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.

150 days to go

Here's where it becomes real again. 150 days to go, so I thought I'd write a list of what I've done and what I need to do choreography wise. I want every step finalised by the end of August, so that the following 3.5 months can be dedicated to practising and teaching and nothing else.

Solos:

1 reel step and 1 slip jig step decided on.
To do: finalise 2nd step for both, practise everything.

2 hornpipe and 1 jig step decided on.
To do: choreograph 2nd jig step and practise everything.

Sets:

All traditional sets learnt.
To do: Work on King as it's the newest one and I'm not quite there. Practise everything else.

2x hornpipe sets finalised, 1x hornpipe set step finalised.
To do: Finish 3rd hornpipe set - set part to be choreographed. Practise everything.

2x heavy jig sets finalised.
To do: Choreograph 3rd and final heavy jig set. Practise everything.

Teaching:

Most dancing steps suitable for teaching. Beginning and intermediate level steps all sorted. Some boys steps sorted thanks to possible tweaks of girls steps to make them masculine.
To do: Boys reel and boys hornpipe to be choreographed and practised. Teaching to be practised in general.

So to sum up, my choreography to do list looks like:

- 1x girls reel for me/teaching
- 1x boys reel to teach (adaptable for different levels)
- 1x slip jig to finalise
- 1x jig step for me/teaching
- 1x boys hornpipe step (adaptable for different levels)
- 1x hornpipe set set
- 1x full jig set

And my practising to do list looks like:

- EVERYTHING!

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.

Time for an update

It's been such a long time since my last update. I don't really have a reason for that but rest assured that the lack of updates doesn't mean a lack of work.

One of my girls bought herself some hard shoes on eBay a week or two ago, so we've spent some time on treble drills and really just showing her how to use the shoe. This has done ME the world of good as well although my foot injuries haven't thanked me. I feel like I'm gaining a bit more control over those feet and shoes, and am working out how to get the best sounds again. It's coming along.

This week I was given the chance to teach a HUGE class - well, huge by my standards. 16 dancers! It was a ceili class so we went through Sweets of May and they were fantastic, we got through the entire dance (all four figures) within about 40 minutes. So impressed. I didn't want to keep them going over the same material all night though so we moved on to Lannigan's Ball which I taught as a 16-hand. I had to spend some time teaching them the rising step as not all of them had done it before but we got through the first four movements - perhaps I'll get to finish it next week alongside the regular teacher. I didn't break sweat but it was great practice and good fun: "cotton-eyed Joe", "think speed!". Good times.

The Sweets of May
First Figure - Rings
Body - Cross Over and Back, Advance and Retire, Ringing the Bells
Second Figure - Lead Round
Body
Third Figure - See Saw
Body
Fourth Figure - Sides Under Arms
Body
Repeat Rings

Lannigan's Ball
Rings
Quarter's Hook
The Rise and Grind Step
Lead Round in Centre
Flirtation
Stack Up
Lead Round
Rings

The previous week we'd done Trip to the Cottage (although not the first figure unfortunately) so it was good to get a few dance-throughs of that into the legs. I'm confident on Cross Over and Lead Around and on the body, but I often fluff the figures when writing up exam papers. To revise!

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.

A year on...

It's my blog's first birthday today. That also means I've been studying for this exam for roughly one year. So where was I twelve months ago? I was here. I'd got two ceilis - Walls and Rakes - and one traditional set under my belt. Where am I today? Well, I nearly died - so not particularly far given the time that's elapsed. I've learned all the ceilis, although it took me about 7 months to do so. I've done a fair few past papers and I think I've passed them all. I'm pretty certain that I'd pass if I took the written exam for real today. Music included - that's ticking over. I now know three of the four trad sets, and apparently knowing Job is good prep for learning Garden, so I'm certain I'll know all four of them very soon.

Back then, I was taking a weekly class where we mostly did middle-level soft shoe steps and the odd ceili. That class folded over the summer, and I didn't dance again (due to illness and after effects) until I started my own class in January. That's a big thing for me - I started my own class. I'm fed up with it because people aren't committing, but we persevere. These things take a while to build up. Soon after the class started, I began work on my solo steps, for the practical dancing section. I thought I could fall back on the steps I'd danced the last time I competed, but they were woefully out of date and, as the years had taken their toll, were completely unsuitable.

I've choreographed myself a new reel and heavy jig step; just one of each. I struggle with practical choreography and tend to complete a step in my head before attempting to dance it, which doesn't always work. But, I do have a full complement of beginner dances to teach in my classes, and in the exam should I need to. I'm branching out into primary level steps now too.

The one thing I haven't touched, is the open sets. NINE. The mere thought of it is exhausting. There's no point in me tackling sets before I even have a full jig and hornpipe so it will be a while longer yet. Luckily I have good friends who are willing to share their choreography with me so the burden isn't quite so great, but I'm still hugely daunted by this and if anything puts me off, it's going to be the sets.

I'm struggling with injury at the moment - both my Achilles are really angry with me. I've got freeze gel and tubigrip up to my knees on both legs, and last Thursday after class I could barely walk. I can't do anything except just keep going and hoping they won't get worse.

-------------------

Last week I set myself some challenges for the week which I'll review now:

Wednesday - review new slip jig step, test out heavy jig step. Video record if possible. DONE! The slip jig step works a treat and R is getting to grips with it. The jig step needs polishing as I was off time on about the 6th-7th bars, but it's a pretty step.

Thursday - attempt Job set. Done on Friday instead, but I figured it out and I feel I know it sufficiently well enough to call it "complete". Obviously I will continue to polish.

Sunday - review Job set, attempt hornpipe. Not quite! I did the hornpipe on Saturday. Even so! That's the last beginner dance complete.

Monday - get to class early to work on bicycles, Job, jig and hornpipe. This was the first time I'd danced Job in shoes and it's getting there. I'm just such a child - whenever I actually make one of the heel clicks, I get so excited that I forget to actually continue dancing! Needs tidying. The jig is nearly there too, on the right foot at least. I've tightened up the timing so it's not so ragged, but I think I'm going to take out a travelling move and replace with some rhythm so that I don't knock myself off time. I then spent ages drilling back trebles and things on my MUCH weaker left foot and saw a slight bit of progress. I started on bicycles using the "two chairs" method. That will take a long long while to get, and I need to improve my core strength a great deal in order to get myself up in the air. The one thing I didn't do was work on the beginner hornpipe.

So where does that leave me for this week?

Tonight - nothing, I really should rest my legs. Perhaps I'll try some choreography in my head as I have the office to myself all day. Oh, I know what I'll do. Some core strength/Pilates exercises.
Wednesday - I can't arrive early or stay after Wednesday classes as the caretaker locks the hall before and afterwards, so this one will always be tricky and completely dependent on who turns up to class. Hopefully I'll be able to review Job and jig.
Thursday - review Job and jig, if I can walk.
Weekend - come up with a half step to complete my primary slip jig. If possible get the shoes on and just drill things on my left foot - back trebles, toe-over-toes, the stamp combination. Continue with strength exercises - core as well as foot and ankle.

I'm leaving Garden until I can be taught in person again so hopefully towards the end of the month. I can't really work on bicycles anywhere but the Monday class as I don't have access to any chairs, can you believe! We genuinely don't have any suitable chairs in our house. I'm continuing writing out all the hard ceilis and should finish sometime this week. Other than that all I can do is what I do every day - scour YouTube for clips and soak in as much dancing as possible for inspiration.

Apologies for the essay-style update. I really can't believe I've been on this road for a whole year.

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.

Warm-up

My, was I aching today. I had only one dancer last night, R, who is a star and hasn't missed a single lesson. She wants to be pushed a bit harder; in her own words, "I don't just want to do the steps, I want to do them properly." So with only one dancer (who wanted to work hard), I then had to work hard too, and coincidentally enough I'd arrived at the venue a full hour early to get some solo practice in as well. Oops.

I ran through my traditionals and the rhythm wasn't so bad. I actually am quite thankful for them as I can feel it will help with my open sets and general heavy dancing, so I refuse to complain about any of them any more. I then tried to fix my old jig lead, which was done in the days when you could go right-right and also includes a ridiculous three full clicks on each foot. Six! It's a killer and some of them need to go, but my brain wasn't working so I moved on to reel and have come up with a new step for me to do at the exam. It's not what you'd expect today's champions to be doing in their light round - maybe a prelim dancer. I hope it will be enough, and maybe when I'm fitter I'll push myself to something more difficult.

To link this whole post together (was aching today/need to get fitter) - I could do with some advice, please. What does your warm-up routine consist of? I usually just go straight into things dancing at half-effort and work my way up. I know I should definitely be doing ankle and arch exercises as these are the areas that play me up most, and I know my class need to do a full warm-up as well. With me branching into two classes a week, it's only going to get tougher on the old legs. I'm just kind of not sure what to do?

Back in the day we would start off by walking briskly round the room, getting a bit faster and swinging our arms to loosen the upper body, then break into a bit of a jog with some star jumps thrown in, back to a brisk walk with some arm exercises (bicep curls, shoulder presses etc with no weights), then finish with the light jig or baby reel. Following that it'd be some non-specific leg stretches which I don't think we were doing correctly having seen gym trainers do them differently.

So...what's new in warming up? Any advice?

Exam news

Woe is me. Just took a wee visit to Ryan Carroll's blog and all future TCRG candidates will need to know seven traditional sets instead of the current four. Sob! But, I have the DVD and they are all nice dances. We'd need them as teachers anyway and it'll be nice to be able to offer more than one trad set in jig time. But, the fact that the meeting was held this weekend just gone, means that you should all start getting your results fairly soon. Best of luck!!!

***EDIT - apparently the original blog post (linked to above) was incorrect as it has now been reposted. We still only need to know the four traditional sets, but any version of them will be accepted as there are a number of different versions***

Before I go, an answer to last week's quiz question. As correctly guessed by one of our anonymous readers, the odd movement out was See-Saw as all the other movements listed included a clap or claps. Thanks for playing!

Final piece of news...I'm starting my Wednesday night classes from this week. OMG.

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.

Five ceilis and a heavy jig

That's pretty much what I got through last night. Retaught them the first figure of the Four-Hand Reel and then went on a bit of a frenzy with any ceili that can be done in a four. Antrim Reel, Siege of Carrick and the Walls of Limerick were finished within about half an hour, and then we moved onto the Humours of Bandon. I actually love the body to dance. I've always thought the figures were a bit of a mess and my opinion remains the same, but we got them regardless. How I wish I had seven dancers instead of four. If they're going to collapse in giggles at how well the claps in the Siege of Carrick fit with the music, then I'm going to have absolutely no chance at controlling them through the Three Tunes!

Class over and tables replaced, I decided to get the heavy shoes on. Ow, it's been a while. That needs a lot of work but I'm encouraged on a couple of points:

• Hit a few clicks, even the hard ones
• Nailed my rhythm bits including the double back treble and the toe-over-toe
• Didn't miss a treble
• Loouuudddd
• Pointe work strong

Howeverrrrr...stamina dreadful, turnout abysmal, height on clicks embarrassing. Needs work. Plan? Half-an-hour of heavy practice after every class, and try and find somewhere else to practice some other time during the week.

To finish on a happy note, one of the girls said "why can't we have more than one class a week?" I wish, J. I wish!

Figure failure

Only slight! Here follows my conversation when I got into the house last night:

SO: How was your class tonight?
Me: Oh really good, we got through both figures of the Four-Hand Reel! [reaches for laptop]
SO: What are you up to?
Me: Just checking if I got the first one right...
*watches*
Me: ...I did not.

Cue a round of gentle mocking!

I was nearly right, I just had the wrong dancers making the rings. I knew it didn't feel right as we were dancing it but I'd left my book at home, of course. Here's the video to review.



(They get cute points for having the littlies dance with the big girls. Awww!)

In other news K has finished her light jig - I thought it'd be the easiest one to learn after the reel because it's so repetitive, but with hindsight it's actually quite difficult as you bring the back foot forward every time. It's not exactly a natural thing to do. So I think in future I'll do the "traditional" order - the order I learned them in, the usual feis order. Reel, hop, light, slip. My reel steps worked (made a first step up on the way home from work on Monday), but the heavy jig failed spectacularly. Conclusion? I can make light steps up in my head no problem, but I MUST dance my jig and hornpipe creations before unleashing them on the class. I tend to forget that gravity is a real thing.

Next week: Antrim Reel or Humours of Bandon?

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.