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DANCE VOLUME 1

Photos of various dancers

Hornpipe Irish Dance abstracts

Select the following volume numbers

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Photos of various dancers

Volume 1, Issue 2

Natural makeup brings out your genuine beauty

The end of the year is filled with activity; a feis every weekend, dance classes in between, holiday parties, and family gatherings. Looking your best is important, especially when oireachtas rolls around.

When should a performer begin to use makeup? Is too much too little? Is too little not enough? There seem to be two schools of thought: one says that to be modern you must have the most and the best, which is relative to your financial resources. The other thought is that a natural beauty can prevail ... perhaps with a soft accent on certain features.

According to Drs. Robert and Elizabeth McCarter, contributing authors of The Life Science Health System, "A healthy skin sings of a well-nourished body, of systemic equilibrium, of sound living practices, of a clean, free-flowing unobstructed blood-stream, and of organs functioning silently and efficiently in a body at peace."

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Volume 1, Issue 2

Mae Whlan Duffy, ADRCG: A Millennium Celebration

Walking into Mae and Jim Duffy's house is like walking into a museum. Their modest home in East Hartford, Connecticut, is filled with memorabilia documenting the 41 years Mae has taught Irish dancing. Our curator, Mrs. Duffy, ushered us to the living room sofa next to Mr. Duffy's easy chair, where we made ourselves comfortable for what would be a journey back in time and through the recorded history of an Irish (American) family.

A framed letter documents her TCRG certification in the United States in 1966, although she had started her school in 1959. Thirty-five years ago An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (Gaelic Dancing Commission) was in its infancy and was inviting teachers to take an exam. Mrs. Duffy was going on a vacation back to Ireland.

"It was a nine-day boat ride back then," she said. Airlines were just beginning to become the transportation of choice. Her exam consisted of answering questions, dancing, and teaching a small class, observed by a panel of three. She passed her exam and was given her certificate. It was later, in 1971, that she became a certified adjudicator. She told us that when she took the exam she hummed her own music as she danced because a musician was not available.

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Volume 1, Issue 2

"Ask Eimir"
Eimir Ni Mhaoiledigh, TCRG answers reader' questions

I'm 21 years old and have never danced before in my life. Can I take Irish dance classes just for fun?

Anyone in good health can take Irish dance lessons. It' a good form of cardiovascular exercise, as well as a good social outlet for adults. Many adults taking Irish dance lessons today have never had any training in any dance form. Beginner adults will start with the basic steps and work their way up, usually at their own pace.

How long does it take to learn your dances? How many should I learn?

It doesn't take long at all to learn the dances. Once you have the basic steps down you will find you move along very fast. During your first year of dance you should be able to cover the four basic solo soft shoe dances: the reel, light jig, slip jig, and single jig and the hard shoe treble jig and hornpipe.

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Volume 1, Issue 2

North American Feis Commission Convention
Gaelic Park, Chicago IL, October 15 - 17

Delegates from 82 Feiseanna in Canada and the United States were welcomed by John Crean of the Chicago Feis. The convention arrangemtns were made by Harry Costelloe.

After officer reports and floor recommendations, Dennis Denneby, president of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA) addressed the meeting about concerns of adjudicators and teachers. Recommendations included the abolition of the Tir na n-Og competition and its replacement with an under 5 competition for Beginner level.

There was a formal introduction of Advanced Beginner rules for 2000 Feiseanna. It is left open for each feis committee to choose "Set or Treble Jig/Hornpipe" cances for preliminary competitions.

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Volume 1, Issue 2

Health and Fitness: Flex every day

Keeping your body in good shape can be a chore but it could be an investment in yourself and a necessity to increase your range of movement and avoid injury. Your muscles are like twigs; the older you get, the more brittle they become. Stretching should be as simple and routine as brushing your teeth when you get up in the morning. A full combination of exercise to warm your body up should take only 3 - 5 minutes.

Stretching Quadriceps