ADCRG

I'm currently reclining on a sofa at work. I should be working, naturally, but when the boss is away...

What I'm actually doing is furiously typing, so anyone else would of course think I was busy developing strategies or creating content. I'm not. I have a 2 column by 30 row table on the go, with 30 ceilis down the left hand side and an attempt at listing all the movements down the right hand side.

Why?

Because I've been qualified as a TCRG for 1,645 days.

Four years and six months ago.

I've been actively teaching, running my own school, for 1,610 days.

Four years and four months ago.

That means I am technically eligible to sit my ADCRG exam in just eight months' time.

Let's set aside the fact that I've judged a grand total of two class feises since qualifying as a teacher and have never mock-judged a live feis. That will come. Let's start celebrating the facts that:

- There's no longer a dancing element of the ADCRG exam (mixed feelings about this)
- I can remember every single set dance tune (though the counts would need work)
- I can remember the name of every ceili and almost all of the movements
- I am fully competent in the use of a calculator and understand the grid system
- The phrase "I can talk my way out of a paper bag" possibly applies here - I fear the interview, but I know I'm articulate.

I want to approach the ADCRG the same way as I approach the TCRG - which is incredibly secretively, at my own pace, and in competition with myself.

Secretively - why would you set yourself up to have to tell a load of hopeful faces that you failed? Better to surprise than disappoint.

At my own pace - I'm not even applying until I'm ready. I wouldn't thrive on the pressure of a looming deadline and not being ready, and it'll take me that long to save up for it anyway.

In competition with myself - this is Monica-esque. I want better marks in each progressive practice exam; I want better marks in my ceili written and music than I did in the TCRG. (I got 95% and 99% respectively). That's actually why I have mixed feelings about the dancing part but I might blog separately about that.

For now, welcome back. I hope that while this blog has been sitting dormant, someone has happened upon it, and I hope it's been helpful to someone other than me.

Back to the last couple of ceilis in my table, and then I suppose I could do a bit of work...

Serious preparation

Last week:

Sunday - ceili class
Monday - ceili and solo class
Tuesday - solo practice
Wednesday - gym
Thursday - teaching practice
Friday - gym
Saturday and Sunday - ok, rest days, but I lilted and revised at least!

I've just got to do this every week for the next 12 weeks or so and I'm done. It hasn't killed my legs as much as I thought it would.

So, this week:

Monday - ceili and solo class (whichever ceilis are thrown at us, plus jig sets)
Tuesday - solo practice (hornpipe sets)
Wednesday - gym (bike/cross trainer/leg machines/core stuff/arms)
Thursday - teaching practice (Four Hand and Glencar reels)
Friday - gym (more of the same, might try the rower)
Saturday - solo practice (not decided yet, slip jig needs a run through and I have a new reel step)
Sunday - ceili class

On it. Car bonnet.

Round of sixteen

Mixing my metaphors here, it's tennis season!

We recently tackled the Sixteen Hand Reel at class for the first time. Really enjoyed it. It's actually not a difficult dance at all, it's just the sheer number of people to keep track of. The actual movements are simple enough and the first four movements of the body are just hop 234567 back 23 back 23, lather rinse repeat. No Olive videos on YouTube but this group go through the body after the first figure:



I wish this was an option for competition. It would be a good bridge between ceilis and figure dances as well, getting kids used to moving around 15 other people and staying in line. If there was a 16 hand jig as well then it could be its own competition. Actually, I'd LOVE to make up my own ceili. How do you get them ARF-approved? ;)

Seriously though, I can't be making up ceilis when I've not finished my set dances yet. I've done a fair amount of practising my current sets in my shoes, and apart from turnout and the occasional memory lapse they're not too bad. I just need to remember that actually only one of my jigs starts with bounce treble up swing up - seems like every time I dance any jig I do the opening of my Fiddler step without thinking.

I haven't tackled any written practice in a while but I'm still confident on this so no worries. The worry is only practising once a week in heavies, but genuinely most weeks it's all I can manage. 171 days to go. That's 24 weeks or so. 24 heavy practises will NOT pass me this TCRG exam. Step it up.

Happy dancer

I feel very proud of myself today. I've done exactly what I said I was going to do yesterday - I've practised, And I've practised a lot, for me. Around 11am I began a steady warm-up, working through various exercises and warming up each part of my feet that gives me trouble, particularly the achilles. I had a nice little routine going there which would be ideal for a champ class, something they could do at home and at a feis too. I stretched, I bounced, I did some weights as well to ensure my upper body wasn't woefully neglected.

I ran Blue Eyed time after time. It's not perfect, but it's progress. I need faster feet at the end. But I know the choreography works and I like the steps.

I ran my one jig step a few times. God it was woeful on the left foot. I did a little shuffle at one point and shouted out loud "WHAT was that?!" But then I started dancing it stronger, really dancing it, and it was beginning to work and I was beginning to get it on time.

Rub the Bag - I thought, just blast it. I read over my steps to review and thought I'd just give it a go. I LOVE this set. I feel foolish for disliking it, I feel a bit sorry for it. I'm really pleased with the steps and fixed the ending so it fits. I end up on a different foot each time at the very end but they (the examiners) won't know that. It's 100% my own work, no input from a single soul, and I'm really really proud of it. I'm not dancing it perfectly but I'm not overly concerned with that, my TCRG exam is not tomorrow.

I won't pretend I danced flat out for hours on end. I've been dancing on and off, mostly off, for about three hours. I was breathing heavily after one step, I'm out of shape. I knew that. It will all help though won't it? Each time I will get a little closer because I vow to not let myself stop until at least something, at least ONE thing, is better. If you make a small improvement every single practice, then over time they will add up to a big improvement. This is elementary stuff, why did I not realise this earlier, when I was - you know - a DANCER?!

It's only half past two at the moment. I don't want to call it a day. I want to keep getting up and doing a bit more here and there. But I want to be able to dance tomorrow, and currently the balls of my feet are burning.

The day is young. I could throw in another past paper and a music quiz, I can finish reading the autobiography, I can watch clips on Youtube for inspiration, I could do some work with my Jean Butler dvd...and still have time to cook my dinner and have a relaxing evening :)

Yes, a happy dancer indeed. A happy candidate indeed. Cheers, MF. Worked a small miracle there, so you did.

50 day goals

I'm a bit late in posting this as there are 246 days to go til my TCRG exam, but I thought I would separate out the next 8 months of my life into 50 day blocks and have a set list of things to achieve during each. Day 200 is on the last day of April so my deadline will be easy to remember and is what inspired me to do this.

So, the goals I need to achieve before the end of next month, in order.

1 - Learn Garden of Daisies once and for all!

2 - Complete another two non-trad sets as a minimum

3 - Finish writing out all the ceilis in full and after that, complete 5-10 past papers as pass them all!

4 - Teach three ceilis that I haven't yet danced or taught - as a minimum

5 - Dance in heavy shoes at least once per week

6 - Drill one traditional set dance per week

7 - At least one music quiz per week

That's plenty for 46 days I think. To prepare I've completed a list of ceilis I need to dance/teach to take to class, and to be honest I'm thinking of a few shortcuts here. For example instead of teaching the Eight Hand and Morris Reels separately, I'm going to combine the bodies - so it might go Extended Sides, Skip Across, Sides, Right Hands Across, Back to Back, Return Chain. I've already taught both figures so this might be a bit more interesting for the class.

I've pencilled in a private lesson of sorts to get Garden learnt and I have the version I'm learning on video (different to Olive's) which I will watch and try to work out ahead of my session.

I wrote out three more ceilis last night - St Patrick's Day, Trip, and An Rince Mor. I know I hashed up the second figure of Trip but I think Paddy's Day was right enough. I blanked on ARM so I doubt I got that right but I'm waiting until I've written out all 30 before I mark, so it will be another couple of days.

Dancing in heavy shoes, a must. I'm actually quite good in my socks but that's not going to go down too well at the exam. As a dancer, all too often I threw off the shoes and carried on in my socks because I knew I was better without them. Well what was the point in that?! I need to get used to them. Even if it means wearing them around the house and throwing a few trebles in as I pass from room to room.

I am REALLY fired up for this at the moment. So damn keen, thinking about dancing constantly, coming up with new steps all the time, wishing there was a feis every weekend....I even find I'm lilting to myself! Bring it on...but don't let the time go by too fast, I've still got a lot to do!

PS - in less than three weeks I'll be at the Worlds. Can't wait!

I don't know what to write.

I thought it was probably about time I posted an update, but I've been staring at the screen for a few minutes thinking about what on earth I could write.

I've gone to my Monday ceili class every week. Occasionally we co-teach, other times like last night I just participate. I'm not at all confident with teaching. I don't even speak loudly enough! Perhaps it's because they're an established group already and I'm the new girl, I just feel a bit out of my depth and I much prefer just dancing along rather than teaching along. That's all I expected when we joined - I just wanted to learn by dancing. They've been very good to me by allowing me to teach but I didn't expect it at all.

We've been working on the Cross Reel for a wee while which is ace because I'd never danced it before. Lead, Extended Sides, Full Chain, Gentlemen Interlace, Back to Back, Exchange Places, Figure of Eight and Ring, Circle Round and Hands Across, Finish. I do remember things!

Solo dancing, very apathetic at the moment. I'm so injured and although I'm having physio for various things, it seems to be making other areas worse. For example my Achilles aren't playing up anymore, but instead the outer calf is killing me. My arches aren't improving and I sprained my toe the week before last whilst practising solos so I haven't done any practice since then. My leg that nearly killed me is so weak.

I think dancing's making me quite sad at the moment because I truly thought I could get there, however long it took, but it seems I can't.

Post-Worlds come-down

It's hard, being surrounded by amazing dancing for days on end and then returning to the "day job" with a bump. Nobody cares about slip jigs and globes and ceilis here. I have a head filled with inspiration and choreography and excitement, but no-one to share it with and a pile of real work to do. It's actually been a real shock to the system. But before I get on to that, some ridiculously talented little ones:



I need to sort this out in my own head, so here's where I am.

Ceili Written
I still think I could pass this today. Rather than doing endless practice exams, I recently decided to just type out all of the ceilis with figures and all of the more difficult other ceilis, without the book. I finally got round to "marking" it the other night, and it's not that bad. The ones that need work are:
High Cauled Cap - specifically second figure
The Three Tunes - full review
Trip to the Cottage - small review of the figures
Lannigan's Ball - middle section
So I'll review those over the next couple of days.

Music
I'm starting to get the odd 100% on this now when I practice by putting my iPod on shuffle. This too I think I could pass today.

Ceili Teaching
I'm just not getting the numbers in class to really give this a go. If I had to take the exam today then I'd give it my very best shot - I'm confident I'd get the movements in the correct order and most of them I think I could teach correctly, but I definitely need to somehow get more practice on this.

Solo Teaching
Obviously I do this twice a week now, but it's becoming a slight worry. I don't know what I'd do with a champ dancer as I haven't sorted out my own steps yet, and I'm wondering if I'd remember to pack everything in. You have to ask to see their steps, pick a suitable step instantly, demonstrate, teach, pick up on faults, lilt, correct...and then all of the things that people have told me about that aren't on the syllabus. Someone told me they did a few drills of a specific move in their exam. What?! Are we really expected to do that? Someone got told off for dancing along too much. Will I remember to leave them to it? I don't know, I'm obviously overthinking it but it just kills me not knowing exactly what's expected of me. Praying I get a beginner or primary dancer - I have steps coming out of my ears for those levels.

Solo Dancing
Left til last, as always. I dreamt (literally) a new reel step while I was in Dublin and tested that out last night. At first I thought it was too fast but after a few runs, it was getting into my legs and the right foot is OKish. Most of the left foot is ok apart from the start (very quick transition), and the big jump into little jump into entrechat at the end. It will come. So I now have two steps of a reel which will do me for the exam should I be given reel, and an old right-right one that I still can't let go of. Here's a run down:

Reel - three steps
Slip jig - nothing. I decided to scrap the one I had from my competitive days. It's nice, but not current and I want something fresh. I might use it as a base, however.
Heavy jig - I have three steps. One will definitely be used for jig, the other two may work better as steps for jig sets. They all need a lot of work - they're fine in socks or trainers, not so when I actually put heavies on.
Hornpipe - nothing. Not even anything to use as a base, and no ideas as yet. I don't want to have too much on the go at once so I'm leaving this until jig and slip are complete.

Traditional sets - three of the four learnt, with intentions to get Garden done as soon as possible.

Nine modern sets - continues to fill me with dread. Choreographing that much material seems like an impossible mountain to climb and if I'm to go with my target, I have about a year to do it. That actually doesn't sound like long enough to me. I do have those two jig steps mentioned above which can be used for steps, but hornpipe choreography is non-existant. I know I'll be going for some of the shorter sets on the list, but it's still no easy feat.


So there's me.

I'm at a loss as to how to get more people into my class and am considering moving everyone and joining an existing class, to be honest. Even dancing the ceilis through would be good preparation for the practical exam - I've got to find a class first, though. My fitness is dreadful and I've got several chronic injuries that are going to need looking at so I'm going to try and get some physio. I'm going to buy some type of floor covering so that I can practice heavies at home - there's not much room in the hallway but even treble drills would be progress. I need to get healthier, so after this Bank Holiday weekend, we're back on a health kick.

I will not allow myself to get discouraged. I will stay positive, I will work, and I WILL take this exam.

Class

I don't know where to start really. I got there about 40 minutes early to do some practice and there began a complete mixed bag of an evening. My new supposedly easy heavy jig (one day to be a jig set step) was actually quite difficult with some funny timing and a treble sequence that I can do in bare feet but not in shoes. I did it a few times over and recorded it to watch back. I still sit on my knees and treble too far ahead of myself. But, I fixed the timing, the double-back is strong on BOTH feet (miracle) and occasionally I hit some clicks. It WAS getting slightly better. Until my arches decided to flare and my Achilles decided to seize up. I tried to persevere - stretched them out, did some exercises - and attempted Job. I was trying to video it and messed it up every single time; it was getting ironically amusing.

Everyone started arriving then (I had three, woo) so I put my trainers on and played teacher instead of dancing along with them like I usually do. All the light solos went ok so I took advantage of the fact that there were four of us and attempted to dance again.

We did the Four-Hand Reel just so that I could get that first figure straight in my head for once. Achieved! We then moved on to the Humours of Bandon which is actually a lot of fun to dance. Last time I taught it, I got the first figure a little bit wrong but this time I had everyone catching the correct hands and it didn't go too badly. But then I felt a burning pain in the arch of my right foot, like something had snapped, so that was it from me. Trainers back on (they are good shoes, good support) and traditional sets attempted. R got St Patrick's Day, all the way through, which I was pleased with as they were struggling with the set a bit. She also managed the step of the Blackbird, as did J, and we moved on to the first half of the set which is coming along.

After a quick check of the Worlds results (look at the grid marks on feisresults.blogspot.com - yesterday's winners were very consistent. Good to see. Jack Quinn = amazing!) I showered then spent the rest of the evening icing my feet, rubbing in ibuprofen gel, and mummifying myself in supports. That routine repeated this morning minus the ice. And I thought to myself, how am I ever going to get good enough to pass the dancing exam if I can't DANCE? I'm confident I could take the writtens today and pass. I'd give ceili teaching a bloody good go and might scrape through. Solo teaching, if I got lucky and got beginner or middling dancers I might get through that as well. Own dancing - only if I didn't have to do jig, hornpipe or any modern sets. Such a shame you can't take this exam in instalments.

I was aiming for mid-2012 and I don't think I'm going to get there. It's already mid-2011 and I can't do any meaningful dance practise - and there's SO MUCH to fix. Turnout - fine in socks, abysmal in shoes. Rhythm, ok, but still unused to the shoes. Clicks, generally not happening. Knees - permanently bent. Not high on toes, not crossing. These are all things I used to be able to do, but only on four classes a week. If I had a week off, everything would be gone and I'd have to start again. I know what I'm like.

Then on the way to work I just realised - I only have to put up with pain, ice, stiffness and bandages until the exam is over. After that I choose when I dance. And I started to think maybe it isn't so impossible after all.

-----

Off to Dublin on Wednesday afternoon - class resumes on Wednesday 27th.

Heavy Jigs

On a roll! Since I stuck my neck out and actually tried to choreograph something, I've got a head full of jig ideas. Some of them are quite simple and might be better for an intermediate or prelim dancer, so here's my cheat - they will serve as the step part of my various jig sets, and then when it gets to the set I can throw in stuff I can only do on one foot, like drums and suchlike. It's probably not in the spirit of things but isn't that what everybody does?!

Productive class last night. Sadly my two beginners didn't return so it was just me and my faithful cohorts R and J. J learned the primary slip jig despite protesting that she's always hated the dance, and they both almost got the Blackbird step.

As far as my challenges go I did indeed go over Job (only in trainers as my feet were complaining) but I did it all the way through correctly, and had a few goes of my various jigs as well.

Only one class next week as I'm off to Dublin and the Citywest :) Cannot WAIT!!!

In the meantime, I have GOT to learn that jig stamp combination on my left foot. How hard can it be? Hop da da-da da da, DA. Hop right left-left right left, RIGHT.

Challenges

Oh, I crack myself up. I wrote myself a list of four challenges last week and, to date, have achieved exactly none of them. I keep doing different things instead!

Here's what I wanted to do:
- Finish Job (yes, I'm still on that. No, I haven't tried)
- Learn Garden
- Learn to do a bicycle (I'm going to need to know how to do at least one difficult movement in case I get champs in the teaching section)
- Choreograph a beginner hornpipe

Here's what I actually did:
- Choreographed two steps of a primary slip jig (it's actually very pretty!)
- Completed two music quizzes (both passes but a couple of woeful mistakes. How do you confuse Ace and Deuce with Planxty Drury? Not Davis, Drury?!)
- Choreographed a new heavy jig step

So I guess productive, and at least I'm doing practical work more often now, but if I don't stick to my homework then there are certain things I will put off for ever and ever!

Monday class was cancelled which gave the legs and internal organs a much needed rest. Wednesday class is on as normal tomorrow so I can test out this new heavy jig step which can't be neglected even though it's not on my original list. So the plan for the next week is (incorporating overtime - real life needs to stop getting in my way):

Wednesday - review new slip jig step and heavy jig step. Video record if possible.
Thursday - attempt Job set
Sunday - review Job set, attempt hornpipe
Monday - get to class early to work on bicycles, Job, jig and hornpipe.

Is that enough? Probably not. I'm also trying to write out (well, type) all the tougher ceilis. Mainly the ones with figures, and a couple of others like Lannigan's and Gates, otherwise I'm going to run out of past papers well before my actual exam.

I WILL update on my progress this time next week! If I don't, spam me with comments.

Pop Quiz I

Time for a quiz! Match the movement to the dance in which it appears:


Ooohhhh, you didn't think it'd be that easy, did you? That's only the starter question. The real question is this: Which is the odd movement out and why? I'll give you a few days before I post the answer. No prizes for guessing, save for bragging rights and a sense of self-satisfaction :)

Ten down...

...a million to go. I've been running my class for ten weeks now :-O

I'm a bit disappointed because the numbers haven't picked up. I keep getting calls and emails from people who say they'll come, but then they never do. Starting to wonder if they're prank calls! The girls I do have are really enthusiastic and pick things up very quickly so we're steaming ahead, and last night I started pulling them up on a few technique issues and working them a bit harder. Working myself a bit harder too, even put my shoes on for St Patrick's Day, and old injuries are flaring. I'm too broken for this.

I'm also frustrated because we had a new girl who'd danced before, making four including me, so we went over the Four-Hand Reel a few times. And I've taught this before but still the first figure was just not happening.

Perhaps I'm not as confident on the ceilis as I thought I was. What I call the "little" ceilis (progressives) are ok, and I'm ok on the body of most of the harder dances, but am I going to be ok with figures? I feel like I would be if I had the opportunity to practise them but I need at least four more people to join the class and stick with it before that can happen.

I'm just having a downbeat day I guess. For why? I have't even booked myself on an exam yet. I just want it done, I want to get going, and there's so much crap in the way of that.

Very downbeat.

Inspired by the All Irelands

I've been watching the live commentary all week. Even when getting ready for a night out, I was listening to the presentation music rather than the more usual MTV. Got some mascara down my face when I saw these two skipping on stage together and laughed in joy at how happy they were. How lovely to have someone to share the moment with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHhFiDgk5wM

I might not have been able to see any of the solo dancing but even some of the rhythm of the sets has given me ideas. What I see in my head is probably not at all what they were doing, but even so; inspiration's inspiration.

And I've looked at the results and I've seen some nice things. "Bridesmaids" finally sitting on top box. Girls who'd done well but gone off the boil suddenly climb back up. Watching live commentary used to make me want to compete again, but this time it makes me want to find some kids, teach them, bring them up. It made me think - how would we handle it if I had a dancer that was always a nearly-man? How would we make that final push? We wouldn't give up, we'd work it out somehow. I just can't wait for all of that.

I need to hone my teaching skills on my adults first. Tonight's was a good class - primary reel, a run through of all the "baby" steps for the other dances, and I even started them off on St Patrick's Day. J has taken to it like a natural; she said she always preferred heavies as a child dancer. They all left saying "I hate it when it's over!" So do I!

91%

This is the story so far as I plough through the past papers. Yep, some days I really am sad enough to do two! I don't want to run out of material though so I might give it a little rest for a while and try other methods of revision. Teaching the ceilis in class is helping me to remember which hand to who etc. I think I'll actually start writing out some of the toughies in full, the ones they tend to use for the ten-markers, and see how I go.

I'm pleased with this. 91% on average gives me plenty of room for error because let's face it, 71% is a pass and I'd take it happily. I'm not worried about the written in the slightest which is amazing to me. It's the part I dreaded most.

The part I'm now dreading most is the dancing. That makes so little sense to me - I've been a dancer forever and I'm bricking it, yet I've known these ceilis for a few short months and yet I'm horizontally laid-back about them. I already knew how to dance, right?

I went to class early and stayed late last night for practise in jig shoes. Videotaped a couple of efforts as well. On one hand I'm kind of glad that my jig isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but on the other I know I used to be able to do it so much better. I know the steps are dated and I can cope with that; it's more the performance than the content, but I'm still trying to fix them up and drawing a blank. How on Earth am I going to make up 9 set dances if I can't even fix existing steps?

Ar aghaidh is ar gCúl

After my post listing the different kinds of Sides in Ar Rinci Foirne, I thought I'd do the same for Advance and Retire. This one's harder - there are fourteen different ways to advance and retire and it appears in twenty-one dances.

1) "Normal" - Walls of Limerick, Siege of Ennis, Harvest-time Jig, Glencar Reel, Rakes of Mallow
"Normal" is what I call the most straightforward method. In for 2, out for 2, in for 2, out for 2. Easy.

2) "Normal", performed twice - Fairy Reel, The Waves of Tory
As above but performed twice, alternating with another movement. In the Fairy Reel it's Rings, whereas in Waves it's Right & Left Hands Across, and Left & Right Hands Across

3) First Figure - Eight-Hand Reel, Morris Reel, Sixteen-Hand Reel, St Patrick's Day
This is a "normal" advance and retire followed by an 8-bar swing-around.

4) Advance, Retire and Pass Through #1 - Siege of Ennis
This is the last movement of the dance and while it appears in others, Siege is the only time one of the lines (facing the music) make an arch for the other line to pass under.

5) Advance, Retire and Pass Through #2 - Harvest-time Jig, Fairy Reel
This finish does not include arches.

6) The Rising Step, Advance and Retire - Bridge of Athlone
The longest one at 32 bars. Rising step x2 to begin and also includes a pass-through!

7) Diagonally - Trip to the Cottage
As part of the body, in trios.

8) Second Figure - Trip to the Cottage
Top couples advance and retire then interlace.

9) "Normal" with rising step - Haymaker's Jig
It's only called Advance and Retire but it takes 16 bars as it includes the rising step halfway through.

10) The Body - Duke Reel
"Normal", performed in a ring as the last movement of the body.

11) "Normal" with pass through - Gates of Derry
Again, this is simpy called "Advance and Retire" but includes a pass-through movement. It gets it's own category as it's unique and appears as the first movement and the finish.

12) Alternating - The Sweets of May
Again this appears in the body, however tops and sides alternate. Tops advance while sides mark time, tops retire while sides advance. Tops advance while sides retire, tops retire while sides mark time.

13) Slowly! - Bonfire Dance
"Normal", but 4 in, 4 out. It's also performed twice, alternating with Rings.

14) The Finish - Eight-Hand Reel, Morris Reel, High Cauled Cap, Sixteen-Hand Reel, Eight-Hand Jig, Cross Reel
As part of the 40-bar finish of these dances (advance, retire, sidestep and swing).

I think it's definitely worth remembering these differences; recently I've done a few past papers with 10-markers devoted to comparing and contrasting this movement in various dances. They really can ask you anything.

Happy face / sad face

Great class last night. Another new face! She was so lovely and despite protesting that she hadn't danced in 20 years, picked everything up as if she'd taken a class last week. That brings me up to a grand total of four students so ceilis, here we come! I'm really enjoying it, despite not feeling well last night and still dying every time I have to dance at the same time as saying the steps. I can cope with little things like that!

I'm just a bit down about the whole thing really. There's so much going on all over the message boards about big American schools leaving for An Comhdhail, the association rule, etc etc...it's almost upsetting. I know things aren't perfect but I'm been with Coimisiun my entire dancing life, even before I knew there was anything else out there. I wouldn't dream of going anywhere else, and I'm not naive, but... I just want to believe that once I've put in the hard yards and passed this exam, that me and my dancers will be taken at face value.

That's a long way off. I'm not going to get drawn in - I've still got to pass the bloody thing! Homework for this week:

• Finally finish writing out all my dances on flashcards to go into my pretty and colour co-ordinated box.
• Come up with a first and second step for my beginner heavy jig - one of my girls has got the lead round and is chomping at the bit for more!
• Another practise exam.
• Come up with a primary level reel, or at least a lead round for R.
• Practise outside of class - really need to get these fitness levels up.

And at some point I've got to finish and send a job application, revise for a non-dancing test I'm taking soon, make a soup and organise the hell-hole that is my bedroom.

A nice quiet week then!

Patience is a virtue

Patience is a virtue, so the saying goes. It's a phrase I've often used to gently mock the frustrated or the over-excited, knowing full well that I'm incredibly impatient myself. At least I thought I was. As I get older I find myself slowing down a little bit. Or rather, trying to make life slow down so I can have a longer ride. The knock-on effect must be that I'm mellowing.

I remember attempting to assistant-teach for a previous instructor. I didn't know what to do with myself or my mixed-ability group. How to handle a new beginner with a smart mouth, who insists he's doing everything right and needs to be taught the Michael Flatley steps now please? How to get the prelims and champs, who I'd always danced alongside, to suddenly accept me as a teacher and not think that being put in my group was an excuse for a mess-around. The groups I was given got smaller and smaller and eventually I was phased out. I think I was frightened to show any authority. I felt too shy to stand up in front of them and tell them what to do. In hindsight I was being tested and I failed.

I'm a different person now. I must be. Last night my mixed-ability group told me I was a very good teacher, and very patient. Patient? Me? How did that happen? Where did that come from?

My achilles are aching and will do for some days to come, but I'm taking so much away from those comments. I've still got to learn how to be a teacher, of course, but now I know that I at least have some of the right attributes to build on. I'm learning how to explain things in a hundred different ways until suddenly you see it click in their brain and their feet do the right thing. I'm learning to encourage without being false. I think I'm learning how to make it fun.

I'm starting to think I might be able to do it.

Proud moment

I'm so proud of my little class! I had three dancers this week; the two newbies got through a whole reel and the girl from last week remembered all her dances, even the heavy jig. I didn't want to overload the newbies with dances right at the start so I decided not to attempt the hop jig and to try a ceili instead. Best decision ever! They were absolutely fantastic at the Four-Hand Reel - we got through the lead and all of the body, and they got it all, even the chain and the bits I thought they might find difficult. Very proud :)

But also quite proud of myself. I managed mixed abilities which I used to struggle with, taught a ceili correctly without the book (I just checked!) and had a lot of fun as well. They all paid for next week up front as well which I was so pleased with as often people say they'll come back but never show again. I'm just so glad they enjoyed it. Because that's the whole point, isn't it?

My First Class

After last night, Monday the 10th of January 2011, I suppose I can call myself an Irish dance teacher. Unqualified, but teaching dance nonetheless. Yes, I've finally done something practical towards my exam and I've opened an adults class!

Don't get too excited. I only had one dancer show up. But she's danced a little before, so we steamed through my brand-new beginners steps and she learned all of my baby reel, hop jig and light jig. Shamefully I forgot my slip jig (remembered it as soon as I stepped out into the car park) and could only teach her lead and second, but she got it all. I even started her on my experimental beginner's heavy jig.

I'm sure it will pick up. I've had interest from elsewhere, and the aim is eventually to have enough for ceili. There are some bits of advertising I can do that I haven't got around to yet. It'll pick up.

I was so nervous all day, and second-guessed myself because of it. Yet again, I considered jacking it all in. But when I came home and Significant Other asked me if I'd enjoyed myself, I didn't hesitate to say yes. I'm pleased with myself for taking that step - if you knew me and knew how shy I was, how little teaching experience I have, you'd know how hard it was for me. It was a real giant's step in some ways and a baby step in others...but it's done. The first class is always the hardest.

Oops!

I'm still here! Rest assured, I haven't totally given up on this thing. I haven't put massive amounts of effort into TCRGing at the moment, I admit. What little I have done has been ceili theory, but I've got so much else going on in my life that there's just been so little time. But, this is the whole reason I started studying before booking the test, and in fact not even applying until I'm 100% ready already. So that minor distractions like real life can happen without dire consequences!

This week I did step it up a little and made the effort to write out all 15 of the ceilis I've learned so far. I finished it yesterday after working on it off and on fora few days, so last night I sat down with the book to mark it. Here's what happened:

Walls of Limerick - didn't make any mistakes. Well, you'd be hard pushed to! One thing I did put, was that in 'Dance Around' partners take crossed hands. That's not actually specified in the book, but I let myself off because I think they would let me off. Right?

High Cauled Cap - no mistakes on formation or names of movements. When describing the body I inexplicably forgot to mention that the stamp and clap is repeated twice before starting the sidestep each time. My version just went "stamp, stamp, clap clap clap, hop 234567 back 23, back 23 and repeat" rather than "stamp, stamp, clap clap clap, stamp, stamp, clap clap clap" etc. For the second figure, Circle and Cross, I said that gents exchange places rather than 'advance to opposite ladies' - just a slight difference in terminology but I was harsh and took half a mark off for that. Again for the third figure, Ladies Chain, I said that they take crossed hands when, strictly speaking, it's not specified. They specify crossed hands in the second figure though so I left it. No problems with the Finish which I was worried about as I blanked!

Siege of Ennis - no mistakes. I didn't describe 'sides' book-perfect, so I'd hope they'd let me off because it was otherwise spot-on.

Harvest-time Jig - nothing major. In Left Hands Across I made a silly error and said that the dancers take left hands first, then reverse and give left hands. D'oh! Obviously the second time they give right. In Step and Turn I forgot to specify that the gent takes the left hand of the lady on his left to perform the turns. That was it though, not bad!

Rince Fada - this was the only dance where I gave the wrong name for a movement, which I guess is quite good. I called the fifth movement 'Down the Centre' when it's actually 'Advance Down Centre'. I should remember that because they face the other couple head-on rather than sideways. I correctly said that the Right Wheel goes around clockwise, but then also put that the Left Wheel goes around clockwise, which of course it doesn't. Otherwise no major errors.

Bridge of Athlone - I mixed up Cast Off and The Bridge a little - the last thing I wrote for Cast Off should be the first part of The Bridge - but other than that I did well.

Haste to the Wedding - managed to get the name of Up the Centre' correct for the first time ever! It is "up" the centre rather than down because the even couple are leading, so they go up rather than down the set. When odds are leading it's always 'down'. If I can remember the Siege of Carrick (and I can!) then I should have no excuse for forgetting that rule. Anyway I mixed up the start of one movement with the end of another again - Leading couple actually take the odd lady into the circle at the end of Up the Centre, not the start of First Ring.

Siege of Carrick - near perfect! There were just some terminology differences - I was using odd/even couple rather than top/bottom couple which is no biggie I don't think (I hope!) and for Right and Left Wheel the book specifies that the dancer's hands are shoulder height with ladies above gents, but I didn't mention that at all. Important? I don't know. Hopefully I'll remember to include it in future just in case.

Antrim Reel - I had the ladies and gents crossing on the wrong shoulder in Sidestep and Heyes. On the first repeat, Ladies cross on the Left!! I made the same direction error in Left and Right Wheels - they go anticlockwise first. Other than that, no problems!

Glencar Reel -I got the formation right but numbered them incorrectly. For some reason, from left to right it goes 3-2-1 rather than 1-2-3. But why?! Anyway that meant that in Figure of Eight I had the dancers turning the wrong way - I knew which number dancer commences the figure of eight, but because I'd numbered them back-to-front they were turning in the wrong direction. I also had the Ring going to the right first when really it's left then right. I don't full understand the Full Chain either, may need to ask on TCRG board, so I got that wrong. Gents go anticlockwise and ladies go clockwise - I mixed that up.

An Rince Mor - I only had a problem with Link Arms here - I had the gent giving the wrong arm to the lady. It actually goes - right arm to left lady, left arm to partner, right arm to left lady, both hands to partner.

Haymaker's Jig - I love this one. No problems at all, except I put in things that the book doesn't specify (like which direction the leading couple swing during Link Arms).

The Fairy Reel - in Slip Sides I called them the 'remaining ladies' but the book calls them the 'free partners' - I much prefer that terminology! In Gents Centre and Link Arms I had the gents linking arms with their partners when in fact it's hands. I didn't specify that, during the Square, the ladies turn in on the two short threes. But that was about it really!

The Rakes of Mallow - I sent the trios swinging in the wrong direction at the end but that was the only mistake!

Bonfire Dance - nothing massive. I didn't say that, in The Rose, the ladies advance to their partners before turning to finish in original positions, and I also said that they take both hands when it fact it's just the right hands. In Swing and Exchange Partners I wasn't hugely clear that the partners exchange places with one another, but overall it was good enough.

Not too bad of an effort considering the complete lack of enthusiasm of late! I suppose I'd better put more effort into actually dancing though, plus learning the other 15. So near yet so far.