Welcome to Reel Treble #33!!
In this issue, we meet Hanna, a.k.a. celticfeet, a prizewinner from the ECR.
Name: Hannah
Dance.net Name: celticfeet
Member since: Sept. 2004
Years Doing Irish Dance: Almost 6 years
Age: 21
Dance School: Stanford School of ID
Organization: An Com
Competition Level: Prizewinner
Region: Eastern Canadian
What is the story behind your DDN name?
Nothing exciting; I was just trying to think of an interesting and non-geeky name that reflected the fact I do Irish dance....hence...celticfeet!
How old were you when you started Irish Dance and how did you get started?
I was 15 and was doing a show with my Acadian step dancing group I was with at the time; there were Irish dancers at the show as well, and I fell in love. My Acadian step teacher moved away the next year, and I started Irish dance at 16 years. Of course, I started with young kids, but ya know!
How many classes do you have a week?
2-3, plus I teach twice a week
How often do you practice at home?
At the moment,not at all because I'm in my fourth year at uni. But I try to practice at least once or twice a week.
Did Irish Dancing come naturally to you or did you have to work at it?
The timing came fairly naturally to me, but everything else I have had to work at. I have foot/knee alignment issues, so that's really been bothersome.
Does Irish Dancing get in the way of your school work or social life?
Well, dancing kind of is my social life (haha!), and at the moment school is my #1 priority, but all the classes/rehearsals/shows definitely makes time management vital. But, if you plan well, it can all be done. I couldn't imagine giving up dance.
What do your friends think of your dancing? Do they support it?
My friends love the fact that I dance, although those that have known me for a while I'm sure get sick of it sometimes. But they are very supportive. I'm very blessed.
Do you do figure dances?
Sure do, at shows usually.
What does your dress look like and who made it?
It is royal blue, turquoise, pink, and silver; the trinity knots reflect my faith, and the underskirt fabric came from West Africa. My family took a trip to West Africa in 2004, and my Dad had a real heart for the country we visited; he passed away just before my 19th birthday, so the fabric is in his memory! It was started by the Velvet Castle (Sherri) and finished by Dresses by Darlene (Mrs. Stump).
I may not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. -- celticfeet
What brand of softshoes and hardshoes do you wear?
Soft: Fays Celtic Choice
Hard: Rutherfords with Shamrock Lacing
What is the farthest you've traveled for a feis?
Well, because I live in New Brunswick, we don't have any feis near us, so we don't get to many feis a year. We usually drive to Ontario. The closet in Ontario is about 10-14 hours away. Some in the states (ie: Maine, Boston) are closer at about 4-5hrs.
What is your favorite feis and why?
I love Montreal/Ottawa weekend because it's nice to have back-to-back feisanna; if you don't do well one day, you know you have the next to try again!
Have you ever been to a major championship?
As of yet, no, but I'm hoping to make it to the Oireachtas by 2010!!
*fingers crossed*
Do you get nervous before you compete?
I used to get quite nervous, but now I just put on a smile and try to enjoy myself!
Do you have any rituals you do before you dance?
Not that I know of.
What is your greatest accomplishment in Irish Dancing?
I would say being able to student teach; I love seeing how eager the kids are to learn Irish dance, and how they just love being in the moment. Also, being able to go on tour with my dance school to Ireland/Scotland for two weeks of the summer!
What was your greatest disappointment in Irish Dancing and how did you overcome it?
Well, being in novice for so long; I still have two dances in novice (darn softshoe!), and for a while I came close to quitting because I was working SO hard and not seeing any results. I asked myself, "Why did you start dancing?" and I remembered how much I loved the adrenaline rush of the music, preserving my heritage, and the friends I've made and experiences I've had. Now I try to enjoy the ride because I know it will end all too soon, although I wish we had more feisanna near us.
What are some of your short term goals?
To move my last two dances into prizewinner and then start placing more in prizewinner.
What are some of your long term goals?
To move into prelim and go to an Oireachtas.
What is your favorite dance and why?
I
LOVE the reel because it is so powerful and energetic; you just travel all over the stage and feel like you're flying.
What is your least favorite dance and why?
Well, I used to love the treble jig and hate the hornpipe, but now it's reversed. For me a lot of the dances I love/hate depend on the current steps I have in those dances, so it tends to change.
What move took you forever to master?
Entrechats, back clicks.
What is your favorite move?
LEAPS!
"Hanna, no one is making you dance or compete. Only do it if you love it." -- Sharon, Hanna's TC.
Do you ever want to take the TCRG exam and teach?
Realistically, no. I am going to get my Bachelor of Education after I finish my arts degree, so I will be an elementary school teacher. I student teach some classes at my dance school and I think that if I can accomplish my competition goals, I will be doing well. It would be a blast to do though. We'll just have to wait and see!
Who do you admire the most in Irish Dancing?
I admire my teacher, Sharon, because she pushes us hard, yet remembers to make Irish dance fun no matter what the results of the competition day are. In fact, when I was struggling with my results and being in novice for so long, she told me, "Hannah, no one is making you dance or compete. Only do it if you love it."
If you could take a free workshop with any dancer as your teacher, who would you pick and why?
Ashley Smith or Jillian Oury because they are dancers that I really admire; they seem very down-to-earth, persevering, and amazing girls.
Tell us one of your funniest or most interesting feis stories.
Of course, there was the time when I forgot my dress on my way to my first feis. Luckily, I remembered not too far down the road and we were able to go back for it. Another funny story involves my friend Meghan, actually. Meghan had gotten a first in her novice hornpipe and was up on stage dancing her trad. Set. Her mom checked her results and was so happy that she got a first, she tried to mime to my friend on stage. She caught Meghan's attention and held up one finger for first, then for "hornpipe" she mimed a horn (like Viking horns) then a pipe (which ended up looking like a trumpet for some reason). Amazingly, my friend Meghan actually knew what she meant, and was trying not to crack up on stage!!
Good times!
What was your most embarrassing moment in dancing?
Well, there was the time (which actually wasn't that traumatic) when I could not hear the beat of the reel music for the life of me. I had to go first in line with another girl who was unbelievably good and had been in novice for many years. She started this energetic, gorgeous reel, and I just stood there because I couldn't hear the timing/tempo. The judge stopped us, and smiled at me, and said we could start again. So I tried listening as hard as I could....nothing! Again, the girl I was dancing with started off beautifully, and I just stood there like a deer in the headlights!
arg* Finally on the
THIRD try, I started (now the girl I was dancing with was on her left foot), danced a great reel, finished by myself....and the judge just rolled her eyes. Even more embarrassing was when I held it together, then walked off stage and balled. My comments for that dance were, "Start...a shame!"
Live and learn I say!
Are you close with fellow Irish Dancers?
YES! We throw birthday parties for each other, go to the movies together, go out to the mall/supper together, and just have a blast being with each other.
What's in your dance bag?
Haha! What's
NOT in my dance bag! My shoes, knee braces, ankle brace, sock glue, hair brush/elastics, deodorant, water bottle, Band-Aids, ice packs, dance sneakers, and toe pads
Live to dance, dance to live. -- celticfeet
Do you do any other types of dance?
Not at the moment, but I have done Acadian step. I've always wanted to try ballet!
Do any of your family members Irish Dance as well?
No.
What other hobbies do you have?
I play the piano, love to scrapbook, and volunteer at a local elementary school in my area.
Tell us something your friends would find surprising about you.
I've been to four continents (North America, South America, Africa, and Europe), and plan to visit Asia (India) and Australia someday too!
Quick Fire Questions:
Hardshoe or softshoe: Hardshoe
Reel or Slip Jig: Reel
Hornpipe or Treble Jig: Hornpipe
Wig or Bun: Wig
Feis or Show: That's hard, but with St. Pat's just past, I'll say show
School Dress or Solo Dress: Solo
Hanna, thanks for a wonderful interview! Enjoy your time in the spotlight! --Reel Treble
!
