Update!!

Wow! I forgot I started this blog! Want an update on what has happened since?

Well, the next Oireachtas in 2010, I recalled! I had qualified for nationals, before my set, and then my set dance dropped me down 13 spots.

The next year, we traveled to Orlando, Florida. And guess what... I qualified for worlds!!!! My set dance brought me up 13 spots this year and I got a 5th place from one judge!! This was my senior year of high school and the end for most dancers. I competed in the All-Ireland Championships in Dublin that February, the World Championships in Belfast that April, and the National Championship that July. That was honestly the most I could have possibly asked for. I was so blessed during that year.

It all came down to hard work and dedication to dancing. Since then, I have graduated high school and am now a freshman at Ohio University studying Public Relations in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.

I had decided to transfer dance schools again, so that I could continue dancing under a teacher, instead of practicing on my own. This turned out to be a disaster and I started to HATE dancing. The teachers were physically and mentally abusive, so I transferred back. Which was the best decision I could have made, because my dance school is where I belong.

I danced the Mid-America Oireachtas with them and I didn't even recall. This was mainly because since I am in college, I can't eat as healthy as I would like to, and I don't have a dance floor in my basement at my disposal. Plus, if I wanted to get to dance class I needed to drive 2 hours in each direction by myself. I just don't have the time anymore to be doing that.

I was one of fifteen students at my university to be accepted to a study abroad program in Italy this summer, so I will be leaving on May 4th (the day after school gets out) and then I will be traveling to South Africa to spend a week or two with my Aunt Kathy. So unfortunately, I will not be competing in Nationals this summer.

My next major competition will be the Southern Region Oireachtas, which is in my hometown of Washington, D.C. It is the weekend before finals though, which is gonna suck, but I really wanted to be home for Thanksgiving with my family and wasn't up for traveling to Grand Rapids, Michigan again. I'm not expecting much, but I am hoping that this Oireachtas will be better than last years. Then if I am in good enough shape, maybe I will send in my tape for Lord of the Dance or Riverdance!!

It has been quite a journey and it is not over yet! I can't wait to see what is in store for me!

IRISH DANCER

So I found a couple websites and threads/blogs that I really enjoy and wanted to share them with you all...

http://idworkout.id.funpic.de/skripts/stamina.html Tips for stamina

http://www.dance.net/topic/8145900/1/Irish-Technique-Training/Stamina-The-Collective-Brilliance-of-DDN.html&replies=13 More tips on stamina

http://www.dance.net/read.html?postid=7139083&replies=14&page=1 tips on everything.

http://www.dance.net/topic/7049483/1/Irish-Technique-Training/Jump-Rope-Workout.html Jump rope. I need to get one. I hope it helps me out a bit.

http://www.dance.net/topic/4648221/1/Irish-Technique-Training/The-Ultimate-Height-Lift-and-Hold-Guide.html Lift and hold in your jumps

http://www.dance.net/topic/7563287/1/Irish-Technique-Training/Warm-ups-drills-and-more.html&replies=3 warmups and drills.

Let me know how you like the sites! :) I have more that I like, they just didn't seem to help me that much, but maybe they'd help you...

Blizzard of 2010!!!

The picture is from my mom's work window. That is a four foot long icicle.

This is ridiculous! This is my dad trying to walk through the snow looking like an elephant. I had to mute the sound because my mom was on a conference call when I was recording, but how funny!!!!

Where's the Passion?

You know what I realized today? You will never go anywhere with your life unless you have passion and inspiration.

My mom was reminding me on the way to the doctors this morning about a couple of years ago when I went the Baltimore Feis (in September) and didn't remember my steps and was going over them with people before I went on stage because I hadn't practiced those steps since May. And then I was upset that I didn't do well and my mom felt bad for me but told me that I needed to put some skin into the game if I wanted to see any results.

Basically, if I wasn't gonna practice then what was the point of her paying for me to feises? Moms, I'm sure you've had to go through this with your DD (dancer daughter) at some point in their dance career.

I needed something to inspire me to do well and to practice my dancing. I started watching the older girls at my dance school who were in Prelim. I told myself I wanted to be like them. It took me about 3 years after that to get to Prelim.

Still to this day, I always keep something in my room that has a goal for me. I have a daily goal, a weekly goal, a monthly goal, a yearly goal, a long term goal, and a life time goal. I keep those goals there to remind me what I am working towards. I have to remember what that is or I won't have the inspiration to go to my basement and practice. Just remember practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.

Watch a parade of champions video on youtube or watch riverdance, lord of the dance, or feet of flames. It is inspiring and will give you something to make you go and practice and get better.

Switching Dance Schools

Okay so I am new to this whole blogging thing, but I think I have some good insight that may be helpful to other Irish dancers.

I told my dance teacher yesterday that I was switching dance schools. It was a very hard decision to make, but I know I made the right one. I will miss everyone very much, but I will make new friends and have new experiences. Its a new chapter for my life. I'm starting out fresh. No presumptions or anything. Brand new. This switch is like getting a divorce. It is really tough. I do feel like I am betraying my old school. But I also feel like I just got married. A new place and new things. I will be starting with my new dance school this Monday.

I just had Oireachtas and I place 74th out of 122 dancers. I was 13 away from recalling. I was very pleased with the result because my old dance school has never gotten a dancer recalled. It was a small school and I loved while I wasn't really really into dancing, but when I wanted to go further with my dancing I knew it was time.

My advice would be: Don't be afraid to switch dance schools. Yes, the six month ban is a long time, but if you are unhappy then you won't go far and you won't succeed. What's the point of wasting that money for you to be unhappy? Research dance schools very carefully and try out a class at your top picks. Talk to the teachers and see which one you like. This took me a year to do, but I know other people that have only taken about two weeks to make their decision. Every person is different and every person has their own needs. Don't be afraid to start a new chapter in your life. It may be for the best.

Talk it over with your parents and start researching schools. Don't stay unhappy. There are a lot of kids out there that don't like their dance schools. But, just remember that no school is perfect. Every school has their own flaws. There will be things about your new school that you will love and other things that you will hate. Just be careful that you don't choose a school with more things that you hate than love.

And don't think that a dance school is like something just because of one person you see. That isn't the truth. You have to find out for yourself and not make assumptions, you may be surprised.

Another thing would be, don't think you are going to get better by switching to a dance school with a lot of really good dancers. Those dancers have worked really hard to get to where they are. They have put in a lot of time and effort to make their dancing perfect. If you want to get better you have to try. It really bothers me when someone wants to get better, but doesn't try at all in class and expects to see results. It's not gonna happen like that. You have to put in the blood, sweat, and tears to become that perfect dancer. It doesn't just happen overnight or by you not trying in class. Put the effort into it if you want to get better, don't slack off.

Comments? Please post them. Anything you want me to write about in particular? Tell me.