And if you have any connections to an Irish dancer, you know exactly what I'm talking about. For most of the year, we are forgotten, shoved aside, and largely ignored by most of society, unless it's a big gig like Riverdance or Lord of the Dance. We have our own shows, our own competitions, and quietly get by doing that which we love best in relative anonymity.
But then here comes March 17th, a day that mostly carries connotations of green beer and shamrocks for the majority of the public, and is a source of both joy and slight dread for us dancers. St. Patrick's Day is the one time of year that the rest of the world goes, "Oh right! Irish dancing! That exists!" and subsequently demands that we do a show, parade, or performance at every possible opportunity. We dance indoors, outdoors, on existing dance floors and concrete pads, with generous room to move around or else cramped between tables as harried servers try to edge around out flying feet. This year is a little more sorted out, but last year we had a couple places that booked our group to perform, and then when we showed up they said, "what, you need a stage to dance on?" Sigh.
The school I'm with- Celtic Steps in Boulder, CO- is one of two schools that operates in Boulder, and the only one with adult classes. As such, we get asked to a number of places that kids can't or shouldn't go, like pubs, breweries, late-night shows and retirement homes, where kids would be a little too raucous for the residents. We also do outdoor festivals, parades, local schools and of course, a show or two at CU. Last year, the first time that we really made a huge push to get our school name out there, there were all of six or seven of us adult dancers, and two or three champs (dancers who compete at a serious level). Since most of the dances we do involve 3-4 people, that meant we were pretty much going nonstop throughout the show, which usually lasts 20-30 minutes.
If you haven't ever seen irish dancing, to know how grueling that can be for someone who does it on a non-competition basis, consider having to jump rope for that long. While moving forwards and backwards, and weaving in and out of other people. And keeping a smile on your face. While dying of thirst. It's not easy, but we all lived through it. This year rolls around and, as much as I love dancing, I was slightly apprehensive at doing it all again. The good news, however, is that we have four new dancers who are ready to perform with us, so we actually got to take a break now and then! True, what I consider to be the two most difficult dances were back to back, and had to be performed by those of us who've been there longer, but it was still nice to be able to take a breather after that before going out there again.
Even with my hectic schedule of work, school, volunteering, and raiding, I managed to sign up for eight performances this year. It's hectic, chaotic, and you have to literally be on your toes, because no performance is ever the same. Different people show up, the various stages we get to dance on can cause changes in how many people get to dance, and the setting can even circumscribe which dances we get to do, if it's a really small space! If the person you're used to dancing with can't make it, oh well! Grab someone else! If the spot that you're used to dancing in for group sets isn't available, oh well! Jump into a different spot and hope you remember what to do there! If it's an unusual stage, and you can't dance on and off the stage how you've practiced it, oh well! Get to where you need to be any way you can, that still looks semi-professional!
Dancing is, without a doubt, one of the most chaotic, disorienting, detail-oriented and physically demanding things I do. When I started, four years and thirty pounds ago, I had to take a break in the middle of most dances. The teacher, whom I adore, told us in the starting group to just get to your place, don't worry about the steps yet. Now, she's scolding us to turn our feet out, point our toes, keep our arms back, heads up, eyes up, stay in a line with your partner, and keep it snappy! Oh, and you'd better know what a double reel is, and how it's different from a single jig (I'm not so good at that part just yet). Class has gone from one hour, one night a week, to an hour and a half, two or three nights a week. But you know what? I wouldn't trade it for the world. We have an awesome group of people, an amazing teacher, and dance class never fails to cheer me up, even when we give it our all and hear "well, that wasn't the worst dance I've ever seen..."Cheers!
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| Riverdance |
But then here comes March 17th, a day that mostly carries connotations of green beer and shamrocks for the majority of the public, and is a source of both joy and slight dread for us dancers. St. Patrick's Day is the one time of year that the rest of the world goes, "Oh right! Irish dancing! That exists!" and subsequently demands that we do a show, parade, or performance at every possible opportunity. We dance indoors, outdoors, on existing dance floors and concrete pads, with generous room to move around or else cramped between tables as harried servers try to edge around out flying feet. This year is a little more sorted out, but last year we had a couple places that booked our group to perform, and then when we showed up they said, "what, you need a stage to dance on?" Sigh.
The school I'm with- Celtic Steps in Boulder, CO- is one of two schools that operates in Boulder, and the only one with adult classes. As such, we get asked to a number of places that kids can't or shouldn't go, like pubs, breweries, late-night shows and retirement homes, where kids would be a little too raucous for the residents. We also do outdoor festivals, parades, local schools and of course, a show or two at CU. Last year, the first time that we really made a huge push to get our school name out there, there were all of six or seven of us adult dancers, and two or three champs (dancers who compete at a serious level). Since most of the dances we do involve 3-4 people, that meant we were pretty much going nonstop throughout the show, which usually lasts 20-30 minutes.
 |
| A concrete floor "stage," in the middle of a walkway. |
If you haven't ever seen irish dancing, to know how grueling that can be for someone who does it on a non-competition basis, consider having to jump rope for that long. While moving forwards and backwards, and weaving in and out of other people. And keeping a smile on your face. While dying of thirst. It's not easy, but we all lived through it. This year rolls around and, as much as I love dancing, I was slightly apprehensive at doing it all again. The good news, however, is that we have four new dancers who are ready to perform with us, so we actually got to take a break now and then! True, what I consider to be the two most difficult dances were back to back, and had to be performed by those of us who've been there longer, but it was still nice to be able to take a breather after that before going out there again.
Even with my hectic schedule of work, school, volunteering, and raiding, I managed to sign up for eight performances this year. It's hectic, chaotic, and you have to literally be on your toes, because no performance is ever the same. Different people show up, the various stages we get to dance on can cause changes in how many people get to dance, and the setting can even circumscribe which dances we get to do, if it's a really small space! If the person you're used to dancing with can't make it, oh well! Grab someone else! If the spot that you're used to dancing in for group sets isn't available, oh well! Jump into a different spot and hope you remember what to do there! If it's an unusual stage, and you can't dance on and off the stage how you've practiced it, oh well! Get to where you need to be any way you can, that still looks semi-professional!
 |
| When we say on your toes... We mean it! |
Dancing is, without a doubt, one of the most chaotic, disorienting, detail-oriented and physically demanding things I do. When I started, four years and thirty pounds ago, I had to take a break in the middle of most dances. The teacher, whom I adore, told us in the starting group to just get to your place, don't worry about the steps yet. Now, she's scolding us to turn our feet out, point our toes, keep our arms back, heads up, eyes up, stay in a line with your partner, and keep it snappy! Oh, and you'd better know what a double reel is, and how it's different from a single jig (I'm not so good at that part just yet). Class has gone from one hour, one night a week, to an hour and a half, two or three nights a week. But you know what? I wouldn't trade it for the world. We have an awesome group of people, an amazing teacher, and dance class never fails to cheer me up, even when we give it our all and hear "well, that wasn't the worst dance I've ever seen..."Cheers!
Schwester! Glad you're enjoying it still... I can't imagine how hectic some performances must be. Love you!
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