Name: Jennifer S. Dancer at SRL: Maggie S. How long has your family been with SRL? Why SRL? We joined in 2019 looking for a more competitive program to offer new steps, stylish contemporary choreography, and a higher level of dancing and we have been so pleased with the excellent instruction and well run program at SRL. Why Irish dance? Maggie joined Irish Dance because her big brother Pat was dancing. We love our Irish heritage and while I never took Irish Step as a child, all of my college roommates at Holy Cross did and Pat and Maggie wanted to try it too. How did you choose your dancer’s name? Margaret Frances is named after her 2 Irish Grandmothers who are in heaven. What’s your favorite place you’ve ever been and why? Ireland might be tied with Italy. They both have such breathtaking landscapes and amazing people. (I didn’t travel to Europe until after I turned 40!) What’s your favorite dance-related memory? Maggie winning the ORIECHTAS for Traditional set. Her face was absolute surprise, joy and bliss. The trophy was as big as her. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? Dance is an opportunity to have special friends apart from school and an opportunity to work hard and see your hard work pay off. Dance is the perfect combination of working as a team and individual with loving supportive friends. It is also a sport- it is a great workout! If you had a theme song, what would it be? “Roar” by Katy Perry. What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? Irish dance is something fun, different, hard and rewarding. It connects you with your Irish heritage, and if you aren’t Irish then a great group of people. The parents are as fun as the dancers. I have enjoyed making friends with other parents. How has the pandemic effected your dancer and their dance experience? The pandemic was hard. We loved that Maggie had the structure of dance, even if it was in the basement. It gave structure to our days. Even though I am busy driving from Feis to Feis this fall, I feel blessed that she gets to compete and improve after so much time at home when she couldn’t compete. What’s the most important quality to have in life? Perseverance. Each time you have a great accomplishment, like moving up a level, you go back to not placing. It is humbling, exhilarating, and never boring! This post is part of a series. Meet our last spotlighted parent, Michaela J., here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.
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Best Dance Memory?
There are so many! Emma had her first solos recall at Oireachtas with SRL so that is big but I think the double feis weekend in Tampa Fl is a best memory, Emma placed first in her Prelim competitions both days allowing her to move to Open Championships and the opportunity to attend her first Nationals that year in Orlando. Any dance parent fails or funniest moments to share? We have had our fair share of crooked wigs, loose headpieces and lopsided "poufs" for SURE. If your dancer is retiring, which parts of being so involved with the Irish dance work will you miss the most? Emma is retiring to focus on school in the fall and I will miss all the one on one time we were able to spend together traveling to feis and competitions. While the dancing was fun and the friendships I've made myself are so very special I will miss that bonding the most. Dance may not be the focus anymore but we will certainly keep the friendships we've made along the way a top priority... they have been our "family" on this journey and mean more than words can say! What's the most important life lesson you think your dancer learned from Irish dance? I think Irish dance has taught Emma perseverance, grace under pressure, humility and the understanding that its ok to not be ok! Do your best work and enjoy the journey. What are your dancers plans for the future so far? Emma will be attending Westfield State University and she will be a Biology Major. Any advice to graduating dancers? To younger dancers and their families? Graduating dancers who will not be dancing anymore enjoy the wig-less weekends and keep in touch with one another... these friendships are special. Younger dancers and families enjoy the journey, remember it’s not a sprint, but a marathon, and these moments go by so quickly. What are your hopes and dreams for your dancer's life? I want Emma to have an amazing college experience, to use the strength and poise she learned in dance to further herself in life, take chances and learn from the ups and downs that life will throw at her. This year has been like no other for sure and these kids have adapted and made the best of very uncertain times and I hope they are all better people for it. This post is part of a series. See our last spotlight with Laura and Emma F. here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Evelyn Dancer at SRL: Rooney and Tilly (and Me) How did you get started with Irish dance? I grew up in parts of rural VA where there weren’t really Irish dance studios, but I always found the dancers fascinating at festivals. When we moved up to New England I decided to live out my dreams through my children, as one does. When SRL offered another round of adult classes though I figured I might as well give it a try! What benefits do you get out of the adult class? Exercise! Living out childhood dreams. And some social connection in the age of covid. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? An archeologist! Ancient Egypt fascinated me and all the stories of the archeologists who explored the pyramids. I actually got to go to Egypt in college. Seeing the Sphinx and the valley of the kings was amazing! What do most people not know about you? I’m a librarian! I hold three passports. I quilt in my free time. And I really love confetti poppers. If you were a fictional character, which one would you be? Okay, this question made me think of this “scientific” test. I just retook it and got Amy Santiago from Brooklyn 99 as my top hit. And I also rank closely in personality to Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony and Minerva McGonagall from Harry Potter. All three of which are honestly pretty accurate fictional representations of me. The test is clearly legit. How did Rooney and Tilly get started? I really emphasized the end goal of super sparkly dresses with Rue knowing it would inspire her to try, and luckily I don’t have to feel guilty for that blatant manipulation because she’s loved it so far!! Tilly just wanted to do what her older sister was doing, but also seems to genuinely love it. How did you pick your dancers’ names? We went with a family last name as the first name for my oldest Berreth, and then we just kept with the theme for Rooney and Tilden. How do you think dance has positively affected Rooney and Tilly? Physically it’s helped with coordination and strength. But it’s also helped with focus and determination. And it’s given them a fun way to get their wiggles out and make new friends. Why do you think people dance? It’s like a physical expression of music! Plus there’s so many different ways to dance everyone can do it. What’s the most important quality to have in life? The ability to laugh at yourself. I wish I had learned that earlier in life, not being willing to mess up and laugh it off kept me from trying a lot of things. This post is part of a series. Meet our last spotlighted parent, Michaela J., here. And check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Laura F. Dancer at SRL: Emma F. How old was your dancer when they started Irish dance? What is your earliest memory of them dancing? Emma began Irish dance at 8 years old. My first memory of her dancing was sitting in the local Irish-American club on a Saturday morning watching her learn her Point-2-3s. How long has your family been dancing with SRL? We joined SRL in April of 2017 Why SRL? Emma was looking for a focused experience that would allow her to continue to advance competitively. Working with Courtney, and now with the addition of Christian and Bailey, Emma has continued to improve as a dancer. While, as of this writing, she has not yet qualified for Open, I can honestly say the time spent working with the teachers at SRL and the friendships she has forged with other dancers are by far the best things that have happened to her. Best dance memory? There are so many! Looking back, I appreciate all the pre-dawn departures for feis and all those drives. In the moment, it wasn’t always fun to be up before the sun and be pinning a wig on a cranky teen but those hours spent driving to and from when it’s just us are such great memories. Without dance, we wouldn’t have had all those adventures together. Any dance parent fails or funniest moments to share? We’ve never lost a wig on stage but we have had capes come loose and numbers fall off. If your dancer is retiring, which parts of being so involved with the Irish dance world will you miss the most? Emma is planning to continue dancing in college, but now that she will be away and competing with a college team, I see my time spent at feis coming to an end. I’ll miss seeing our dance families and friends from other schools. It has always been so nice to catch up with everyone. As crazy as things always get at Oireachtas, I will miss a weekend spent watching not only my child compete but to spend time cheering for her friends, running from stage to stage trying to watch everyone. It’s this amazing dance family we have built over the years that I will miss this most. What’s the most important life lesson you think your dancer learned from Irish dance? I would have to say resilience and grace. In competition, it can be a struggle to keep going to achieve the placements you need to move up and you have to withstand the disappointment and grace to accept that it is a journey that isn’t always easy but you keep at it and get a little better each time along the way. What are your dancer’s plans for the future so far? Emma will be attending the nursing program at Sacred Heart University this fall. She has also auditioned for and been invited to join the Irish Dance Ensemble, The Claddagh Dancers, which is a collegiate competition team. Any advice to graduating dancers? I wish all our graduating dancers the best of luck in whatever their next steps may be and wherever life takes them. Enjoy this next chapter and stay in touch with your dance family because we love you all and are so very proud of each and every one of you! To younger dancers and their families? Try not to become overwhelmed and don’t be discouraged if progress takes a little while. Enjoy the moments because it goes so quickly. Our kids do this because they love to dance, first and foremost. What are your hopes and dreams for your dancer’s life? Dance has been such a big part of her life for so long that I hope Emma keeps dance in her life in some way, be that with continuing to compete or as an assistant in classes or maybe as teacher herself one day. Most of all, I hope she continues to find joy in her life. I want her time away at college to be happy and for her to be successful as a student as well as have fun and make amazing memories and ultimately find a job that she loves in her chosen field. This post is part of a series. See our last spotlight with Judy D. & Cayla B. here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Michaela J. Dancer at SRL: Colby J. (and Me) How did you get started with Irish dance? My best friend signed us both up for the adult class, and kept going back even when she had to stop; and she signed Colby up for his classes after his interest in joining the adult classes. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? I actually wanted to be a dancer (or gymnast) when I was kid! I always loved watching them move, and thought it was so graceful and beautiful. How did Colby get started? He would sit in during the adult class I was in when I didn’t have a sitter, and eventually he started peeking into class and joining in learning the steps with us. After the adult session ended, we signed him up for his own class! How did you pick your dancer’s name? When we were coming up with names, his dad suggested it as a potential girl’s name; but I didn’t like it. Weirdly enough, I liked it as a boy’s name, and it really sounded nice. It’s also a joke that we named him after Colby Jack cheese, as we met at culinary school and both enjoy food. What benefits do you get out of the adult class? I enjoy the social aspect, as someone who didn’t get out much after moving here, it’s nice to have somewhere to go and people to interact with while learning the fun of Irish dance. I also like that I can go through some of the steps with Colby while he’s learning; it’s something new and fun for both of us! What do most people not know about you? Probably a lot, I’m not really one to open up much! I guess one thing would be that I like pickles on my tacos. Also, I really enjoy baking, and went to school for baking & pastry. How do you think joining in has positively affected Colby? It’s been great for working on his balance as well as giving him a way to learn something fun that he enjoys. If you were a fictional character, which one would you be? Why? I can’t say anyone specific, but probably a witch or magical being, because who wouldn’t want magical powers?! Why do you think people dance? It’s a great way to express themselves, and to let loose. What’s the most important quality to have in life? I guess I would have to say perseverance, and empathy. But honestly, it’s hard to choose. This post is part of a series. Meet our last spotlighted parent, Christina H., here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.
If your dancer is retiring, which parts of being so involved with the Irish dance world will you miss the most?
The part I will miss the most when Cayla retires from SRL (she does hope to continue in college) will be seeing all the people we have met and befriended over the years from different schools and especially the quality time spent with her. We will all be entering a new phase of life and it will never be the same. What’s the most important life lesson you think your dancer learned from Irish dance? The most important lesson Cayla’s learned are the benefits of hard work and never giving up. What are your dancer’s plans for the future so far? Cayla hopes to study environmental engineering and to keep dancing! Any advice to graduating dancers? To younger dancers and their families? My advice to graduating dancers would be continue to enjoy dancing and think back to the great times and friends you have had these past years. To younger dancers and families: enjoy every moment including the ups and downs and treasure your time together because it will be gone in the blink of an eye. Believe me, this is bittersweet and there are a few tears falling as I write this. What are your hopes and dreams for your dancer’s life? My hopes and dreams for Cayla are that she would follows her dreams and find a good place for herself in life. This post is the first in a series. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Christina H. Dancer at SRL: Aubrielle How long has your family been with SRL? 2 years How did you pick your dancer’s name? Aubrey and Brielle were our two favorite girl names, so I put them together and that’s how she became Aubrielle. Why Irish dance? Aubrielle has been doing other types of dance for years but Irish dance is beautiful and unique. What’s your favorite dance-related memory? When Aubrielle was 4 years old she was up on stage for her recital and throughout her entire jazz dance she had the biggest frown on her face. She did a great job dancing, but that frown had her father and I laughing throughout the entire number. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? When I was little, I wanted to be a waitress when I grew up because waitresses were so nice, and they always served my favorite food. Favorite winter family activity? Our favorite winter activity is snow tubing in our backyard. What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? If your child loves to dance, they should try Irish dance. It is different than any other style of dance. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? Dance has built her confidence and has opened her up to experiencing new things. What’s the most important quality to have in life? The most important quality to have is courage. If you have courage, nothing will hold you back from achieving your dreams. This post is part of a series. Meet our last spotlighted parent, Becca H., here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Becca H. Dancer at SRL: Sarah H. How long has your family been with SRL? Just over 2 years Why Irish dance? Sarah kind of fell into it when a friend joined, and she wanted to dance with her friend. Its upbeat cadence and structure definitely appeal to her more than ballet or jazz dance. And as a musical family with 3 violin players, we love hearing the beautiful reels and jigs! Favorite winter family activity? I’m not a big cold weather fan, so I’m happy snuggling under a cozy blanket for a family movie (or escaping on a vacation to somewhere warm!) Who’s your biggest inspiration? It all depends on my interest at the time. Whenever I set a new goal, I seek out role models who I can learn from by breaking down big goals into achievable milestones. When I was training for my first marathon, I was inspired by Olympian runner Jeff Galloway who had a great method for learning to run long distances, and it was a thrill to meet him at the marathon expo the day before my big race! What’s your favorite dance-related memory? I was always intrigued by the Irish Step dancers who would perform for us in elementary school with their beautiful dresses. A close second, purely for the laughs, is when my sister and I were doing a tap dancing routine and she forgot to duck when I was supposed to swing my leg over her head – boink! What food have you never eaten but would really love to try? Since eliminating gluten & dairy from my diet 7 years ago for health reasons, pretty much anything that comes out of a fryer at a fair looks amazing! What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? Give it a whirl! Just be aware that anything hanging on your walls will be off kilter from your student constantly jumping and kicking down the hallways. 😉 What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? Like many kids, I wanted to be a vet since I love animals. Instead, I became an IT professional, but foster kittens to fulfil that desire to work with animals. If you had a theme song, what would it be? “I Won't Back Down” How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? I’m amazed at the choreography she memorizes. I was so proud that she quickly gained the confidence to participate in a public performance and also do her first feis. I enjoyed watching her teach a dance to some younger Girl Scouts at one of our meetings last year, and I love that she has volunteered to help out at SRL classes with younger children – it’s all been a great growing experience for her in many ways. This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with another SRL family, Ken and Dana J., here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Ken and Dana J. Dancers at SRL: Magnus “the Tall” and Greta “the Red-Haired” How long has your family been with SRL? Greta is in her 6th year and Magnus is in his 4th. Why Irish dance? Greta quit soccer, basketball, ballet, tap, AND jazz! We were just hoping something would stick. Courtney offered a week long mini camp that gave Greta a chance to try it out before committing to anything long-term. Magnus saw how much fun Greta was having! Favorite winter family activity? Skiing and board games. What’s your favorite dance-related memory? Dana: The hours in the car driving to class and to feiseanna, there is a lot of time to chat. Ken: Watching both kids dance a 4 hand with another sibling duo at the Yardgoats game. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancers? So many things! They have learned how to set long term goals and create plans to achieve them, time management and how to take corrections, the importance community and volunteerism, these are just a few. If you could meet any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? Dana: The person that invented the dishwasher. I owe them so much. Ken: Donald MacPherson, Scottish legendary piper, teacher and one of the most successfully competitive solo pipers of all time. What’s your secret talent? Ken: Sarcasm. Dana: Gifted in the campfire starting arts. How did you choose your dancers’ names? Why? We wanted uncommon, but easy to pronounce names. There was a pro cyclist, Magnus Backstedt that gave us the inspiration for the boy's name. The name Greta goes well with Magnus…especially when shouting. What’s the most important quality to have in life? Integrity. What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? Do it! At least try it out. They will learn so much and it is a great opportunity to make friends outside of school. And always bring snacks. This post is part of a series. Meet our last spotlighted parent, Andrea K., here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. For Parental Figures Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for a child in your life who loves to dance, wiggle, or move? Our taster session will give them the gift of dance! You didn’t think we’d forget the parents and guardians of our dancers, did you? Here’s a gift guide that caters toward those who cater to our dancers—we know they couldn’t do it without you! Whether you’re treating yourself or buying for someone else, here are some Irish dance themed gifts for the people who have been spending so much time waiting outside in their cars this year. Though you’ll find some bigger business links throughout, we’ve tried our best highlight small businesses in the Irish dance community wherever possible and we hope you’ll join us in that goal! 1. Insulated Travel Mug Sláinte! With as many performances as possible being outdoors this year, you’re going to need something to keep that…coffee warm? Look, we won’t tell anyone what’s inside, but we all might as well cheers with a properly insulated drink in hand. Additional Options: Inspirational Ghillies Travel Mug “Irish Dance is the Best Dance” with Handle Irish Dance Mom Travel Cup 2. Water Bottle Your dancer isn’t the only one to get thirsty at a feis! Make sure you and your fellow dance parents stay hydrated too with their own water bottle (some more options with personalization are listed below.) This year, staying healthy is more of a priority than ever—and we all know that good health starts with water! Additional Options: Sláinte Custom Water Bottle Irish Dance Dad Water Bottle Dance Dad Water Bottle 3. Jewelry While all these ideas could easily be for mom, grandma, an aunt, or any Irish dance parental figure, they’re great options for your dancer as well. (Perhaps even some matching ones for mom and daughter, or whatever combination makes up your home!) Many of these options have beautiful, subtle personalization options such as a birth stone (of your dancer or dance mom!) or letter detail. Additional Options: Ghillie Post Earrings Personalized Heart Dancer Necklace Celtic Knot Dangling Earrings 4. Tees While Dad might not want a necklace necessarily, let him show his support through his gear too! We have some mom options below as well, and even one for grandma. There’s a way to let every member of your family show their support of your dancer—bonus points if you embarrass them just a little (we all know they secretly love seeing your support, no matter what they say!) Additional Options: “Nothing Will Feis a Dance Dad” Tee Irish Dance Mom Tee Irish Dance Grandma Tee 5. Chairs This one might not seem as intuitive, but who wants to stand all day at a feis or performance? In fact, when we inquired with our parents about their feis essentials, something to sit on came up frequently (though not as much as this tip: remember your shoes!) With us not fully knowing what future competitions and performances will look like, this gift’s versatility makes it an even better buy (and that personalization means you’ll never walk away with the wrong chairs!) Additional Options: Rechargeable Heated and Massaging Bleacher Seat Personalized Bleacher Seat Another Personalized Camp Chair 6. Blanket This goes along with chairs as something that can be: often personalized, always multipurpose, and a great gift for everyone! Keep warm while showing your support of your dancer at the next outdoor performance, or while snuggling up by a fire. Who doesn’t like to be cozy? Additional Options: “Like a Normal Sport But Harder” Blanket Personalized Photo Blanket Personalized Sherpa Blanket This is Volume V of a series. Come back next Saturday for the last installment or read last week’s for some wearable gift options. And check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Andrea K. Dancer at SRL: Molley How long has your family been with SRL? We are in our 4th year! Why Irish dance? I wanted Molley to get involved in something, but she did not want to try the traditional tap, jazz, ballet route I got her to try a class at SRL the summer she was 4 years old and she fell in love with the dancing, the older kids, and of course Miss Courtney. Favorite fall family activity? Carving Pumpkins on Halloween. Something my family did every year since I was very little and I try to live up to my dad’s talent every year! What’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited? (Remember travel?!) I visited Paris when I was a junior in high school (26 years ago!?!?!). My first time away from my family and out of the country. I fell in love with the atmosphere and community throughout the city. Molley and I have promised each other to visit together when she graduates from high school. What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? TRY IT!!! It’s different and fun! And I love the way the classes are structured to challenge the students just so much that also pushes them forward in their learning. If you had to work, but didn’t need the money, what would you do? The same thing I am doing now - a teacher. The only thing I might change is to teach History instead of Mathematics. What’s your favorite dance-related memory? Molley’s first Feis experience. She was so nervous to compete that she didn’t want to enter one until the end of her second year. She ended up placing 2nd in both her dances. To see the pride on her face was priceless! What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? So, I’ll be honest - I wanted to be a bus or truck driver. I always wanted to travel all over and I love staying in hotels and eating out. What’s the most important quality to have in life? Happiness - of course, there are times that are stressful, sad, and full of anxiety, (and that’s ok and natural) but you have to remember what makes you happy and hold on to that. When I get in a funk, I just think of my kids and remember those happy moments and it gets me through the rough times. I try to have at least one truly happy moment each day to hold on to, and I haven’t been let down yet! How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? Confidence and challenge! I think Irish Step Dancing has been the first time she has really felt challenged. But because she enjoys it so much and because of the guidance from the older girls like Miss Ellie and of course from Miss Courtney’s teaching and motivation, she continues to try even when she gets so upset that she is not getting a step the first time around. This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Avonlea's mom, Erin Kate, here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Erin Kate Dancer at SRL: Avonlea How long has your family been with SRL? This is our 2nd year. Why Irish dance? We are very Irish and my daughter really wanted to do it. What do most people not know about you? I used to sing opera in high school and college. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? I always wanted to be an opera singer. I loved all the old musicals that I used to watch with my grandfather. I always wanted to travel and see the world. What’s your favorite thing about having your dancer in an online class? We can be at home and for the safety factor. Favorite fall family activity? Outdoor Halloween movie with a fire at our house. What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? You have to set aside 30 mins every day to have your child practice and have them stick with it even if they get frustrated. If your dancer were a fictional character, who would they be and why? She would be Mal from Disney Descendants. She would be Mal because she can do magic, sing, dance, and is a good person. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? I feel it gives her more responsibility and lets her personality come out. What’s the most important quality to have in life? The most important quality to have in life I think is empathy. You need to always be able to put yourself in someone else's shoes in order to truly understand life. This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Irelyn's mom, Jill L., here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Jill L. Dancer at SRL: Irelyn How long has your family been with SRL? 7 Years Why Irish dance? I always loved watching it and wanted my daughter to just try it if I could find a class. My lucky day happened when I saw a sign for SRL in front of the South Windsor library that a new studio was opening in town. I was so excited! And here we are 7 years later! What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? I always wanted to be either a travel agent or a flight attendant. I shadowed a travel agent when I was in high school. I love to travel and planning is half the fun for me. I didn’t follow that path but am in the aerospace business so I guess I partly fulfilled that dream. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? It’s given her confidence in herself to be able to perform in front of large audiences. She is able to give herself goals to work towards and she knows that it will take time and hard work to achieve and is willing to put the effort in because she can see the progress happening. Favorite fall family activity? Watching football! What’s your favorite dance-related memory? St Patricks Day performance time, it is definitely crazy on some days, but it is so much fun! You get to travel to all different types of places to perform and it’s the one time of year that I get to see dancers perform that I haven’t seen in a while. And how much each dancer has learned over the year! If your dancer were a fictional character, who would they be and why? She would be Moana, Irelyn not only resembles her, she has a big heart, a love of nature, the ocean and singing. If you could meet any historical or famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? I would like to meet Walt Disney. I would love to see what his imagination was like and what his future vision was, and what he would think of how the Disney brand has grown to what it is today. What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? Irish dance is great because it is completely up to you and your dancer as to how involved you want to be. Competition and performances are optional or you can choose to compete every weekend if you want. It’s a unique skill to have and fun to get to show it off! What’s the most important quality to have in life? To have a positive attitude. There is not a lot that we have control over in life but choosing to look at the positive side definitely helps! This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Natalie J.’s mom, Siobhan, here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Siobhan J. Dancer at SRL: Natalie J. How long has your family been with SRL? I think it’s 4 years, starting 5th year. Natalie’s sister danced for one year as well. Why Irish dance? A few reasons; we had started with “regular” dancing, but it lacked something. I’m Irish, I’m involved in the Irish community, and I thought this might be another way to engage my daughters in an activity that would be great for them and also tied to their ancestry. How did you pick your dancer’s name? Before my husband and I were even married, we knew if we had a girl she would be “Natalie” . He loved Natalie Portman, I had a favorite student named Natalie. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? Natalie is competitive and she wants to do well but she is a little girl who can be easily more interested in other things. Dancing with SRL and Miss Courtney has given her ways to practice at setting goals and working toward them. This was never more true than her second year when she was struggling with reading in first grade and simultaneously did poorly at a feis. Right after that, she set two goals - which she even wrote down - to get better at reading and to get better at Irish dance. By the end of that year, she had improved dramatically at both. I believe that Natalie’s competitive nature to do well or be the best she can be, combined with the skills that she has been taught by Courtney in dance, and the positive reinforcements she’s gotten from her achievements are inextricably linked, but in short, dance has been the vehicle to hone those skills. If your dancer was an animal, which one would they be and why? She might say a kitten; cuddly, cute, fun to play with. But seeing she can be a little powerhouse, I suspect that kitten will grow up to be a lioness. Would you relive your high school years if you could? Ironically NO. Ironic, because I teach high school, but my goal is to be the teacher I felt I never had. What’s your favorite dance-related memory? In the beginning, it was seeing Natalie (and her sister) go to the performances during the St. Patrick’s Day season, particularly the senior homes. The first time I was overwhelmed with joy was the performance at CCSU when she and Roisin came out from the side “stage” and joined the large group for the big performance. Favorite fall family activity? Normally we love going to fairs like the Big E or the Berlin Fair. Apple picking is another favorite. If you had to work, but didn’t need the money, what would you do? Something creative; making crafts, painting, taking art classes as a professional student. :) What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? Go for it!!! Some of the reasons I love it are because it is a YEAR ROUND outlet for my daughter (and her dance mates). She does not have to wait a whole year for one recital. She has competitions in the fall, performances throughout the winter and early spring, more competitions in the spring and summer, camp and other regular opportunities to dance, hone skills, perform, and become close with her friends. She has become good friends with several of the dancers, has role models in the older dancers; and the families get to know one another and become friends too. There is a great deal of support among the parents for each other and for the dancers. Furthermore, the dancers support one another! They stay at competitions and cheer for each other, they help each other with tricky moves, and they commit to their teams. Irish dance is as much community (however much one wants to commit) as it is individual. Of course, there’s the movement, the exercise and athleticism, the focus that some children need to burn off the extra energy while learning self discipline in a fun way. On a uncommon comparison, I often think it has similar qualities to karate with the discipline, athleticism, and focus. But, Irish dance has joy and musicality that takes it to another level; this is why I think it’s also very good for boys even though it may not be the first thing one thinks. This post is a part of a series. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. |
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