Dancegrl624
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2008
- Messages
- 4,984
Irish Dancing
Hi there! Well, I'm finally back with an update, but a non-Disney one. This past Saturday was Madison's class feis. We woke up nice and early so I could take TONS of foam rollers out of Maddie's hair. Gotta have those bouncy Irish curls! Once we were all ready to go, we decided to take 2 cars. Tony plays in a touch football league and had a game at Noon. At first, I did not like this idea, but it worked out well. You see, we were on our way when I realized I had forgotten my camera! So, I called my wonderful husband and he turned around to go get it. He really is awesome!
I had gotten directions to the Buffalo Irish Center the night before, but I didn't like the way it told me to go. I knew a different way, so that's the way I went. Well, silly me forgot about this massive construction project and I could not go the way I had originally intended. So, I called my DH first to let him know about it and then I called my parents. My dad is the king of maps and he talked me through the directions. I then had to do the same thing for my DH. We all made it safely ( and on time ) to the Irish Center.
We had plenty of time to get Madison ready which was great. I had to buy a headband for her hair, get on her skirt and vest and tie those nearly impossible gillies. Here's some pics of us waiting for Madison's turn.
Me and Madison...I'm definately NOT looking my best!! I was sooo tired! But, you can see my new hair!
Madison waiting to dance
In case you're not familiar with Irish dancing, I'll give you some info:
At a feis (fesh), you compete in different categories. Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Novice, etc. Madison is a Beginner, but within each category there are age groups. She competes in the Under 7 age group this year. It goes by your age as of January 1st of that year. Are you confused yet?? Anyways.....as the group before you is competing, you have to sign-in at your stage and line up. Then, when it's your turn, the stage helper lines all the kids up along the back of the "stage" (it's just a roped off area of floor). Then, you dance 2 at a time, bow to the judges and walk back to your line. You then have to stand there and wait for the rest of the group to finish dancing. At this feis, it was all kids from her school. At a REAL feis, it's kids from all over the place. So, you could be dancing with someone who is doing a different dance than you! Each school has their own jig, reel, etc. You have to watch out for each other!!! Sorry if this is confusing, but that's just how it is.
Waiting patiently for her turn to dance
After Madison danced her jig and her reel, we went to another room at the BIC. They had all different stations set up for the kids and parents to go to. At one station, she had to demonstrate a few basic steps and count to 8 in Gaelic. There was also a station for costume inspection (her skirt was too long), feis survival, a hair curling station and then a quiz station. The kids all had a little passport and got a sticker at each station. Madison had fun with that. We then went back to the dance room to watch some of the older kids dance. The senior girls did a little skit about what NOT to do at a feis and they also did the Rince Na Tiarna signature dance. It's done with no music and is amazing! (FYI- Rince Na Tiarna is the name of her school and it's Gaelic for "Lord of the Dance.") Then it was time for the awards!!!
They were giving out trophies for Best Tippy Toes, Best Smile, Best Feet and Best Tot (age 3 or 4). I had just finished telling Madison that I didn't want her to get upset if she didn't get anything when they announced her name for Best Tippy Toes!!!
There she is with her trophy! She was so surprised and excited!
At this feis, they wanted each child to leave with a medal. At a real feis, only one 1st, 2nd and 3rd place are handed out. But, on this day, every single child received a 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Madison got a 2nd place medal.
It had been a long day, but a very fun one. Madison had a great time and is now ready for her first real feis on June 6th. She was very nervous on Saturday, but she feels much better now.
Posing with her trophy and her medal outside the Buffalo Irish Center
I apologize for the grainy pictures. It was dark in the Irish Center and I'm still figuring out my camera!!!
Hi there! Well, I'm finally back with an update, but a non-Disney one. This past Saturday was Madison's class feis. We woke up nice and early so I could take TONS of foam rollers out of Maddie's hair. Gotta have those bouncy Irish curls! Once we were all ready to go, we decided to take 2 cars. Tony plays in a touch football league and had a game at Noon. At first, I did not like this idea, but it worked out well. You see, we were on our way when I realized I had forgotten my camera! So, I called my wonderful husband and he turned around to go get it. He really is awesome!
I had gotten directions to the Buffalo Irish Center the night before, but I didn't like the way it told me to go. I knew a different way, so that's the way I went. Well, silly me forgot about this massive construction project and I could not go the way I had originally intended. So, I called my DH first to let him know about it and then I called my parents. My dad is the king of maps and he talked me through the directions. I then had to do the same thing for my DH. We all made it safely ( and on time ) to the Irish Center.
We had plenty of time to get Madison ready which was great. I had to buy a headband for her hair, get on her skirt and vest and tie those nearly impossible gillies. Here's some pics of us waiting for Madison's turn.
Me and Madison...I'm definately NOT looking my best!! I was sooo tired! But, you can see my new hair!
Madison waiting to dance
In case you're not familiar with Irish dancing, I'll give you some info:
At a feis (fesh), you compete in different categories. Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Novice, etc. Madison is a Beginner, but within each category there are age groups. She competes in the Under 7 age group this year. It goes by your age as of January 1st of that year. Are you confused yet?? Anyways.....as the group before you is competing, you have to sign-in at your stage and line up. Then, when it's your turn, the stage helper lines all the kids up along the back of the "stage" (it's just a roped off area of floor). Then, you dance 2 at a time, bow to the judges and walk back to your line. You then have to stand there and wait for the rest of the group to finish dancing. At this feis, it was all kids from her school. At a REAL feis, it's kids from all over the place. So, you could be dancing with someone who is doing a different dance than you! Each school has their own jig, reel, etc. You have to watch out for each other!!! Sorry if this is confusing, but that's just how it is.
Waiting patiently for her turn to dance
After Madison danced her jig and her reel, we went to another room at the BIC. They had all different stations set up for the kids and parents to go to. At one station, she had to demonstrate a few basic steps and count to 8 in Gaelic. There was also a station for costume inspection (her skirt was too long), feis survival, a hair curling station and then a quiz station. The kids all had a little passport and got a sticker at each station. Madison had fun with that. We then went back to the dance room to watch some of the older kids dance. The senior girls did a little skit about what NOT to do at a feis and they also did the Rince Na Tiarna signature dance. It's done with no music and is amazing! (FYI- Rince Na Tiarna is the name of her school and it's Gaelic for "Lord of the Dance.") Then it was time for the awards!!!
They were giving out trophies for Best Tippy Toes, Best Smile, Best Feet and Best Tot (age 3 or 4). I had just finished telling Madison that I didn't want her to get upset if she didn't get anything when they announced her name for Best Tippy Toes!!!
There she is with her trophy! She was so surprised and excited!
At this feis, they wanted each child to leave with a medal. At a real feis, only one 1st, 2nd and 3rd place are handed out. But, on this day, every single child received a 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Madison got a 2nd place medal.
It had been a long day, but a very fun one. Madison had a great time and is now ready for her first real feis on June 6th. She was very nervous on Saturday, but she feels much better now.
Posing with her trophy and her medal outside the Buffalo Irish Center
I apologize for the grainy pictures. It was dark in the Irish Center and I'm still figuring out my camera!!!