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