The McGrath Feis

On Sunday, I attended my first feis of 2015. I went to the McGrath Feis in Woodbridge, Virginia to begin my set of prep-for-nationals feiseanna. I was lucky to have my parents, boyfriend, and boyfriend's mom in attendance at this feis. This feis featured a 20 and over age group split, which I am so thankful for! I can't tell you how nice it is to not have to dance with people nearly ten years younger than I am.

My goal for the feis was to make it through my hornpipe and reel steps without forgetting how they go. I learned new hornpipe and reel steps in January, and this feis was my first chance to compete with them, They are very stylish steps, and I am working to perfect them and get them in to my body as well as my old set of hornpipe and reel steps.

I did meet my goal and was about to get thorough my first two rounds without forgetting! Of course, there were points in my hornpipe that I knew could be better (especially since my only comment from the feis was "feet too straight"). My reel round went fine, though my ankles felt particularly wibbly-wobbly that day, and all I remember thinking about was "hold it together!" To me, my set round felt the strongest out of all. After competing with this Planxty Drury since 2011, I feel like it's finally gotten really good. My beats are strong and rarely missing throughout. I have the certain extra turnout points flagged (though execution is not up to par still).

Awards for this feis included round awards of chocolate bars for first through fifth place for all three rounds. I placed in each round! Fourth for hornpipe, second for reel, and third for set.

I love chocolate.

I also was super surprised to hear my number called for third place in the overall championship! I was not expecting to place so well doing new steps partially because I know they still have a lot of work to be done on them. This is a tie for my highest open placement (Rhythm of Ireland 2013).

I was very fortunate that I has so many loving family members come to support my dancing on Sunday. I'm glad they got a chance to see my new dancing steps, and to attend a feis where I placed so well!

Up next is the Hurley Feis on May 24th!

Goals: Work on new set, HP stamina
Days till NANs: 71

Mini Update: Oireachtas 2k14

Feis Culkin

• I'll start with the fact that I'm pretty sure that most everyone who placed in the top 50% of the competition are not senior lady dancers. The 18& over open competition was full of tough competitors from the younger age groups.
• I placed in my hard shoe round which was a shock to me since I think that it felt weaker than my slip jig that day. I was excited to get a Hershey bar!
• I ended up placing 12th out of 17. What was most frustrating to me was that two judged agreed on their ranking of me, while one placed me second to last. I am quickly becoming tired of scoring inconsistencies and how they can seriously make or break a dancer's overall placement.
• Also, the Washington Post had an article about this feis on their website recently.

Anyway, have a chocolate bar picture.

Goals (and things)

• My Oireachtas goal is (as it's been for the past four years) to be a world qualifier. I have not suffered through eight torn ligaments and a surgery to not finally meet my goal of qualifying at the Oireachtas.
• And things...  After the Oireachtas, I am planning on submitting my application to the Riverdance Trinity Academy International Summer School program. I'm hoping that having the chance to be a part of this week-long academy will give my dancing a new spark. I am feeling a slump in my dancing. It may be injury recovery, it may be Oireachtas stress, but regardless, I have not seriously put any effort in to show dancing, and I think it would be a great break from the competitive world.

Follow my adventures this weekend!

• As always, I will be all over social media this weekend with updates on my dancing and other Oireachtas adventures. Be sure to follow any (or all!) accounts for up to the minute details on my weekend.

[Twitter] [Facebook] [instagram] [tumblr]

Goals: Relax a bit, finish packing, and DFTBA

Days till Os: 3

Mini Update: May Feis Madness

Holy Angels Feis:

• My first feis post-injury went well enough to meet my goals of being able to dance all three rounds all the way through.  I didn't place overall (I was one away), but I did place in my heavy and light shoe rounds.
• The best part of the feis was being able to see a feis friend that I haven't seen since nationals last summer.
• (This feis opportunity brought to you by the large number of times I stayed in Marriott hotels last year--almost all due to dance-- because I had a free stay!)

CCE Feis:

• Of the three feiseanna, this feis was my weakest performance.  I mucked up my treble jig lead, which didn't start things off well.  I felt that I redeemed myself in my soft shoe and set round, but I think the non-rotating panel had already formed their opinion.  I was placed near the bottom of the pack, and I deserved it.

Hurley Feis:

• This feis was definitely my best performance of the three.  Out of 26 dancers, I placed 11th!  (Just think of how well I could have done if I was putting all effort into preparing for nationals!)  
• My favorite part of this feis were the comments I received.  Two separate judges commented on my set, one saying, "Nice set," and the other, "Set nice style."  I have been learning a hornpipe set to replace Planxty Drury, so as a possible last performance in competition, I was overjoyed.  I have never received comments like this on my dancing, so I must have killed it!

Surgery updates:

• One week until my surgery!  I will be having arthroscopic surgery on my right ankle to tighten up the ligaments I've now torn multiple times, and to clean up the scar tissue.  I will be non-weight bearing for three weeks, followed by time in the boot, and finally ten (or more) weeks of physical therapy.
• Until then, I am continuing to go attend as many dance classes as I can.  I have one tonight, and my last pre-surgery dance class on Monday.
• My hope is to be back into dancing enough to attend the SRO.  As a team dancer at the very least.

Help me get rid of some of my extra dancing stuff!

• Check out this post on tumblr.  I have two pairs of heavy shoes and one wig that are available for pay what you can plus shipping from Virginia.  If what you can pay is just shipping, then I'm okay with that.  I'd really like to ship these off by Friday before I move!

Goals: Pack everything at home and classroom, finish grades
Days till Os: 178

Mini Update

It's December.  I am an Irish dancer.  You know what that means...

Oireachtas Information

• Tomorrow is the big day!  It will be jam packed with much dancing (solos in the morning, teams in the afternoon), but I know it will be a blast in the end!
• I am feeling ready with my dancing.  I am going to put trust in my body and rely on all the hard work I have done in preparation for this event.  I am doing my best to stay stress free like I did for nationals this summer, but there are other factors at work for the Oireachtas that weren't there for nationals.  I did take the day off work to make sure that I am relaxed and focused.  I will do my best to continue to keep calm.
• As always, I will be trying my best to post updates throughout the day as time allows [follow @RinceGoBragh on twitter] [follow @sekubik on instagram]

Coyle Feis

• In a rare turn of events, I was unable to attend my usual November feis (Culkin), so I decided for extra competition practice that I would attend an out of region feis.  My goal was to place in the top half of the competition, but I fell short by just two places.  Since this feis happened a few weeks before the Mid Atlantic Oireachtas, I suppose it's to be expected.  I believe I was the highest placing Southern Region dancer though, so that is always a good sign!

Antonio Pacelli

• Have you checked out the new Antonio Pacelli website?  They have completely revamped everything (except their merchandise; that remains wonderful as usual), and added a community section, full of Irish dance blogger from around the world, including me!
• I will be posting separate content on the Antonio Pacelli website at least once a month, but don't worry, Rince go Bragh will still remain active.

Kennedy Center Performance

• My dance school and I had the rare opportunity to perform at a prestigious venue: the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  We performed on a Sunday evening on the Millennium Stage as part of the Kids Euro Festival performance.
• You can catch our entire performance by following this link.  We start dancing at 23:25.

Goals: Three clean rounds

Days till Os: 17 hours

Mini Update

Oireachtas Prep

• With the Oireachtas being a month away, I have really solidified my goals.  I am determined that this is my year.  I have two goals within reach (and one other secret goal) which include: 

1. Be a world qualifier, and
2. Place in the top ten.

• I have been working on stamina lately, and am feeling less and less exhausted at the end of each dance.  Well, this is not entirely true.  I am less tired at the end of the first time through each dance.
• Have I mentioned the teams I am on?  Along with solos, I will also be part of a mixed 4, a mixed 8, and the senior girls choreography.

Rhythm of Ireland Feis

• I felt fairly confident in my dancing for the day, at least in those moments when I wasn't bumping into the gal I was sharing the stage with.  Our steps followed similar path, and we were constantly vying for the same space on the stage.  Despite that, nothing seemed to go horribly wrong.
• I was slightly shocked when placements were called!  Until that weekend, I had never placed above 6th in an open champion competition, and lo and behold, I found myself not only on the podium for third place, I also received a sash and lovely plate!  This gave me a great confidence boost.  It's great to have proof that my hard work it playing off.
• This was also the most fun I'd ever had at a local feis.  I greatly enjoy spending time with the particular group of senior ladies that are both within my dance school, and that I see only at competitions.  There is a lot of camaraderie between all of us.  The Maple seniors spend some time before awards playing a favorite game of mine, Cards Against Humanity, and it may just be a feis staple from now on!

Coyle Feis: I will be there this weekend!  My goal is to recall in this large and out of region group.

Non-dancing tidbits

• Work is going well!  My 4th graders will be putting on a Veteran's Day concert in a week.  It will be my first concert at my new school!
• I am moving to a new apartment in the very near future!  I will conveniently located in between work and dance.  I just now have the added stress of packing all my things up and moving when Oireachtas practicing is reaching critical mass.

Goals: Dance confidently at the feis
Days till Os: 31

Mini Update

In this month's edition of Mini Updates: Oireachtas, feiseanna, performances, and a giveaway!

Oireachtas Prep

• As much as I hate to say this, I haven't been practicing as much as I should.  My current practice plan was put on hold from when school started until essentially now.  This week, though, I'm getting back into doing a very focused 20 minutes of drills a day, whether it be stamina, or rhythmic bits from my hornpipe.
• I also suffered a minor set back last Wednesday that had me more scared than anything.  In the first dance practice of the fall and as I was running through my reel's second step, I twisted my ankle.  I judged it to be a minor sprain, as here I am a week later dancing.  Taped up, but dancing.
• This past Sunday was the first day of our Oireachtas team practices. I'm on two mixed teams, which I think is awesome.

Upcoming Feiseanna

• I have registered for both Rhythm of Ireland Feis in October, and the Coyle Feis in November.  More later on individual goals for each feis.

Halfway to St. Paddy's Day

• Performance number two (Fairfax Irish Fest) went very well.  We performed with a live musician, which was a great practice opportunity for the younger dancers performing about being flexible and adaptable with tempi.  I greatly enjoyed meeting with younger dancers from my school who I don't usually see due to being in a different class.

A New Look

• Right before school started, I cut off all my hair! (Well, not all of it, but a lot of it).  I have experimented with a bun wig to great effect.  I can still be the Star Spangled Girl With the Curls...my curls are just much smaller (and held in by many more bobby pins).

Do you want a free pair of ghillies? (Who am I kidding, of course you do!)

• Fellow Irish dance blogger and author, Christy Dorrity is releasing her very first novel for young adults entitled Awakening: Book One of the Geis.  The book is based in Celtic mythology and is about an Irish dancer, so she is hosting a giveaway to win a pair of Hullachan Pro ghillies.  To find out how to enter the giveaway, click here.

Awakening: Book One of The Geis
by Christy Dorrity
Photo: courtesy Christy Dorrity

That's it for me dance fans! Hope your next month goes smoothly!

Goals: Seriously, do your daily 20 minute drills. No excuses.
Days till Os: 73

Pre-Nationals Mini Update

Nationals: Here I go, off to my second north american championship!

• My goal is to recall, but I don't think I'll be bothered if I don't.  I have made excellent progress in my dancing since the Oireachtas, and I'm feeling good about where I stand, regardless of a nationals recall or not.  I'm trying to take this major with a no-pressure attitude.
• I'm looking forward to spending a relaxing five days in California at essentially a convention for one of my favorite things in the world.  I'm traveling alone, so Disneyland is probably out of the picture, but I'm hoping to spend lots of time pool-side with a book and an adult beverage when I'm not dancing, and/or making new dance friends.
• I won second place in the last instagram contest!  My prize is a photoshoot with Prine Photography while I'm in Anaheim, and also to be featured on the poster they are making.  Now, do I go buy a toy Cap shield for this?  I'm thinking yes.

• If you see me (or a version of me being Captain America), don't hesitate to say hi!  I arrive on the 4th (tomorrow!), dance in senior ladies A split on the 6th, and leave on the 8th.  I will be doing my best to send many updates through social media as I can in Anaheim. [Follow Rince go Bragh on twitter] [Follow sekubik on instagram]

Old Dominion Feis

• I placed 6th in open champs out of 15 dancers!  This continues to be a huge confidence boost for me, not only because I actually placed in open for the second time in my life, but especially so since my dad took a video of my set and it actually sounds fabulous!  After three years, my set is really becoming awesome.  I hope I can dance it at nationals.
• All three of my teams dances won!
• My social media updates were awesome (if I do say so myself).

Happy girl.

Goals: Don't become a head case
Days till NANs: 3

Mini Update

Old Dominion Feis: My school's feis is in less than a week, and I'm very excited!

• I will be dancing in all sorts of fun competitions including: old ladies open champs, 3-hand, 4-hand, and 8-hand competitions.  This will be my first local feis where I do some ceilis!
• When I'm not dancing, I'm running all social media outlets.  For champ results and more on the day, be sure to follow @OldDominionFeis on twitter, and like the Old Dominion Feis 2013 page on Facebook.  I hope all my years of blogging don't let me down!
• This feis also marks the start of my 6th year of feising!

Solo dress for sale!

• My red plaid solo dress. $450 with free US shipping.
• Dress was made in 2011 by Jennifer Blackerby.  It has been worn for a grand total of two competitions.  The dress is covered in hundreds of rhinestones I hand-glued on. There is plenty of let out room as it was altered from a 35” bust.  It fits comfortably on me now; not too tight, not too loose.  The dress also come with two headbands, but no bloomers…sorry.
• Dress measurements: 34” bust; 27.5” natural waist; 32” dropped waist; 15” across back shoulders; 31” total length.  It was altered down from a larger size, so there is let out room!
• Optional: I have size 5 (27” waist) pants that match the dress’ plaid perfectly.  I’ll throw them in for an extra $25.
• Drop me an email (RinceGoBraghBlog@gmail.com) for more info.

Nationals: Is quickly approaching in less than a month

• I'm looking into renting a nearby dance studio for an hour at a time when the school years is over so I have a nice place to practice with mirrors and a sprung floor.  Between my own practicing and scheduled dance classes, I'm hoping to dance five days a week.  While I know two to three weeks isn't much time to fix long-term issues, I'm hoping to hit stamina hard.
• I'm busy brainstorming my outfits for the handful of days I'm there.  In a perfect world, there is free wi-fi at the Hilton so I can quickly blog about my outfits each day.

I'm overwhelmed with the amount of positive response I've received on my new solo dress.  I still can't express how awesome it makes me feel when I dance, and having other dancers compliment my design idea is truly icing on the top.

The end of the school year is fast approaching, and with it, my wonderful summer break!  I can't believe how fast my first year of teaching went.  Here's to many more fun years!

Goals: Drill reels.
Days till NANs: 25

CCE Feis 2013

In my first local feis since 2011 (hello, injury year), I was able to debut my new look!

I am now the Star Spangled Girl With the Curls full time at every feis or major I will go to.  I cannot express just how much confidence wearing this beautiful dress gives me.  I am so happy with how it turned out from my initial concept, to Elevation's digital design, to real life dress.  I can now truly embody the spirit and fortitude of Captain America.  I'm not a perfect dancer, but (hopefully) a good person.

Being that I had only competed twice in the past year and a half, my feis morning was spent fighting nerves.  I was on an adrenaline high just from anticipation alone.  Anticipating competing, not forgetting my steps, and just how my new costume would go over.  Moving certainly helped my uneasiness.  When I found a quiet place or my own corner of a stage to warm up on, I was fine.  It was the sitting still that was the worst part.

Senior ladies were the first thing after lunch.  The stage manager allowed us to choose our own order for the day which, while not a mistake, is definitely not something most dancers want to do before we compete.  Personally, I'd just like someone to tell me the order so that we all don't have to piddle around and wait for a brave soul to volunteer to be first up.  Having danced with these ladies for years now, we just did the mature thing and played the nose game.

Somehow, I still ended up in the first rotation for reel.  My first round didn't feel completely horrible, but I felt bored by my steps (a problem which has since been solved).  My set round was something I was actually looking forward to for a change.  Since the Oireachtas, I have slowed the speed down by one click, and it's made a difference with my rhythms.

Although I didn't end up placing (7th out of 12, missed it by one measly point), I still feel like I'm right on track with my dancing.  This is one of the best placements I've had since I've moved to opens, and right now I'm after consistency (and improving my turnout and rhythms and arch...).  I also greatly enjoyed, and am still touched by, how many compliments I've received on my Marvel-ous new dress.

Goals: Master new reel changes
Days till NANs: 38

2013 Goals and Aspirations

It's amazing how far I have come in the world of Irish dance.  When I started in 2007 as an adult beginner, my only goal was to simply learn anything and everything about this amazing dance form I have admired for so many years.  A year later, my goals shifted to the realm of competitive dance; something I swore to myself I'd never do after spending nearly a decade as a competitive gymnast.  Little by little, I upped the ante for myself from getting to novice, to preparing for prizewinner, to competing at my first Oireachtas and moving to the champ levels.  Now that I'm at the top level of dance, it's weird to me that my goals have hardly changed at all.

Granted, I did spend 75% of last year injured or recovering from an injury.

For 2013, my goals include to:

1. Continue to improve my turnout and cross technique in my dancing,
2. Begin to place more consistently in my competitions at feiseanna,
3. Recall at nationals, and ultimately
4. Qualify for the world championships as a soloist.

I aspire to be the best team member I can be by coming to practice with a pleasant and helpful attitude.  I aspire for good health and stamina.

In other news for this year...

• Feiseanna and majors I will be present at:
• World Championships (March)
• CCE Feis (May)
• Old Dominion Feis (June)
• North American Nationals (July)
• Rhythm of Ireland Feis (October)
• Feis Culkin (November)
• Southern Region Oireachtas (December)
• New dress, new dress by Elevation Designs!
• If you're wondering where the Shut the Feis Up posts disappeared to, the author (my boyfriend) has enlisted in the Army.  He is currently at basic training in Georgia, so he is unable to continue to write blog posts.

Goals: Work through new hornpipes and reels

Days till NANs: 179

The Oireachtas (solos)

The Star Spangled Girl With the Curls makes an appearance!

Something about the Oireachtas morning warm up session had me off.  I kept confusing my second and third treble jig step as I ran through them.  Getting on stage to actually dance my treble jig, all that I forced to go through my brain was my body knows what to do, stop brain-ing it up.  So what did I do?  I forgot how the beginning of my third step went on the left foot.  Right in front of my TCRG and one of the judges. (Who I happened to meet in the elevator that morning and she consequently told me to stretch out and travel because the stages were huge.)  I knew I at least had a solid second round.  I could not have nailed my slip jig any more than what I did that Saturday.  Of all the times I wish I had a video of myself dancing, that would be the moment I want on film.  My stamina didn't give out.  I smiled.  I was so magnificently confident in how I danced.

Maple senior dancers

Waiting for recalls was a time for multi-tasking.  The senior ladies received a participators' patch.  We took pictures with the Christmas scenery.  I prepared another senior dancer's make up for teams later that afternoon.  I managed to stuff down half of a roast beef sandwich for lunch.  I knew that this was one of the last moments of calm to myself during the day, as I had three team dances to get through yet, so I isolated myself to get my thoughts in order for my set.

I have a history of weak set dances at Oireachtas.  In 2010, I died so much at the end of Drunken Gauger that I missed a part at the end.  With last year's Planxty Drury, I lacked rhythm.  With this year's Planxty Drury, I danced hard, but I missed so may beats that unless the judges were deaf (they weren't), I would be docked.  It's all because of my catch-22: to dance now, I have to tape my ankles.  If I tape my ankles, I miss trebles because my ankles are restricted.  I loosened the tape, but still I have troubles.

I am so not impressed.

Again, I met personal disappointment as solo results were called that evening.  Being the last number on the program, I waited with bated breath through all the other numbers, watching my friends be named as world qualifiers.  When the announcer called "...and number 81," I could feel the reality of my own personal let down sink into my stomach.  As I was coming to terms with yet another year of not qualifying, the group waiting backstage became smaller and smaller. All I could hope for was not 16th.  Not again, for the third year in a row did I want to be the first non-qualifier.  I was announced as 19th, so I took the stage with my fellow senior ladies to watch the rest of the results unfold.

It took until the next day for it to sink in that I had only been preparing since October, due to spending most of the year injured.  With all that, I still placed 19th.  I haven't improved much in my placements, but I also didn't do any worse than before injuries.

Goals: Learn hornpipes/reels
Days till NANs: 205

Bonus: Watch the senior ladies' results!

A Winter Poodle Sock Craft

In which I become sentimental about socks. Fairly warned be ye, says I.

As I was browsing Pinterest the other day, I came across this really adorable pin of a sock snowman.  Of course my first thought was 'poodle socks?!'  Upon closer inspection, and after seeing the materials list, I just knew these adorable little snowmen had to be created.  I take no responsibility for the creation of this craft, so the tutorial can be found at this lovely blog.

On Sunday, I made a trip to my local Dollar Tree to find cheap ankle socks for sweaters and dry beans to stuff my snowmen.  After cutting up my loved pair of sparkle poodle socks (and raiding my prized crystal collection), this was the result.  Warning: cute overload.  Also, noses still needed.

These little guys are quite special to me.  As I acquired new (still unworn) sparkle socks in May, I felt the need to immortalize my previous pair.  these snowpeople are made of more than meets the eye.  These socks were bought in Florida for the 2010 nationals.  I was wearing these socks both times I won my prelim champion competitions.  They were worn for my first open champion feis, and also traveled with me to Dublin, Ireland as I danced at my first world championships.  These socks saw some lower moments too.  They were with me when I experienced the bittersweet sting of placing one spot shy of being a world qualifier...twice.  And the last time I wore these socks?  I tore three ligaments in my right ankle.

Do you have a special pair of socks?  Share your story below!

Goals: Finish stoning dress, don't overdo dancing
Days till Os: 12

Blog Challenge: Inspiring video

In honor of back to school and back to dance, September's blog challenge is to post an inspiring dance video.

One of my favorite inspiring Irish dance videos is the trailer to Jig.



I first saw this trailer right before I left for New York to compete in my first open champ feis.  At the time, I was training for my first world championship.  Being able to watch this video on the daily gave me that much more excitement for the competition I was about to dance in.  Watching such awesome dancers live out their own worlds journey, even if only in a two minute video clip really gave me that extra boost to practice.  The makers of the trailer packed in all the quintessential elements that I love about Irish dancing.  And come on, Mike Stobbie did such a good job on the music that you can't help but move.

Goals: PT exercises
Days till Os: 79

The 2012 breakdown, part 2

With 100 days left until I dance at the Oireachtas, I think its a good time to do a goals check in.  (Remember this post from the beginning of the year where I outlined my ideal year in dance?)

My original goals for the year:

1. Improve turnout
2. Place at least once in opens
3. Place higher at nationals (60th in 2010)
4. Qualify for worlds

Unfortunately, due to two major injuries, including six torn ligaments, I need to update my goals. In all actuality, I will not attend any local feiseanna this year to place in.  I was unable to attend nationals.  This leaves me with two goals:

1. Improve turnout
2. Qualify for worlds

I want to qualify to compete at worlds as a soloist. This has secretly been my ultimate goal since 2009 when I started this blog.  I will be completely crushed if my injuries keep me from this goal.  On that note, I will for sure be doing teams at the Oireachtas.  I will be in a figure choreography, which can still give me a chance to be on a worlds stage.  There is just that uncertainty for solos due to my most recent injury and the months of recovery time I still have ahead of me.

My goal for the year will be to go to worlds. Even if just for teams.  Period end of story.

Goals: Heal.
Days till Os: 100

Going Traditional

A few weeks ago, a brilliant and gutsy idea occurred to me as I was browsing Dance-Again.  I want to attend a competition in a vintage and traditional solo dress with natural hair and minimal make up.  Why?  For the simple reason of wanting to know what it was like dancing in the older, traditional styles.  When I say older, I am referring to mostly the pre-Riverdance era of costuming.  There's just no replicating the exquisite and intricate knotwork of these dresses of old.  There is also a certain poetry in the way they flow while dancing, especially while spinning that dresses of today just don't quite capture.

As I progressed as a dancer, I got sucked into the pageantry of feiseanna.  I am not complaining about this. I love getting gussied up in my fancy dress and my fancy hair with my fancy make up to compete against others.  I believe that the costuming part of Irish dance is all about showing your best self to the adjudicators, and the way us Irish dancers do that is to take the "authentic Gaelic dress is desired" and kick it up a few hundred notches.

Observing the trends of the last few majors, senior ladies really have the gamut of costuming appearances.  Some dancers keep the ever-voluminous curly wigs, while others are opting for natural and classic updos.  Recently, dressmakers has started using more and more traditional Celtic symbols in their dress designs, which balances out the just-as-current bold and often asymmetrical geometric designs.  Even the colors used in dresses range from one, to the rainbow.  So why not break out a vintage dress?

Why not: As fabulous as this looks in my head, I do not see myself as a trendsetter in the dance world.  My TC would think I am crazy.  I do not know when I can feis again, and I only attend a few feiseanna a year right before majors.  Also, finding a vintage dress in good condition that's my size and my price will be a feat in itself.

All wussiness aside, I have put together a few looks that would be smashing (or so I think in my mind).

Traditional ID looks by sekubik featuring shoes

What do you think?  Would you ever don a more traditional look?

The 2012 breakdown

Happy new year to all! After a month's hiatus from both dance and blogging, I'm ready to get back into it! I have big plans for this year, including finding a real job now that I'm a college graduate, and also a few new things for the blog!

Goals for the year:

Most people are coming up with new dance goals for the year, however, mine stay the same this time! Those goals are...

1. Improve turnout
2. Place at least once in opens
3. Place higher at nationals (60th in 2010)
4. Qualify for worlds

I ended 2011 with only accomplishing two of my goals: improving turn out and placing once in opens. I would like to continue to improve my turn out this year, especially in my hard shoe dances. As for placements, I would like to improve from placing last to some where near placing, if not placing. Doing this, I know I need to turn out more and just find that championship sharpness every time I go out to compete. The biggest goal for the year is to qualify for worlds. I have spent the last two years now on the cusp of being a WQ, just one place shy. I was lucky in 2011; there was an adjudicating conflict. Not so much this year. I would like to say I have qualified for worlds at the Oireachtas, and compete in worlds on American soil before I retire.

Feiseanna to attend:

1. Four Provinces or CCE (if held)
2. Old Dominion
3. Nationals
4. Rhythm of Ireland
5. Feis Culkin
6. SRO

Blog happenings:

• My biggest announcement is that this year, I plan to make 12 Irish Dance How-To videos/written tutorials. I will release one each month, and the subjects vary from warming up, to ab workouts, to crafting tutorials! I am really excited to get this under way and you should be too (because. . . )
• . . . Craft tutorials = giveaways!
• Shut the Feis Up (STFU): I will continue to pester my boyfriend to write about Irish dance this year, starting with his reaction of the Oireachtas.
• Of course, I will also continue to keep you updated on what's happening in the dance world from my perspective!

Goals: Nail down the first 8 bars of Kilkenny Races set

Days till NANs: 181

Rhythm of Ireland Feis

The day before the feis, I developed pink eye. The day of the feis, I developed a cold.

Despite the odds, I placed for the first time in open champs.

I liked how this feis ran soft shoe first for a three-round open champ competition. It cut down on the amount of times we had to change shoes, and in a quick local feis setting, I thought was perfect. I also was quite a fan of running open U18 and prelim/open 18&O competitions co-currently. Hello breathing time, which was much needed due to the runny nose, cough, general wheezing, and stamina that needs improvement.

I don't know what it is about performing my set at the past few feiseanna since (and including) Oireachtas, but I seem to be so exhausted that I make more mistakes than I should, like falling off of pointe, and generally being more sloppy. If it's a stamina issue, that's being worked on. If it was an 'I'm getting sick' issue, that will be solved in a few days. If it's a general sloppiness issue, then clearly I need to work harder.

One of the many of the things going around the message boards is about the choice in judges at this feis. What you have to understand about this world is that it it all 100% completely subjective. Unlike gymnastics which has an intense code of points and micro-manages how much of a deduction you get for not pointing your toes, Irish dance is purely about judges' preferences. One of the judges in question happened to place me really high, while placing another dancer from my school lower. I've seen that this is pretty normal; I've been to feiseanna before where a judge has placed me first, and another near last. Again, it's all judges' preference, and not something that's under any of our immediate control.

Goals for the year:

1. Improve turnout (work in progress)
2. Place at least once in opens
3. Place higher at nationals (did not attend)
4. Qualify for worlds

Goals: stamina, cross

Days till Os: 46

Old Dominion Feis 2011

You know those feiseanna where you look at the competitior list and just know you have no hope? That happened to me the Wednesday before the Old Dominion feis. One of my competitors just won nationals a few days ago. Another of my competitors was the reason why I went to worlds this year (out via association). At least two others placed top five at the Oireachtas this past year.

Lets just say it's a good thing that I set goals for myself that have nothing to do with placements.

I helped run stages all morning, which I sort of enjoy. I like organizing things, as well as seeing all the cute tiny dancers. If only the gym wasn't so darn hot... Anywho, after that I went and searched out a new headband for my new hairstyle. I decided that I would dye my hair back to it's natural dark reddish brown state, and cut of my full wigs into a bun wig. I think it turned out pretty well, and with the heat of the feis, it was a good plan.

I danced later on in the afternoon. I decided to break out my new steps (for the Oireachtas), which made me more nervous than I should have been. My goal for the feis was to make it through without stopping or forgetting what comes next. I can't just make things easy on myself: I had these steps for about a month, and I had never made it through them without a little blunder until the feis. I feel really good about how I did, but purely because I made it through all three rounds. I ended up placing 10th out of 11. I just can't catch a break in these open champ competitions. On another good note, my grandparents (who live in Nebraska) were able to come and watch. They haven't seen me dance since the 2009 Oireachtas.

Goals: Start practicing again

Feisin'

Feis report: Inishfree feis

Ah, my first open feis...

Honestly, I didn't feel all that prepared going into it. I'm pretty sure that mental attitude, coupled with being nervous about competing in open champs for the first time showed, and adversely affected my dancing. From that, I have re-affirmed the importance of not letting myself psych myself out before going on stage, to focus solely on myself and my own dancing and goals. That being said, it's hard not to watch what others are doing while you're standing side stage. It's hard to get into the zone, and be connected within yourself, when your competition is right there in front of you. It's good to be reminded of the importance of focusing every now and then, especially with a major championship coming up.

I tied for last (10th) place.

Feis report: Big Apple Feis

Feis in Times Square? Absolutely. Dress rehearsal for worlds? Yep. Here's what happened:

1. The senior ladies were first thing in the morning, which meant waking at the god-awful hour of 5am to get ready. Luckily, being first, we didn't have to wait around all day to dance. It was cool to watch what others were doing, in the short glimpses I saw. There were some seriously talented dancers, and I'm happy I got a tiny sliver of a preview of what I'll see at worlds.
2. Senior ladies got to do a photo shoot for Feis America magazine because of an article they're doing on older dancers being mentors to younger ones (I believe). Look for me (in a group) in an upcoming Feis America issue!
3. I placed 22 out of 24. Considering it was my second open feis, in the Mid-Atlantic region, and against all world qualifiers, that is SO not disappointing. My comments included: turn out, timing, arch, and to "listen to the music the whole time." I guess I should stop putting ear plugs in during my last step...
4. I took an hour out of my dance-watching to tour Times Square, and it was ironically one of the most relaxing things of the day. I got to go and wander around, have my own schedule, and being in my own little shopping zone.
5. I'm going to go ahead and say it, this feis was probably the worst run feis I've been to, but there were a lot of things that just went wrong. The trophies didn't show up. We waited three hours for awards. It was crowded and hot on seven out of eight floors of competition (the older championship dancers stage was an auditorium, and the only calm place in the hotel).

Up next: Worlds, April 22

Goals: Stamina...

Days till worlds: 18

Huge Update, Part 2: Feiseanna

Since nationals, I have been busy doing various feiseanna in the area, and placing rather well. I did not place lower than third in prelim since July, which is rather neat, and quite an accomplishment after only having been dancing for three years.

Nation's Capital feis: Keeping with the trend set forth at the CCE and Old Dominion feiseanna, a gentleman won this competition, and I got my first ever frustrating second place. Honestly, I'm going to admit that I hadn't practiced my steps since nationals three weeks prior to Nation's Capital, so I was acting on pure muscle memory and prayers that my stamina would hold out. I was surprised I placed as well as I did, considering the circumstances: 30+ dancers (16 and over competition), no practice, and bad stamina.

Baltimore Feis: Well, my first time competing my new Oireachtas steps was at this feis. While I thought my treble jig round was rather poopy technically, rhythmically, and stamina-wise, it was definitely my slip jig that saved my life (nothing new there). Two awesome things happened here. The first is that Kristin got her very first prelim first (and awesome perpetual cup), after being in this level for a few years, becoming the first of the three of us older Maple people in prelim to do so. The second was that despite what I thought was a poor performance, I still placed top three, and received my very first crystal award.

Rhythm of Ireland: The coolest part of this feis was not just that I got my first prelim first (and sash), but the fact that all three of us Maple dancers swept the podium for our competition. Jess received her highest placement ever (2nd), and Kristin just came off an illness and still danced really well. It's amazing the camaraderie between the three of us, when we could just take the low road and be catty and super competitive toward one another.

Feis Culkin: This was a busy day. I spent the week before praying to the feis gods that my competition would dance first since I had a choir concert that evening, and we did! I can honestly say that this is my favorite feis of the entire year. It is always well-run (we danced, got our awards, and were done by 10:45 AM), and a good pre-Oireachtas check up on how you're doing. Despite the slippery wood stages, I danced pretty well, but not quite full out on my treble jig, since I was trying to avoid the treble sit. The highlight of the morning (pre-awards) was a "beautiful slip jig" comment from Russel Beaton, who wasn't judging that day, but just watching. There were four Maple girls who danced this day, and all of us placed! The most exciting part? Winning my second prelim competition, and my dad being there to witness it.

I can now say that I'm officially an OPEN CHAMPION dancer, and have met and exceeded two our of three of my goals for the year (place regularly and win at least one prelim competition, and don't get last at nationals). I am both excited and extremely intimidated by the fact that I am now in the highest level of Irish dance. I remember three years ago when I started dance class thinking how wonderful those championship dancers are. In my eyes, I have put a lot of pressure on myself to be that inspiring figure to new dancers that the champs were to me when I first started. Don't get me wrong, I'm completely stoked to have achieved so much in such short time, but I feel very daunted just thinking about regularly competing against people who have been dancing their whole lives, and have qualified for worlds, and possibly even recalled there. Clearly, I am just psyching myself out by this thought, as I am currently more freaked out about dancing open at CCE in May than I am about dancing at the Oireachtas in two weeks.

Goals: Do my homework for REAL.

Days till Os: 14