 Last time, we took a look at the importance not only of turnout for the sake of technique and aesthetics, but for the safety of every dancer. This, of course, extends to other aspects of technique, including: crossing. Whether you’ve been dancing one year or twenty, crossing is one of the most basic techniques to master, as it’s the beginning and end position to any Irish dance move you might perform—one leg in front of the other.
To determine what state your crossing technique is currently in, first turn out your feet (which we covered last week!) Then, starting with your heels still together, move your right leg in front of your leg without shifting the position of your turned-out foot, knee, or hip. The first goal is get your right heel touching your left toes. As you improve your turn out, the next goal would be getting your right toes to touch your left heel in the same position (with your right foot still in front.) This is the ultimate crossing goal in the Beginner and Early Intermediate levels, along with getting that first progression in every movement! As you move on to the highest grades of Irish dance, you’ll want to increase your crossing ability. To do this, you’ll want to keep moving your already crossed feet further apart—your left leg further to the right and your right leg further to the left—until you can’t move them any further. The goal for the best possible technique in Irish dance would be as much space between your shins as possible while you’re in a crossed position. However, it’s important to keep body alignment in mind when crossing, as the act of crossing can often lead to dancer to be facing diagonally instead of straight ahead. If this is happening, you want to correct yourself into a less turned out or less crossed position where you belly button is facing forward. A study of dancers across disciplines from the Clinics in Podiatric Medicine determined that 53% of dance-related injuries are of the ankle or foot (with a higher proportion in Irish dancers--83% in this specific study) citing lack of proper body alignment as one of the primary sources of said injuries. Crossing your feet may seem like no big deal, but as all jumps in Irish dance are expected to begin and end in this position, correct crossing technique is imperative to a dancer’s health and safety. Research from BYU in 2017 asserts that Irish dancers land with a force of 4.5-6 times their body weight, making proper technique while jumping one of the easiest ways to avoid injury. With the effects of dance shoes across disciplines being a relatively new area of study in sports medicine, mitigating this force with proper technique becomes paramount. There are many exercises to help improve your crossing technique, and some of Miss Courtney’s favorites include cross walks up to the mirror (to be able to see your alignment all the better—make sure to always practice with proper technique, it’s the only way to improve!), as well as floor butterflies to increase the strength in your inner thighs and glutes. Take a look at our last post in this series to see a few exercises that will help increase your turnout, too—turnout is important in every aspect of Irish dance, including crossing! The better your turnout, the better technique in your crossing. Miss Courtney also recommends mental cues while dancing to help you remember to both start and end in the correct position, such as “keep only one knee showing” or “keep space between your shins.” While the longer you dance, the more muscle-memory will kick in (read more about movement memory here!), it’s always good to have the mental cues tied to those muscle memories to reinforce this basic tenet of technique if you ever get flustered. It could save you from injury, and will wow the adjudicators! Tune in next week for another technique review—all about posture! This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last technique review, all about turnout, here. Also: 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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 Click the image to see how turnout socks may help for home practice! Welcome to technique review! In this new series of posts, we’re looking at some of the most important basics of Irish dance—from Beginner level to Championship. It doesn’t matter how many medals you may have won; every dancer needs to continuously refresh themselves on the fundamentals and continue to work on them! First on the docket: turnout.
Turnout is one of the most critical tenets of dance generally, and Irish dance in particular as every movement of Irish dance is performed in a turned out position. Not only is correct turnout one of the key points noted by adjudicators on both a technical and aesthetic level, it’s also crucial for safety of the dancer. In a study published in Sports Medicine-Open in 2018, researchers concluded that improper or overcompensated turnout is one of the leading causes of injuries across dance disciplines. This expanded the conclusions published in Open Access J Sports Medicine in 2013 that decreasing the likelihood of dance-related injuries is possible with attention to proper technique and physical training. And as Irish dance’s gravity-defying jumps are performed with less cushion (both in shoes and technique) than other forms of dance, the need is all the greater to know what proper turnout is and to practice on improving it! Turnout in dance refers to an outward rotation of the leg, starting from the hip and continuing through the thigh, knee, ankle, and foot. The goal is a “perfect” 180 degree turnout—a straight line running from the left toe, through the left foot to the left heel, then through the right heel, foot, and toe. While some dancers win the genetic lotto and start with close to that 180 degree ideal, most dancers will have to continuously work on their turnout to achieve this! First: what’s your turnout like naturally? Stand with your feet together, heels touching, and then try to make a V-shape with your feet, turning the entire leg from the hip while keeping your heels together. You’ll know if you’re overcompensating your turnout through a number of signs, including: discomfort, knee position not matching foot position, and a slight (or not so slight) forward roll on the inside of your foot. Any of those signs and you’ll want to close your V-shape into a narrower position—as we said before, dancing when overcompensating puts dancers at a much greater risk of injury (and your teacher won’t be happy either!) But how does one improve their turnout? Like everything else in Irish dance: practice, practice, practice. The most important considerations are increasing the strength of your hip flexors and maximizing the range of motion in your hip joints. Exercises like clams, seated leg rotations, and parallel/turn out drills (among many others you’ll learn in class!) are the key to increasing that range of motion and strength. But none of this will help unless you also stay aware of your turnout while in motion while dancing. This focus can be difficult to maintain while you’re counting along to the music in your head and remembering your choreography, so Miss Courtney recommends giving yourself mental cues! Learning to remind yourself “heels forward, “toes out,” “show the inside of your heel,” or something similar while you dance is as important as the turnout itself–otherwise all that work won’t show in your dancing! Sound like a lot of extra work on top of learning all that choreography? It is! But because of the safety issues (here’s another study looking specifically at injury in Irish dancers that correlates improper landing technique with injury,) not working on your turnout may slow down your progress as an Irish dancer. Not only is it a basic principle of any dance you perform, but Miss Courtney and your other teachers care about your safety first and foremost, and may choose not to teach you more advanced moves until your turnout improves. As, for example, landing jumps or leaps on a straight foot can lead to severe ankle sprains or even cause ligament damage that can take years to fully overcome, you can’t progress without good turnout! This post 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.  Volume IX Children’s Books, Part 2 With the summer winding down and regular dance classes about to start up again, it can be hard to get back into the school year groove. Back to school burnout is real and it happens to a lot of our dancers—so why not get them excited instead? We’ve gathered together five highly reviewed children’s books all about Ireland (and one about Irish dance!) that will get your dancer excited to be back in the studio (or at least more excited about it than school.) 1. Am I Small? Philipp Winterberg & Nadja Wichmann This story follows a young girl named Tamia as she takes a journey through a whimsically illustrated landscape, interacting with all sorts of magical and realistic creatures, and asking each of them: Am I small? But this book does more than tell a beautiful story (that comes to conclusion that size is relative and everyone is perfect just as they are)—it also has the distinction of being a part of the World’s Children Book project. Writer Philipp Winterberg has dedicated himself to not only writing books with positive messages, but has gotten over 400 translators in on the fun in an attempt to find universal touchstones for all the world’s children. Imagine a world where across every culture and border, we’ve all read Am I Small?! While the copy we’re linking is a bilingual copy in English and Gaeilge, the official language of Ireland, the book comes in over 200 languages, with a goal of 500 languages in the future.  2. The Children of Lir: Ireland’s Favorite Legend Laura Ruth Maher & Connor Busuttil In this version of one of Ireland’s most beloved legends, Maher’s rhyming, lyric poetry is paired with Busuttil’s rich illustrations that call to mind the illuminated manuscripts of ancient Ireland. The story is one older than written record, stemming from a tale from Ireland’s millennia-old oral tradition, and tells of King Lir and his four children: Fionnula, Aodh, Fiachra, and Conn (this is also definitely an opportunity to learn some new names!) But, like many fairytales, all was not well in King Lir’s court after a mysterious woman arrives and becomes his wife. Like most fairytales, this new stepmother isn’t all she appears to be and transforms the children into swans, a form they remain in until the curse cam be lifted. This is a typical Irish legend, so not the happiest story, but don’t worry—it’s being told for little readers and skips the scarier parts! Want a preview before you buy? Check it out here.  3. O’Sullivan Stew Hudson Talbot Meet Kate O’Sullivan: bold, brave, and always getting into trouble. When the witch in Kate’s village has her horse stolen, the whole town feels the effects: no fish in the nets, no food in the fields, and no milk from the cows. Kate takes matters into her own hands and enlists her brothers to help her steal back the horse and save the town from hunger—but there’s a problem: it was the King who took the witch’s horse! When the palace proves too challenging for a heist, Kate finds herself in front of the King with only her wits to save her and her family. Luckily, Kate is an excellent storyteller and the wild stew of stories she concocts just might do the trick! This rollicking adventure is full of creative, fantastical details, humor, and the most Irish thing of all (besides dance, of course): a good story or two! Sound interesting? Check out an elementary school principal out of Oregon reading it out loud for all!  4. Let’s See Ireland! Sarah Bowie Come along with Molly and her cat, Mipsy, on their tour of Ireland! Bowie is a Dublin based author and illustrator with a comic art style perfect for children of any age—with some learning snuck in! Your child will meet the animals of the Dublin Zoo before stopping to feed the pigeons at Christ Church Cathedral, and then it’s on to peering over the Cliffs of Moher. Full of humor that doesn’t take away from the facts, from the Giant’s Causeway to Hook Lighthouse and Newgrange, Molly’s story will introduce all of Ireland’s most beloved sites—even the Titanic Belfast! While most kids will be able to recognize Big Ben or the Eiffel Tower from a young age, why not let them in on all the coolest sites in the country their favorite activity is from? (And it sure beats the price of a plane ticket!) Hear (and see!) the story, read by a staff member from the Kilmihil Library in Ireland in her beautiful accent, here.  5. Rínce: The Fairytale of Irish Dance
Gretchen Gannon & Don Vanderbeek Does the word rínce (ring-ka) look familiar? It should! It means dance in Gaeilge and is the R in SRL, after all! This fanciful story creates an original myth about the origins of Irish dance, that, while not necessarily factually accurate (check out our “Origins of Irish Dance” series on the blog for that!), is certainly fun! Gannon’s narrative brings us back to ancient Ireland, where faeries and humans lived together peacefully in a town called Rínce. This richly told and illustrated account (that anyone who loves fairytales will delight in) tells of Irish dance evolving from a pact between the Fae and the humans—creating a new legend for everyone to enjoy! Gannon might never have been an Irish dancer herself, but she married into the world—her mother-in-law hails from Limerick and founded the St. Louis Irish Arts School of Music & Dance—and this book is clearly a labor of love: her two young daughters have been Irish dancers since the age of four! This post is part of a series. Read our last set of book recommendations, for YA readers, 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.  Part 2 Interested in trying out Irish dance, but aren’t entirely sure? We could talk all day long about the benefits Irish dance has, physically, mentally, and socially (and we have—check out these posts to learn more!) but why don’t we let some of our dancers tell you a little more about why they love Irish dance here at SRL! We hope you’ll join us! Looking for: far-reaching life skills? “Irish Dance trained me to have a very high stamina, physically and mentally. Courtney was the best at pushing her dancers towards their goals. I know how to work towards long term goal without being worn out, and to push through to the very end.”—Lindsey Looking for: competitive spirit? “My favorite thing about dance is the competition. I like that in Irish dance you can show off how much you've learned and progressed.”—Magnus  Looking for: enjoyment and self-expression? “When there are no words to explain how you feel, you express yourself through dance. I remember there would be nights when…I was tired, but when I walked through those studio doors I knew it was my time to work. And when I walked out of those doors at the end of the night, I felt like a better person.”—Lindsey Looking for: an online option? “My favorite thing about online class is I can dance at home safely and there’s more one on one with the teacher. Plus, my mom is there to help if I'm struggling.”—Avonlea Looking for: inspiration? “I look up to Courtney because she has given me a second home and something that I truly love.”—Ellie Looking for: friends? “Dance has given me the ability to have friends all around the world that share the same love and passion for Irish dance that I do.”—Christian  Looking for: somewhere to learn and grow?
“Irish dance was a life changing experience that provided me with so many opportunities to learn and grow. It was a daily challenge, which inspires my work ethic today. I always aim high and dream big. Through Irish Dance, I learned by working hard and practicing my craft, I could achieve anything.”—Tara Looking for: something to be passionate about? Just take Tilly’s word for it: “I like Irish dance and you will too!” If your dancer is looking for it, SRL has it! While classes run on a school year schedule from September to June, we have a special offer to let new dancers get a taste before they sign up in the fall! SRL’s Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp sign-ups are now open for new dancers 2-12, with two sessions available at work-friendly drop off times for parents. Learn more about the program here, or feel free to reach out to our Office Manager, Devon, at 860-385-1107 or shoot her an email at office@irishdancetct.com. She’s happy to help! This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last 411 post—tons of testimonials from parents!— here. Also: 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.  Part 2 Is your child interested in dance, but you’re not sure where to start? Why not Irish dance? We won’t try to convince you (check out these multiple posts in case you want some more convincing—we do have a strong case,) but thought we’d let our amazing community of parents tell you why SRL is the right choice, instead! Looking for: exercise with purpose? “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.”—Evelyn Looking for: cultural enrichment? “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.”—Siobhan Looking for: a confidence boost? “Dance has built [my dancer’s] confidence and has opened her up to experiencing new things.”—Christina  Looking for: dance that teaches life skills? “I think Irish dance has taught [my dancer] perseverance, grace under pressure, humility and the understanding that its ok to not be ok! Do your best work and enjoy the journey.”—Christine “I love the way the classes are structured to challenge the students just so much that also pushes them forward in their learning.”—Andrea Looking for: a way to encourage goal-setting? “[My dancer] is competitive and she wants to do well, but she’s 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.”—Siobhan  Looking for: a unique, year- round activity? “If your child loves to dance, they should try Irish dance. It’s different than any other style of dance…[My dancer] has been doing other types of dance for years, but Irish dance is beautiful and unique.”—Christina Looking for: an outlet for male dancers? “On an 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.”—Siobhan Looking for: community and support? “I’m amazed at the choreography [my dancer] 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.”—Becca “I wanted [my dancer] 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.”—Andrea  Looking for: options?
“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!”—Jill L. If you’re looking for it for your dancer, SRL has it! While classes run on a school year schedule from September to June, we have a special offer to let new dancers get a taste before they sign up in the fall! SRL’s Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp sign-ups are now open for new dancers 2-12, with two sessions available at work-friendly drop off times for parents. Learn more about the program here, or feel free to reach out to our Office Manager, Devon, at 860-385-1107 or shoot her an email at office@irishdancetct.com. She’s happy to help! This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last 411 post—tons of testimonials from dancers!— here. Also: 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.  Part 1 Interested in trying out Irish dance, but aren’t entirely sure? We could talk all day long about the benefits Irish dance has, physically, mentally, and socially (and we have—check out these posts to learn more!) but why don’t we let some of our dancers tell you a little more about why they love Irish dance here at SRL! We hope you’ll join us! Looking for: exercise? “I love all kinds of dance but Irish dance is a fun fast kind of dancing!”—Rooney Looking for: long-lasting life skills? “As an adult, my time at SRL taught me the value of time management, passion and persistence. Until college, I was a multi-sport athlete, competitive dancer and a participant in various other extracurricular activities. I learned quickly how to manage my school load with these other commitments to keep everything in balance. I hold myself to a high standard to do everything the best I can, so being able to manage that while maintaining a passion for the sport taught me so much. Today, I approach everything I do with passion and persistence while remembering I have to manage my time well to accomplish all of my goals.”—Tara  Looking for: enjoyment and self-expression? “I believe there are many reasons behind why people dance, including because friends or family members did it in the past or currently do it now. But I think that some people dance for the same reason I did: for a way to escape reality from time to time. I remember going to the studio, totally forgetting about the outside world, and just living in the moment that was happening throughout dance class.”—Christian Looking for: cultural enrichment? “I think people dance because it is freeing. In Irish Dance, it is you and the floor working in harmony to produce something beautiful and culturally significant. It is a personal challenge…where the only opponent is yourself. It is also an opportunity to celebrate a culture very few understand. To represent and celebrate my Irish heritage through dance has connected me more with my family’s ancestry.”—Tara Looking for: a supportive environment? “SRL is an amazing community where all the dancers and teachers are very motivating, inspiring, and caring.”—Bailey  Looking for: friends?
“SRL has provided me with so many opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime.”—Lindsey Looking for: peer mentors? “I always loved my time as an assistant teacher for Courtney and still keep in contact with some of my students today. When they finally got their jumps or skips, it was such a proud moment for me. I miss working with them!”—Tara Looking for: something to be passionate about? Just take Colby’s word for it when asked what he loves most about Irish dance: “Everything.” If your dancer is looking for it, SRL has it! While classes run on a school year schedule from September to June, we have a special offer to let new dancers get a taste before they sign up in the fall! SRL’s Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp sign-ups are now open for new dancers 2-12, with two sessions available at work-friendly drop off times for parents. Learn more about the program here, or feel free to reach out to our Office Manager, Devon, at 860-385-1107 or shoot her an email at office@irishdancetct.com. She’s happy to help! This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last 411 post—tons of testimonials from parents!— here. Also: 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  Lugh is generally depicted as a highly athletic, light-haired warrior—often with an aureole of light around his head Dance in Irish Mythology, Part 3 The Crane Dance Like any founding mythology of a nation, the Irish mythos is littered with heroes and their glorious deeds—but not many of those stories involve dance. One major exception is the god-hero Lugh (we’ll be discussing the festival in his honor next week!) But before we get into the dancing, we have to tell you a little more about his place as one of the most important heroes in the Irish mythos. First off—it’s unclear if Lugh was a god or an actual, historical figure. On his god side, Lugh was known as one of the strongest members of the powerful Tuatha Dé Danann: the god of sun and light, an all-seeing and all-knowing deity also associated with poetry, arts, and crafts. While the Romans referred to him as the “Gaulish Mercury”—he’s more like Apollo combined with Hermes, with a dash of Hercules thrown in. His many talents are attributed to being the only surviving member of a set of triplets—he’s often depicted with three faces to represent how he has the power of three (an important number in most mythologies and religions.) On the historical side, Lugh is associated with being not just a mighty warrior, but a skilled one, as well as a symbol of rightful kingship—meaning peace, prosperity, law and order, and oaths and truth. It’s a lot of for one man (or god) to carry!  A crane assuming the glám díccen position—we have to assume his left eye is closed There are many stories we could tell about Lugh (and probably will in future posts!), but the one that concerns us today is a rite Lugh was recorded performing before he led his men into a fight with the Fomorians (a monstrous, supernatural race from the sea.) While he heats the warriors’ blood with a rhythmic, rousing speech, he…dances. Specifically, he hops to the beat of his chant in a circle on one foot, with one eye closed—and bizarre as this seems out of context, there is an explanation! This is one of the only mentions in Irish mythology of a specific dance being performed by a god, and fitting with his status as a divinity, research shows that he was performing an ancient, Druidic magic called corrghuineacht aka “the crane dance.” The position Lugh assumes is known as glám dícenn (“satire which destroys,” fitting for this poet-warrior,) and does more than mimic a crane standing in water. Lifting one foot from the ground is meant to place the dancer between worlds, while only one eye is open to block this world and see into the Otherworld. Traveling in a sunwise circle for prayer, blessing, and curses (Lugh, in this instance, is blessing the fighters,) was a common practice in Druidic worship, with infinity figures (circles and knots, foremost,) being the most iconic of Celtic symbols to this day. But the crane was also an important symbol in Celtic mythology: its ability to move between water, land, and air made it a symbol of shapeshifting and magic, as well as the moon to Lugh’s sun—a mirror of his prophetic powers and sacred to the triple goddesses of Irish mythology.  This “Flying Giant” can have a wingspan of over 7 feet—no wonder its known for both its beauty AND its power What does this all mean? On one level, it’s a really a beautiful way to view dance and emphasizes the deep, cultural roots of Irish dance in particular: dance in Ireland is something powerful, perhaps even magical, transformative, and of the natural world, tied to the land, the water, and the air of the isle. Lugh performing this dance is of particular significance as his rule as King marked 40 years of peace and prosperity on Irish land where the harvests were abundant and the cows productive—it associates dance with protection of the land and people, something steadfast, comforting, and elucidating in the face of the many invaders over Ireland’s long and often bloody history. Beauty in the midst of chaos—how else could you describe those flying feet paired with perfect posture?
Fun fact: there haven’t been cranes in Ireland for at least three centuries…but a nesting pair was spotted just this year! Up until medieval times, cranes were reportedly the third most common domestic pet in Ireland (after dogs and cats,) usually tamed and kept in the home, near the dinner table. (There are even claims that they were able to be trained to bow their heads in prayer!) Archaeologists also report that crane bones are the fourth most common bird bone found in Ireland, and scholars note that the birds are the second most common in place names throughout the British Isles. Industrialization led to the shrinking of their habitat and many thought the birds had moved on for good, but Irish company Bord na Móna has pivoted their purpose as peat harvesters and committed themselves to restoring the wetlands they had previously devastated. The company was proud to report the pair this past May—and while none of their eggs hatched this year, there’s high hopes for the next! But there’s more about Lugh (and less about birds) to come…check out our post next week all about the holiday named after this multifaceted god! This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last Irish Mythology post, all about the “King of the Faeries,” here. Also: 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.  Part 1 Is your child interested in dance, but you’re not sure where to start? Why not Irish dance? We won’t try to convince you (check out these multiple posts in case you want some more convincing—we do have a strong case,) but thought we’d let our amazing community of parents tell you why SRL is the right choice, instead! Looking for: exercise with purpose? “It’s been great for working on his balance as well as giving him a way to learn something fun that he enjoys.”—Michaela Looking for: a confidence boost? “[Irish dance has given my dancer the] 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.”—Jill Looking for: dance that teaches life skills? “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.”—Siobhan “The most important lesson [my dancer’s] learned are the benefits of hard work and never giving up.”—Judy  Looking for: peer mentoring opportunities? “I think Irish Step Dancing has been the first time [my dancer] has really felt challenged. But because she enjoys it so much and because of the guidance from the older girls…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.”—Andrea Looking for: a unique, year-round activity? “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.”—Siobhan Looking for: musical appreciation? “[Irish dance’s] upbeat cadence and structure definitely appeal to [my dancer] more than ballet or jazz dance. And as a musical family with 3 violin players, we love hearing the beautiful reels and jigs!”—Becca  Looking for: a talented staff? “[We were] 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, [my daughter] has continued to improve as a dancer…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.”—Laura Looking for: community and support? “[Our dancers] 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.”—Ken & Dana “I’m amazed at the choreography [my dancer] 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.”—Becca Looking for: a happy kid? “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. 😉”—Becca  Looking for: a way to try things without commitment?
“[Our dancer] quit soccer, basketball, ballet, tap, AND jazz! We were just hoping something would stick. Courtney offered a week-long mini-camp that gave [our dancer] a chance to try it out before committing to anything long-term.”—Ken & Dana If you’re looking for it for your dancer, SRL has it! While classes run on a school year schedule from September to June, we have a special offer to let new dancers get a taste before they sign up in the fall! SRL’s Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp sign-ups are now open for new dancers 2-12, with an August session available at work-friendly drop off times for parents. Learn more about the program here, or feel free to reach out to our Office Manager, Devon, at 860-385-1107 or shoot her an email at office@irishdancetct.com. She’s happy to help! This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last 411 post, all about our Tiny Jig program, here. Also: 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.  Finvarra’s “Faerie Fortress,” also rumored to be Queen Maeve’s burial place, in Galway. Look at all those Fae mounds! Dance in Irish Mythology, Part 2 Who is the King of the Faeries? Any Irish dancer knows what we’re talking about, and everyone else thinks we sound like we’re about to tell a bedtime story, so we’ll clue everyone in: King of the Faeries is one of Irish dance’s 38 traditional set dances. Traditional set dances are named for the music they’re set to (i.e. the trad set “Blackbird” is set to music titled “Blackbird”) and are unique from solo dances as they each have a relatively consistent set of choreography (though each school has its own, slight variation.) While dancers in the lower grades perform these trad sets at a fast-paced tempo, Champion dancers perform at a significantly slower pace to better show off their control and technique. It’s believed that the trad set dance, “King of the Faeries” stems from a Scottish, Jacobite song titled “Bonny Charlie” (after Charles Edward Stewart, the “Rebel Prince” who attempted to reclaim his throne after his father was exiled) and also ironically made the rounds in the 1700s as “King William of Orange” and “Briton’s Glory” on English soil. Even in its original publication as a trad set in 1840 in Old Irish Folk Music and Songs did it have a different title—the long and baffling “Your Old Wig is the Love of My Heart.” By 1927 it had evolved in the more understandable title “The Lonesome Wedding,” and as late as the 1950s it was popularized in American-Irish communities as “Scollay’s Reel” after a Shetland fiddler of the same name. However, the Irish dance has long known it as “King of the Faeries” and lore evolved around the tune—it’s said to be a summoning song and that if played three times at a feis, the King will appear! But the question remains…which faerie king will answer the call? Give it a listen here or here and let it play in the background while you read about the possibilities. We have quite a few options…let’s investigate some of the most interesting ones! Our first contender is Finvarra (generally pronounced phonetically these days, meaning “fair-haired,”) King of the Daoine Sídhe (descedents of the god-like Tuatha Dé Danann,) and called “King of the Faeries of Connacht.” The best comparison to more familiar mythology would paint him as a Hades character—he is also considered the King of the Dead, is generous with favors to those who please him…and abducts the occasional mortal woman. We’re unsure what his beautiful Fae queen, Una/Oona, has to say about that! Their home is said to be Knockmaa in Co. Galway, and Finvarra is believed to be responsible for negotiating with the invading Milesians to save his people—though his peace treaty did force them to stay in the Otherworld, underground. This particular King of the Faeries is the reason no one wants to disturb a Fae mound in Ireland, as it’s rumored that under his leadership the Sídhe built many beautiful cities in their new home—don’t want to disturb them!  A depiction of lubdan meeting the “giants” by Stephen Reid, c. 1910 Next we have Ailill (pronounced all-yill, meaning “beauty” or “elf,”)—more of a King Consort than a king in his own right, as he was chosen by Queen Maebh (i.e. Maeve, most likely the inspiration for the bane of all ) to rule beside her because he was “a man without meanness, fear, or jealousy, a match for [her] own greatness.” (Though he had to pay his own dowry for the honor of becoming the Milesian Faerie King of Leinster, despite also having claims to the Connacht throne.) Ailill is usually depicted as an extremely tall man with a ruddy complexion and a gold diadem. The full story of the couple after they initially fell in love is one of jealousy and sadness, but you can learn more about it if you wish here. We could also consider lubdan (pronounced as it looks, meaning “leprechaun,”) who’s probably more of your idea of a faerie than any of the others. lubdan was the Faerie King of Ulster and the “Wee Folk” (aka the Faylinn) with his Queen, Bebo, and is best known for his boastful nature and diminutive size (a common trait among the Faylinn.) His best known story was his attempt to prove his bravery and worth by stealing some of the giants’ (aka the average-sized inhabitants of Ulster) porridge. The attempt failed and to escape his captors, lubdan had to relinquish his prized possession—enchanted shoes that allowed the wearer to walk on water. Read another tale about his exploits here.  You can visit this statue of Midhir and Étain at the Ardagh Heritage Centre in Co. Longford And lastly: Midhir (pronounced roughly like mi-dear, meaning “to judge or measure”)—son of Dagda, a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, though Midhir continued to live aboveground (in current day Co. Longford) after the Tuatha were defeated by the Milesians. Though Midhir is often credited as the creator of all the rivers and lakes that keep the Irish countryside so green, he’s more often referred to as a ruler than a god-like figure. He’s best known for what the Irish do best--a tragic love story that echoes Zeus and Hera’s relationship in Greek mythology. Midhir was quite the ladies’ man, though he was married to his Queen, Fúamach. There are many stories of Fuamach turning the faerie Midhir most favored—Étain—in to various creatures (usually something that flies, as Midhir is associated with birds) to punish her husband.
Kingship might not generally be a democracy by definition, but we’re American over here…who’s got your vote? Let us know in the comments! This post is part of a series. Read our last folklore post, a general overview of the Fae's love of dance, 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 you can walk, you can dance! Think your preschooler is too young to start dance? Think again! SRL Irish Dance Academy is proud to offer the Jump’n Jig program for our littlest dancers, aged 2 to 5! Split into two age groups (2-3 Tiny Jig and 4-5 Pre-Beginner,) this program was designed by early-childhood expert and ADCRG, Fiona Holmes. Classes start with helping our newest dancers learn how to act and engage within a dance class and move on to developing motor skills and musicality (all while making sure there’s plenty of fun in the meantime!) And with each class starting with a friendly welcome where they can bring along their favorite stuffed friend from home, SRL’s adoption of the Jump’n Jig program has helped get even the most reticent new dancer into the studio! There’s plenty of benefits to starting your child in Irish dance (and starting them early!) and both our Tiny Jig and Pre-Beginner classes cover all the bases: safe social interactions with peers, instructors, and student mentors, working on not just foundational dance skills, but listening skills, and a way to grow a sense of personhood and independence. Beyond that are the physical benefits! We utilize two movement stations—circle time for direct interaction and a “track” across the room to practice skills solo—to work on single leg balancing (adding accessory movements gradually,) leg and foot strength, foot placement for Irish dance, moving on or around markers and targets, and concepts like right/left and front/back. These skills form a strong base for all forms of movement (think about football players taking ballet!) and many Tiny Jiggers move on through the levels and become life-long Irish dancers!  Irish dance has a long and rich tradition and history behind it, but you don’t need to have Irish heritage to be an Irish dancer. While the steps and the music are part of Ireland’s cultural heritage, Irish dance has become a global community—and SRL is a tight-knit and supportive community within that larger sphere. In this encouraging environment, dancers are exposed to a culture beyond their own while they develop a strong sense of musicality and rhythm—learning to actively listen to the music, find the beat by clapping, and utilizing props so they can dance with the music instead of to the music (the hardest thing to teach a dancer!)
A successful SRL dancer isn’t just strong on technique—we see success as a confident, happy, and comfortable dancer! While classes run on a school year schedule from September to June (with every class available as in-person, online, or a hybrid model,) we have a special offer to let new dancers get a taste before they sign up in the fall! SRL’s Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp sign-ups are now open and is a perfect way to judge your littlest dancer’s interest before committing more fully. With two sessions available at work-friendly drop off times for parents, your session also includes discounts on registration and your first four weeks of classes come September. Learn more about the program here, or feel free to reach out to our Office Manager, Devon, at 860-385-1107 or shoot her an email at office@irishdancetct.com. She’s happy to help! This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last 411 post, all about our studio, here. Also: 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.  A 17th century woodcut of the Fae dancing near a door to the Otherworld, artist unknown Dance in Irish Mythology, Part 1 Faeries Love to Dance Irish dance is unique from other popular dance styles—jazz, tap, modern—not just in technique, but in its deep-rooted ties to ancient Irish culture even as this artistic sport evolves into the present day. Learning and performing Irish dance isn’t limited to the Irish, but each step that’s taught stems from a place before Ireland’s written history, times full of magic and heroes and monsters that we can only call mythologic. While there’s not precisely proof of faeries (but don’t tell the Irish that--many still at least passively believe in the Sídhe, pronounced shee) and the people who lived beside them, one part of the stories is clear: faeries love to dance. (Want a quick overview of some of the basics of Irish mythology? Check out our post about the Tuatha Dé Danann, the ancient Irish gods, here.) Any dancers knows that while dance is hard work and constant practice, there are moments where dancing can make you feel as if you’ve been transported to another world. Nowhere is this clearer than in Irish mythology, where tales of beautiful, unearthly music and dance partners so enchanting one can’t help but keep dancing, abound. As Greek mythology has the pomegranate seeds (and almost every known mythology has a correlation—Japanese, Norse, even Christianity) that trap Persephone in the Underworld, Irish mythology has dance. The sense of timelessness, peace, and joy we feel when we dance evokes the feeling the ancient Irish associated with the perfection of Tír na nÓg (the “Land of Youth” or the “Otherworld”)—a place where time is frozen and no one grows old. To dance with the Fae in their underground realm is dangerous game in Ireland—you may emerge unscathed, but you may emerge days, weeks, years later…or not at all. Time is a tricky thing in the Otherworld, after all!  William Blake’s depiction of a faerie circle dance, c. 1786 But, dancing for the Sídhe is more than a deception—it’s their most beloved activity! Yeats, world renown poet perhaps less known for his extensive work recording and examining Irish mythology, features dance heavily in his poems that focus on the legends of the Fae and all the associated creatures. For example, Leprechauns (read a fuller description of these mischievous troublemakers here) are typically excellent musicians and cobblers, with Yeats explaining: “Because of their love of dancing, they (the Fae) will always need shoes.” It was thought that a good dancer or musician was favored by the Fae with their blessing, but Yeats’s take uses dance and tales of the Sídhe as an exploration of idealistic, national pride as the world was changing around him. The constancy of national identity and tradition the Irish have fought long and hard to protect (dance included) exists perpetually and perfectly in the Land of Youth, no matter what skirmishes may be being fought above ground. But this is all fairytales and stories, right? Well, most stories we tell children—to comfort or warn them—do have a root in reality somewhere. The concept of dance as an inseparable part of Irish mythology and culture may be due to the importance of ritualistic movement in Druidic times. Historians agree that pagan priests most likely practiced a ceremonial dance of sorts called cor deiseal (pronounced kor dy-ash-al,) from the Irish deis for “right hand” and deas for “South.” As the Druids were sun-worshippers (learn more here!), these dances were performed in complicated clockwise patterns to follow the sun’s path. These rites are considered by many to be the earliest form of Irish dance, and it’s no wonder the storytellers of Irish mythology picked up on these culturally important ceremonies and wove them in to their own tales.  Easy to see the common motif—the circular movement also common to the Druids. This piece is by Walter Jenks Morgan, c. the late 19th century With the first feiseanna in Ireland believed to be a literally three millennia ago at Tara—a site known for its ancient ruins that align with the sun on Samhain, featured in many an Irish legend—it’s clear that dance has been inextricably linked with Ireland’s culture and beliefs since day one. Even modern Ireland isn’t empty of this more ritualized form of Irish dance today! Visit any holy sites or wells in Ireland (popular on festival days like Beltane or Lughnasa, and many other religious holidays, both pagan and Christian) and you may see regular citizens walking clockwise around the site as they tie clooties to trees. Paganism has also seen a resurgence in Ireland in recent days, with huge festivals being thrown on ancient, holy sites that include music, dance, and celebrations so raucous one wonders if they’ll bring the Sídhe from the Otherworld to join in. How could they resist?
Tune in next week where we continue to explore the links between Irish mythology and dance by asking one, very important question: who exactly is the king of the faeries? This post is part of a series. Read our last mythology post, all about Springtime Old Wives’ Tales, 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.  Miss Courtney encouraging dancers before a performance. Tradition. Passion. Dedication. Welcome to Scoil Rince Luimni, also known as SRL Irish Dance Academy! We’re a small, independently-owned Irish dance studio located in South Windsor, Connecticut and we’re so happy you’re here. A little about us: SRL was founded in 2014 by Courtney Jay, TCRG after she finished her BA in Irish Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. (In fact, that’s why we’re SRL—in Irish Gaelic Scoil (scull) is school, Rince (ring-ka) is dance, and Luimni (lim-nee) is Limerick!) Miss Courtney, as the dancers call her, has been an Irish dancer her whole life and has been teaching and mentoring younger dancers since she was 13. During her time in Limerick, Courtney trained at the Fleming-Ball School of Irish Dance, where she danced her way to 2 solo world medals, regional titles in solo and team championships, and top 10 at every international major competition. Before leaving Ireland, Courtney was certified by the CLRG (the largest and oldest governing body of Irish dance in the world) and then came home to Connecticut to create SRL!  Hard shoe class! 7 years later and SRL is a tight-knit community that instructs in the storied tradition of Irish dance for those as young as 2-years-old (check out Tiny Jig to learn more!) into adulthood (check out SRL After Dark to learn more!) We take this traditional art form and honor the artistic components while taking a modern approach to what has become a highly athletic discipline. We train our dancers to identify and work towards their own, personal goals—whether that be recreation, casual performances, or the competitive track. Our structured environment, supported by our knowledgeable instructors, focuses on the whole dancer: technique and whole-body conditioning to be sure, but also the promotion of healthy life skills (such as setting and achieving goals, teamwork, focus, and dedication.) In line with that, SRL offers mentoring opportunities at every turn—from class helpers to buddies at dancers’ first competitions and performances—and cultivates a spirit of support and community that’s really what Irish dance is all about! Our small, but passionate staff is ready to help guide and encourage your dancer—whether they be just starting out or qualifying for Worlds—through structured lessons that optimize their opportunities to grow both as dancers and as people. While Irish dance has a long tradition (read more about its origins here!) and strong ties to Ireland’s national identity, you don’t need to be Irish to do Irish dance. As the Irish diaspora has spread across the world, Irish dance has become more than a traditional art form (though it retains those roots and music)—it’s a global community. All you need to join in is passion, dedication, and someone to teach you—and we’d love to help out!  SRL is registered with the CLRG, the Irish Dance Teachers of North America, and the New England Irish Dance Teachers. While classes run on a school year schedule from September to June (with every class available as in-person, online, or a hybrid model,) we have a special offer to let new dancers get a taste before they sign up in the fall! SRL’s Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp sign-ups are now open for new dancers 2-12, with two sessions available at work-friendly drop off times for parents. Learn more about the program here, or feel free to reach out to our Office Manager, Devon, at 860-385-1107 or shoot her an email at office@irishdancetct.com. She’s happy to help!
This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last 411 post, all about the benefits of Irish dance, here. Also: 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. Nationals Veteran Name: Emily M.
Age: 17 Congratulations on qualifying for Nationals! It’s been so long since the last major in November of 2019—what are you most looking forward to this year? I am most looking forward to dancing my absolute best this year, working to incorporate judges feedback with the hopes of improving placement or not getting the same comments each time. Competing with my friends is really important to me as we all support each other as one big extended family. No matter the school, level or the placement at the end of the day, we are always there to support and cheer each other on. I have missed that! You must have changed so much since November 2019! What have you learned over the last year and a half about yourself as a dancer? Since November 2019, I've learned more about my style of dance and complicated choreography that would suit me. I think it's important to take a step back and reevaluate yourself and your dancing to know what you want to achieve in your career. Doing this with the help of Courtney, Christian and Bailey has helped me become more confident in my dances and have created a structured mindset for my goals at majors. What past National competition was your favorite? Why? Nationals 2019 in Vancouver would be my favorite because it was the first year I was eligible to dance. I was so incredibly proud and honored that I was able to go. I had always dreamed of dancing at Nationals and being part of that elite group and it finally came true!! What have you missed the most about competing? (And what have you definitely NOT missed about competing?) I miss competing so much!! My favorite parts of competing would have to be seeing my friends from other schools, being able to showcase what I've worked on and getting judges marks and comments on how to improve. I find the judges marks and teachers' feedback helpful as they have a different perspective on my dances and ways I can improve myself. What’s your proudest dance achievement so far? Any future dance goals you’re setting for yourself? My proudest dance achievement is getting into Open Championships and having the opportunity to go to Nationals. I had always wanted to reach the highest level of irish dance but I wouldn't have gotten this far without hard work, teachers, friends and family. Dancing for fifteen years (irish dancing for twelve!) has taught me the importance of making friends that will last forever and enjoying the moment. Sharing an irish dance journey with my friends is the best thing I could've asked for. In the future I'd love to get the opportunity to compete at Worlds!! What’s your favorite dance to compete in? Which do you think is your strongest? My favorite dance to compete in would be slip jig! I love the elegant and balletic choreography and I love the music too! My strongest dances have always been soft shoe dances just because the energy and flow of each movement suits my dance style. Growing up watching Lord of the Dance and Riverdance had always interested me as the “good girls” would mainly do soft shoe and more specifically slip jigs. Have you ever visited Phoenix before? Any plans while you’re there beyond dancing? I have never visited Phoenix before and I’m looking forward to spending some time there! My Mom and I are planning on making a road trip out of it and going to Las Vegas, San Diego and Los Angeles along the way! As someone who’s been to Nationals before, what’s your advice to dancers competing there for the first time? My first Nationals was nerve wracking as I didn't know what to expect and became overwhelmed. So my advice to those who are going for their first time this year is to just have fun and remember that you earned a spot to be there. When I first went I put so much unnecessary stress on myself and believed that I didn't belong. If you go into it with a good attitude, belief in your teachers and have a good mindset, you're ready to reach success. Remember to enjoy your moment and do YOUR personal best. The rest is out of your hands. ☘️ This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last Nationals Spotlight, with Gabby G. and Kellyann, here. Also: 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 2020 Qualifier Name: Gabby G. Age: 17 Congratulations on qualifying for Nationals back in 2020! I know it must have been disappointing when last year was cancelled, but do you think this extra time has made you a stronger competitor? What have you learned about yourself as a dancer this last year? I think dancing online was difficult for all of us, but I definitely think having the extra time to practice and learn steps has been really beneficial. Something that I have learned about myself is that I actually do have the creative mental capacity to re-choreograph a part of my step that had been giving me trouble. Choreographing steps in the past has been nearly impossible for me, but I was really proud of myself that I could successfully add in a piece of my own stylistic choices into my dancing. What are you most looking forward to about Nationals? I am looking forward to the atmosphere and just being somewhere new with some of my best friends. What have you missed the most about competing more regularly this year? (And what have you definitely NOT missed about competing?) Something I definitely have not missed about competing are the wigs and the fake tan. I did miss the dresses and the running around the venue finding friends and watching other competitors dance a little bit, though. What’s your proudest dance achievement so far? Any future dance goals you’re setting for yourself? I think my proudest dance achievement is not really any specific award/placement, but how far I have come. I have collected a number of videos from practices of my dances and even just in a year, I can see how much some of my technique has improved. My goal for this Nationals is to try my best to not be shaken by the number of strong competitors. Have you ever visited Phoenix before? Any plans while you’re there beyond dancing? I don’t think I have ever visited Phoenix, though a couple of years ago my family took a trip around different national parks in Arizona. I am most likely just going with my mom, but we both love hiking, so after I dance, I think the two of us will be out hiking a lot during this trip. What’s your favorite dance to compete in? Which do you think is your strongest? I don’t know what it is about soft shoe, but whether it be slip jig or reel, I absolutely love it and I think that this will most likely translate into my dancing at Nationals. What advice would you give a dancer hoping to qualify for Nationals? My advice would be to set goals and don’t stop until you’ve reached them. For every competition, whether it be a major or just a regular competition, I always set goals for myself and practice hard at dance and at home. 2020 Qualifier Name: Kellyann
Age: 16 Congratulations on qualifying for Nationals back in 2020! I know it must have been disappointing when last year was cancelled, but do you think this extra time has made you a stronger competitor? What have you learned about yourself as a dancer this last year? Over the past year I have grown both mentally and physically as a dancer. This past year has been particularly challenging for me with the pandemic and ankle surgery in December, but the experiences ultimately grew my love for dance even more, which I did not know was possible. The additional year has given me more time to become even more motivated, in addition to granting me another perspective on the accomplishment of making it to Nationals. I have learned that when I put my mind to something anything is possible. What are you most looking forward to about Nationals? I am looking forward not only to spending time with some of my favorite people in the world, all my fellow SRL National Qualifiers, but to achieving my ultimate goal from when I started Irish dance, dancing on the stage at Nationals. What have you missed the most about competing more regularly this year? (And what have you definitely NOT missed about competing?) I have missed seeing all of my feis friends, who do not attend SRL, in addition to the feeling of being on stage. I definitely have not missed the early morning, bobby pins, and wigs over the past year. What’s your proudest dance achievement so far? Any future dance goals you’re setting for yourself? My proudest dance achievement would be my Preliminary Championship first place at the Shamrock Feis, but I also am overjoyed by my ability to return to dance 3 ½ months post-op. My future goals for irish dance include qualifying for Open Champ, and recalling at Oireachtas for solos. Have you ever visited Phoenix before? Any plans while you’re there beyond dancing? I have never been to Phoenix before. We are planning to spend time with my cousins who are also competing this year and exploring the area around the convention center. What’s your favorite dance to compete in? Which do you think is your strongest? I love competing in reel, but I think that slip jig is usually my strongest dance. What advice would you give a dancer hoping to qualify for Nationals? Do not give up, and do not get discouraged. If you have an unideal placement at a feis use the comments and experience to grow. Come to the next class ready to listen, acknowledge, and strive to correct your comments. With that being said do not let the placements define you and remember that you do Irish dance because you love it. This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last Nationals Spotlight, with Balian and Kayla P., here. Also: 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.  The early 1990s versus the early 2000s The Look, Part 4: Male Costuming Fashion, in or out of the dance world, has long been a female-dominated realm. However, while that means male Irish dancers have had significantly less changes over the years, they haven’t completely escaped the glamification of their costumes! Today we’ll take a look at that evolution and how our current expectation for male Irish dance costuming came to be.  Kilts were worn commonly into the 90s, especially as school costumes While we know from our first installment (catch up here) that most Irish dancers started by dancing in their regular clothes, men’s costuming actually appears to predate women’s. Dance masters were typically male, and as they often dressed flamboyantly to help drive business, they were known by their fancy hats, swallowtail coats, breeches, white stockings/socks, and shiny, silver-buckled shoes. Due to British rules and restrictions (the impact of which was felt for 100s for years,) most male dancers simply wore their “Sunday Best” as their female counterparts did—typically a shirt and tie with breeches tucked into knee socks, a cummerbund around the waist. Similarly to female trends, as time passed there was a focus on traditional Irish fabrics and designs. For instance, in 1904, at the first Glens Feis in Glenarriff, Co. Antrim, the first prize for one of the competitions was: “a suit of Irish Homespun, presented by Hamilton and Co. Portrush, Co. Antrim.” While kilts as a male clothing item is associated in our modern minds with Scotland, Irish dance has always been about the feet, so kilts became a typical item dancers (male and female!) wore for many years (largely from the 1910s to the 1960s.) Pipers first wore them, but as Irish dance and music are completely intertwined, the dancers eventually adopted the look at well. (If you check our previous post about Irish dance shoes, you’ll find Ireland and Scotland are intertwined in many aspects of their dance traditions!) Kilts were typically worn with a short coat and brat/cape (the male version a bit shorter and usually attached to the front of the coat with a Celtic design brooch—they’re a holdover from times of rebellion,) along with shirt, tie, and knee socks.  A glam version of the modern look—still popular today These days, boys still have the option to wear a kilt, but since premiere of Riverdance in 1994, pants have gradually become the norm. Male dancers typically wear long (black) pants (though very young dancers sometimes perform in short pants,) a shirt, and often a vest and tie. For many years, it was a trend for male dancers to emulate the sparkling, bright dresses of the female solo dancers through their vests and ties. However, in recent times there’s been a movement toward more sleek, sophisticated looks rather than full on sparkle all the time!  The Gardiner Brothers’ viral tiktoks have influenced a more cool, casual look for male Irish dancers in the last few years (doesn’t hurt they have 5 World Championships between them!) And that’s a wrap on our series all about the whys and hows of Irish dance’s iconic look came to be! One of the most exciting things about being part of the Irish dance community is just that—it’s a community that is growing and evolving, changing as its influence spreads across the globe. You don’t have to be Irish to do Irish dance, but by entering the world of Irish dance you’re becoming a part of a living tradition that both honors the past while moving forward into the future. Through wigs, kilts, and beyond!
This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last “Origins of Irish Dance” post, all about modern female costuming, here. Also: 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. 2020 Qualifier Name: Balian Age: 11 Congratulations on qualifying for Nationals back in 2020! I know it must have been disappointing when last year was cancelled, but do you think this extra time has made you a stronger competitor? What have you learned about yourself as a dancer this last year? I am disappointed I couldn't go to Tennessee, but I definitely think I am more prepared this year and a much stronger dancer. I feel I have much more stamina this year and my steps are more interesting to perform. This year, I have learned that doing fitness circuits has made my posture stronger. What are you most looking forward to about Nationals? I am looking forward to going to Arizona because it will be a new place to explore, and I am most looking forward to being up on stage. It's an amazing feeling! What have you missed the most about competing more regularly this year? (And what have you definitely NOT missed about competing?) I have missed seeing other dancers and I have missed the excitement of competition. Also, being a string player, I always enjoy live music. I have definitely NOT missed walking around feis hallways with girls crying everywhere. What’s your proudest dance achievement so far? Any future dance goals you’re setting for yourself? My proudest dance achievement was winning 2nd place at Oireachtas and qualifying for 2020 Nationals. My future dance goal is a secret, but Christian knows it. Have you ever visited Phoenix before? Any plans while you’re there beyond dancing? Never been to Phoenix, but my dad and brother are making some surprise plans for when my competition is over. What’s your favorite dance to compete in? Which do you think is your strongest? I LOVE reels because I feel like I'm flying and I love the happiness of it. I think I am strong at reels because I love clicking in my reel shoes and I think I move well around the stage. What advice would you give a dancer hoping to qualify for Nationals? Make good use of circuits and workouts because your whole body needs to be strong, not just your legs! Nationals Veteran Name: Kayla P.
Age: 18 Congratulations on qualifying for Nationals! It’s been so long since the last major in November of 2019—what are you most looking forward to this year? I am mostly looking forward to traveling for a competition again and all the memories that come along with that. You must have changed so much since November 2019! What have you learned over the last year and a half about yourself as a dancer? I have learned that competing is not the main reason I love dancing so much, but rather just working hard and hanging out with friends. What past National competition was your favorite? Why? Vancouver! I recalled for the first time and I love Canadians! What have you missed the most about competing? (And what have you definitely NOT missed about competing?) I have missed spending the weekends with my mom and friends the most—and seeing progression in my dancing through marks and comments. I have not missed quick shoe changes and taping my shoes! What’s your proudest dance achievement so far? Any future dance goals you’re setting for yourself? World qualifying! And nothing too major, I’m more focused on enjoying my senior year of dance and dancing my absolute best at Nationals. What’s your favorite dance to compete in? Which do you think is your strongest? Reel! And reel or set. Have you ever visited Phoenix before? Any plans while you’re there beyond dancing? Nope! I hope to see the cool rocks. As someone who’s been to Nationals before, what’s your advice to dancers competing there for the first time? Enjoy it! Focus on yourself and all the hard work you have done leading up to this point. Take a big deep breath before stepping on stage and smile. This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last Nationals Spotlight, with Spicey and Bella J., here. Also: 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.  The 1990s were all about going BIG The Look, Part 3: Modern Female Costuming Last week, we were able to make it into the 20th century, but this week we’re breaching the 21st with our discussion of Irish dance female costuming in the modern age! (Catch up on the history here and here.) For our purposes, the modern age of Irish dance is also the competitive age (though the tradition of feiseanna is, of course, a much, much older one!), starting with the establishment of the Irish Dance World Championships in 1970. The formation of this competition forced more rules and regulations into being regarding costuming and gathered together dancers from all over the world in one place—meaning trends were also able to take off. Even in the 1960s, a certain look had been established within Ireland and the trends of bouncy, curled hair (a long-ago Sunday church staple,) brightly colored dresses, and (eventually) deeply tanned legs (in a largely pale-skinned country) spread quickly.  The early 1900s versus the early 2000s But it wasn’t until the 90s that the current “look” of Irish dance really took off. Riverdance’s highly theatrical and flashy style not only brought Irish dance to the world’s attention, it also altered the Irish dance world. While Riverdance (the influence of which we’ll discuss more fully in another installment) actually didn’t use traditional Irish dance looks in the show, but rather took a more multi-cultural approach, the showmanship had its effects. Like much in the 90s, dresses got brighter and more sparkly, the wigs got bigger, and theatricality and pageantry became a part of the performance—as the sport grew in popularity, so did dancers’ needs to stand out among the competition. It would be hard to discuss modern, female costuming in Irish dance without bringing up its controversies. The use of fake tan—which is perhaps falling out of favor, but had been a staple of the competitive Irish dance circuit and Irish culture for decades—and makeup, as well as the often extraordinary cost of solo dresses and wigs has come under fire in recent years. Films and documentaries about other forms of dance, such as Cuties (which U.S. Netflix had to remove after an uproar from their audience,) have increased this outcry, while technology’s rapid advancements in the last two decades have left parents fearful their children aren’t given the chance to be children anymore. However, the first thing to note is this: “the look” of an Irish dancer isn’t compulsory, for the most part. Rules are even in place to discourage younger dancers from growing up too quickly--makeup isn’t allowed by the CLRG on dancers 10 or younger. Chances are your female dancer may be getting interested in makeup by 11 on their own—but even then, the heavy makeup used for competitions is part of the costume, necessary for judges to see a dancer’s face clearly under the hot performance lights, and part of all forms of performance for both genders as far back as records go. As far as fake tan goes, there’s no real reason for its prevalence beyond perhaps helping a dancer stand out and maybe look stronger, but natural looks have been have been coming back into fashion (and may go out in favor again—that’s what fads do!)  While still high on glitz, modern Irish dance solo dresses are a little less garish than their predecessors The main complaint from parents about many other forms of dance—oversexualization in dance moves—is one Irish dance steers clear away from. Irish dance’s steps may not be exactly what the Druids were doing around their bonfires, but they stem from quite literally ancient traditions and a deeply rooted and hard-won culture. There’s a gravity to Irish dance’s tradition and history that Irish dance’s costuming chooses to celebrate rather than cover up with the bright colors and many rhinestones, the tiara and bejeweled clips for capes and entry numbers (though there is a move to return to Celtic designs, like the more classic Tara brooch.)
And while costuming throughout the dance world is also often (perhaps sometimes fairly) criticized, Irish dance’s costumes don’t fall under that category. Though the skirts may be short to better show the dancer’s only moving body parts, they’re generally very heavy fabrics, with long sleeves and often required to cover the collarbones, as well. Their expense is undeniable—though with the advent of computerized embroidery at home (among other innovations) and the continued increase of interest in the sport is helping to drive solo dress prices down—but they still cling to the roots of tradition with Celtic designs and influences. Irish dance, while loved worldwide, is still a somewhat insular community. However, it’s still a community! That means not every dress has to be brand new--the secondhand Irish dance solo dress market is a buzzing one! Last question I know is burning the tip of your tongue: why the wigs? The answer is simple: it’s easier and more restful than sleeping in rollers! Curled hair was synonymous with “dressed up” in Ireland for many years, and the bouncy curls as part of a dancer’s look has a far longer tradition than anything else they're wearing! Eventually, dancers simply got sick of being uncomfortable the night before a big competition, and switched over the wigs instead—which allowed for bigger and bigger hair. While styles have transitioned into lighter, curled buns and shorter, less heavy, curled wigs, it’s again part of the theatrical look and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon! Don’t worry, boys, we didn’t forget about you! Tune in next week for the last part of our Irish dance costuming series: all about the evolution of the male dancer’s costumes throughout the ages. This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last “Origins of Irish Dance” post, all about both male and female hard and soft shoes, here. Also: 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. Nationals Debut Name: Isabella “Spicey” R. Age: 10 Congratulations on qualifying for Nationals for the first time! What an amazing achievement—how does it feel to see all your hard work in the studio and at competitions pay off? What does achieving this goal mean to you? It feels really good and it just means I am doing very well. This past year must have been one of progress for you, what have your learned about yourself as a dancer in that time? That I am capable of more than I think I am. What are you most looking forward to about going to Nationals? I am most looking forward to just being there as a dancer and dancing my best. What’s your favorite dance to compete in? Which do you think is your strongest? I like dancing my Slip Jig the best. I think my strongest dance is my Set. What have you missed the most about competing more regularly? (And what have you definitely NOT missed about competing?) What I have missed most about competing is having a good time with my mom and bringing home a nice award. The thing I have not missed is having to do my wig. What’s your proudest dance achievement so far? Any future dance goals you’re setting for yourself? My proudest dance achievement is probably earning my solo dress and being invited to nationals. My future goals are earning my buckles and going to Worlds. Have you ever visited Phoenix before? Any plans while you’re there beyond dancing? No, and my plans are to have a good time with my Mom and Godmother and buy a cactus. What advice would you give dancers just starting to compete? Never be nervous and always have a proud smile on your face. Sometimes it's not your turn to win. Nationals Veteran Name: Isabella "Bella" J.
Age: 14 Congratulations on qualifying for Nationals! It’s been so long since the last major in November of 2019—what are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to traveling. You must have changed so much since November 2019! What have you learned over the last year and a half about yourself as a dancer? I have learned that you can dance anywhere. What past National competition was your favorite? Why? My favorite nationals was Orlando because I got to go to Disney. What have you missed the most about competing? (And what have you definitely NOT missed about competing?) I have missed being able to see my friends. I haven’t missed having to do my hair. What’s your proudest dance achievement so far? Any future dance goals you’re setting for yourself? My proudest achievement was recalling at Oireachtas 2019. I’d like to recall at nationals. What’s your favorite dance to compete in? Which do you think is your strongest? My set is my favorite dance to compete in. I feel that my set is the strongest. Have you ever visited Phoenix before? Any plans while you’re there beyond dancing? No I have never visited Phoenix before. My family and I plan to go to the Grand Canyon and do other touristy things! As someone who’s been to Nationals before, what’s your advice to dancers competing there for the first time? My advice is don’t be nervous it’s just another day dancing. This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last Nationals Spotlight with Maggie S. and Collen W., here. Also: 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.  A recreation of traditional Aran Island pampooties Welcome back to our series all about the evolution of Irish dance costuming! While we’ll cover the sparkly dresses Irish dance is known for next week, this week is all about the most important aspect of any Irish dancer’s performance: the feet! (Or, more specifically, the shoes!) Before the mainstream introduction of ghillies (Irish dance lace-up soft shoes) in the 1920s, most woman danced barefoot or in whatever shoes they normally wore. But the precursor to modern ghillies is much, much older than that! Inhabitants of the Aran Islands in Co. Galway have always been master craftsman, and are the original inventors of the first version of the ghillies we know today. For thousands of years, Aran Islanders made and wore shoes made of a single piece of untanned leather, which was then gathered around the toes and cinched close to the foot with laces crossed up the top of the shoes (see image—looks familiar, doesn’t it?) These shoes were coined “pampooties” sometime in the 16th century (though Irish oral history means it’s unclear if the term was new or not,) and they were known for their flexibility. While untanned leather would generally stiffen up on its own, the fishing villages on the island and Ireland’s generally damp climate allowed the shoes to stay flexible. However, without proper treatments to preserve the leather, pampooties were only usable for about a month before the shoe simply rotted away.  The weight of those nails really adds up! It’s unclear how pampooties became the more modern, treated version of ghillies (it’s also the origin of Scottish Highland dance shoes, also known as ghillies, but with some small differences,) but today the shoes are made of supple, black kid leather made to mold to the dancer’s foot over time. The laces are much longer, with loops of leather to lace all the way up the top of the foot, around the arch, and then tied around the ankle. In modern Irish dance, only female dancers wear the shoes we know as ghillies, while men’s soft shoes have a construction more similar to modern jazz shoes—but with a special addition! Men’s soft shoes are called reel shoes include a raised heel with “clicks”—fiberglass heels the dancers are able to utilize to create precise sounds (which means different choreography than female soft shoes dances!) Conversely, the earliest version of hard shoes (otherwise known as heavy shoes or jig shoes) were, well, regular shoes! Dancers wore their everyday boots and brogues to dance for years, but they were always adding modifications to increase the volume of their steps. Irish dance has always been inextricably tied to music and the quick rhythm of the steps is what makes it unique—so making the shoes louder when they strike the floor has always been desirable. Originally, this effect was achieved by hammering tons of nails into the sole of the shoe, and making hardened, raised heels by stacking many layers of stiff leather together. As I’m sure you can guess, the shoes were indeed loud, but also incredibly heavy!  Modern Irish dance ghillies, with a pair of modern, fiberglass hard shoes at the end It wasn’t until the 1980s that the world of Irish dance embraced new methods for creating hard shoes. Even though fiberglass was invented in early 1930s, it took most of a century for Irish dace shoe makers to embrace it and figure out how to use it to create a lighter, more durable shoe. This invention allowed Irish dance to continue to progress into the 21st century, as the lightness of the shoe allowed for leaps and bounds (pun intended) in the types of choreography dancers are able to perform! Without all those nails and stiff leather weighing them down, Irish dance was able to take its place on the world stage and move from cultural dance form to the highly athletic and artistic sport it is today!
Next week we’ll continue on into the 21st century and learn about how the image of an Irish dancer we know today came into being from these origins! This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last "Origins of Irish Dance" post, all about the history of female costuming, here. Also: 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. 2020 Qualifier Name: Maggie S. Age: 13 Congratulations on qualifying for Nationals back in 2020! I know it must have been disappointing when last year was cancelled, but do you think this extra time has made you a stronger competitor? What have you learned about yourself as a dancer this last year? I think that this extra time has been super helpful for me. It has given me lots of time to improve and build my stamina. This year made me realize how much I value dancing in-person, with friends to cheer me on, because online dance was a challenge! What are you most looking forward to about Nationals? I am looking forward to the experience of dancing with very advanced dancers, and being able to have fun with friends!! What have you missed the most about competing more regularly this year? (And what have you definitely NOT missed about competing?) I have missed the familiarity of dancing on stage in front of others, but I haven't missed the stress and pressure!! What’s your proudest dance achievement so far? Any future dance goals you’re setting for yourself? My biggest dance achievement is winning Trad-Set at the Oireachtas!! I hope that by the time I am done dancing, I will World Qualify!! Have you ever visited Phoenix before? Any plans while you’re there beyond dancing? I haven't, and I'm going to Sedona with friends!! What’s your favorite dance to compete in? Which do you think is your strongest? I think my Set dance is my strongest, but I enjoy doing Reel the most because it's upbeat and lively! What advice would you give a dancer hoping to qualify for Nationals? I would tell people who wish to qualify for Nationals that they should remember to keep a positive mindset. This year has been tough, but I feel like half the reason I have improved is because I believe in myself and have confidence in my dancing. Nationals Veteran Name: Colleen W.
Age: 14 Congratulations on qualifying for Nationals! It’s been so long since the last major in November of 2019—what are you most looking forward to this year? Being on the big stage again. You must have changed so much since November 2019! What have you learned over the last year and a half about yourself as a dancer? One dance day does not define your entire dance career. What past National competition was your favorite? Why? Vancouver 2019, it was my first recall. What have you missed the most about competing? (And what have you definitely NOT missed about competing?) I missed seeing my friends from other schools and I did not miss doing my wig. What’s your proudest dance achievement so far? Any future dance goals you’re setting for yourself? My proudest achievement is recalling at nationals and I hope to do it again, What’s your favorite dance to compete in? Which do you think is your strongest? My favorite is my set and I also think its my strongest. Have you ever visited Phoenix before? Any plans while you’re there beyond dancing? I’ve never been before, I plan to go to the Grand Canyon. As someone who’s been to Nationals before, what’s your advice to dancers competing there for the first time? Don’t stress about it, just think about having fun. This post is the first 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.  An Irish dancer performing in 1904 in her “Sunday Best” The Look, Part 1: Female Costuming History For many people, all they know of Irish dance is one thing: what a female, competitive soloist looks like. Big, curled hair, lots of makeup, maybe some fake tan on the legs, and, above all: a short, elaborate, bedazzled dress like nothing else in the dance world (or outside of it!) Like anything that’s such a consistent part of our cultural consciousness, we don’t necessarily think to ask the question: why? Why and how did the look we know today for Irish dancers come to be? With Ireland’s tradition of oral history, we don’t know quite how far back the tradition of Irish culture festivals (singular: feis (fesh) or plural: feiseanna) truly goes, but once the records start in the late 19th century, one thing is clear: there were no rhinestones involved. Feiseanna were a celebration of Irish culture, and Irish dancers didn’t have a particular look except that everyone always came in their Sunday best—generally ankle-length dresses, often white, lace-up boots, and with bouncy, curled hair to look their best—sometimes fashioning flowers or crosses made of ribbon to add decoration. However, the dancers eventually wanted their costumes to reflect their culture too!  Claire Kennedy, wife of the former Irish Attorney General, in Celtic Revival costume Lasting from about 1885 until the 1930s, the Celtic Revival spread Irish culture not just across Ireland, but internationally, particularly in the production of textiles and ornamental brooches with designs dating back to the 1500s. During this time period, Irish dancers favored handmade, crocheted lace, handcrafted embroidered items in Celtic patterns, as well as pins with elaborate Celtic knots and scrolls that we still see on dancers today (often holding their competitor’s number!)  Peggy O’Neil in 1940—note the apron with her many winning medals, which were only worn for photographs In the 1930s, with the forming of the CLRG (the main governing body of Irish dance to this day,) we started solidifying the concept of “costuming” within the Irish dance world. 8th century designs began to be favored, with reproductions of early Irish dress a precursor of what’s still Irish dance costume today, including a long tunic with dramatic sleeves (a leine) and a cape (a brat,) as well as handmade lace collars and cuffs. These items were often wrought of handwoven tweed and other handmade fabrics and designs that took inspiration from the famed Book of Kells and ancient, stone Celtic crosses and monuments. Skirts also began to creep up to the knee during this time period to better allow the dancers’ feet to be seen.  Vintage school costumes via @once_upon_a_feis on Instagram. Note the lace collars and cuffs! With the rise of Irish dance schools across Ireland and America (among other countries) in the 1940s, these costumes began to split the difference between historic and modern, transforming into something representative of the school and the Irish tradition behind the art. Touring companies of Irish dancers drew crowds in American cities who were nostalgic for their homes, as the costuming reminded them of historic peasant dress or Celtic artwork. Schools began to dress their dancers in matching school costumes and colors, favoring Kelly green, white, and gold most heavily. Until the modern era, red was considered too English and most schools didn’t utilize it (making SRL’s colors all the more distinctive now!)
Tune in next week for a look at the evolution of most important part of any Irish dancer’s look: the shoes! This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last "Origins of Irish Dance" post, all about levels and competitions, here. Also: 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.  The question Irish dancers get asked the most is: why Irish dance? There’s a lot of amazing things to love about this artistic sport—its long and storied history, cultural enrichment, and beautiful costumes, to name a few—but the benefits of this particular type of dance can be wide-reaching, both physically and mentally, and even life-long! Let’s explore some: Motor Skills & Mind-Body Connection: At the youngest age range—we offer classes starting a 2-years-old!--we concentrate on motor skills and correcting any left/right imbalances early in their development. Starting dance at any age is beneficial, but check out our post about the benefits of starting your dancer early here. Flexibility, Balance, Coordination, and Strength: While many dance studios in the past concentrated more on the steps than the conditioning, SRL has always been committed to providing balanced training that looks at what the whole dancer needs, not just their feet! All age groups are doing more than learning to dance, they’re stretching and completing exercises in class that strengthen the whole dancer. Independence: Whether your dancer is 12 or 2, they’ve been spending A LOT of time with you over the last year. Going into dance class by themselves can be the first step toward forming their own personhood in this time when kids have been isolated at home more than ever. It’s also a fun, safe space for your dancer to make new friends without parental influence!  Musicality: Irish dance is unique in many ways, but its connection to music is particularly strong! (Learn more about music in Irish dance here.) Dancers not only develop their sense of rhythm and a deeper understanding of music, but also cultivate an appreciation for traditional Irish music, often choosing to supplement their dancing by learning to play an instrument. Social Skills and Teamwork: Not all of Irish dance is a solo performance! Dance class is a great time for your dancer to practice appropriate social skills, as well as make new friends. Later goals can include céilí dancing and teams, where dancers learn to dance in unison and work together. Goal Setting and Self-Determination: Whether the goal be big (going to Nationals!) or smaller (getting to perform in a fancier dress,) SRL is all about small, every day steps leading to larger goals. We help each dancer set personal goals in their dance career, and this example has proven to carry through in many dancers’ school performance and at home behavior. Irish dance is more about building up skills over time, and is less about instant gratification and more about hard work and dedication—skills that will serve them all their lives!  Community: SRL is a community-focused studio where we’re all about supporting each other, even when we’re competing! But Irish dance is more than our studio, it’s a tight-knit, but also global community. All you need to enter that community is a love of Irish dance, and then you’re welcome!
Interested in seeing all that Irish dance has to offer? Check out SRL’s Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp for your dancer! This is a low-commitment way for students 2-12 (and their parents) to gage interest before signing up for classes. Check out the details (and the deals your session will include!) here. We hope to meet you soon! Have any questions? Feel free to call or text our Office Manager, Devon, at 860-385-1107 or shoot her an email at office@irishdancetct.com. She’s happy to help! This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last 411 post, a longer explanation of our Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp program, here. Also: 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.
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: Rooney Age: 5 How long have you been dancing with SRL? Two years What do you want to be when you grow up? A master builder at LEGO who designs LEGO sets. Or a cheerleader. How did you get started with Irish dance? My brother’s friend was dancing at a feis and we went to watch. There were all the girls there in their really fancy sparkly dresses and my mom said if I practiced a lot one day I could wear one too. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why? Walt Disney World! It’s magical. Or California.  What’s your favorite dance memory?
My first year Miss Courtney taught us to do our kicks with a fairy wand! If you opened a restaurant, what would be on the menu? Why? Pasta, corn on the cob, cupcakes, and milkshakes. Everyone likes all of those things. Who do you look up to? My mom and dad! I love them. What’s your favorite thing about dancing? I love all kinds of dance but Irish dance is a fun fast kind of dancing! What’s your favorite thing about your personality? How much I care about other people, especially my siblings. This post is part of a series. Meet our last spotlighted dancer, Rooney's little sister, Tilly, 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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