Username: Stori_Lundi
Why did you choose your username? It's Icelandic for "Big Puffin". I collect puffins and I love Iceland. Been there twice.
Name: Deb
Member since: 2006
Years Dancing: 11
Age: "Adult"
Board: (SDTA, UKA, BATD) BATD

What tartan do you wear for your kilt, and is there a specific reason why you chose it? I wear Purple McRae of Conchra. Don't know the McRaes. Never been to Conchra. I just like purple.

Tell us a bit about your other costumes.

Do you wear a white dress or an Aboyne for nationals? Both. The white dress is for hot days or if I'm feeling lazy. The Aboyne is for colder gigs because it's wool.

What colour is your jig dress? White dress with a red skirt.

What colour is your hornpipe outfit? Blue

What brand of Ghillies do you wear? Toe and Heel Gold and Hullachan Pros Sadie Simpson.

How/when did you know you wanted to be a dancer? Probably when I was little. I liked ballet but quit because it was up against the Superfriends on Saturday mornings. Ballet cannot compete against Wonder Woman with a 5 year-old. I later took ballet, jazz and modern in college. Then a friend got me into Irish and later Highland.

Why did you choose highland? It looked cool, my friend did it, and the teacher was closer than my Irish dance school.

Do you take, or have you taken, any other forms of dance? Ballet, jazz, modern, and Irish step. I also do some ballroom but never formally took classes, just learned from friends.

If you could describe your dancing in only 1 word, what would it be? verklempt

Do you compete? If so, what level are you in? Not really. I'm premiere and I'd compete more if there more older premiere dancers. I just can't jump as high as the 25 year-olds these days.

What has been your most memorable competition moment? Winning my first trophy at Anne Arundel Games in 2003 (I think.) It was only in beginners but I got all firsts. Up until then, I'd never gotten a first, let alone a trophy. Shocked the heck out of me.

What has been your most memorable non-competitive achievement? I danced a hornpipe in a period melodrama called "Black Eye'd Susan" in a mid-1850s sailor's uniform. Also, dancing at the national Khalsa Day parade held by the Sikhs. Picture this - one pipe band and a couple of highland dancers in the middle of a sea of turbans.

Do you remember your first competition and how you did there? Alexandria Games 2000 I think. I got a 3rd in the lilt

What is the most difficult thing for you about Highland? Right now, putting on my vest.

What's the easiest? Watching other people dance.

What are your best and favourite steps? I don't what my best step is. My favourite steps are the backstep and travel from the reel and the glide step from Blue Bonnets.

What are your worst and least favourite? Worst step - Leap and shed from the ST and least favourite - high cut in front step from Blue Bonnets, aka "the dorky step".

Anything you are still working on? Fitting back into my vest.

Do you ever feel the pressure to quit? Nope. But it is frustrating not being as in shape as I was when I was competing on a regular basis.

What are your favourite dances? Blue Bonnets, the Shepherd's Crook

If someone completely unfamiliar with Highland dancing asked you why you did it, what would you tell them? It's all about the swords and plaid.

May we have a peek inside your dance bag? It's a mess!! But go ahead! I think at one point I had 7 or 8 pairs of shoes in it.

What other activities do you have besides dancing? Polo (yes, on a horse!) and general horseback riding (sadly don't own a horse). I'm also die-hard fan and season ticket holder of DC United soccer team.

Have you ever taken a break from dancing? Involuntarily when I had a stress fracture in my foot.

Have you ever had to overcome any problems to get to where you are today? Other than age, inflexibility, and crappy lungs? Nah.

Do any of your dance friends/class mates go on DDN? Yep!

What’s your biggest regret? I didn't start when I was younger. Oh well.

If you were told you could no longer dance after today, what would you do? Find another doctor.

Thanks to Deb for the wonderful interview!

Catherine

that was good, it made me smile lots

Thanks Catherine for another great issue, and many thanks to Sori_Lundi for a bit of a chuckle this morning.

Great issue! Love reading about fellow adult dancers and got lots of giggles... I feel your pain!

Another great issue! Glad to see some of us adults out there.

Thanks guys!! It was a lot of fun to do!

I feel kinda bad that I don't have any pics of me dancing (downfalls of being a single chick without a "dance mom") but here's a picture of me practicing for the inaugural parade. The horse is borrowed from a friend. It was really COLD!!!

Hiya
I enjoyed reading this it was funny.
I love the horse photo

Cool

Jennyxxx

Nice to see another horse mad dancer! Side saddle too!
Great interview, hope your vest fits soon!!!
Best Wishes,
Cat.

Nice to see another horse mad dancer! Side saddle too!
Great interview, hope your vest fits soon!!!
Best Wishes,
Cat.