IrishCentral: Adult-friendly feiseanna in October - Irish dance competitions for adults

Heritage Irish Stepdancer adults from Colorado practice an 8-hand.


Photo by Steve Wille

This article first appeared on IrishCentral.com.

Many feiseanna offer competitions for adults. Here's a quick glance at the adult-friendly feiseanna in October. Plan on supporting a feis in your area that includes adult Irish dancers.

*source: www.feisworx.com 

Key: FF-first feis B-beginner, N-novice, PW-prize winner, O-open championship, / indicates combining of levels.

Portland Feis 2011 Portland, OR - Oct 1, 2011 to Oct 2, 2011 Murray School B, N, PW 4 soft shoes 2 hard shoes, traditional speed traditional set 2,3,4,6,8 hand figures specials: first feis reel, treble reel, soft shoe reel, slip jig -------------------- READ MORE: Songs for the Sept. 24-25 Irish dancing competitions - VIDEOS Guys in Irish dance and their gravity-defying hair - PHOTOS of styles An Irish dancer’s St Patrick’s Day countdown -------------------- Crossroads Feis 2011 Salt Lake City, UT - Oct 7, 2011 to Oct 8, 2011 Power Academy of Irish Dance B, N, PW 4 soft shoes 2 hard shoes, traditional speed traditional set 2,3,4,6,8 hand figures specials: treble reel

Feis an Fhomhair (Irwin Feis) 2011 Calgary, AB - Oct 7, 2011 to Oct 9, 2011 Irwin School of Irish Dance B, N, PW 4 soft shoes 2 hard shoes, traditional speed traditional set 2,3,4,6,8 hand figures, progressive Florida Suncoast Feis 2011 Palm Harbor, FL - Oct 7, 2011 to Oct 8, 2011 Stephen Scariff School of Irish Dance B, N 4 soft shoes 2 hard shoes, traditional speed traditional set 2,3,4,8 hand figures, family dance

Chicago Pat Roche Feis 2011 Chicago, IL - Oct 8, 2011 to Oct 9, 2011 Trinity Academy B1/B2, N/PW 3 soft shoes 2 hard shoes, traditional speed traditional set 8 hand figures Tampa Bay Feis 2011 Palm Harbor, FL - Oct 8, 2011 to Oct 9, 2011 Stephen Scariff School of Irish Dance B, N 3 soft shoes 2 hard shoes, traditional speed traditional set 2,3,4,8 hand figures, family dance

Phoenix Halloween Feis 2011 Phoenix, AZ - Oct 15, 2011 Maguire Academy Phoenix B,N,PW 4 soft shoes 2 hard shoes, traditional speed traditional set 2,3,4,6,8 hand figures specials: parent-child 2 hand, thriller special, music Feis Orange County 2011 Orange, CA – Oct 22, 2011 to Oct 23, 2011 Fearon O’Conner School B,N,PW 4 soft shoes 2 hard shoes, traditional speed traditional set 2,3,4,6,8 hand figures specials: treble reel Enchantment Feis 2011 Albuquerque, NM - Oct 29, 2011 Irish Stepdancers of NM and Coleman Academy B, N/PW 4 soft shoes 2 hard shoes, traditional speed traditional set 2,3,8 hand figures

Feile Samhain 2011 Vancouver, WA - Oct 29, 2011 to Oct 30, 2011 An Daire B,N,PW 4 soft shoes 2 hard shoes, traditional speed traditional set 2,3,4,6,8 hand figures, adult/child figure specials: reel, treble reel

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IrishCentral: Neck stretches for Irish dancers - health tips and warm-ups

Neck stretches can reduce injury for Irish dancers
Photo credit MD Anderson's Focused on Health

“Tall and straight my mother taught me; this how we dance.” ~Riverdance

As Irish dancers, we are unique in the way that we dance—our arms pressed to our sides, our torsos unmoving and our necks positioned forward at all times. With simple warm ups and a few tips, you can keep your neck in good condition and prevent injuries.

Common sense neck health tips:

-When you are sitting, use good posture.
-Alternate sitting and standing throughout the day.
-When standing for long periods, prop one foot up on a stool to alleviate pressure on your spine.
-While driving, keep your seat close to the pedals so you don’t slouch.
-When dancing, relax your shoulders. Your teacher will love you and you will look better. Try not to clench your fists and keep your upper body straight but relaxed.

Neck warm-ups for Irish dancers:

-Sitting upright and facing forward, gently bend your neck to one side. Repeat on the other side. 10 repetitions.
-Sitting upright, turn neck and face right and then left. 10 repetitions.
-Sitting upright and facing forward, bend neck forward, placing chin to chest, then tip neck backward only as far as is comfortable. 10 repetitions.
-Stand with feet together and knees slightly bent. Hold one arm below the opposite elbow and bend your neck away from that arm. Repeat on the other side. 6 repetitions.
-Interlace fingers above head. With palms facing upward, push arms back and up. Hold for 10 seconds.
-Shrug your shoulders up toward your ears. 10 repetitions.
-Circle your shoulders up to your ears and forward in a rotation for 10 repetitions then repeat the exercise in a rearward rotation.

If you feel any soreness or pain in your neck after dancing, be sure to rest, apply ice and seek medical help if necessary.

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IrishCentral: Organize and display your Irish dance medals in a scrapbook

Irish dance medals

This article first appeared on IrishCentral.com.

Holding an Irish dancing medal is a satisfying thing--all of the hard work and time you've spent in practice is validated by that little token presented to you at a competition.  You give the medal a place of honor, perhaps on your dresser or hanging next to your ties or necklaces in your bedroom.

But after you attend a few feisanna, you have more medals than you have space on your dresser. If you have family members who also feis, you know that those medals end up on the floor, on shelves or filling a dresser drawer.

What to do with all of those medals?

Irish dance medal scrapbook

One easy solution is to place the medals in a scrapbook.  I first heard of this idea from Sharon, a fellow adult Irish dancer and feis mom.  

Sharon took a scrapbook and filled it with protective sheets that are used for baseball card collecting.  Each medal has its own little pocket.  She then printed labels for each medal and used the sticky back to seal off the opening of each pocket to prevent the medals from slipping out.  Sharon then decorated the front of the scrapbook with a first place ribbon.

Card collecting sleeves neatly display Irish dance medals

The scrapbook can also include feisanna results printouts, photos and written memories. 

You can create your own Irish dance medal scrapbook or purchase a ready-made album from Sharon.  Email her at dressforthefeis@hotmail.com for more information. 

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IrishCentral: Interview with Alice Butler, adult Irish dancer at McGrath Academy of Irish Dance

When I talk to other adult Irish dancers, I often find that they feel isolated. While you may be the only adult dancer in your area, there are thousands more who lace up their hard shoes and pound the floor with seasoned feet. Watch for more spotlights each month.

Alice Butler, adult Irish dancer at McGrath Academy of Irish Dance

This article first appeared on IrishCentral.com.

When did you begin Irish dancing?  I began Irish dancing ten years ago. I was 58 years old and thought I would simply learn a jig that I could perform at my friend's annual St. Patrick's Day Party. I never intended to compete, but was encouraged to do so about six months after I started lessons and, to my surprise, I placed in every Feis I competed at and within three years had reached Adult Prizewinner Level.

Would you rather compete or perform?  Performing is a lot of fun but one has to compete to be able to put on a good performance. Competing keeps one's dancing sharp and focused on technique which makes a performance look so much more professional. I have competed in many states inthe U.S. as well as in Canada and Acapulco.

Alice Butler, adult Irish dancer

Do you prefer soft shoe or hard shoe?  I prefer hard shoe, perhaps because my dream when I started dancing was to be able to execute a treble reel - just like Riverdance!  Also, the traditional hard shoe dances do not require the high kicks that are now a part of all the advanced steps in soft shoe dances, and the hanging overs are almost impossible for an older adult dancer to achieve.

What is your advice to adult Irish dancers who are beginning their Irish dance journey?  Focus on technique: turnout, point, arch, cross over, lift behind.  My first teacher, whom I had for two years, did not emphasize technique, and it is much more difficult to correct bad habits than to learn the correct way from the outset.

Alice Butler teaching a class of children

Do you teach irish dance or have plans to do so? I am an assistant teacher with the McGrath Academy of Irish Dance but, unfortunately at 68 years old, it is too late for me to consider studying for the TCRG.   I am motivated to teach by my love of Irish dance and my desire to pass the joy of the dance onto the next generation.  

What do you think the future holds for adults in Irish dance?  Adults take Irish Dance because they really want to learn and I get a great deal of satisfaction out of helping them achieve their dream. I believe it is possible for an athletic 18 to 30 year old to drop down to compete with the young champions and go all the way to the Worlds. I am hopeful that at some point a certification will be offered for assistant teachers which would allow them to teach up to prizewinner level without the presence of the TCRG certified teacher. The ability to use good adult dancers in this way would help immensely to promote Irish dance.

If you are an adult Irish dancer (any level or age) and would like to be spotlighted, please send an email to christy at dorrity dot net. 

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