Christy Dorrity and Victoria Lambourne, TCRG, at the launch party of AWAKENING Photo: Kathleen Lamborn
Month: 11 Weight: 140 Weight lost: 15 pounds Muscle gained: 17 Total fat loss: 32 pounds For years I've been working hard. Not just on training my body, but on bettering my Irish dancing and writing a novel. It's been a great journey, full of hard work, sweat, and bumps in the road. Sometimes I've wondered if I would ever reach my goals, or if I would be happy when I arrived at the end of my journey. This month I've seen the fruits of my labors rewarded in a harvest of plenty: 1-I am a hairs breath away from my personal training goals (can't wait for maintenance). It's been almost exactly a year from when I started, and I'm looking at solo dresses! More on that later. I can't tell you how good it feels to have my body in shape again. My body no longer gets in my way when I'm dancing, and I feel great! 2-My novel, AWAKENING, (about an Irish dancer) debuted this month, after four years of work. The launch was fantastic, blowing the doors off of the sales we expected to reach. My dance school hosted a launch party where we danced some Irish and I signed copies of the book. I can't tell you what that night meant to me. It was a fantastic blend of family, Irish dance, and the culmination of many years of hard work. Truly a bounteous harvest. 3-This weekend I went to the Southern California Open Feis in Redlands, CA, competing as an adult at the champion level. I placed last, but I danced hard and felt great about it. I felt accepted by the fellow competitors, the judge, and the teachers, and the satisfaction of being able to dance at that level was a boon. I'll tell you what I tell the kids when I sign a book for them: "Believe in the unseen, and follow your dreams!" Yes, they really do come true! Readers: Are you an Irish dancer or a dance school, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing?
"It is wonderful to see Irish dancing and culture alive and thriving in Russia. I am very excited to be involved in the developing stages of this art form in this part of the world, and I see a great future for Irish dancing in Russia."
~John Carey
Darya Markosyan teaches at the Carey Academy Russia in Yekaterinburg, Russia. She teaches dancers ages 12-48 years old, and the school is lucky enough to have regular instruction by John Carey A.D.C.R.G (certified teacher and adjudicator), from Burmingham, England.
Two-hand reel at Moscow Feis 2012
Photo: courtesy of Carey Academy Russia
Christy: Your school recently coordinated with John Carey. How did this come about and what are the results thus far?
Darya: I first saw John performing at NANs in 2006 and thought he was surely the best dancer I've ever seen. I wrote him an email, closed my eyes and pressed the send button, now my dancers have workshops with John and other Carey Academy teachers on regular basis. Our dancers joke than even watching John Carey dance for 3 minutes increases your own jump height in 5 cm.
Christy: Where do your dancers compete and/or perform?
Darya: We try to go to at least two feiseanna in Russia and at least one in Europe. We do not really focus on performances as much as on competitions.
Christy: Do you teach adult dancers? How do they fit into your school's culture?
Darya: I teach mostly adult dancers. Irish dance is still very new to Russia, especially in the regions, so most of kids who dance in our school are our adult dancers' relatives, or their friends' children, or somehow related to people who are connected with the school. In my own class I have dancers aged 12-48 practicing together, cheering for each other at competitions and helping each other out, whether it's about mastering a new dance or coping with tricky homework assignment.
Irish dancers at RTME Feis/Oireachtas
in Milan, November 2011
Photo: courtesy Carey Academy Russia
Christy: How is Irish dance received in Russia?
Darya: Whenever a show like Lord of the Dance or Gaelforce Dance is coming to perform in Russia, venues everywhere are sold out. While organizing feiseanna and grade exams, I discovered that professional dancers and choreographers in Russia do not take irish dancing serious (yet!).
Christy: Earlier this year you attended the European Oireachtas, where one of your students became the first Worlds qualifier from your school. How do you think this will help motivate the other students in your school?
Darya: I do see the difference already. Other dancers know Alina (age 13) quite well, see how hard she practices and realize that whatever they want is really possible to achieve.
Alina Valeeva, European Oireachtas 2012 in Salzburg
Photo: courtesy of Carey Academy Russia
Christy: Can I ask Alina what her Irish dance goals are?
Alina: If I qualify in Poland next year I will go to the Worlds in 2014. Honestly, I don't know what I will do after the Worlds. Maybe I will go on practicing, maybe I will give up dancing (because I need to study a lot as I will be in high school). But for now, I will dance on. And this is really a very important part of my life!
Christy: How does it feel to be a part of Irish dance history in Russia?
Darya: That's really exciting. Over the 10 years Russia has progressed from trying to copy moves from shows like Riverdance or Lord of the Dance, to dancing at World's stage. It's great to see schools from outside Moscow and St Petersburg organize feiseanna and grade exams and stand on podium during the results and meet people from all over the country. When I started dancing, the only tutorial everybody had was Olive Hurley's DVDs, and now there are six schools registered with CLRG (Irish dance organization), and the same people who accidentally influenced Russian Irish dancing (like Olive Hurley or Mary Duffy) are now adjudicating feiseanna here in the country.
Irish dancers at a Summer camp in July 2012
with John Carey in Ufa, Russia
Photo: courtesy Carey Academy Russia
Readers: Are you an Irish dancer or a dance school, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing?
On August 21, 2013, two Irish dance organizations merged together to form a larger open platform organization. Earlier that month, the National Irish Dance Federation (NAIDF) split, with many of the individual schools being welcomed into various organizations. Many Irish dance schools that previously participated in NAIDF were welcomed into the World Irish Dance Association (WIDA). Sean Gavan, founder of WIDA is confident that the merger will benefit dancers of both organizations.
"This merger will give people who want to try something different from the existing large dancing bodies an organization with a wider geographic reach as something to be part of,"Gavan says.
Both WIDA and NAIDF were open platform organizations, which means that any dancer can participate in competitions, regardless of the organization that they belong to, and even if they are self-taught. The merging of organizations combines the efforts of each one to bring more experiences to those who are involved. It will now be easier for all Irish dancers to make choices that are suitable for them and their families. Gavan says, "In times past, the options of choice were limited, but today that has certainly changed and we look forward to seeing the awareness of Irish dance increase and become more accessible for everyone."
Among the other options available to those who were affected by the NAIDF split is a new organization called Rince Tuatha Nua, which means, "a new Irish dance community". More information about many Irish dance groups who participate in open platform competitions can be found at The Road Together website.
"We are very happy to welcome so many new schools in to the WIDA organization," Gavan says. "We look upon ourselves as a family and we welcome all the new schools in to our dancing family." Readers: Are you an Irish dancer or a dance school, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing?
You may have heard that a man will become rich by following a rainbow to its end, where fabled leprechauns squirrel away their gold. Are the legends true? Can something be had for nothing?
I think we all know the answer: there is no replacement for hard work.
Those pounds are not going to melt away like magic. Strong muscles will not build themselves.
Leprechauns are tricky fellows; they lure the unsuspecting on an impossible quest. To the mythological laborer, assurance of easy riches is a powerful siren that calls him away from the daily grind toward a magical life of ease. He leaves all that he has worked for and drifts toward the allusive rainbow, always just out of reach.
Scientifically, we understand that the rainbow is an optical effect that depends on the location of the viewer. The closer we try to get to its end, the further away the bow will drift.
A rainbow can be thought of in a different light: as a visionary goal. Think of the rainbow as a metaphor for a lofty goal that you have set for yourself. Does it seem so far away that you could walk forever and never reach it?
Unlike a physical rainbow, we have control over the attainability of our personal rainbows. I had a teacher in high school who drilled the importance of determined work into my brain, “Working will win, when wishy-washy wishing won’t,” he often quoted (Thanks Mr. C).
Think of the most successful people you know. Did they pine away after a get-rich-quick scheme or complain about how they just couldn't give up their cola to improve their health? If you take a close look at those people whom you admire, you will see a trend of hard work and determination. Probe a little further and those accomplished success stories will reveal a secret the leprechauns would rather you didn’t know: when they reached the end of their journey for success, it wasn’t the “pot of gold” at the end that gave them the satisfaction they had looked towards, it was the passage of time and work that became the real treasure.
Dictionary.com defines a pot of gold as the realization of all one’s hopes and dreams; ultimate success, fulfillment, or happiness. That kind of gold can be found at the end of anyone’s rainbow. Look for your own bow of light, and resist the urge to wait around for success to find you. Catherine Pulsifer, editor of Inspirational Words of Wisdom puts it another way, “Wishing for something occupies the mind, but leaves the bank empty. “
Whether you are working toward improving your health, learning a new set dance, or improving your technique, work hard and keep your rainbow in view, and your own pot of gold will be within grabbing distance. Just don’t forget to gather the valuable nuggets abounding from your efforts along the way.
Readers: Are you an Irish dancer or a dance school, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing?
Joel Hanna is well known throughout the world for his innovative Irish dance techniques. A Vancouver, B.C. native, Joel began his Irish dance training at the age of nine. He launched his career and joined "Riverdance" in 1997, after which he joined the original stars of the show, Colin Dunne and Jean Butler, to perform in "Dancing on Dangerous Ground". He has taught and choreographed all over the world, spreading his love of dance, percussion, and martial arts. In May of 2013, Joel was involved with the dance choreography of young Schuyler Iona Press's production, "What I'm Failing to Learn". He soloed and choreographed in "Pastures", a Woodie Guthrie piece that was selected as a New York Times pick of 2012. Joel most recently finished a performance of "Choreography on The Edge" to sold out audiences in Woodstock.
Joel Hanna
Christy: How did you get started in dancing?
Joel: That's a bit of a story. I started doing Philippino folk dance when I was about five, and then quit for the same reasons any toddler does anything—something shiny caught my attention. Whether it was kung fu or Transformers, I don't know, but I ended up a couple years later fumbling into an Irish dance class with my sister. My dad is Irish, so it was kind of a no brainer. But, back then it was different. Irish dance was still a thing that you only did because your family was Irish, or at some point claimed to be. So, to be this little half-Asian thing, bouncing around in a kilt at feiseanna all over the place must've been a sight to see. I started doing pretty well and traveling a lot to compete, so the cockeyed skeptic quickly jumped on board. From there, to somehow ending up in Riverdance, Dangerous Ground, becoming a principal in Fire, and then starting to produce and getting to be myself all the time, it seems like a life time ago.
Christy: What is it about Irish dancing that draws you?
Joel: Wow. That's an interesting question. In it's traditional form, I think the universal appeal of Irish dance comes from the music. There is something charming and fetching about Irish music that is infectious--that much is undeniable. And now, thinking back to when I was a kid growing up with this, there's something really special about the innocence of it. This ancient form of spectacle and social dance has made it through thousands of years of cultural evolution without changing much (until the last few decades really), and was a closely guarded secret. Now, I want to see what can be done with it. I believe that it has the ability to be as much of a relevant form of contemporary movement as any other dance form. The traditional form and competitive system of Irish dance will always be there, and I believe it should be. I disagree with people who say that it needs to change and evolve. I don't think it does. I believe that it is the text book that we need to build our foundation from as dancers, and to master the vocabulary handed down by the generations before us. But I believe Irish dance is at a critical point, and the future of it excites me.
Joel Hanna in Choreography on the Edge
Christy: Your style of teaching and performance has been called innovative. What is it about your style that is unique?
Joel: Really? That's very generous, thank you. I guess it's because I like to do things in my weird way. I think a lot about philosophy when I start on projects and new works, and I get inspiration from a whole whack of places and people. Bruce Lee is a great one for me, not just physically though. His words, I believe, have application in life as a whole. But we're all different, and everyone comes from their own background and experience.
I don't know really, I just know that it works. When I'm working with dancers, especially competitive dancers, I work on "them" much more than the material that they are doing. I think that the fundamental mechanics of their own bodies is a much more important subject to focus on. Technique depends on it. How can a dancer of any kind have any technique if they don't have the facilities to support technique? I use a combination of kung fu strengthening and stretching methods with ballet training to condition dancers, and myself. I won't say who's method is right or wrong, or that mine is any better, but I know it works, and it works fast.
I know that my life and career have been a sort of fairytale. I find it hard to take in sometimes. Between the things that I've gotten to do that came out of nowhere, and the things that we put ourselves through hell for, a lot of it seems surreal sometimes, and I don't know why I've been lucky enough to live it.
Christy: How did you meet Schuyler Iona Press, and what made you decide to beinvolved in the production of "What I'm Failing to Learn"?
Joel Hanna
Joel: I first met Sky when she was really little. She was just this tiny little thing in a school that had brought me in to do a workshop and set a choreography on. I had no idea that there was this magical little thing in the room at the time. I'd seen her sporadically in the last few years and heard about her developing talent, so when I was approached to be a part of this project, of course I had to say yes. The idea being so out of left field, and interesting, to the point that I didn't know if I'd be able to do it, is what really caught my attention. Whenever a challenge comes up like this, I know that no matter how it ends up manifesting itself in the end, it's going to be interesting, and a surprise worth waiting for.
Christy: How did it feel to perform for to a sold out audience in Choreography on The Edge?
Joel: It was wonderful—and terrifying! I always get really nervous when putting out a new piece like that.We got an wonderful review from the New York Times, "The spark of Joel Hanna’s tapping and clogging, like the sheer panache of his performance, was utterly winning, but his camaraderie was equally so," and the piece was later selected as one the NY Times picks of 2012. It was one of my favorite things to do.
Christy: What are your thoughts about the future of Irish dance performance?
Joel Hanna
Joel: I wish I could see into the future and come up with an answer that doesn't make me sound like an idiot, but I can't. But I have hopes for Irish dance, and whenever I wonder about what is going to happen, there are words from some of the greatest dance icons in history that make me feel excited to see it. Ted Shawn said that "Dance is the only art of which we are the stuff of which its made", and Martha Graham said that "It is a barometer telling the state of the soul's weather to all who can read it." I know both of those ideas to be true. And I know that I would do this whether there was anyone there to notice or not. So, I guess I think that as long as the heart and soul of the people Irish dancing is in the right place, I can look to the future with curious excitement. But even then, I can only tell you where my heart and soul will be.
Christy: Are there any other projects, recent or future that you are willing to tell us about?
Joel: The next season is crazy for me. I think I'm going to be on almost every continent in the next year. I have some exciting new collaborations in China, with a new collection of repertoire coming out in North America. There's a wonderful outreach program this December in India that I can't wait for (I love doing outreach work) and in the New Year I'll be back in Europe for a few months. We're only half way through this year and I'm chomping at the bit to dig into next season.
Christy: What advice do you have to Irish dancers who are just starting out?
Joel: Shut up and dance. Learn as much as you can, keep what works for you and throw away what doesn't. Listen to your teachers, and don't ever think that there's such a thing as "too much practice". And no matter what happens, or what people say, don't you ever, ever, ever quit.
*all photos are kindly provided courtesy of Joel Hanna
Readers: Are you an Irish dancer or a dance school, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing?
Daughter helps mommy when she gets injured during an Irish dance competition Photo: Christy Dorrity
This month I've seen some dramatic changes in the way I feel, and the way my clothing fits. I have tremendous stamina, am learning more than one dance at a time (something I couldn't do before), and my confidence shows in the way I attack my routines.
Life is not perfect--it is full of holidays, vacations, desserts and days when you just can't exercise. But what happens when you sustain an injury and are unable to dance and workout?
It would be easy to give up and say, "that lifestyle change was a good idea, but it's too hard". But you don't have to. Here are some ideas for helping you recover and get back to your goals.
Three ways to push through an injury:
1. Follow all of your doctors instructions. Use all prescribed medications and support products that will help speed recovery. Don't begin dancing until your doctor gives you the go ahead--even if you feel fine.
2. Use the down time for strength training and mental conditioning. Stretch uninjured muscles, take a walk (doctor permitting) and research new techniques. Put on some of your favorite practice music and visualize yourself dancing a perfect step. Keep your body and mind sharp, and you won't even miss a beat.
3. Take it slow. When you go back to dance class, listen to your body. If your injury starts to feel painful or strained, lower your intensity level, or sit it out and observe the lesson.
If you follow your doctors instructions, use the down time for conditioning, and take it easy coming back to dance, you will be back on your feet in no time.
What are your experiences with injuries as a dancer? How do you cope when you hit a rough spot in your lifestyle change? Did it take you long to get back in the jig of things or did you have setbacks?
Readers: Are you an Irish dancer or a dance school, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing?
Irish dancers from Echoes of Erin Irish Dance in Hong Kong
Irish dance is growing in Asia, and Echoes of Erin Irish Dance is helping to lead the way. The dance school hosted the first open feis in Asia in June of 2012. Now, only a year later, their feis marked another first--an international Irish dancing competition and premiership. The feis was held in Hong Kong on June 8, 2013. Dancers from over 25 nations came to attend the competition, some from as far away as Russia.
Irish dancer holds the Hong Kong flag at WIDA Worlds
Catriona Newcombe, founder of Echoes of Erin, is thrilled with the progress that Irish dancing is making in Hong Kong. Read on to find out what Catriona has to say about the future of Irish dance in Asia.
Christy: How did Echoes of Erin get its start?
Catriona: Echoes of Erin originally started in Florida, where I first starting teaching many years ago. I have since moved to England, France, Dubai, and have now Hong Kong.
Christy: Where do you perform/compete?
Catriona: We are very lucky to have the continuous support of the Irish community here in Hong Kong. We have performed alongside Brian Kennedy in Dubai, Davy Spillane in City hall Hong Kong, all the annual St Patrick’s Society’s Hong Kong functions, the Asian Gaelic games, and many more.
Christy: Some of your dancers attended the WIDA World and European Championship. What did you do to prepare?
Catriona: We had eleven kids and three adults attend the competitions. For some this was their first feis ever. We practiced up to 4 hours a day, sometimes 5 times a week! It was hard work but we enjoyed every minute. Out of eleven children, we received around eight cups and 70 plus medals.
Catriona Newcombe and her mummy Heather Newcombe at WIDA Worlds
Christy: Do you teach adult dancers?
Catriona: We have a fantastic adult group! You are never too old to dance and it is so lovely to see the young dancers encourage and help the adults when we are performing. Three of our adults competed in the Europeans and Worlds Championships and received many awards.
Christy: Tell me about your recent feis.
Catriona: We hosted Hong Kong’s very first open international Irish dancing competitions and premierships this year, and it was a great success! We were very lucky to have Les Baird, ADCRG, as our adjudicator and he was great! His comments and constructive criticism were invaluable.
We were privileged to have Harry O Neil, the Honorary Irish Consulate of Hong Kong pop in to present his award, along with Canice Gleeson, founder of Asia’s only Celtic Connection Chamber Choir and International Concert Orchestra of Hong Kong, and many more! The Irish community in Hong Kong are brilliant and have supported Echoes Of Erin school of Irish Dancing since day one.
We had over twenty-five nationalities attend the feis. It was amazing to see them all so absorbed in the fantastic art of Irish dancing.
Monies raised at the feis went to the Jockey Club Sarah Roe School to help with getting a bus for the special needs children.
Christy: What do you envision for the future of Irish dance in Hong Kong?
At Echoes of Erin, our main aims are to encourage and sustain pride, uphold tradition, inspire loyalty and school spirit, and strive to build friendships among all of our students. This to me is most important. *All Photos: courtesy Echoes of Erin Irish Dance
Readers: Are you an adult Irish dancer or a dance school, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing? Please visit www.christydorrity.com.
This week a new series "The Willis Clan" premiered, on Great American Country, featuring the family of 12 kids, aged from two to 21 years, from Tennessee. All of whom are Irish dancers.
Many of the Willis kids are Oireachtas champions and Jeremiah (20) has placed sixth at All Irelands and seventh at Worlds. In 2013, the clan competed in the drama division at the World Championships, placing fourth.
The new series, which runs Thursdays at 8pm, ET, features the day to day goings on in the Willis family as they prepare for the many musical and dance performances that are propelling their family band into a career.
The Willis family is busy getting ready for the premier, but I was able to chat with the two oldest children, Jessica and Jeremiah, about Irish dance, family, and what the future holds for them.
At 21 years old, Jessica is the main singer/songwriter in the family band. She plays piano, violin, and sings, and has written over 200 pieces of music. She has also enjoyed exploring various creative outlets including poetry, novels, costume design, and other visual arts.
Starting off in Irish step dancing, she is now pursuing a wide education in all areas of dance including ballroom, west coast swing, and flamenco. Jessica has been called one of the last true romantics.
Jeremiah (20) one of the best Irish dancers in the Willis Clan
Jeremiah, commonly called Jair for short, is 20 years old, and plays the acoustic, nylon and electric guitar, cello, uilleann pipes, whistles, flute, mandolin, banjo, and piano.
Jair is a three-time champion in west coast swing and a three-time place winner in the World Championships of Irish dance. He also is a Tennessee state champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
Christy: What is it like living in a family that puts so much emphasis on performance?
Jessica: A lot of hard work and a whole lot of fun!
We get to travel, meet wonderful people, learn new things and enjoy a very full life. Since we perform so many different styles of music and dance we are able to take elements from all these genres and create a style that is our own unique fusion. The question is, what is coming next?
The Willis Clan is looking to fuse elements of all these influences to create a new generation of music and dance that has Irish at its base and will continue in the great tradition of "Riverdance" that has allowed Irish music and dance to become mainstream worldwide. Irish dancers and musicians should follow The Willis Clan particularly if they study multiple styles as there may be opportunities to be a part of this amazing future.
Christy: How did you get involved in Irish dancing?
Jair: Our dad grew up in a family of nine kids, mostly boys, and they all wrestled. My mom and dad decided before they got married that they wanted 12 kids and my dad assumed that they would have 12 sons and he would teach them all to wrestle.
However, he got eight daughters. His thought was, "What in the world do you do with daughters?" Then my parents saw "Riverdance" and knew what to do with all those girls - Irish dancing!
As it turned out, the boys were all really talented dancers, too. They started the three oldest kids with Julie Showalter at the World Academy of Irish Dancing in Chicago.
Jessica the eldest of the Willis children and one of eight girls
Christy: Tell me a bit about your experiences with Irish dancing - where have you performed, do you compete, what school do you attend?
Jessica: We have performed all over the US and in Ireland. We had the opportunity last year to perform at the O2 arena in Dublin, Ireland, opening for Brad Paisley and The Band Perry. We competed in Irish dance when we were younger, but injuries prevented us from continuing. Jair, Jenny, Jack and Jedi are all Oireachtas champions and Jair placed sixth at All Irelands and seventh at Worlds several years back. We did compete with the Kristin Butke School (Nashville) at the World Championships this year in the drama division.
One of the most beautiful things about Irish culture is the older generation passing the music, dance, stories, history and tradition down to the young people. Sometimes competitive Irish dancers miss this part. If you have never gone to a pub in Ireland during a session and spontaneously got up and danced because you were moved by the music, you have missed what Irish dance is all about.
Christy: What is it like to have siblings who also Irish dance? Are you ever in the same classes together?
Jair: Having brothers and sisters to dance with allows us to do so much. Creating choreographies and dancing together takes it to a whole new level. We have our own Riverdance! We have been in classes together and it works out great. We can help each other and encourage each other and then work on it at home.
Christy: Will we see you Irish dancing on the new show for Great American Country?
Jair: Absolutely! The cameras followed us to the World Championships in Boston where we competed in the drama division. I think there is a whole episode devoted to it. They filmed the behind the scenes work such as costume making, rehearsals, set design—even some of the set backs and disasters.
Christy: Do any of you plan to pursue careers in Irish dance performance or teaching? Jessica: We are all pursuing careers in music and dancing, but not just Irish. Riverdance introduced us to dance—all styles of dance. We all teach our younger siblings. Since we are on the road quite a bit we can't attend regular classes, so the younger kids in our family have to learn from the older ones.
The Willis Clan family band
Jair is the most talented dancer in our family. He is one of the few young men in the dance world that has incredible star power, and is multi-talented, like Michael Flatley. Jair definitely plans to base his career around dance and music, and with the help of his brothers and sisters, hopes to create a world-class brand of Willis Clan entertainment.
Christy: Do you have any fun or comical stories about Irish dancing together?
Jair: We got into swing dance because we did an Irish dance exhibition at a swing dance event and fell in love with that style. There is a cabaret division in swing dance competitions so when we started competing in swing, we always entered an Irish choreography in the cabaret division. One competition had a crazy competition where you put together a spontaneous group, and in 3 days choreographed a number to perform. We took about 15 swing dancers and did a number from Riverdance. In 3 days we taught them how to Irish dance, made costumes and put on a great show, brought the house down - and won the competition. Never had more fun!
Christy: What advice can you give to a beginning Irish dancer? Jessica and Jair: Embrace the whole culture - the music, dance, history, and the older generation. Listen to all the great Irish bands, and learn to play an Irish instrument. Even if you don't become an Irish musician, play some kind of drum so you become really good at rhythm. If you ever get a chance to take a class with Colin Dunne - do it! He will take your dancing to a whole new level. Baby your feet and try to avoid injuries.
Some parting thoughts from Jair:
One of our family goals in Irish dance and music is to bring back the social element. Live music with social ceili dancing is so much fun and very few competitive Irish dancers ever get the chance to do it. Last year our band played at the North American Irish Dance Championships in Chicago each evening before awards. It created such a fun atmosphere that dancers spontaneously got up on stage and started dancing. There were probably close to 100 dancers on stage at once. We hope to inspire Irish dance events to include social dancing opportunities for all the competitors and their families. Dancing should always be about meeting other people and having fun!
The Willis Clan Dance Drama at World Irish Dance 2013:
The Willis Clan premieres June 27 at 8p/7c on Great American Country (GAC).
All photos courtesy of Great American Country channel.
If you are paying attention to my Irish dance diet, you may have noticed how slooowly the weight is coming off. I am not discouraged though, because I've been converting fat to muscle. Go me! I'm getting so close to my goal and you know what that means? A solo dress! My oldest son (who is also in my Irish dance class) says that he can't imagine me in a solo dress. That's ok, buddy, I can!
Month: 7
Weight: 142.5
Weight lost: 12.5 pounds
Muscle gained: 12.17
Total fat loss: 24.67
Here are three ways that the warmer months can help you with your healthy lifestyle:
1-Summer is a great time to get in good shape.
It is easier to exercise in the summer because the weather is nice and we are more likely to get outside and be active. The sun sets later, and there are more hours in the day. It is easier to drag yourself out of bed in the morning if it is light outside. Swimming, hiking, biking, walking, running, dancing, whatever you love, get out and do it!
2-Summer fruit is such a luxury and can feels like a treat to the dieting you.
Strawberries, blueberries, apricots, peaches, apples and cherries! Is your mouth watering yet? You do much better on your healthy eating lifestyle if you feel satisfied, and fruit can help you fill that void.
3-Summer-wear can motivate you to keep on target.
You want to fit into your swimming suits when summertime comes around, not to mention those cute workout shorts that help you cool off while you are working out. Use those goals as an incentive to motivate yourself to stick to the routine and nutrition that helps you look and feel your best.
How does summertime motivate you to take better care of yourself?
Irish dancers enjoying themselves at the first WIDA open feis in North America.
Photo: Sharon Summerhays
On May 18, 2013, Irish dance schools in the Western United States came together for the first WIDA (World Irish Dance Association) competition in the United States.
WIDA is a fairly new Irish dance organization, based out of Europe, and focuses on organizing workshops, competitions, and examinations to help promote interest in Irish dancing, language, music, and culture. In recent years, schools involved with WIDA have popped up in North and South America. The Utah Legacy Open Feis is the first competition to be held in the United States.
Roisin Robson, TCRG, with members of the Tir Ruaidh Irish Dance Company Photo: courtesy of Roisin Robson
The open feis, held in Syracuse, Utah, was hosted by the Legacy Irish Dance Company. An open feis encourages Irish dancers from any organization to attend. Victoria Lambourne, TCRG (certified Irish dance instructor) at Legacy Irish Dance Company is amazed at how smoothly the event pulled together. Lambourne says, "The competitors were extremely supportive and encouraging of each other which lead to a positive, relaxed, yet competitive feis atmosphere."
Victoria Lambourne, TCRG with members of the Legacy Irish Dance Company Photo: Christy Dorrity
Lambourne recently attended the WIDA World Championships as an adjudicator in April of this year. Her perspective on teaching, coaching and dancing changed after attending this international event. "My whole perspective on the dancing completely changed after judging, especially such a huge event with such talented dancers," Lambourne says. "It gave me a greater, more in depth appreciation for the dancing."
When the Legacy Irish Dance Company joined WIDA in 2012, they began making plans for hosting a competition near them with the help of Tir Ruaidh Irish Dance Company in California. Soon, a date was set. Girls came by the busload to compete at the pioneering event. Parents and students all agree that the feis was a very positive, calm and fun event.
An Irish dancer proudly displays her ribbon at the Utah Legacy Open Feis 2013 Photo: Christy Dorrity
Solos in all age groups were held at the Utah Legacy Open Feis, including a Jump 2, 3 competition for toddlers, and Championships for older ages. Adults were thrilled to be included in the competition according to the level of their ability. Premierships by age level, and a treble reel competition motivated the Irish dancers to do their best.
In thinking about the future of Irish dance in the United States, Lambourne hopes that many of her students will go on to open schools in the future. "I would also love for the surrounding schools to be more involved with each other,"says Lambourne. "We can be more unified, regardless of what organization, to help promote the dancing that we all love."
Plans are already in place for hosting the Utah Legacy Open Feis next year, and the Tir Ruaidh Irish Dance Company will be hosting a competition in October, 2013.
New on the dance performance scene are a group who call themselves the Fusion Fighters. Wearing custom tap shoes and masks, these dancers combine Irish, tap, African gumboot, and hip hop, in an effort to push the limits of how each of these separate dance forms have traditionally been viewed.
The dancers remain anonymous as they perform onstage and in video. One of the dancers said, “The new age of dance is coming, and it’s more about the movement and not about us as individuals—less distractions and more intrigue.”
A masked identity allows the Fusion Fighters to transcend boundaries. “Because of a lack of identity of age, race, or color, our performance is accessible to a wide group of people,” said one of the dancers.
During a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Trafalgar Square (see video below), the mayor of London presented the Fusion Fighters to over 18,000 people. “It was quite a unique experience to have the mask on the whole time,” one Fusion Fighter said. “There was a tangible excitement in the crowd. Never mind that it was hard to breath.”
So how did this group come about? Two of the dancers had worked in Africa, learning the gumboot dancing. They met together in New York and found that they had similar goals: to bring something new to the dance performance world, and experiment with interactivity, technology, and comedy. The dancers agree: “We are more than a dance crew, we involve interaction with the audience through comedy, instruments, music, film, and technology.” Plans for more events with the Fusion Fighter's DJ, including laser lights, looping pedals and responsive technology, are already in the works.
Each of the dancers in the Fusion Fighters is an elite performer—a world champion in his or her field. They are multi-talented dancers who are able to perform each of the disciplines, and collaborate on the dance forms.
Much of the preparation for performances is done separately. The choreographers get together for a creative period and focus on the steps, making sure that each dance form is incorporated into the whole. The dances are then recorded, and each dancer starts his or her own rehearsal. A few weekends before a show, rehearsal are held together in London, working together to finalize the dancing.
Costuming for the Fusion Fighters is as eclectic as its members. Each piece of the “armor” you see in their first video was selected from vendors all over the world—Asia, Africa, and Europe. “I had a contact at Bloomindales, of all places, and got the boots for a great price,” one of the Fusion Fighters said. “We found a cobbler and had them custom made with taps.” The female member of Fusion Fighters was unsure of how the armor would work out for her, but she quickly got on board with the unique costuming. New masks are already purchased—you will get a chance to see them soon.
Shield of the Fusion Fighters
The group’s first video went live in March, and showcased the Fusion Fighter’s ability to pull the many aspects of each dance form into an engaging, limit-pushing experience. Currently the Fusion Fighters are performing at nightclubs and other events through Tourism of Ireland. They will be performing on a larger scale at the University of Limerick, The Gathering (in Dublin, Ireland), and the City of London Festival, among others, and boast a corporate crew who are available for performances anywhere in the UK. New videos are already in progress, each one very different, and plans for the future include performances with many unique interactive, and comedic elements.
“We want to bring people together and encourage Irish dancers to help and support each other, and not focus on the competitive nature that stems from Irish dance,” a Fusion Fighter said. "It's far from just being Irish; there are many different flavors in the melting pot that will appeal to a large range of people and ages. We want to be on the cusp of the wave of groups out there who are pushing along to experiment and evolve"
Watch for a groundbreaking video from Fusion Fighters, coming this summer.
Performance-ready Irish dancers Photo: deviantART user ukapala
April is a big month for many Irish dance organizations. The World Irish Dance Competition in Boston for An Coimisuin dancers, and the World and European Irish dance competition in Germany for WIDA are both held in April. Good luck to all of you ladies and gents working so hard. How do you make certain that you are ready to perform?
You practice your Irish dance steps over, and over until you think you've got it just right. But how do you feel when you hit the stage? Chances are, if you've performed, you've had days when you fly across the stage, and others when you can't seem to get your feet to obey you. Much of your success onstage will depend on what level of performance you are at. When performing onstage, there are three levels of performance:
1-Memorization
At this stage you are worried that you might forget a step. An observer may be able to see it in your expression as you mental calculate what comes next.
How to get past this step? Practice, practice, practice until your dance becomes engrained into your muscles and you no longer have to think about what your body is doing.
2-Self-consciousness
You are worried about what you look like to others. Are my feet turned out? Does my dress flatter my figure? How do I look when I leap?
How to get past this step? Perform your dance for anyone who will pay attention--your mom, your dog, onlookers in the grocery store. Prepare your costume, makeup and hair beforehand so that you feel confident.
3-Letting go
Now you are ready. Your steps are a natural extension of your feet, and you can turn inward and give the full expression of emotion and drama to your audience. This is the time to shine.
Have you ever experienced the third level of performance? How did you get there?
Monika Volkmar, Dance Personal Trainer Photo: courtesy Monika Volkmar
"My top 3 reasons for dancers to strength train are to correct muscle imbalances, to gain full body strength, and to improve technical execution." ~Monika Volkmar, Dance Personal trainer
Over the holidays I hired a personal trainer to help me with my Irish dance diet. I want to do this right, and balance good eating with strength training and cardio health. It's going great. I feel good, I'm losing fat and I'm strengthening my body. I'm going to a better Irish dancer!
I just finished throwing out all of the rest of the Christmas goodies that were still lurking around my house. You know exactly what I mean don't you? I think that as my family has grown, and I spend much of my time planning, cooking, storing food and the junk food makes its way into my house (how does it do that?), and that I have a harder time resisting food. Strength training is a great way to increase my metabolism, and counter those extra foods.
As I've been getting into personal training, I ran into Monika Volkmar, a personal trainer who specializes in dancers. I've asked her to answer some questions for us Irish dancers. She's very enthusiastic and I think you'll enjoy her advice.
Christy: Why is strength training an important part of a dancer's health?
Monika: Making a dancer stronger requires a more wholistic approach, taking the mind and body into consideration. And though there are many, many reasons for dancers to strength train, my top 3 reasons are: to correct muscle imbalances, to gain full body strength, and to improve technical execution. By becoming stronger, dancers can also improve elements of their technique, such as jumps, leg height, upper body carriage, turns and balance.
Monika Volkmar, Dance Personal Trainer Photo: courtesy Monika Volkmar
It is imperative however, to strength train in an intelligent way. Make sure you have a well-designed program to address your specific needs, and that you have a coach or partner to make sure your form is perfect.
Christy: Can you recommend some strength training exercises that may be helpful for Irish dancers?
Monika: I’m not going to pretend that I’m an expert on training Irish dancers(my training being mostly in ballet, modern and jazz dance). I can say that Irish dancers would benefit from strengthening the anterior core, hip extensors, and upper back, while working on ankle mobility.
Core strength is necessary to hold the trunk strong and prevent lower back injuries.
Upper back strength will help to maintain the upright posture of the shoulders. Developing a strong pair of glutes to extend the hips is of utmost importance. Your hips are where your power comes from so you must learn to use them!
I also understand that the posterior calf becomes quite shortened, and tight due to the fact that you’re constantly on your toes. It is, therefore, important to maintain mobility of the ankle to prevent things like shin splints, ankle sprains, Achilles tendinitis, and knee issues. Using a lacrosse ball to massage the calves, simple ankle mobility drills, and strengthening the tibialis anterior should be part of every Irish dancer’s self-care routine
Monika demonstrating the deadlift, which works core, glutes, hamstrings and upper back.
Here are some of my favourite strengthening exercises:
Squats: core, glutes, quads, upper back.
Deadlifts: (my favourite): core, glutes, hamstrings, upper back Single leg Romanian deadlifts: single leg hip stability, core strength, glute and hamstring strength
(note: Monika has videos for all of the above exercises on her YouTube Channel, including the one above)
Christy:What suggestions do you have for adult dancers?
Monika: As you age, you begin to lose muscle and strength, and joints become compromised, making you more at risk for injury. My advice: if you don’t already strength train, start now! Try to maintain mobility at the ankles, hips, and shoulders, and constantly work on stability of the knee, scapulae, and core. The older you get, recovery from injuries becomes more and more timely, so prevention is your best bet.
In all likelihood, you will get injured at some point. The stronger you are, and the better your nutrition is, the quicker you will bounce back! Most importantly, pay attention to your posture outside dance class and the gym.
And keep dancing! It’s good exercise for the heart, and keeps your brain sharp. Oh, and it’s fun too. Christy: Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us, Monika. To find out more information about Monika's dance strength training program, visit The Dance Training Project website.
