!
• I am still going to physical therapy, and am halfway through my second round of six weeks.  I will go back to the podiatrist at the end of June and hopefully he will graduate me from PT!

CCE Feis

• I kicked off the summer feising season by going to cheer on and watch my fellow 18&O champ dancers.  Congrats to them, and good luck as they continue preparing for nationals!
• In honor of being able to dance again, I also purchased some killer red ghillies to match my dress for award ceremonies and other fun things.

Old Dominion Feis

• This is my dance school's feis, so you can guarantee I will be there helping in one way or another.  (When I know what I'll be doing, I'll post it here so you can come say hi!)
• Old Dominion Feis also marks the start of my fifth year of feising!

Irish Dance How-tos:

• I did not do one for May.  I confess, my schedule is uber busy teaching full time.  Do not despair because there will be two in the month of June!  I am planning to have the first up on my blog and ready for you on June 6th.

Other things

• Curious as to what is my dance bag? (Come on, I know you secretly are.)  Check out Moira's blog, On My Toes to see a little collaboration post I did there!  Also, check out her latest post on joining the 'Mad Abs June' challenge!
• I'm going to go see Riverdance at Wolftrap on June 17th!
• If you're a regular reader, you may have noticed I changed the banner at the top of my blog just for fun.  What do you think?
• My school year is done June 15th.  Bear with me for minimal posts two more weeks as I finish teaching.  I'm already getting geared up with blog post ideas for this summer!
• On May 18th, I attended my own graduation ceremony since my college doesn't hold one in December.  Despite receiving my diploma in the mail in February, my graduation is officially official now!

Goals: PT exercises and stamina
Days till Os: 181