TRUTH.

I am graceful. I am powerful. I am an Irish dancer

did all 7 of my dances back-to-back. just concentrated on posture and keeping my chin up. kept going even when I tripped up.

reel to light jig though slip jig to single jig on to treble jig than hornpipe and finally, the blackbird.

my stamina isn't the issue. I'm mentally holding myself back. like I don't want to let myself finally succeed at something. I'm already a champ. I just need to step and claim my prize.

tuesday slump

feeling beat down. discouraged. I can pull through this. going to put a few hours practice in tonight and and a couple hours tomorrow morning at a dance mate's house.  thursday morning I can commit a few hours more and just pack and clean on wednesday.

I've not given a hint of a thought about my birthday on saturday as much as the competition. I can be who I dream of being. it's already happening. slowly, slowly. it's becoming a reality.

OOF.

had a dancer friend video me doing slip jig and oof! was it a blow to my confidence. I know I'm more than likely over-analyzing but it shows how the way I feel when I dance and how I actually dance are two very different things. my toes need to be turned out more, my arms in, my posture stronger and more steady.
how to fix this?

step 1: print out a picture of john carey with penned-in angry eyebrows. post it where you practice.

step 2: commandeer a mirror, any mirror. it may involved un-screwing things from off the wall but it's worth it.

step 3: strike a yoga pose. visualize your dances at their very best. repeat as much as necessary.

step 4: stare john carey right in the eyes as you work on your dances, piece by piece. try not to make creepy eyes.

step 5: rest. stretch. ab & back exercises.

step 6: run through your dances like a giant hell beast is chasing you around.

(repeat until KC)

I can do this. I can change what I don't like. there's still time. I don't have to give in. I'm better than that.

dancedancedance on the brain

my body's being incredibly kind to me by letting me practice for a few hours+ everyday. I really don't know how I didn't practice this much before. the more I practice, the more I want to perfect everything and keep that upward climb going.

that being said, my stamina is terrible. I've been so busy working on footwork that going full-out on 2 steps leaves me winded by the end of step 1.  OOF. my 3 steps in treble jig really needs to be up to par by the san antonio feis and hopefully well before that.

also, I might be lying about not changing my first step in the slip jig for KC...been practicing it so much that I keep wanting to change it around and really make it my own. I think for the 1/2 step when I do prelims I might add rocks and other more technical aspects since I feel like I can nail and show off with more precise footwork than do a whole bunch of tricks. even though I love bicycles and stag jumps--just not sure if I can get them down before then. we'll see.

in other news, I can't wait to get my dress re-skirted next month! so excited!!

97 days til the SRO

slip jiggin' it

late night jam: anton & sully slip jigs.
I love, love, love my new slip jig ending. I feel so confident with my 2nd step now. still want to change up my first step but it'll be after the KC feis. soft shoe round is looking solid for december.

basically sums up how I feel right now:

everything's up to date in Kansas City

2 new hornpipe steps. 1 new treble jig step. 2 new slip jig steps w/ a new ending. 2 reel steps that I've competed with before (but I want to go full-out on). I know the single and light jig inside and out but I'm going to really attack and concentrate on strong form. trad set will be blackbird w/ a concentration on getting loud beats and turn-out.

all of this to continually be working on and the KC feis is only a week away from this Saturday. needless to say, I had a dream last night about falling flat on my face at the competition. I think it's because I'm really putting my heart and 110% effort into it this time.

I felt terrible this time last year. I came back after 5 years of not competing and was pretty disappointed with my results. I'm in the same age group, same category, but I feel like a whole new dancer. I really think I can win. I really believe I can place into Prelims this time, fair and square.
I'm going to keep practicing every day until Sunday and stay at the studio all-day until I'm happy and feel 100% about how my dances look.

for once in my life, I feel completely focused. one goal: to progressively get better and better and recall at oireachtas in December.
I can do this.