Edited by hylndlas (107168) on 2009-05-16 17:44:15 .
Edited by hylndlas (107168) on 2009-05-16 17:44:50 .
Username: NewDanceLass
Why did you choose your username? I had just started highland the week before I found DDN.
Name: Hannah Whittaker
Member since: 2004
Years Dancing: 5
Age: 19
Board: BATD
What tartan do you wear for your kilt, and is there a specific reason why you chose it? I wear Dress Gordon Modern with a green vest with gold braid, but my mom and I are working on a jacket. I picked it because it is my family tartan, and I liked the colors.
Tell us a bit about your other costumes.
Do you wear a white dress or an Aboyne for nationals? I wear an Aboyne. It's really bright orange, yellow, and a sort of green color.
What colour is your jig dress? Green with some red on the top. I wear green shoes with red laces.
What colour is your hornpipe outfit? Blue. I had a blue hat too until the rules changed.
What brand of Ghillies do you wear? I have worn a bunch of different brands. I really like my Hullachan pros though.
What is the name of your school and teacher? Celtic Spirit Highland Dancers of Pittsburgh and my teacher is Kathy Horvath.
How/when did you know you wanted to be a dancer? When I was 3 and at the Ligonier Highland Games. I told my mom I wanted to be a lassie girl.
Why did you choose highland? I've always liked it.
Do you take, or have you taken, any other forms of dance? Nope!
What makes you love Highland dance? Everything, I love the colors, traveling, meeting new people, and of course the workout you get.
Do you compete? If so, what level are you in? I do compete. I am in Premier, but I haven't competed in this level yet.
When is your next competition (if applicable)? Maybe Deep Creek, Maryland.
How do you think you'll do there? Hopefully I will do ok maybe some 2nds or 3rds.
What has been your most memorable competition moment? Winning my first trophy, because I was not expecting it and everyone said my face/reaction to winning was priceless.
What has been your most memorable non-competitive achievement? Winning a scholarship from the local St. Andrew's society.
Do you remember your first competition and how you did there? Yes, it was Ligonier in 2005. I got a fourth place in my lilt.
What do you enjoy most about competitions? I really like meeting new people and just dancing in front of a judge.
Do you have any superstitions? Yes, I always use the same four pins to pin my number on.
What is the most difficult thing for you about Highland? Leaps and leap highcuts
What's the easiest? Shedding
What are your best and favourite steps? My best step is probably shuffle step in the Laddie. My favorite anything in the jig or hornpipe.
What are your worst and least favourite? My worst step is the leap and highcut step in the Sean Triubhas. My least favourite is the toe and heel step in the fling.
Anything you are still working on? Of course, pretty much everything. I really work on Pas de Basques and leaps.
Do you ever feel the pressure to quit? I did a couple of years ago.
What are your favourite dances? Jig, Hornpipe, Laddie, Reel of Tulloch
How often do you take class? Once a week (when I'm not in college)
How frequently do you practice? I try to everyday, but usually about 4 times a week.
What do you generally work on when you practice on your own? Leaps, highcuts, Pas de Basques, and steps i'm having problems with.
Do your friends and family support your dancing? Yes
Do you hang out with your dance friends outside the studio? Not really, I live about an hour away from where I take class so a lot of times it is not convenient to hang out with my dance friends.
Approximately how many times per year does your dance school perform? At least 20, but probably closer to 30.
Does your school hold a recital? Nope.
Would you rather have a strict or an easy-going teacher? I think I would rather have a strict teacher.
How would you describe YOUR teacher? My teacher is fun. She can be strict sometimes, but she is really good at explaining what we need to be doing, and we always have fun in class.
Who are your dance idols? Colleen Rintamaki (of course), and Megan Kimsey
What has been your most embarrassing dance moment? Falling over in the middle of one of the dances in the middle of a show.
If someone completely unfamiliar with Highland dancing asked you why you did it, what would you tell them? I do it because it is part of my heritage, I love it, and I need the exercise.
May we have a peek inside your dance bag? Lots of knee socks, Ghillies, t-shirt, tights, inhaler, ace bandage, hair bands, deodorant, sometimes papers.
What other activities do you have besides dancing? I play Ice Hockey, I'm part of the Seton Hill University Pipe Band, French Club, German Club, some other things that I can't think of right now.
Have you ever taken a break from dancing? Yes, last spring, because I injured myself.
Have you ever had to overcome any problems to get to where you are today? Yep, injuries and band competitions being the same time as the dance competitions.
Describe your ideal dance class. Relaxed, but still intense. The teacher has to be nitpicky about all of my little mistakes.
Do any of your dance friends/class mates go on DDN? Yep
What’s your biggest regret? Not starting earlier
If you were told you could no longer dance after today, what would you do? Probably cry for awhile.
And how would you spend this last day? I would get together with most of my friends and family and I would just dance all day, and when I got to tired I would look at pictures and remember all the good times I had dancing.
Thanks to Hannah for being interviewed!
Catherine 
