The past four years of my dance goals have looked something like this: championship placement goals, major competition placement goals, and improvements on technique. My dance goals have not seen any sort of change in a very long while, and I feel that fact is the root of many of my frustrations. I want to be able to do and succeed at everything I attempt, but that requires complete focus on only one activity. That is not how I want to live my life.
Placement goals have gotten harder and harder to achieve as an adult because I am balancing my career with own dance aspirations. At this time last year, I was extremely upset that I missed out on my number one goal for the year, a number one goal that has been only just out of my grasp for multiple years now. The senior ladies competition keeps becoming harder and harder as more dancers decided to keep coming back for more like I have been doing. My placements have been steadily dropping as the group has gained larger numbers, and that’s frustrating.
I know that despite negative emotions stemming from Oireachtas disappointments, I still need to have dance in my life. Dance is something that I have to do, so taking that feeling in mind, I’m planning on using it as the basis of this year’s singular goal.
I am going to enjoy every dance moment that I have.
If those moments include competitive success, then great. Becoming a world qualifier at a major competition is what I’ve been chasing recently. If those moments include traveling and workshops, fantastic. I have been accepted to the Riverdance summer academy at Trinity College in Dublin this summer, and if I can get the funds together, I’d love to attend. If those moments are simply enjoyable dance classes with friends, even better. Dance classes are where most of my time is spent in this crazy world, so why not have fun while working hard?
So my goal this year seems easy enough to do with the right frame of mind. When 2015 finishes, I want to be able to look back on the year and have great memories.
The small one is to place OK at my very first feis. (Or maybe even to have the nerve to attend my very first feis?)
ReplyDeleteThe big one is to keep dance lessons alive and going. I moved to a town with no classes nearby... so I found a teacher, a place, enough people interested in Irish dancing and put it all together. Now to keep it up...
Good luck as you work toward your first feis! That is very exciting news!
DeleteI've been out with an injury since November and I'm finally heading back to class this week, so my biggest aspiration is to stay healthy! Other than that I want to learn everything I can and become advanced enough so that I'm not the only one in my competitions!
ReplyDeleteStaying healthy is a great start! After my years of injury and surgery last year, I'm hoping to stay injury-free, too. Best of luck with all your practicing!
DeleteCongrats on being accepted to the Riverdance summer academy, this great news! I hope you get to go!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I'm getting my finances ready to handle this trip and will continue to keep you guys updated on this blog!
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