reel/hornpipe, take 2

had a sprained foot that set me back for a little less than 2 weeks. feels better, could always get stronger.

18 registered so far in my comp.

I can feel afraid but I can't show it. I need that fire inside me that I felt spark in Kansas City to grow--not just in competition but in practice too. my body wants to give up so quickly when I feel nothing's at stake.

practice every time like it's London or Montréal or whenever I get there.

I don't want to dance in DC without giving a fair fight. I'm not dedicating all this time, effort and money just to not recall. I need to get more serious and train even when I don't feel like it.

it's time.



remember the pain of losing in New Orleans? don't let it happen again. not without a bigger fight this time.

onward

I was very pleased with Kansas city. I still didn't place, but I got 4th for my soft shoe round so I'm thrilled. I gave my soft shoe my all and powered through the hornpipe even though I made some mistakes in my first step, got thrown off in my 2nd--I came back fighting during my 1/2 step. definitely have done better with my first two steps in class but probably the most aggressive I've been in competition.

now it's time to drill and gain more power in both my rounds.

finished choreographing the step for the orange rogue, now I have bits and pieces of the set in my head. it's ambitious. not crazy hard but it'll push me at my current level...I'm just afraid I'll get burnt out or frustrated before Houston and then will be left with no set. at least nothing I'm totally in love with.

I need to believe I can do it.

it's starting to feel VERY real

I'm starting to get a little anxious...but I just have to practice, practice, practice.

 

remind myself that...

and walk on to that stage like a champ.

KC, MO take 3

as an older dancer, I have to remember that my days are numbered.
I don't mean that in a negative way either. I just have to dance every competition like it's my last.

I've started asking myself, "would I be satisified with my performace if that had been my last chance to dance?" so far, the answer's always been 'no'.

I hold back. my nerves get the best of me. the movement isn't natural enough yet or aggressive enough or not practiced enough to just flow out of me.

I just have to get used to the repetition of it even if it drives me crazy.

I also have to get it out of my head that I'm only a strong soft shoe dancer. hard shoe is totally my thing because I can MAKE it my thing. I just need to put my heart in to it and not hold back. if I fall, I have to get right back in there.

KC feis, I'm fer ya. and I'm dancing this prelim like it's my last.

SRO 2013

this is the level I need to rise to for december. the feises are good to develop my stage presence and getting my steps out there and nailing them even when I get nervous but I'm not going to focus on placing though. the focus is going to be on quality and putting more work in where I'm weak--the placements will follow.

 it's not about the local comps. it's all about December. this is my real competition. I can't forget that. I have to believe I can do this.

kansas city 2013

I'm forecasting my summary for my experience at KC:

 

Austin has given me nothing but motivation.
I'm going to work smarter, build strength, and work on as much detail in my steps as possible.

KC, I'm comin' fer ya

tired after running through one reel step--

PROOF:
that,

a) I'm putting more energy in my steps and am trying to go all-out

and,

b) my stamina sucks

can I fix this please, before next Saturday?