Yeah, yeah, I know. At this point, it might make more sense to wait until after Monday and do another double entry. But I'm not big on the "sense" thing, so I'm going to update NOW (also, apparently I'm not very big on the "sleep" thing either).
At Monday's class, we finally had our permanent teacher back--Ann Richens. She'd been away traveling the world for the last three weeks or so, so we hadn't seen her since the first class in September (we'd had step-in teachers from the Richens/Timm Academy, who were cool too). It was fun getting to show Ann all we'd learned over the last few weeks. Unfortunately, I was just getting over a week-long virus and hadn't regained all my strength or energy yet, so I ended up having to sit out some bits so I didn't kill myself. Seemed like a good idea to me.
We started the class with a review of everything we've learned up until now. After doing all of that (and working on sevens/threes until I'm pretty sure we all felt like we were going to die), we learned another new jig step (heel and toe). We then ran through both "Walls of Limerick" and "Seige of Venice". This was particularly strange for us, because this was the first time the beginners had danced these two alone. There were so few people! Usually we're all running into each other. After this, the advanced dancers arrived. Ann tried to get the beginners to practice sevens/threes again in the back while the advanced dancers did some skip laps, but we somehow managed to confuse ourselves...and kind of almost run into the back wall. Ann then had the beginners do a skip lap while the advanced dancers watched, and then everyone did a couple laps together...wow that was a big circle!
We then got down to work on "Trip to the Cottage"...working on making sure everything looked good. We didn't really end up getting much further than we have over the last few weeks, but it was good practice of the first half. It's going to be interesting when we move on to the second half and the pretzels...I know a few of the beginners (Becky and Abra, mostly, because I talk to them the most) have be interested in learning that part.
After class, while the advanced dancers kept practicing, it was finally time to order shoes!!! My brand new ghillies should be arriving in a couple weeks, and I can't wait to finally get to dance in them.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Practice #4
So...I totally failed at posting after last practice. So in this post I'm going to try to update what has happened over the last TWO practices. :)
Last week, after reviewing skips and sevens/threes (which we pretty much do every class), the beginners learned our first JIG STEP. I promise that this is way more exciting than it may sound. The step we learned was a cross over and up step. The most complicated part of learning this was the fact that dancing in reel time (which is what the basic steps of skips and sevens/threes are all in) is in counts of three counts, while jig time is in counts of four. After learning this step to the best of our ability (which was mostly dancing it quite slowly), the experienced dancers came in for the joint class. We spent most of the joint class working on "Walls of Limerick" (the first progressive dance we ever learned), and then starting to learn another progressive dance, whose name I forget.
This week, class started with the weekly and ever torturous skip laps. You might think that skipping in laps around the practice room is no big deal, but it's actually INCREDIBLY tiring, especially when we go to music. After this, we reviewed skips up and back as well as sevens/threes in both directions. We then worked on reviewing the jig step, but this time going through it faster and then to music. Once the experienced dancers arrived, we worked on both "Walls of Limerick" and the other progressive dance. And then, after a short water break, we worked on "Trip to the Cottage" (the team dance we had started learning a couple weeks ago).
So that's the short version on the last two classes. Next class, we get to try on ghillies (soft shoes)!
Last week, after reviewing skips and sevens/threes (which we pretty much do every class), the beginners learned our first JIG STEP. I promise that this is way more exciting than it may sound. The step we learned was a cross over and up step. The most complicated part of learning this was the fact that dancing in reel time (which is what the basic steps of skips and sevens/threes are all in) is in counts of three counts, while jig time is in counts of four. After learning this step to the best of our ability (which was mostly dancing it quite slowly), the experienced dancers came in for the joint class. We spent most of the joint class working on "Walls of Limerick" (the first progressive dance we ever learned), and then starting to learn another progressive dance, whose name I forget.
This week, class started with the weekly and ever torturous skip laps. You might think that skipping in laps around the practice room is no big deal, but it's actually INCREDIBLY tiring, especially when we go to music. After this, we reviewed skips up and back as well as sevens/threes in both directions. We then worked on reviewing the jig step, but this time going through it faster and then to music. Once the experienced dancers arrived, we worked on both "Walls of Limerick" and the other progressive dance. And then, after a short water break, we worked on "Trip to the Cottage" (the team dance we had started learning a couple weeks ago).
So that's the short version on the last two classes. Next class, we get to try on ghillies (soft shoes)!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Practice #2
Tonight was my second practice with the Columbus Celtic Dancers. There were definitely a few less people in the beginning class than last week (although, we also got two brand new people, but it still seemed like there were less people). I got there way earlier than I had planned, but I got the chance to have a nice conversation with Becky, another one of the new dancers who also got there way early.
Once 6:30 finally arrived, we got to work reviewing the steps we learned last week. After that we learned a variation on sevens...instead of going to the left (like we did last week), we learned how to go to the right. This is a lot harder than it sounds, because the footwork feels completely different. I know I wasn't the only one who got all tangled in the legs/feet when we were working on that step.
After kinda-sorta-not really mastering our new step, and after the advanced dancers had arrived, we got to work reviewing the progressive dance we learned last week. We reviewed it for a little while, so we could remember the steps, and then danced it through a pretty decent amount of times. We were all dying after we finished.
And then it was time to learn our first team dance! It was actually one of the dances that the advanced dancers showed us last week. We only learned the first half of it or so, but that was a LOT of dancing anyway. It kind of reminded me of marching band...in that we were doing a lot of line-fixing. In this dance, we needed plenty of straight lines. The comparison stops there, but still.
Again, I got a great workout. This week my ankles/calves hurt more in the aftermath, but it was worth it.
Once 6:30 finally arrived, we got to work reviewing the steps we learned last week. After that we learned a variation on sevens...instead of going to the left (like we did last week), we learned how to go to the right. This is a lot harder than it sounds, because the footwork feels completely different. I know I wasn't the only one who got all tangled in the legs/feet when we were working on that step.
After kinda-sorta-not really mastering our new step, and after the advanced dancers had arrived, we got to work reviewing the progressive dance we learned last week. We reviewed it for a little while, so we could remember the steps, and then danced it through a pretty decent amount of times. We were all dying after we finished.
And then it was time to learn our first team dance! It was actually one of the dances that the advanced dancers showed us last week. We only learned the first half of it or so, but that was a LOT of dancing anyway. It kind of reminded me of marching band...in that we were doing a lot of line-fixing. In this dance, we needed plenty of straight lines. The comparison stops there, but still.
Again, I got a great workout. This week my ankles/calves hurt more in the aftermath, but it was worth it.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Practice #1
So the first practice is over and...I survived! There are a LOT of people in the beginning class with me--way more than they usually have, we were told. To start the class, we learned how to skip both forward and backward. One of the hardest things we did was we skipped (to music) in a circle for many, many laps. By the time we stopped, we were all completely out of breath. After we had gotten comfortable with skipping (again, both forward and backward), we learned a step called sevens. We practiced this step until the experienced dancers had arrived.
The way the class is structured is the beginners learn together for half an hour. After half an hour, the experienced dancers arrive and as a huge group we practice actual dances. At the end of half an hour of mixed class, the beginners can leave and the experienced dancers continue on with more difficult dances.
During the mixed class, the beginners all got paired up with an experienced dancer and we learned a progressive dance that incorporated the few steps we had learned at the beginning of our class. After we danced a few rounds of this and got the feel of dancing an actual dance, we were given a break. During this break, the experienced dancers showed off for us a bit--kind of like "this is what you'll be able to do in a while." At the end of the class, the officers were introduced, we had some announcements, and the beginners were dismissed.
All in all, I had a lot of fun and got a great workout. I'm very much looking forward to next week!
The way the class is structured is the beginners learn together for half an hour. After half an hour, the experienced dancers arrive and as a huge group we practice actual dances. At the end of half an hour of mixed class, the beginners can leave and the experienced dancers continue on with more difficult dances.
During the mixed class, the beginners all got paired up with an experienced dancer and we learned a progressive dance that incorporated the few steps we had learned at the beginning of our class. After we danced a few rounds of this and got the feel of dancing an actual dance, we were given a break. During this break, the experienced dancers showed off for us a bit--kind of like "this is what you'll be able to do in a while." At the end of the class, the officers were introduced, we had some announcements, and the beginners were dismissed.
All in all, I had a lot of fun and got a great workout. I'm very much looking forward to next week!
Welcome!
This is my new blog regarding my learning how to Irish dance. Starting tonight, I will be taking classes every week with the Columbus Celtic Dancers, an adult Irish step dance troupe in Columbus, Ohio. Under the encouragement of my friends, I have decided to keep a blog of my adventures in learning how to do Irish dance. This blog will include entries from practices, performances, and everything in between.
Just for your own information, I have never taken Irish dance classes before. The closest I've come is a DVD I bought this past spring called "Jean Butler's Irish Dance Masterclass" that I work with every so often. Yes, part of my fascination with Irish dance and culture stems from "The Pirate Queen," a musical that was on Broadway a couple years ago...but soon after I became interested in Irish dance, I started watching Riverdance videos and other Irish dance videos on YouTube. I quickly gained an appreciation of the art. So...now that I'm graduated from college and have some free time, I decided it was time for me to take the leap.
I hope you enjoy!
Just for your own information, I have never taken Irish dance classes before. The closest I've come is a DVD I bought this past spring called "Jean Butler's Irish Dance Masterclass" that I work with every so often. Yes, part of my fascination with Irish dance and culture stems from "The Pirate Queen," a musical that was on Broadway a couple years ago...but soon after I became interested in Irish dance, I started watching Riverdance videos and other Irish dance videos on YouTube. I quickly gained an appreciation of the art. So...now that I'm graduated from college and have some free time, I decided it was time for me to take the leap.
I hope you enjoy!
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