18 isn't that bad. I just turned 20!

Are you doing solos at the oireachtas? Or just teams?

im just doing teams this year.

Ok... I lied, I am practicing today as well. Definetly not tommorow because I will be at school until 6 pm tommorow, aka not home until 8 thanks to my lovely commute. Im working on the treble jig in my sneakers, trying to get the movements right, rather than beats because I just learned this thing. The first ten seconds are the trickiest and I just keep having to drill it. I couldnt get it on my left leg on Wednesday, and now I can..but my right leg has gone blank for some reason. Its OK... I have 5 weeks till the feis and it will be fine.

Eighteen is young. This year, I turn 29!

haha I know... my friends and I were joking that we are all getting old... in reality we are just little spring chickens!

im so tired and upset and in a bad mood generally. university is eating my life. On the bright side, I am picking up and doing my cross reel better than before. I went to an extra class on Wednesday and was pointing and kicking my butt during the ceili practice. I got really lost on the way though. I have another extra practice next Wednesday. I want to start fresh because my life for the past 2 months has sucked... so I am determined to start fresh and optomistic next month. October 1st it starts- my birthday!

oh and my Dad got me a bigger piece of plywood for hardshoe practice. happy for that.

sooo.... most awkward thing ever happened at dance class tonight. I get to the place we usually rent and I hear hardshoe. so, assuming my class had already started , I went upstairs. I get in the door and I saw somebody from a different dance school, but it didnt click in my head for some reason so I go into the hall and recognize the teacher from the other school immediately and then walked out in about a matter of 20 seconds. I was so confused and thought maybe we moved locations and I didnt get the notice.Oh no. this other school lost their studio and somehow got our booking for the location. so that was seriously awkward. our class which is luckily alot smaller had to go practice in the basement on concrete in our runners. luckily it meant all we did was 8-hand and I am feeling better about it now after that long practice. I felt really bad for the dancers going to oireachtas though because they got jipped of their solo practice time. Oh dearie it was awkard... like competition schools in the same building.
Since I am lacking in practice lately, I am planning on doing:

10 min warmup:

1 min high knee jogging\1 min jumping jacks/1 min "mountiain climbers"/ 1 min punching alternates/ 1 min jogging but kicks

2x through

10 mins reel:
get the timing right
get the steps right
more effort

10 mins slip jig:
extension
timing

10 mins treble jig
get new step right
get beats clearly

10 mins hornpipe:
get rhythm right
get clicks higher

10 mins ceili
Do the 8 hand on my own, get timing and placement right, kick my but, point my toes, all that jazz

2.5 mins light jig

2.5 mins single jig

2.5 mins treble reel

2.5 mins st.patricks day

10 mins highland dance for fun:

5 mins cool down and stretching

1 Hour 15 Mins

as well as attempt to get alot of my essay done

I am doing a similar practice schedule today

warmup (5 mins) & ceili (10 mins)

slip jig (10)
reel(10)
light-single jig (5)
---- then at night

warmup (5)
treble jig (10)
hornpipe (10)
treble reel (5)
trad set (5)

Im being lazy and only did the sideshoe portion. I'm running over hardshoe dances in my socks upstairs so I can use the full length mirror. ( my house comes full of useful areas to practice) & my grandma is away so I can move all the furniture out of the way and use it as my practice room. Mwahahahhaha.

I have my 1st university essay due in 3 days. Shoot me. I switched my topic as well, but I'm sure this one will be easier to argue and hopefully better in the ling run.

I go to the championship dance class now even though I'm in prizewinner and hope to continue after oireachtas as well because it shows me that I suck more than I thought. When I danced with the little kids of course I felt like I was doing better. Maybe because I'm like 8 years older! Being in the champ class gives me a taste of reality. Maybe not a good one either because now I'm convinced I really suck and will never qualify for
Nationals or get into
Prelim dancing like I do. I just feel like I really suck and even though I practiced over the summer it feels like I have lost my skill a bit. Also maybe because university leaves me little time to practice and I'm exhausted when I get home & don't want to. I have made an effort to though at least (1 hr 15 on thurs) (40 mins & continuing today). I just need to wake up and tell myself that I am going to do this. But honestly I just feel like I look like a flying chicken when I have to dance next to an open champ dancer.

Try to think that being in the champs class means your teacher believes you can achieve your goals. They wouldn't let you take that class if they thought you'd be overwhelmed or unable to learn in it. Trust me, every time I dance next to any open dancer I also feel like my dancing isn't worth watching; I think the key is to just focus on you (and hopefully the rest will fall into place).

Also - your practice schedule seems a little overwhelming. Instead of doing small bits of each dance daily, try doing hardshoe one day, softshoe the next. Or maybe just one dance a day. Trying to focus on too many dances at once may actually be hurting you.

Just some thoughts...good luck with that essay.

^I totally agree, and I often feel like you do; I'm in a championship class and I'm in prelim, but sometimes I feel the other girls are SO much better and my dancing is awful. I even wondered if I should even go to the Oireachtas because I didn't feel my dancing was worthy, and after starting a new job I was exhausted and didn't have a lot of time to practice.

However, my teacher told me she wouldn't send anyone she didn't think was ready, as we are representing her school; she told me I have to stop comparing myself to others, and aim for my personal best at the Oireachtas.

This is what I would say to you as well; you're dancing is not as bad as you think it is, and your teacher would not have you in that class if she didn't think you could handle it. Just keep working, but don't compare yourself to others, just do YOUR best. And just keep doing as much practice as you can; I had to change my practice routine, and sometimes I feel it's not enough to prepare for Oireachtas, but you know what..... it's all I can do and it's better than nothing.

Anywho....sorry that was so long, but keep your chin up, and keep moving forward. I'm learning that negative self-talk only moves you backwards, and we don't want to head that way!! Good luck!

Thanks Guys, (I was having a bad day if you couldnt tell lol)

I actually do all the dances in one day because my concentration would get lost if I tried to focus on the one dance... I like to vary things around and it somehow works for me usually.

Also, the only reason I am in the champ class now is because I have to be there for our 8-hand practice , which is why I feel out of place.

Feisanna 2012

Potentials:(Confirmed Ones On NAFC)

Blakey Feis- Janurary 20th-22nd
Van Eire Feis-February 25th-26th
Emerald City Feis-April 28th-29th
Victoria Feis-May 4th-6th
West Coast Championships-May 26th-27th
Oregon State Championships-June 2nd-3rd
Beautiful BC Feis-June 16th-17th

Loving that the majority of these are in late April/May/June because I'm off school then and can travel to them.Mwahahaha.

finished my 1st university paper. I failed it, I believe, it was total crap. anyways, I really feel like im letting my 8 hand team down... I mess it up for all of them at least once every time we drill it. uggh.

good news: got my new piece of dance plywood set up... i wanted bigger but it wasnt possible at the moment, might get some add ons later... and I will post a picture later. also I want to do "official" videos of all my beginner dances and my own choreography on my youtube channel. tommorow after school I think I will!

I wish my school offered more classes. I wish I could dance 4 times a week! Im having withdrawal lol.

Ew Midterms Next Friday!

For The Mini-Feis:

I am the only person in my novice hornpipe competition, which is really irritating. I really just want to get to full prizewinner...hoping they combine me with 14&0 because otherwise its going to be embarassing dancing alone...especially hardshoe with me and my not so strong sound.



Novice, Hornpipe (15&O) 1-Paid 0-Unpaid 1 - Total
Prizewinner, Reel (15&O) 8 4 12
Prizewinner, Light Jig (15&O) 8 4 12
Prizewinner, Single Jig (15&O) 6 4 10
Prizewinner, Slip Jig (15&O) 7 4 11
Prizewinner, Treble Jig (15&O) 7 4 11
Prizewinner, Trad Set (15&0) 6 3 9
Treble Jig Trophy (15&O) 9 4 13

Novice, Hornpipe (15&O) 1
Prizewinner, Reel (15&O) 8
Prizewinner, Light Jig (15&O) 8
Prizewinner, Single Jig (15&O) 6
Prizewinner, Slip Jig (15&O) 7
Prizewinner, Treble Jig (15&O) 7
Prizewinner, Trad Set (15&0) 6
Treble Jig Trophy (15&O) 9

(Paid Numbers)

they still havent combined numbers. noo.... i cnat dance alone. it will be so embarassing because im really not that great at hornpipe.

um my metatarsal on my right foot hurts... did it once back in june too so im not dancing today ( i have midterms as well to study for...gulp)

My Official Videos

www.youtube.com . . . (Beginner Light Jig)

www.youtube.com . . .
(Beginner/Advanced Beginner Single Jig)

www.youtube.com . . .
(Beginner Reel)

www.youtube.com . . .
(Advanced Beginner Light Jig)

www.youtube.com . . .
(Advanced Beginner Reel)

www.youtube.com . . .
(Beginner/Advanced Beginner Slip Jig)

So Far... im editing my current steps and have to film the hardshoe ones still

i know this is a bit stupid, but I was just thinking how I feel I havent earned all my placements or I feel like a bad dancer because the only reason I have moved up to prizewinner so fast is the fact I went to so many feisanna this year. im just having a weird mindset tonight.
I feel so guilty about moving my treble jig up.

I got 3rd/16 (4 way tie for 3rd) in my TJ in an out-of-region feis but in my region for novice to prizewinner 1,2, and 3 place over 10 dancers moves you up. but my TC let me. I still feel guilty about it, but I have placed in prizewinner treble jig once I moved it up.

sorry for the random rant!

Viddies

www.youtube.com . . .
(Slip Jig- Its Horrid & Im Out Of Frame Alot)

www.youtube.com . . .
(Single Jig)

www.youtube.com . . .
(Light Jig-Again Severly Out Of Frame)

www.youtube.com . . .
(Novice Reel-Have Not Done This In A While)

www.youtube.com . . .
(Prizewinner Reel-Im Still Getting The Hang Of It & Was Out Of Frame)

www.youtube.com . . .
("Champ" Reel-I Just Added A 3rd Step I Know At the End)

agghh midtermss... im so glad i decided not to do the oireachtas this year with transitioning to university....

i cannot study. i dont know how. friday I have 2 midterms. oh dear...

im glad that next year my age group will be dancing treble jig and slip jig. since Im worse at hardshoe I think I will find treble jig easier. the timing is easier and I love the speed and banging around in it. slip jig... I like our champ choreography and have a feeling I will do better in a graceful dance.

went too early for dance... oh well 6:30-9 was fine with me. I really hope they combine me with 14&0 for the feis but I have a feeling they wont.

I hope to be able to keep going from 6-8 after oireachtas as well because I want to be friends with the people in my class. Plus being in that class motivates me because I want to dance like a champ! Duh! lol. Currently these are the people I need to strive to be so being in their class would be helpful.

some of them say Im doing a good job with the 8 hand and picking it up really quickly, but I dont think so. some of them are getting frustrated with me and TC as well. I think I need alot of work.

40 minutes of solid practice. yes! studying for midterms. no! im going to fail.

ugh 1 more midterm to go...

Dance Class:

-Pumpkin Spice Americano was helpful for my boundless energy
- reel is feeling better but there is still 1 part where I cant move my legs fast enough

-everyone in my class looked thoroughly unhappy ( I think it is the stress of having a freaking oireachtas in two weeks)

- slip jig... remember the choreography fine, feels nice and floaty

-treble jig...its okay, the timing on the first step is still so blah

-hornpipe... still cant get it on time! it sounds nice in acapella form. oh god im the only one in my hornpipe competition which is really irritating because its my only novice dance left. i really dont want to dance alone and am tempted to bail out and not do it since its really ugly and out of time and im crap at hardshoe. i would get a medal but I really dont care..i will probablly be really embarassed and screw up or something. its like a set dance.... which im not ready for

-I hate that im still struggling so much with hardshoe timing. ive been doing these steps for months and its still all off-time. I can hear where the beats should be but I just cant move my feet fast enough or slow enough to make it on time

I plan to do studying and a home practice session tommorow. Im going to try the 6 - 10 minute increments and see if that works for me