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!

Injured, again?

Nation's Capitol feis was supposed to be my triumphant return to Irish dancing.  Five an a half months after blowing out 60% of my left ankle, I was healed enough to get back to feising.  I had done so much preparation for this feis, including lots of practice time on my own since my dance school is on summer break.  I finally felt like I was 100% back to dancing.  I knew that I was going to rock this feis because I could get through all three rounds.

It, apparently,wasn't meant to be.  As I was warming up for my competition and running through my slip jig, I landed an over wrong and knew right away that something was not right.  Just like my last injury, I felt that terrible sensation of ligaments popping apart as I landed.  Limping back to where I parked my stuff, part of me knew I wasn't going to dance that day, no matter how much I taped my ankle up and no matter how many Advil I took.  This was hands-down the most disappointing feis of my life.  I was so close.

An hour after injury.
Note the tan line and poodle sock indents.

After another MRI, it turns out that I completely tore my anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments, partially tore my deltoid ligament, AND did something funky to some tendons.  I am currently in a boot and on crutches for the next two weeks until I re-visit my podiatrist and hopefully obtain my physical therapy prescription.

Here's to a speedy recovery and the hopes that I can dance at the Oireachtas.  If I can do this, if I can dance at the Oireachtas and qualify for 2013 worlds (as it's been my goal since 2009), this will be one of the best comebacks ever.

Goals: Heal
Days till Os: 116

Blog Challenge: Confidence at my first Oireachtas

This month's blog challenge by The Dance Buzz is a writing prompt: "Dance is both confidence building and humbling.  Write about a time you experienced either."

The last dance practice before my first Oireachtas was one of those rare times in my dance career that everything felt like it had clicked into place.  I remember going through each and every one of my dances and just feeling like I was nailing everything.  I knew I wasn't the best dancer going to compete, but there was this part of me deep down that knew I was good enough to recall.  Even though it was my first Oireachtas.  And I had only been dancing for two years.  At the end of class, I asked my fellow dancers and  my TCRG if there are any tips, what to expect, etc.  I was told that I had put in so much work so I should go enjoy it, have fun, and to do my best.

Putting on my game face before warming up.

The morning of my solo competition, I was completely on time with getting ready.  Equipped with my iPod, I had given myself an hour to find an isolated spot in the venue to warm up and get in the zone.  This was surprisingly easy.  I went into this competition without putting pressure on myself, so it was just me and the dance.  I wasn't worried about recalling.  It would be nice if I did, but I knew it was my first Oireachtas, so I was just there to showcase my best dancing.  As I was warming up, I still felt that super confidence in each stretch and every drill I did.  One of my feis-mates was watching from afar and even complimented my on my improvement.  With one last listen to my inspirational song, I was off to dance my first round, treble jig.

There is one moment of dancing that stands out for me from this competition.  It is the first few seconds of my second round, slip jig: And one two switch, step over down... I experienced this sensation in my first leap of hanging in the air for what seemed like an eternity.  I could see everything happening from my point of view on the stage, but I could also see this perfect leap both from above and from the audience's view.  To this day, I cannot remember a better leap, a better single moment of dancing.

After finishing my two rounds and having lunch, recalls were finally going to be announced.  I was standing by a wall in the hall right next to a younger dancer (my feis sister) from my school and her mom.  The announcer began reading off the numbers of the dancers who have recalled and would dance their set dance in the next and last round.  I couldn't breathe.  1, 2... Had I danced well enough? ...3, 4... Could the judges tell it was my first Oireachtas? ...6, 7... What was my number again? ...9, 10... Oh, 18, it's right here in my hand. ...16, 17, 18.  My knees gave way, I was sitting on the floor crying and being tackled by my feis sister and her mom.  I did it.  I had just recalled at my first Oireachtas.

Goals: Slip jig lead.  Make one.

Days till Os: 165

Mini Update

Things I was doing before I was injured:

• The week after the Oireachtas I learned all my new steps for the year.  Senior ladies are dancing slip jig and treble jig, so I have both those dances, as well as my new set for the year, Kilkenny Races.
• As I was learning my new set, I thought it would be completely impossible because there are a lot of new rhythmic things I either had not done till that point, or needed some work.  After about a month, I had the whole thing finally learned and could perform without stopping to think.  There were still parts that needed lots of work (like the left foot of the step), but I could get all the way through!
• I was in generally getting geared up for nationals in continuing to work on turn out and my overall dancing.

I went to the doctor this past Tuesday.  My ankle is beginning to heal up, and I can begin to walk with crutches and test out walking with only my boot.  I go in again this Tuesday coming up hopefully to get rid of the crutches and to get my orders to start physical therapy

St. Patrick's month is upon us already.  Although I won't be dancing, I do plan on attending what I can to support my fellow dancers and dance school.  I will post my full schedule at a later date, but look for me in the D.C. St. Pat's parade!

Since I can't dance quite yet, I'm taking the Mad Abs March challenge!  This is mostly a personal thing, since the February one failed around the time I hurt myself and couldn't catch up with what I missed.  Feel free to print it out and complete it yourself!

I attended my first pub session this past Monday night at Ireland's Four Provinces in Falls Church, VA.  While I did not dance, I did sing one song (I only really know one Irish sing well enough to perform).  I will learn more so I can contribute more!  I mostly enjoyed listening to what the others were doing.

I have started an Irish dance tumblr.  Mostly because there are so many fantastic Irish dance photos out there to share, and I want something more photo-friendly than this wordy blog!

Check out this article by Christy Dorrity for Feis America's online site at Irish Central.

Also, you may see a familiar face in an upcoming issue of IDM!

Goals: keep healing!

Onward, Upward, and Over to Prelim!

Can I have your attention please:
I'M NOW A CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL DANCER
Goal number one for the year accomplished. :]

Baltimore feis report:
I may not have done as well as I hoped, I still didn't place first in my slip jig. I ended up getting 5th place. I also ended up with a 2nd place in both reel and treble jig, and many fearful glances from my competitors, however, I reassured them this is the last time I'll be in prizewinner, for their own sakes... I also love dancing on stages, which I go to do for my two soft shoe dances.
Up next: Rhythm of Ireland, October 17th

So I never got first in my slip jig, how am I in prelim, you ask?
Well, I did place first in my reel, and you do only need a first in a soft and hard shoe dance...
Yes, I may have cheated the system a little, but I need to practice this competition format for the Oireachtas, which are coming up in SEVENTY FIVE DAYS.

It's a bit of a neat feeling, to be a championship-level anything after only doing something for two years...

Upcoming:
The new dress!
Two year anniversary of starting dancing

Goals: get videos up here for TJ and The Hunt already! Prepare for ROI...
Days till Os: 75

Oireachtas Slip Jig

This is it. My slip jig for the Oireachtas and prelim.
I know I die at the end, my stamina definately needs a ton of work. I do love how awesome my leaps are in my lead though...

Baltimore feis is in less than two weeks. With this new, killer slip jig there's no way I won't get that first place I'm still in need of. :]

Upcoming:
Possible new dress?! (I'll keep you posted.)
Dance classes start for the fall
Baltimore feis report

Goals: Upload video of 'The Hunt' and Oireachtas treble jig, practice EVERYTHING for Baltimore feis
Days till Os: 87

Oireachtas Workshop, Days 3 & 4

Day 3:
This was at the Falls Church location, and I could go on and on about how much I hate dancing on that floor. My shin splints are back, thanks to my friends linoleum and concrete. I also thought I had pulled a muscle in my quad doing a lift for my slip jig. Turns out, it's just a very sore muscle. I learned a new third step for my treble jig, which just needs practice getting it to music. We also practiced the large figure dance from the workshop this past June, and phew! we remembered most of it. I can't wait till it's all put together and perfect like it was at the workshop. It's going to be awesome.

Day 4:
I was very suprised when I woke up in the morning and could walk! Dancing wasn't so bad either. Just some fine tuning for slip jig, and trying to get my third treble jig to music, as well as keeping up with my set. We also practiced the figure again today, and I filled in for one of the boys. Basically I got dragged along for five minutes, and it was apparently very funny to watch. It helps when I'm about half of the other two guys dancing...

I've got all my stuff learned for the solo portion on the Oireachtas, and I'm feeling pretty confident about it all. I'm so excited. I also think I'm going to be the only one who will miss dancing every night for four hours. Geek.

Goals: Videos of SJ, TJ, and Hunt
Days till Os: 105

Oireachtas Workshop, Day 1

I spent four hours dancing tonight and loved every minute of it.
Today was day one of a four day workshop to get everything sorted out for the Oireachtas. I've gotten my slip jig sorted out, and I am no longer doing the two steps I hate. Yay! I've got a new second and half step that I think will suit me much better. I also have started learning my set dance, The Hunt. I've gotten the entire step down, and mostly with music. I'm hoping to finish learning it Wednesday. All in all it was very exciting, and I can't wait to do it all over again in two days!

Although I could go without the sore quads and aching calluses.

Speaking of the Os. . . my hotel is booked! I'll be staying about a block away from the venue, at the Westin, which, I have been informed, has an ice skating rink in it! (Because I won't be busy dancing or anything. . . ) My mom and I are trying to plan something fun to do in Dallas since we've never actually stopped there long enough to leave the airport; however, I don't know if I'll be needed for the figure on Sunday.

Goals: Get the new SJ and set to music and take video of them
Days till Os: 109

My Slip Jig is a Treble Maker

Feis report: Delaware feis
This may have been my most stressful feis of late. I overestimated what time lunch would be, and ended up arriving at the feis just before lunch break at 11:15, leaving myself 30 minutes to eat, do my make-up, and warm up, since my first dance was the second one after lunch. Luckily, I'm a speed deamon eater and the competition just before mine had 36 people in it...
I have been working on my stage presentation, aka, smiling while I dance, and I hope it has paid off a bit. I felt like I was having more fun than ever on my dances that I've already placed out of. I was totally concentrated for my slip jig, it being the only dance I STILL need to win. I got off the stage, totally confident. I swear it was the best slip jig I've ever done, and... I GOT SECOND. My slip jig's just messing with me now. I also placed 2nd in treble jig, and 3rd in hornpipe.
Up next: Baltimore feis, September 19th

I WILL win slip jig, I WILL win slip jig, I WILL win slip jig...

Upcoming: Oireachtas workshop Aug. 17-21

Goals: Work to improve turnout, especially on slip jig and treble jig.
Days till Os: 117

New Slip Jig Beginning

I did promise to make a video of my new slip jig lead, and here it is:



It needs a bit of work with sharpening it up. I'm planning on doing it at Nation's Capital this Sunday, and I've never done it in a large space, so hopefully I'll travel enough. Maybe that will help with the bent knees a bit... I also need to work on my scissors (aka freezing them), but it's still a pretty new jump for me, so I'll just do my best. This step is definately the most comfortable step for me to do out of the three I know.

Goals: Keep working on slip jig
Days till Os: 137

Just an update...

My flights for Texas are now confirmed, yay! I'm leaving Friday evening and coming back Monday afternoon, which means I'll be missing four classes a few weeks before finals, but oh well.

I've got all three steps down for my treble jig now, and a little less than six months to practice them. I may or may not be learning new steps for my slip jig, as then ones I'm doing now are weak, even with all the practice. I have been practicing, and have mostly gotten down, a new lead. I might learn another 1.5 steps, or I may keep them if they start looking good. Who knows.

Upcoming:
Nation's Capital feis report
Videos of full treble jig and slip jig

Goals: practice dances for Nation's Capital
Days till Os: 144

No Slips in This Jig

OW. My %$&*#!@ shin splints hurt. But because I love everyone who reads this blog, here is my slip jig:

Now, this is one of the dances I'll be doing at the Oireachtas this year. I don't think I'll do these exact steps, I'm already learning a new lead, which I almost have on my right foot. :] I'll post that when I get it down pat, I've got the summer to work on it. So for this video:
Whats good: Leaps, kicks, and I've got bicycles down on my right leg, yay!
Needs work: Crickets, double pumps in the back, kicking my butt on hops, flutters, bicycles on the left leg, and turnout (always).

Saturday is feis day! My school is hosting the Old Dominion feis, and I am going to help run the green stage all day, except for when I'm dancing on it. I'm excited and not excited about helping. I have to be there god-awful early in the morning, but hey, I get to hang out with dancers all day! Vive la danse! Woohoo.

Goals: TJ video, practice for Old Dominion, go to gym
Days till Os: 170

So I Welcome Myself Back to the Blogosphere...

(I need something to keep my dancing accomplishments straight. A place for goals and improvements. A place to tell everyone how much I love dance. A place to write about my journey to my first Oireachtas. For if it's written down, it's more likely to get done...)

Current:
Level: Prizewinner. (You non-dancers won't understand what this is, but basically I'm the level under champs. The really good people.)
Long-term goal: Make it to preliminary championships by the end of the year. That, and to recall at the Os for solos, and hopefully do a ceili too!
Thing I love about dance: Watching a group of complete beginners transform to solid dancers in reel and light jig, and knowing it was all because of me. (I teach a beginner class at Wakefield Friday afternoons)
Thing that irks me about dance: Prizewinner competitions. Dancers need somewhere between the Southern Region-required 2 first places, and the individual school-mandated 8 first places. This causes the same girls to win dances over and over again while they wait for that last first, not giving us other girls a chance. It forces us to be competing aganist all but prelim dancers as prizewinners. Fair? Not really. It does have it's good points: us not so good prizewinners now have motivation to really work hard and perfect our dances. This would be proof of that.

(I'm going to get some videos up here to show my current dances, just as soon as I set up my Jubilee tiles arranged correctly in the basement. Hopefully, some progress will be seen between now and the Os!)

Feis report: CCE feis
It was held at Mt. Saint Mary's on Memorial day weekend. I'll say it was my first real feis back since my transfer to Maple (Lady of Knock doesn't count, I didn't have all-Maple steps). I had all new steps for all four dances, and excepting the minor brain fart on my reel, they all went well. I won my treble jig and slip jig, my last two dances I needed to place out of novice (hence the prizewinner status now)! I didn't do so hot in my prizewinner dances (reel and hornpipe). The reel I understand: I screwed up. Hornpipe needs more confidence and sound. Watching my competitors beforehand, I realize how timid my hardshoe is.
Next feis: Old Dominion, June 20

Goals: set up Jubilee floor, make current videos to post
Days till Os: 182