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!

I've got those 3-day workshop blues

So, I'd expect most dancers took the week off after worlds (maybe it was just me?). For the most part, I did relax and focus on my recital (see: And now for something completely different). BUT (knew that was coming, didn't you?) we did have three days of step-learning workshops the weekend right after worlds.

And this? Is the carnage after day 3.

I've got the shin splints going on and the toe blisters artificially remedied by duct tape. What you can't see is the hip that started hurting, which got slathered with Tiger Balm.

Besides that, I really do love my new steps. Maybe I love them because after two years, I am finally doing reel/hornpipe for an extended amount of time (hopefully...stay tuned). My favorite out of all these new things is my set, Planxty Drury. I can't tell you why, other than the fact that I picked it up pretty quickly. I just like it.

Goals: Figuring out how to apply turnout to steps, left foot of hornpipes

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 2

I now have everything learned for the Oireachtas. My set is awesome, my slip jig is amazing, and my treble jig is. . . well, it's still the same (But getting better). I even learned a four hand in two hours, and although it's full of simple moves, I always have trouble remembering what's coming up next. I will post videos of my slip jig and set as soon as I recover from this week.

We spent over an hour doing drills this evening, which I really don't mind because I know it will help me better myself. What irks me is when others moan and groan whenever a new drill starts. Sometimes I just wanna shake them and ask, 'DON'T YOU WANT TO GET BETTER?' Except everyone's so chatty, I don't think they'd hear me.

Ailments:
Sore calfs and quads (you can't even imagine), blister on my 4th toe on the left, sore calluses on the balls of my feet and tips of my toes, bruises on the top of my feet.
And I still have two more days left. . .

Goals: Videos of SJ and The Hunt
Days till Os: 107

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

Workshop review and possibly Texas?

Just finished up my first ever dance workshop a week ago. What did I learn?

• Team dances are more than just having people dance sevens here and clap there. There are stories of ancient kings and new princesses, the hours of practice (and still I only know the first quarter of the dance), the bruised knees and blisters. There are smiles when you nail it, tears when it's frustrating, and disappointment and guilt when you disrespect the choreographer.
  
• Patience and courtesy are key.
  
• My soft shoe sucks apparently. Well, it's not as strong as my heavy shoe dances. That explains the results at Old Dominion...
  
• It is possible to alternate working for two hours, and dancing for two hours for twelve hours straight.
  
• Its also possible to survive a four hour ceili workshop on three hours of sleep.
  
• It can take an hour to drive to Vienna.
  
• People are likely to give you strange looks when you limp into CVS, only until you buy more Ace bandages and Advil, then they sympathize, even though they think "Riverdancing" is just a few hops and cuts.

And thank God, my parents have finally said they're getting started on travel plans and stuff for Texas. The one monkey wrench in the situation is that my dad may be going out of town that weekend (of course) so mom would have to stay home and watch my sisters, meaning I will be at home too, since I am just a few years shy of being able to get a hotel room and rent-a-car by myself. Grr.

Goals: practice soft shoe for Nat Cap
Days till Os: 151

Hornpipe time!

This is today's hornpipe:



I'm not sure how I'm feeling about it. My shins have been killing me all day.

Strong points: High slices, new hair cut so hair doesn't flop into face all the time.
Needs improvement: Hitting the clicks on click throughs and slices, getting ALL trebles (I got most of them), sharpening it up (landing of slices with feet crossed, pointing toes, cuts to hip), and as always, turnout.

My dance classes are now done for the summer, not counting the ceili workshop at the end of this month, and the week-long Oireachtas worshop in August. Now it's really up to me to keep my rear in gear about practicing, especially with a feis each month. I've been thinking about an effective weekly practice schedule for the summer, and have basically some down with this:
Monday: Softshoe
Tuesday: Hardshoe
Wednesday: Go to the gym (cardio/weights)
Thursday: Softshoe
Friday: Hardshoe
Softshoe and hardshoe will always come in sets: reel/hornpipe or slip jig/treble jig. Obviously, as the Os draw nearer (or I move to prelim), I'll be practicing slip jig/treble jig more.

Keep your eyes peeled for Old Dominion feis report this weekend!

Goals: SJ/TJ videos, practice for Old Dominion
Days till Os: 172