4 Tips to Prepare Mentally in Irish Dance

Hello Irish Dancers!

With Oireachtas right around the corner, I know from experience that it takes a lot more to achieve your goals than just physically preparing.

I have under 2 weeks now until the big O and I know each day I get more and more excited and nervous. I know I am not the only one either. So, here are some of the things I have been doing to train my mental side in dance.

1. Watch motivational videos.  They can be dance videos, parade of champions of year's past or a sports movies. What motivates you? Find it. Post it. I tell the little girls at my school the same thing. You have to find that one thing that motivates you more than anything else. Let it give you that feeling that you can do it. It could be an individual, a video, a song, a quote, etc. My number 1 thing is the video below. The feeling I get after watching it makes me feel, UNSTOPPABLE! I absolutely love this video. Everything is on point and it is a huge motivation to me as I prepare my mind.

Click here to watch this video!

2. Eliminate the things making you doubt yourself.  I make a list of every single one. One of my weakness in dance right now are my heels. I, at times, fall very low on my heels and the same question kept popping into my head. Why do I think I can win if I have low heels? How am I ever going to beat them with low heels? Well, the answer to that is easy and simple: Fix it. As soon as you address it, there will be no more doubt.

3. Look back. Remember where you started.  Find pictures of your first feis. Look at yourself.  Watch past videos of yourself and remember everyone starts from the bottom.  You may not be where you want to be but you are on your way. Really remember what it was like to learn a new jump or an entire new set and how you may not have gotten it right at the beginning. Remember that feeling of accomplishment. You are on your way. You will be better today than you were yesterday. Be thankful for where you are and how far you have come.

Click to watch my favorite video!

4.  Find the good side of this journey. It can be challenging at times but if you leave all the negative thoughts from yesterday in yesterday, your mind will become more positive. Forget about everything that happened in the past. If you had a bad day, move on. If you had a good day, be grateful. Give yourself pats on the back. Find the one great thing you did today at practice and feel proud. Focus on those good things.


I hope these tips help you.  I think the mental toughness from me is credited most to my mother. She made me realize that despite the hours, the days, weeks, months, years in the studio preparing for one event doesn't matter at all if you do not show up on the day mentally. She always tells me to dance like I have been there before. Dance BIG and walk like a champion even if you don't think you are.

You wouldn't be normal if you didn't have doubts or negative thoughts, at least one. You have got to let it go otherwise you will bring it up on stage with you. Doubt is the one thing you don't want to shine on stage.

Now, how far away are you from Oireachtas?

What are your goals?

Why do you think you deserve them more than anyone else?

~Bella Irish Dancer

"Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you are right."

~Henry Ford 

To Irish Dance Moms: The Do's and Don't of Oireachtas.

On a couple of our parent boards and social media, I saw a few first time Oireachtas moms ask for advice. Even though my point of view is a little different, I am going to throw my two cents in from a dancer's view point so that your day with your dancer can go as smooth as possible.

Please fee free to comment below with your additions and pointers.

 

 So, for those first time Oireachtas Moms, this is for you.

The Do's and Don'ts for Irish Dance Moms at Oireachtas 

1. DO: wake up early with a great attitude and then wake up your child. A lot of the days attitude is similar to the first minutes of waking up, at least, for me.  This means you really need to go to bed early. This is hard the night before a big competition but do it even if it means laying in bed listening to music.

2. DO NOT: Rush! It will only make your dancer more nervous.  Allow more time than you think to get all those items done before heading down to the hall. When you rush, you forget.  Trust me you do not want to forget ANYTHING!

3. DO: While you are doing your dancer's hair and make up, have him/her listen to a motivating song to get them pumped up for the day!  Music makes me feel good. Listening to a little Script Feat. Will I. Am's, "Hall of Fame" is a great example.

"You can be the greatest. You can be the best. You can be the King Kong banging on your chest" 

Or my dad would say anything from the movie, Rocky.  But whatever gets them in the right mood is the right choice. 

4. DO NOT: Mention anything about messing up on the hair and make up while you are assisting.  I cannot stand when my mom does this.  When she says, "OOOPS" or "Oh no",  I start thinking that everything is going down hill and it is completely unfix-able.

5: DO:   Fix the wig. If you end up with something you do not like, redo it NOW, not downstairs in the convention hall. Your dancer should not be thinking about their  hair in the hall. As a dancer, your mind is going a million miles a minute prior to check in. Let it be filled with their steps and a winner's attitude.

  A little side note: In 2012, I put my wig on poorly and I ended up redoing it in between rounds. It was a nightmare for me and my mom.  I even dropped my placement that year. I do realize that this was not because of my wig, but I am superstitious. I think it kept me from focusing on what was important.

6: DO NOT: Keep adding more makeup when you are all ready in the ballroom. Before going on stage, definitely do a few touch ups but don't do it often. (My mom needs to work on this one. HAHA!) Let your dancer drink lots of water which means don't do touch ups until right before they go on.
Fussing over make-up makes your dancer nervous.

7: DO: Make sure she is working on preparations like stretching.  Don't let her fool around with her friends before competitions. She will not be focused.  Make sure she gets time with her dance teacher without you. They will get your dancer properly warmed up and in the dance mindset.

8: DO NOT: Let your dancer just walk around the center.  If they are going to watch a friend dance, make sure that they are with their dance teacher. Don't risk missing a round. You will be disqualified. I don't think the Oireachtas judges smile too kindly on being late.  I've never done it and I wouldn't want to push this. This day is not really about socializing until you are done with your rounds.

9: DO: Give a good Mom pep-talk. I don't know how you guys do it. My mom always finds the right words to calm me down and to get me focused to win! Focus on stage presence and confidence: the practice part is behind you. Leave the last minute dance tips to their teacher and let your part be telling your daughter to walk on like a champion, even if they don't feel like one yet.

"Fake it til you make it"  

10: DO NOT: Let your dancer get cold in between rounds. Make sure they are stretching or running through their dances. A cold dance is not a good dance. Do exercises like ankle and hip rotations, as well as, calf and hamstring stretches.


BEST OF LUCK!

Oh and most importantly, go out there and have fun. Don't just go for the experience. If you put in the practice, do your very best.

You are already there, why not go for the recall?

Top 25? Top 10? Top 5? Top 3?

~Bella Irish Dancer

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you"ll land among the stars."

~Les Brown

I am back!

Hello!

Sorry I have not written in a very long time. This summer has not been one of my favorites.

As you may know, my grandpa was diagnosed with stage 4 lung and bone cancer in January. This hit our family very hard. On June 8, 2014, my grandpa took his last breath at home surrounded by all of us. Fortunately, all his friends and family got to say goodbye before things really went downhill. I know he is still supporting me from heaven and definitely encouraging me to get back into shape.

My dance teacher judged the nationals so I couldn't go. Things happen for a reason and I am so thankful for this. I know I would not have been very focused if we had decided to go. Not being very dance motivated this summer, I found myself stumped on what to write about. I mean I wasn't really preparing intensely for anything; I had no feisanna except in June.

https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheParadeOfChampions

It seemed like my whole dance school was on a huge break, which is nice, but I hate being away from dance class.

And now, my summer is abruptly ending with high school starting July 31st this year!
Eeeek!  I feel like this summer has blown on by.

So, it is back to the blogging and dancing routine I love.

My "journey" continues again as Oireachtas 2014 is only 114 days for me!

It is time to rethink my goals for the big "O" and most importantly, think about the action that needs to go along with those dreams.

Oireachtas will sneak up on you quickly!

What are your Oireachtas goals? Recall? Top 25? World Qualify? 1?

I would love to hear from you.

Send me your feis photos so I can post them on Facebook or Instagram! (Direct message on IG or private message on Facebook)

"If you can't fly, then run. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward." 

~Martin Luther King Jr.

An Irish Dancer's Thanksgiving!

Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow and the end of 2013 is around the corner, I would like to look back on this year and tell you WHO in my life I am so thankful for. 

I am grateful to my mom for taking me to Maguire Academy of Irish Dance when I was a little burned out with ballet.

I am grateful for my teachers. I would not be anywhere in dance without my Irish dance coaches, Darren Maguire, Maeve Croke, and Helen Buck. They have taught me Irish dancing in the best way possible. They have pushed me and encouraged me when I felt like I could not do more.  There are no words that could really describe exactly how grateful I am to have them. They believe in me when I have my doubts during practice and guide me to my goals even if it seems a little high and out of reach. They have given me this passion I have for dance and I get to take that with me throughout my life.  That is a gift that keeps giving. 

 I am grateful (at least, today) for the millions and millions of drills we do at practice! I know it has made a difference. (If they read this, we will probably be doing more drills).  The details are very important in placing.

I am grateful for my faith in my teachers. I know that no matter how long it takes, Mr. Maguire, Ms. Croke, and Ms. Buck will get me to the parade of champions on the WORLD stage!

The best teachers in the world!
2nd place Oireachtas 2013

I am so thankful to my Mom and Dad. Without my parent's support,  I wouldn't even dream as big as I do without them making me think it is possible.  London for the World Championships is a great example.  Without their encouragement, I wouldn't be at the dance level I am and I wouldn't have this blog.

I am, especially, grateful to my little sister, Riley. In 2011, when I won 5th place at the Oireachtas, she was one of the first people I saw on stage.  She had made her way to the front row and was balling her eyes out.  She may have been more excited than I was.  I am so grateful that she supports me and pushes me to be competitive.  And I know I owe her many thanks for sitting countless hours at local feisanna.

A big thanks to all my grandparents and my uncles and aunts. They always support me and motivate me to be the best that I can be.

I am so thankful for my dance school.  I am not just talking about my friends in dance class.  I am talking about all the beginner mom's who stop to ask about my dancing and text me congratulations. I am so grateful for the older dancers I watched that made me think I can do better and be better. That means so much. I am so grateful for all the families that make up our GREAT school at the Maguire Academy!

Maguire Academy of Irish Dance, Arizona,-Texas 

Last but not least, I am grateful for all my followers on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and on my blog. You guys truly motivate me and help me improve my writing for school. Plus, I love expressing my feelings to people who feel the same way I do. I love hearing all the feedback from you and seeing what you think.

What are you grateful for?

Happy Thanksgiving,  Irish dancers!

"Today I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirits, and the voice of hope that says... all things are possible"

~Unknown

5 Things I love about Irish dance

Things I love in Irish Dance:

1. I love the competition.
I love to go to competitions and really show what I can do. I love when you have practiced a step a hundred times and nail it on stage.  Of course, I love the win and all that swag that comes with it.

Credit to who ever made this. I found it off Tumblr

2. I love the hard work of practice.
  
I love when you are so absorbed in practice it flies by.  I enjoy coming home soaked from the sweat. I love the moment when  you finally get that step or jump at class that seemed like it was impossible a hundred times before and then you suddenly get it.  I think one of the things I love the most is that if you work hard, nothing is impossible! My dance friend, Victoria Schull, went from not recalling her first year at Oireachtas to placing third the next year. That says a lot about what you can get done in dance.  I remember asking her how she did that and she said "I used that drive to practice. I practiced jumps in my hallway and really broke everything down." I love knowing that if you work hard, you can be unstoppable.

3.  I love the friendships in Irish dance:
I love the core of friends I have made at my own dance school. It is a place where I can escape from school and be with people that have the same passion as I do.
I love the new friends I have made at the different feisanna. I look forward to seeing them at competitions.  They are not just my competition but a friendly face.
I love the friends I have made through social media sites.  I met a dancer on Instagram from Australia and I know a few people in England and Ireland! Plus, having friends and seeing those familiar faces every where you dance just makes you less nervous at every single competition.


4. I love the performance of Irish dance. 
I love being on stage.  I like the showmanship of Irish dance. I love the dresses, the accessories and occasionally the wigs.  I know I may be the only one. I love the sparkle and the bling.  I love the whole package of a competition day.

5. I love the traveling:
I don't just love going to new places,  I love the preparation of travel almost as much as the going.  I love to pack. I love the journey meaning I love the airplane or car rides so that I can have time to just think about my dances.  It is a good time to visualize about how I am going to perform.
I do love the new places, too.  My favorite cities I have been to for dance are Dublin, Chicago, or Boston. Irish dance has brought me and my family to many beautiful places.

What are your favorite things about Irish dancing? 

Comment below.  

~Bella Irish Dancer

"To succeed you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality"

~Anita Roddick 

   

What Gets You Further in Irish Dance? Hard Work or Talent.

My emotions are all over the place lately.

 I'm learning this new set for my upcoming Oireachtas. A few nights ago was probably one of my worst dance classes....EVER! I got so frustrated and hated the set, all I wanted to do was scream! To top that off, some of the other girls in my class pick up the steps SO easily. They just get up there and do it.  WHAT??????

It is so frustrating to absolutely struggle with certain steps and then turn around see other dancers just do it after seeing it a few times.  I don't get it.

I know there are many girls that are more talented than me and pick up steps faster than me but I know without a doubt I work insanely hard! I love Irish dancing and I strive to improve.
This is what makes me so mad even though I know my hard work is what make me so successful (eventually).

But why?

How come I have to work so hard in class while others just pick it up naturally and get to fool around and talk during class?

As my mom and I were discussing this question, she asked me which one wins the title?

I think in the beginner-intermediate levels the girls that are talented come out of those levels faster if they have a little in-born talent.  Maybe hard work is learned and younger dancers don't need to work as hard? I don't know  but I definitely remember struggling to learn steps and moved up fairly quickly to Open champion. So, I guess I am clueless.

What gets you farther in Irish dance?  Hard work or Talent.   

After this conversation, I remembered a quote said by Tim Notke, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." I totally agree with this statement 100% but it is so hard to watch "the talent" not work hard and sweat like I am and turn around and perfect a step I'm struggling with.

I guess I need to remind myself that my hard work will pay off.  My dance friend, Madison said, "Just focus on yourself and when the time comes for competition the winner will be the one who has perfected every little thing at the classes because according to JIG THE MOVIE, you have to be foot perfect."

After practice tonight, I noticed I am getting better and that my attitude for this set isn't so negative. I did come home this week happy that I get to do this set.  I am happy I am able to get some of it right. And then on the other hand, I am crying out of frustration.  Ugh! I guess I am really just lucky I get to do something I am so passionate about. I need to remind myself of this.

What do you think?  What gets your further in Irish dance?  Talent or Hard Work.   

Have a great week!

~Bella

"I never dreamed about success. I worked for it"

   ~Estee Lauder