Two years ago, I entered into the Perinton Rec Center having no clue what I was getting myself into. Since Keira turned 2, I always had her signed up for a little class with her peers as a way to keep her busy and socialize...and let's be honest....to give myself a 45 minute break!
This time, it was a 6 week beginner class for Irish Step Dancing. 2 years later, we are in a much different place than I ever imagined.
From the first class, she was hooked. She started skip-two-three-ing everywhere we went. Through the house, the grocery store, church....wherever!
Of course, I signed her up for the next 6 week session. It was then that we found out that her teacher, Amy, who we love, was opening up her own studio. It seemed like no big deal. We signed her up. The class was a few minutes further down the road but at the same time. She was 4 years old so we weren't going to get carried away.
Now, let me digress for a moment and tell you that although I would never have imagined being enthralled in this, I am completely loving it. I have fallen in love with the culture of Irish dance and absolutely LOVE the way that Amy runs her studio. It is an extremely modest form of dance. There are no words in the music that I don't want her to hear (I rarely hear any words at all with the dance music actually) and never any provocative movements. Her studio is run like a family and if you are ever considering your child (girl or boy) getting into Irish dance, I cannot say anything about other studios but Dunleavy Irish Dance in East Rochester is amazing.
Ok...that was my plug for the studio.
Well...last July. A little less than a year after she began, she participated in her first Feis which is a competition. Because she was ready and because she WANTED to!
I learned how to curl her hair the right way. (She has to sleep with these babies in her hair!)
On July 13, 2013 she danced her Beginner Jig and won 2nd place. I will never forget what she said on the way home. "Mommy, next time, I hope I win 3rd!"
Only a child who has no idea what competition really is would say that.
In the fall, she added her Beginner Reel and competed in two dances. She got her wish and took 3rd in both.
Feis season starts in the spring. We get to choose which ones she will participate in and competing is NOT REQUIRED. Of course she told me that this year she would like to do 20....ha! I think when all is said and done, she will do 5 this year.
We went to Syracuse in April where she danced her Advanced Beginner Reel and Jig. She took 1st in her Reel and 3rd in her Jig. She also had a hair cut and got to use more colorful curlers. In her mind, it helped her sleep better!
We also signed her up for a Feis in Buffalo and made a day of it to visit Tom's grandparents. She placed 3rd in her Reel and 2nd in her Jig.
A Couple of weeks ago, she was part of the Rochester Feis again and this time added her Slip Jig. (For me, every time we add a dance, it makes it more worth the hours of hair curling!)
This is the Feis that made me the most proud I've ever been of my Keira girl. Her 3 danced were one right after the other. The way these competitions work is that they line each child who is dancing up and they all stand at the back of the stage together. Then, three at at time, they come out, do their dance, bow, and go back to their spot. They are supposed to dance with 2 kids from different schools so they are not doing the same steps.
Let me also say that in order to move up to be a novice, you must place in all three of these dances at some point in the Feis season, then, the next year, you move up a level. (That is about all I know at this point myself!)
So, she got up, danced her Reel, no problem.
Then came the Jig. Where she ended up dancing at the same time as one of her classmates who is also an excellent dancer. Keira watched her the whole time. Later she said. "Mom, I did all of my steps, I just wanted to see her do hers too!" So cute.
Then the Slip Jig. Her new dance. The one that stood between her and her "fancy dress" (the dress made in Ireland special for her school when you move to Novice). She started beautifully. Halfway through, she stopped. Frozen. Looked like she might cry. Of course I got all teared up for her. Then, she jumped back in, finished at the right time, bowed and took her place in line.
I had been prepared for this moment. All along, all we have said to her is that she should have fun and do her best. Everyone will mess up sometimes and you just have to keep going.
When she came off the stage, she said. "I messed up. But it's ok because I will just try again next time."
I wanted to give her the world in that moment. What a maturity for a six year old!
Well. She placed 2nd. She also got 3rd in her Reel. (no placement for the Jig where she watched her friend dance instead, haha)
Although I am unsure she deserved the medal for her steps, she certainly deserved it for her attitude. I have absolutely no idea what the judges judge on or what she should or should not be doing. I know that she made a mistake but I also know that it is a big deal to start and end on time and her form during the rest of the dance was great. It all looks cute to me.
I also have no idea how we are going to afford the dress we have to buy this year but we will find a way. We will find a way because we want our daughter to thrive. We want her to push on toward her goals. To work hard. To persevere. As beautiful as this type of dance looks to me, it is also great exercise, an awesome team building experience and our entire family is enjoying her participation in this sport....so we will find a way to let her continue....
...because we want to let her thrive!
