Adult enough?

You lovely blog readers know that I began my Irish dance journey as a tender young adult, aged 18.  The overall response I've received is one of admiration, and also hope.  Hope for other college-aged dancers that wanted to dance as a kid, but didn't.  Hope for young teens who think that 13 is too old to begin a new sport.  I never thought I'd be hated on for not being "adult" enough to be featured in an adult Irish dancer post.

I had a lovely little spotlight on IrishCentral.  One of the responses to this post is below, and it really got me thinking, am I not an adult?

By adult? She's what...19? It would be nice to see coverage of "real adults" those of us who still love the dance and love to compete but cannot find room in the modern Irish dance world for the over 21 crowd. Most schools do not afford classes for us unless we want to be with a bunch of 15 yr old kids. I have now moved to Highland Dancing because the rules aren't so strict, and they afford me classes with people in their 20s and 30s who competed when we were much younger.

The last I checked, adults were classified as any one over the age of 18.   I will admit though: I have a baby face.  I regularly get confused with a high school aged teenager, and constantly get asked when I'm graduating from high school.  Little do these adults know that I have actually graduated from college and have a teaching career.

If you're talking about being an adult and having adult responsibilities (e.g.: money handling), I have paid for almost every aspect of dance myself (excepting travel and lodging to major competitions).  From day one, I paid all my dance tuition myself, and all the costuming fees from shoes to wigs.  I've paid the entry fees to all feiseanna I've been to.  I did all this with a part-time library page salary while taking 16+ college credits.  If this isn't adult responsibility, please tell me what is.

I did spend the first few years of my dancing career in classes where the next oldest dancer was 15.  I get it, it's awkward.  What I've found though is if you are in the right dance school climate for you, the other dancers will accept this.  In my case, I was a big sister, and when the other adult dancer joined class with us, none of the younger kids thought twice.  We were all just there to dance, it didn't matter the age.  If you don't feel welcome somewhere as an adult dancer, try looking for other options in your area.  I currently dance with other dancers who are my age.  Yes, there are still teens in class, but there are regularly other dances who are college-aged or just starting their own careers.

Hopefully other younger adult dancers do not experience anything like this.  I also hope that 'real adults' do realize there is something for the over 21 crowd in Irish dancing.  Heck, there is a whole age group in CLRG called 21 and over!  Other Irish dancing organizations have age groups that go even older.  The CLRG may not be the most "adult friendly" due to its highly competitive nature, but that doesn't mean that there are no options for adult dancers!

Goals: do PT exercises
Days till Os: 74

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!

In the Media

Been to Feisonista's Irish dance fashion blog? Well, you should. It's a great way to follow fashion trends and features the latest new in the Irish dance world at the end of the week. I was also featured as a 'Fashionable Feiser' and the article can be read by clicking here.

I was on the cover of July/August Feis America magazine with the other senior ladies from the Big Apple feis. (back row, center)

My dance school was featured in May/June Feis America magazine. I'm not in there, due to many different circumstances (doing figure during big group shot and not hanging around after figure awards due to tiredness). But still, that's where I live my Wednesday nights and some weekends leading up to the Oireachtas.

Ever tried searching through all those random St. Patrick's Day parade photos strangers take on Flickr or Photobucket? My guess is you'll find some of you that people took unbeknownst to you. My favorite so far:

Goals: drill steps, turnout

Days till Os: 76