Can't wait. Nothing more to add.
Friday, 11 February 2011
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
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?
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?
Monday, 7 February 2011
Homework
I set myself some homework for this week.
A heavy jig step came to me in two parts - the first four bars while daydreaming at work on Friday, and the second half while unable to sleep yesterday morning. All my own work as well; not too much trad set plagiarising!
I've actually done not one but three practice exams since my last update. My personal best is 97% (I KNOW!!!) so I was disappointed to score something like 81%, 91% and 86% on them. A pass is a pass and I really should know which order the couples pass under each other's arches in Trip to the Cottage (first figure) by now. Second tops under first tops' arch, then under own arch, first tops under own arch then under second tops' arch. Right? :-/
I came up with a reel lead round while stuck in traffic on the way to work this morning which is quite nice though I do say so myself.
Did I practise? A few run-throughs of the new heavy jig step and one random run-through of St Patrick's Day to get the faster speed into my head. I'm still not used to fast heavy jigs as I never danced a beginner level one myself (I'd done "show" heavy dancing before learning jigs and hornpipes so they put me straight in at a higher level).
Homework for this week is to finally finish learning the Blackbird which I haven't touched since my little meltdown, to PRACTISE, and to start looking at/listening to the music again. Started to neglect that again.
Looking forward to class tonight. I now have four dancers so if they all come I can step out of the four-hand reel and maybe move them on to some other ceilis. And I've had a couple of enquiries from prospective students, one of whom even wants to compete eventually. That's made me think. Should I be a bit harder on them? At my most recent class the teachers were very easy on us. So long as you did the dance it was fine; no mention of turnout or posture, no corrections. Most people were there for fun. But I think with a little work I could get them up to competition standard ready for when I pass - R has already said she's never won a medal at anything in her life so she'd love to give it a go. Maybe I could even do ceili club.
But that would mean me being much harder on them. I'm not sure if that's what they're there for.
- 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.
A heavy jig step came to me in two parts - the first four bars while daydreaming at work on Friday, and the second half while unable to sleep yesterday morning. All my own work as well; not too much trad set plagiarising!
I've actually done not one but three practice exams since my last update. My personal best is 97% (I KNOW!!!) so I was disappointed to score something like 81%, 91% and 86% on them. A pass is a pass and I really should know which order the couples pass under each other's arches in Trip to the Cottage (first figure) by now. Second tops under first tops' arch, then under own arch, first tops under own arch then under second tops' arch. Right? :-/
I came up with a reel lead round while stuck in traffic on the way to work this morning which is quite nice though I do say so myself.
Did I practise? A few run-throughs of the new heavy jig step and one random run-through of St Patrick's Day to get the faster speed into my head. I'm still not used to fast heavy jigs as I never danced a beginner level one myself (I'd done "show" heavy dancing before learning jigs and hornpipes so they put me straight in at a higher level).
Homework for this week is to finally finish learning the Blackbird which I haven't touched since my little meltdown, to PRACTISE, and to start looking at/listening to the music again. Started to neglect that again.
Looking forward to class tonight. I now have four dancers so if they all come I can step out of the four-hand reel and maybe move them on to some other ceilis. And I've had a couple of enquiries from prospective students, one of whom even wants to compete eventually. That's made me think. Should I be a bit harder on them? At my most recent class the teachers were very easy on us. So long as you did the dance it was fine; no mention of turnout or posture, no corrections. Most people were there for fun. But I think with a little work I could get them up to competition standard ready for when I pass - R has already said she's never won a medal at anything in her life so she'd love to give it a go. Maybe I could even do ceili club.
But that would mean me being much harder on them. I'm not sure if that's what they're there for.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
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:
A nice quiet week then!
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.
A nice quiet week then!
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
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.
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.
Monday, 17 January 2011
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?
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?
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Happy New Year! ...back on it
I suppose like most people (except the LA candidates...good luck people!) I've done less TCRGing and more overeating over the New Year period. So it's time to get a little bit stricter with myself - my plan is to put in for the first possible exam in 2012, and if that ends up being January I have just one year. Considering my dancing is so very rusty, that isn't actually very long. I wish I'd just taken the thing as soon as I retired from competitions like everybody else does! Sadly all of those sets and steps are long since forgotten and all conditioning woefully lost.
Here are my New Year's Resolutions, dance wise:
1. Open a ceili class
Practice in teaching them will be invaluable for the practical element of the exam of course, but being able to visualise dances is helping me to remember them. When I write them out I never, ever forget the ceilis I've danced, so teaching them will help create a stronger memory come written exam time.
2. Learn the rest of the trads
I've left this one shamefully long. I haven't touched them since April (!) and gave up in a huff - see here and here. I focused on the ceilis, and then got too ill to dance. Thankfully I will have help with this and won't have to rely solely on Olive to get me up to speed. I'm just praying I take the exam before they put the 'new' traditionals on the syllabus; four is quite enough for me thank you! I'll learn the others in my own time, afterwards.
3. Sort the sets
This is HUGE. I never really choreographed any of my own hard shoe material, and I'm not really sure how to go about it. Luckily I never struggled with rhythm (one of the few things I didn't fight with!) so I'll be able to manage a mix of jigs and hornpipes, but you can bet your ass I'm picking the short sets. White Blankets yes, Blackthorn stick NO NO NO. I have help with this as well in the form of a fellow candidate/sucker for punishment. I've completely neglected the "own dancing" element of the exam and with my current level of fitness after illness, that just won't do. I actually do think it'll take me a year to get everything back up to a level. It's just been so long!
4. Work
On everything...
So here's my start at number 4 (typical, starting with the booksmarts!) - I just can't live without my lists and charts.
I am SO chuffed with my 86% today because I made a complete hash of one of the 10-pointers and scored no points at all. The question was "Describe in detail the movement which follows 'Full Chain' in the Cross Reel". I steamed in and described Back to Back almost perfectly...only it's not Back to Back, is it? It's Gentlemen Interlace which to be honest I'd completely forgotten. I could have been into the 90s there if I'd described the right movement. D'oh! Read the question thoroughly before diving in with your answer!
Here are my New Year's Resolutions, dance wise:
1. Open a ceili class
Practice in teaching them will be invaluable for the practical element of the exam of course, but being able to visualise dances is helping me to remember them. When I write them out I never, ever forget the ceilis I've danced, so teaching them will help create a stronger memory come written exam time.
2. Learn the rest of the trads
I've left this one shamefully long. I haven't touched them since April (!) and gave up in a huff - see here and here. I focused on the ceilis, and then got too ill to dance. Thankfully I will have help with this and won't have to rely solely on Olive to get me up to speed. I'm just praying I take the exam before they put the 'new' traditionals on the syllabus; four is quite enough for me thank you! I'll learn the others in my own time, afterwards.
3. Sort the sets
This is HUGE. I never really choreographed any of my own hard shoe material, and I'm not really sure how to go about it. Luckily I never struggled with rhythm (one of the few things I didn't fight with!) so I'll be able to manage a mix of jigs and hornpipes, but you can bet your ass I'm picking the short sets. White Blankets yes, Blackthorn stick NO NO NO. I have help with this as well in the form of a fellow candidate/sucker for punishment. I've completely neglected the "own dancing" element of the exam and with my current level of fitness after illness, that just won't do. I actually do think it'll take me a year to get everything back up to a level. It's just been so long!
4. Work
On everything...
So here's my start at number 4 (typical, starting with the booksmarts!) - I just can't live without my lists and charts.
I am SO chuffed with my 86% today because I made a complete hash of one of the 10-pointers and scored no points at all. The question was "Describe in detail the movement which follows 'Full Chain' in the Cross Reel". I steamed in and described Back to Back almost perfectly...only it's not Back to Back, is it? It's Gentlemen Interlace which to be honest I'd completely forgotten. I could have been into the 90s there if I'd described the right movement. D'oh! Read the question thoroughly before diving in with your answer!
Friday, 24 December 2010
Nollaig Shona Dhuit!
And a very happy New Year to all my fellow TCRG candidates - especially the ones who are actually sitting the exam in 2011!
Saturday, 11 December 2010
Step Up
I've never been a hip hop dancer. In fact I've never tried any vaguely modern type of dance. So why then, when I channel-flick and come across Step Up on TV, do I immediately want to get up and Irish dance? It's like a button gets pressed in my brain any time I see somebody perform, or even practice, any type of dance. I don't dance in my seat, but I subconciously move in unison with them, even if it's just leaning in the direction of their arm extension or lifting my ribcage when they jump. Despite the predictable wrong-side-of-the-tracks/love story thing it's brought out the dancer in me again, so out came the poodle socks and the jig shoes.
I've spent the last hour or so drilling clicks and trebles, all to a hip hop soundtrack. It means I missed half the storyline but it's only the dancing I'm interested in anyway, and I relate. I might not be able to pop and lock, I can't pas de chat and I definitely can't fouette. But it's the same for all of us, really. Trying and trying. In films everyone succeeds. Maybe I'll fail. I might not be able to learn their dance form but I can learn from their determination.
Back to click drills.
I've spent the last hour or so drilling clicks and trebles, all to a hip hop soundtrack. It means I missed half the storyline but it's only the dancing I'm interested in anyway, and I relate. I might not be able to pop and lock, I can't pas de chat and I definitely can't fouette. But it's the same for all of us, really. Trying and trying. In films everyone succeeds. Maybe I'll fail. I might not be able to learn their dance form but I can learn from their determination.
Back to click drills.
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