Adult-friendly Irish dance feiseanna for February

Adult Irish dancers demonstrating ceili dancing
photo credit: Ainemcg/flickr

Many feiseanna offer competitions for adult Irish dancers.  Here's a quick glance at feiseanna that are friendly to adult Irish dancers in February.
Plan on supporting a feis in your area that includes adult Irish dancers and keep an eye out for those feiseanna who are offering slow speed dances for adults. 
*source: www.feisworx.com 

Key: FF-first feis B-beginner, N-novice, PW-prize winner, O-open championship

Heart of Texas Feis 2012
Houston, TX - Feb 4, 2012
McTeggart Irish Dancers of South Texas
B1/B2, N/PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, slow speeds are offered for adults

2,3,4,6,8 hand

specials: traditional set

Mall Of America Feis 2012
Bloomington. MN - Feb 4, 2012 to Feb 5, 2012
O'Shea Irish Dance

B1/B2, N/PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional speeds only

traditional set

8 hand

specials: music

Rince ISSS Championships 2012
Edmonton, AB - Feb 4, 2012 to Feb 5, 2012
Knock School of Irish Dance

B, N, PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, 

traditional set

2,3,4,6,8, progressive

specials: art

Shelley Wasatch Winterfeis 2012
Kearns, UT - Feb 4, 2012
The Shelley School of Irish Dance

B, N/PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, slow speeds allowed 

(even though the syllabus states otherwise)

traditional set

2,8, hand 

specials: double reel, art

The North Coast Feis 2012
Celevland, OH - Feb 4, 2012
Various Cleveland Area Dance Schools

B1/B2, N/PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional speed only

traditional set

Feis Na Tara 2012
Atlanta, GA - Feb 17, 2012 to Feb 18, 2012
Mulligan School of Irish Dance

B1/B2, N/PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional speed only

traditional set

4,8 hand

specials: music and spoken Gaelic

St. Louis Irish Arts Feis 2012
St. Louis, MO - Feb 17, 2012 to Feb 18, 2012
St. Louis Irish Arts

B1/B2, N/PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional speed only

traditional set

4,8 hand; 2,3,4 parent/sibling 

specials: arts & crafts, music

St. Louis Winterfeis 2012
St. Louis, MO - Feb 19, 2012
St. Louis Winter Feis

B1/B2, N/PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional speed only

traditional set

6,8 hand; 2,3,4 parent/sibling 

specials: arts & crafts, music, baking

New Mexico State Championship & Feis 2012
Albuquerque, NM - Feb 25, 2012 to Feb 26, 2012
McTeggart, NM

B, N/PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional speed only

traditional set

parent/sibling 

specials: art 

Van Eire Feis 2012
Surrey, BC - Feb 25, 2012 to Feb 26, 2012
Van Eire Traditional Dance Assoc

B, N/PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe

traditional set

2,3,4,6,8 hand

specials: reel treble jig

*if you have a photo of your adult class practicing or performing that you would like to see featured, please email.

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Dropping down, an adult Irish dancer's dilemma

Photo Credit Curtis Judd Photography

This article was first published in the Oct/Nov 2011 issue of Feis America Magazine.

“This is my last feis in the adult category,” I confided to an adult dancer as we stood backstage, ready in our class dresses for the Prizewinner competition. After consulting with my TCRG, we agree that I can start learning slow speed dances, drop down to compete with the teens, and lift the ceiling on how far I can progress in Irish dance.

I didn’t expect to have second thoughts about dropping down to the “& overs”, but as I competed in the adult category and observed the adults who have already “dropped down” my decision began to waver.  Now that the time is near for me to drop down as an adult, I must weigh the pros and cons.

There are many reasons why I want to drop down, foremost of which are to challenge myself, compete and rub shoulders with the many dancers in my area who have dropped down already, and wear a coveted solo dress.

To me, the appeal of switching categories as an adult has to do with aspiring higher and pushing myself to get better. Even though I love to dance just for the sake of the art form, competition lights a fire under me that propels me forward in skill.  Because there is a limit to how far I can progress in the adult category, I look forward to dropping down to fuel my motivation to excel.

I love the camaraderie and encouragement of other adult dancers. Many of the adult dancers in my area have already dropped down into &overs and I would love to join them.

I can’t wait to dance in a sparkly, colorful, made-for-me solo dress. There’s something about knowing that you are dressed to kill that helps you dance your best.  Even though there are some dancers who wear solo dresses in the adult prizewinner category, I’m going to hold off on that privilege until I drop down.  I can’t wait until I’ve earned the privilege of dancing onstage in a solo dress.

While I can’t wait to drop down into the &overs, a few things have happened since my last feis to make me consider staying in the adult category. A recent ruling by IDTANA allowing adults to do slow speeds, my own health issues, and the added knowledge that I would be unable to not participate in an adult ceili team all make me pause and reconsider where I want to compete in the near future.

At the Irish Dance Teacher’s Association of North America meeting at the North American Irishd Dance Championships, the attending TCRGs voted to allow adult competitors to compete in slow and fast speed hard shoe dances.  Because the ban on slow speeds for adults went into effect before I began dancing, I have never competed in a slow speed hardshoe before—a new challenge and reason for staying in the adult category.

A surgery and a recent back injury make me wonder if I should stay in the adult category.  Those who drop down with the teens practice faithfully and keep their bodies fit enough to compete for champion level.  Until I can recover and train my body, the adult category is a good place for me to be. I can keep up on competition but allow my body time to heal until I can handle a more rigorous schedule.

I would love to be a part of an adult ladies ceili team before I drop down to the &overs.  While I attended what I thought would be my last feis as an “adult”, I learned that as soon as I drop down, I will no longer be able to be on a ceili team with the other adults at my school. This information made me backtrack a little—perhaps I should stay in the adult category awhile longer.

Continuing on with the adult category suits me at my current progress level. As I recover from health setbacks, I can go at my own pace and still compete. Slow speed dances will keep me busy for a year or more and I will be eligible to compete with an adult team.  Will I still aspire to drop down and try for champion levels?  You bet—it might take me a little longer than I originally planned, but before I know it I’ll be waiting backstage of the &over competition in my new solo dress.

IrishCentral: Cosa Meara provides a network for collegiate adult Irish dancers

This article first appeared on IrishCentral.com.

Cosa Meara is the first Irish dance network for collegiate Irish dancers. Cosa Meara (pronounced koh-suh mah-ruh) began in 2006 as a student-run Irish dance company at the University of Illinois. The organization was started to provide Irish dancers a way to meet together to practice, prepare for competition and do shows on campus. 

Adult Irish dancers perform through Cosa Meara at
University of Illinois, Chicago.
photo credit Cosa Meara facebook page

Currently there are ten branches of Cosa Meara in the United States, each at a different university:

• Florida State University
• Loyala University Chicago
• Marquette University
• Syracuse University
• University of California, Santa Barbara
• University of Chicago
• University of Dayton
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• University of Minnesota

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READ MORE:

Adult Irish dance team at Villanova University - VIDEO

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's Irish Dance Track offers program for continuing Irish dance education

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The branches of Cosa Meara govern their own group, but together they form a supportive organization that promotes Irish dancing. Individual dancers still belong to their own home schools and if they compete, they do so under their original Irish dance teachers.

Anyone that is interested in promoting adult Irish dancers on their campus, can contact Cosa Meara on their website to find out more information. 

Quick note: Registration for the Shelley Wasatch Winterfeis (February 4, 2012) closes tomorrow, January 21.  The TCRG there assured me that they will offer slow speed dances for hard shoes for adult Irish dancers, even though it is not listed on their syllabus.  To register, go to www.feisworx.com.

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IrishCentral: Adult Irish dancer Cecile Greard with Sarah Clark Academy in Paris, France

Adult Irish dancer, Cecile Greard with Sarah Clark Academy  

This article first appeared on IrishCentral.com.

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



Thank you, Cecile, for telling us a little about your Irish dance journey.


What drew you to Irish dancing? 

 I did a lot of dancing when I was younger, I started ballet when I was 4 and tap dance when I was 13. When I started working, I stopped it all but after a few years, I wanted to start dancing again and it was then that I found an ad for Irish dancing lessons in Paris. I first knew about Irish dancing a few years earlier when I saw a video (no DVDs then!) of Riverdance but I had no idea you could have lessons in France so I was very happy when I found that you could! I was first drawn to Irish dancing as it seemed to gather both dances I had previously practised and loved (ballet and tap dance) and I also liked the idea that it was new, in France at least, and unusual. I was also attracted to the skills you could try to reach that seemed so difficult and exciting at the same time! Finally, I think it's also the rhythm that drew me to Irish dancing, the fact that you can play music with your feet.

Adult Irish dancer, Cecile Greard with Sarah Clark Academy
in Paris France

Tell me about your dance school and the other adults that you dance with. 

My dance school is the Sarah Clark Academy, it was founded by Sarah Clark (lead dancer in Lord of the Dance) in 2004 in Paris, France. We now have about 150 students and I'd say at least half of them are adults. What I really like about my school is how supportive we are of each other. We help people who have trouble with steps during the lessons, we cheer for the people from our school during competitions and we have so much fun when we do shows! The other adults I dance with are in their 20's and 30's and a few of them are in their 40's. I've known some of them for quite a while now and we've really become friends, we go out together, we travel together and I'm about to become the godmother of my 2-hand partner's first child. I think that one big advantage of being in an adult class is that friendships are stronger and will probably last even after we stop dancing together. We're also able to discipline ourselves better and practice more independently. I also have two girls, one who's 12 and the other who's 15, in my class and I find they fit right in with us; and it's also fun to goof around with them and feel like a kid sometimes.

Which do you enjoy better, solo dancing or ceili dancing on a team? 

I enjoy both. Solo dancing is great as the steps are created by your teacher and my teacher makes great steps that really makes you move around the stage and she's always willing to alter them to fit each person's ability. It's also more convenient to be able to practise whenever you want since you don't need to have 7 other people to be available at the same time as you! But I also love ceili dancing as I really appreciate the team spirit. This year, the team is a mix of inexperienced and more experienced women and it's really humbling to see how the less experienced people are willing to work hard and take any advice they're given without feeling they're being picked on. I suppose that's also one advantage of being in a team of people who all started dancing as adults as I find they're ready to put their ego aside and not want everybody to look at them only as little kids do.

Adult Irish dancer, Cecile Greard

How are you preparing for your solo at the Worlds?

I have lessons twice a week in the evening and my teacher gives workshops every other week-end. During the school breaks when there are no lessons, I try to practise on my own twice a week. I wish I could do more but I work full-time and when I get home at 7.00pm, I'm tired and don't feel like going for a run or to one more lesson, especially when the fridge is empty or the dirty laundry basket is full! I've also decided to go to at least one feis in England (the Trainor feis in February): I know the level of competition is higher than in Mainland Europe and it'll push me and keep my motivation high till April as it still seems to be a long time away. Again, I wish I could go to more feisianna but I always have to travel far, spend at least one night in a hotel and it's too expensive. I've also decided to get a new solo dress and I've bought new hard shoes which are killing my feet at the moment! What keeps you coming back to dance year after year as a adult? I feel like it's really become kind of a drug. If I don't dance, after a week or two, my legs get itchy and I miss it so much. And I also miss my Irish dancing friends! I also find that every time I think I've hit kind of a ceiling and I won't improve any more (or even that my level is starting to decrease), I suddenly manage to do a step that I hadn't been able to do, or I unexpectedly place well at a feis and I find myself wondering how far I could go so the only way to actually find out is to keep dancing. When I did my first feis in beginner, I couldn't wait for the day I'd be able to do intermediate steps but couldn't imagine dancing in open. When I got to intermediate, I thought it'd be neat to be able to compete in open but I never thought it'd ever be possible for me to compete at the Oireachtas. And of course, when I did my first Oireachtas, I never thought I'd qualify for the Worlds and yet, here I am, 7 years after my very first feis, preparing for the Worlds and I still can't quite believe it! So I want to continue as long as my body can stand it and see what happens next!
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 READ MORE:

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Adult Irish dancers, with Cecile Greard

Do you have any advice for beginner adult dancers? 

 Don't hesitate to ask more experienced dancers for advice on shoes, practise patterns, food, steps, feisianna... Other adults are always ready to help. Practise between lessons: as adults, we need more time to remember and assimilate steps and I find that if I don't practise new steps between classes, I very easily forget them (fortunately, the 21-year-old in my class remembers everything for us!) and when you get more difficult steps, bring your camera and ask your teacher if you can film them, it really helps. Take good care of your body, drink plenty of water, stretch thoroughly after and between lessons, buy the shoes that fit your foot shape. I think adults don't necessarily get injuries more often than younger dancers but we definitely take more time to get back into shape so trying to prevent injuries is important. Finally, try to forget about how old you are. Sometimes, I catch myself thinking or saying "I'm too old for this!" but it's a bad excuse for not pushing myself harder. So in my head, I just think I'm 20 and try to ignore my body is telling me otherwise!

Adult Irish dancer, Cecile Greard

Thanks Cecile.  Good luck at Worlds 2012!


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IrishCentral: Adult Irish dancer's New Year's resolutions

You know what it takes, now do it!
Photo of adult Irish dancer taken by toosuto on Flickr

This article first appeared on IrishCentral.com.

Working will win when wishy, washy, wishing won't.

My greatest fear is that when I die, I will look back on my life and say, if only.  I doubt that I will say, if only I had watched more TV, or if only I had checked my Facebook account more often. The "if only’s" I regret will reflect the relationships and the talents I should have spent my time nurturing.

I don’t know about you, but I find myself having to constantly defend the time I set aside to dance. Not only do my family and friends vie for every second of the day but, surprisingly, I can be my worst enemy.  Even when I get into a rhythm, I find myself squandering away my precious time. It’s too bad, really, because I know that only practice will help me improve, ultimately helping me perform better and feel good about my placings at feiseanna. So, why do I freely give away the time allotted to bettering myself?

I think it’s all about focus.

Like Alice in Wonderland, I give myself very good advice, and I very seldom follow it. If there is a gap between an end result that I know is important,  and my willingness to take the steps necessary to get there, you can bet it’s usually one of two things:

 1-I don’t know what steps to take that will bridge the gap between dream and reality, or

 2-I am not motivated enough to take action.

 Whether lack of motivation or ignorance is at the root of your own problem, you will find it beneficial to reevaluate.  If you love dancing, but you cringe when a friend asks you to show them what you do, perhaps the dancing itself is your ultimate goal, and not the performance. On the other hand, if you work out a jig in the grocery store, not caring who sees you, performance or competition could be a better outlet for your creativity.

 Once you have decided on a goal, brainstorm some ways that you can reach it. Think specifically:  what do I need to do to reach my goal? Break larger goals into small, manageable steps. You want to go to Nationals? Slow down and eat that elephant one bite at a time. You would rather perform with your local dance school? Decide what it takes to do so.

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READ MORE:


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Play is the great equalizer for boys in Irish dance - boys will be boys

Adult Irish dance team at Villanova University - VIDEOS
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Then commit yourself. Write down a specific goal that you want to work towards.  Are you having a hard time making it to class? Change that. Set aside the time and do it. Do you want to advance to novice in your hornpipe? You know what it takes, now do it!

Go ahead; give yourself the freedom, the permission to reach your goals. Don’t let distractions or even others who may not support your goals get in the way. If dancing is important to you, set aside the time in your life to get it done.

Life can be busy,  with so many things competing for our time and attentions. Discipline yourself to know what you want, to list what it takes to get it, and then commit to put your plan into action.

Don’t be afraid, give yourself permission to dream and then get to work bringing that dream to reality.

For North America's favorite Irish dancing magazine delivered directly to your mailbox, subscribe now!