Learning the Treble Jig

Clare taught us another part of our Treble Jig this evening.  

I know that 3 months from now, I'll be saying the treble jig is SOOOO easy.  However, I'm still on the first step and trying to figure out my left foot now.  

How is it that I can do some of the steps great on my right leg, but those same steps I can't even figure out on my left leg?  Then, there are steps I do on my left leg that I can't seem to figure out on my right leg?

One of the new girls was asking me about the light jig.  That's so cool they are already learning that dance!  Good for them!  I was able to help her with the right leg and I remember having so much trouble with that dance.  Sometimes when you're learning something, you wonder if you'll ever get it.  It's good to know I will...someday.

Now....I just need to figure out how to dance hardshoe with the dang shoes ON.  

Wish me luck!  I am so afraid of falling on my butt and breaking something.  

Made in China

Every Thursday Caleb has Show & Tell, and every week it's a different theme. 

This weeks theme was "Something from China or Japan". Rob was supposed to bring Caleb some rocks he had at work that were from China.  I figured I didn't need to worry about it since dad had already taken care of it. 

Thursday morning I rushed Caleb to daycare so I could get to work. I was already running behind and completely forgot to ask Caleb if he had his Show & Tell for the day. In fact, it wasn't until about 1:45 p.m that it hit me. 

I sank down in my car feeling extremely guilty. I had these horrible thoughts of my son remembering it was Show & Tell the moment he got to school and sobbing because his teacher wouldn't let him call his mommy. I pictured his sad face, distraught at the thought of not being able to share. I imagined his little heart breaking as everyone around him eagerly thrust their hands into the air, waving them frantically, for the teacher to call on them. I thought..."What a horrible mom I am!"

This morning we were waiting in the van at the bus stop.  Caleb was eating his lunch and I remembered that I wanted to apologize for forgetting his Show & Tell. 

Mom: Sweetie, I'm sorry I forgot to give you something for Show & Tell yesterday.

Caleb: You mean the one from China?

Mom: Yes.

Caleb: Oh. I took my airplane. It said,  Made. In. China.

Hardshoe-The First 2 Steps.

The adult class is so much fun!  Nevermind the sore muscles, shin splints and blisters, you'll eventually heal.   Yesterday, at dance,  Clare introduced a new kind of pain.  Something so barbaric I started googling "Midevil torture devices" just to see if these would pop up.

I understand the heel.  It's a fiberglass heel.  Makes a beautiful sound when used on the proper flooring and makes every man, woman and child want to run out and be in Riverdance.  Forget that you've never taken a lesson in your life.  Those shoes.  They are magic.  Amazing.  They make your feet fly. 

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's not quite how it happens.  First, you must buy those cute little shoes.  

STEP ONE: THE FITTING!

If you're lucky enough to have the "shoe nazi" fitting you, you'll be told you should buy the ones that aren't quite your size.  In fact, you're looking about 2-3 sizes smaller than your street shoe.  You scoff at "shoe nazi's" ridiculous comment and shuffle out to your instructor to see which ones she thinks fit better.   You ask your instructor, feeling confident she'll want you to get what is "comfortable", if you should get the ones that feel a little tight or the ones that cut off your circulation?  All the while trying so hard to make her choose the bigger shoe by wiggling that foot towards her a bit more and trying to point pretty.  After picking your jaw off the floor you shuffle back to "shoe nazi" and show her the meanest scowl you can (for posterity sake), then you whip out your checkbook and as you write her the enormous check...you mumble "She said the smaller ones are better."  She'll mumble something about your point not looking right, blah blah and how you would regret getting the bigger ones after a few months, blah-blah.   Anyway, about $170 dollars later you're ready to move on to step two.  

STEP TWO: STANDING UP! 

After you've figured out how to put the shoes on, you'll want to stand up.  I would suggest grabbing on to the nearest stable piece of furniture.  If one isn't nearby try grabbing your classmates leg and haul yourself up.  You could always try to stand up as if you were just learning to walk, which is what I end up doing.  It works, but it looks very odd.  Brush yourself off and then walk slowly into position.  Now would not be the best time to work on your leaps or skips.  Just steady slow, precise movements will do.  Once you've mastered standing up it's time to learn how to shuffle.

This is about as far as I've gotten.  The front heel/toe/tip thing makes it really hard for me to lift up.  It's hard anyway, but man it's 100x worse with the hardshoe.  Trying to lift my body weight over a toe heel by using my arthritic toes is almost impossible.  I may just have to take a Lortab before class next week.  

Did I mention the adult class is fun?  

 

Look what I did!

Take a look over in my sidebar. It's an image link to Crawford School of Irish Dance! I did that myself. Using HTML. I'm so proud of me! Go Lorri! Go Lorri!

Sorry- I just had to let you see what I did.

Back to your regularly scheduled Irish Dance stuff......

Photos from the ROI show!

I think this photo is absolutely beautiful. 

I can't even explain the pure JOY I feel when I see my children Irish Dance.  Casey, Chloe and the whole novice class were amazing last night. I am so proud of them all.  They truly rose to the occasion and danced their little hearts out.  The audience "awww'ed" when they came on to the stage. Chloe told me later she thought it was cute when they did that.

The Rhythm of Ireland dancers were spectacular in every way. I had tears in my eyes watching them. I love how the girls treat my little ones.  They yelp and whistle while they dance. There are a handful that really lift up my children and have given some amazing help/advice in all aspects of Irish dance.  I adore each and every one of them and thank them for being the kind of young ladies my daughter can look up to. BRAVO ROI dancers!! That goes for Shelley school, too! ALL of you were amazing!

I can't end the post without giving props to Jill Crawford and Tina Shelley. To thank them for allowing the Crawford Novice dance class to perform with an amazing and talented group. Thank you, Jill, for inspiring my kids (even the ones who don't necessarily think dancing is the coolest) and being someone they can trust.

One of our Champion dancers is going on a mission for the LDS church. Guess where? IRELAND!! How cool is that to be an Irish dancer and get sent for 18 months to such a beautiful country?  I somehow doubt she'll be visitin' the local pub in order to get jiggy, but hey....maybe she'll be able to sneak away and be a spectator at Worlds or something. I hope she sends lots of pictures! 

I have several more pictures to share with you of the day.  Enjoy!

This is Casey with a friend of his. Aren't they cute?! Casey wants to be the next Michael Flatley.

This is Caleb (my pee-wee dancer). He was mad (and crying) because he wanted a ROI t-shirt like his brother.


Thanks Dan (Jill's husband), for making his day!


Sorry for the blurry photo.  This is Chloe with, Clare, one of our Championship dancers.  She's also the kids private instructor when it's needed.  We love Clare!

*EDITED TO ADD* I totally forgot to mention that Clare is my adult instructor, too. This week she's been trying to teach us hardshoe. And just when I thought I had finally broken in my ghillies.....here come the hard shoes.



This striking young lady has an amazing heart.  She's one of the people I was discussing above.  She is a graceful dancer and is beautiful....inside and out.  I trust her with my children and the kids adore her.  Her talented father (and my Mac guru) also teaches Casey the Irish whistle.  He'll soon be teaching Chloe how to play the piccolo.  

Gamma (my mom) & Nana (my grandmother) wouldn't have missed this performance for anything!  We are so excited they came.  It's a blessing to have family who cares and supports your children in what they do. 

The Rhythm of Ireland

My kids are famous!

Well, not really, but they are amazingly amazing!  

Casey and Chloe's novice class has been given a wonderful opportunity to dance with Utah's premiere Irish Dance company, The Rhythm of Ireland,  this Saturday during both performances.

My mother bought us tickets to the evening performance. Usually, I'm backstage, but I'll get to see the show this time!  Thanks Mom!!

Practice, practice, practice.

With the Castle Rock feis coming up, Casey and Chloe have been practicing every day. I am so proud of them!

A few months ago we had a flood in our basement and our dance floor was ruined.  Anyone need some plywood that already has a sweet transition?  Skateboard ramp anyone? 

After we cleaned up the soggy mess and organized the Martha Stewart/Lorri way, we decided to move.  Building another dance floor wasn't high on our priority list seeing as we didn't know WHERE we were going to live. Because of our small house and cramped quarters the kids home practice abruptly stopped. The lack of practice led to some rusty dancing and forgetting the new dances they were learning.  The stress of moving made everyone tired and grouchy. 

This was extremely upsetting to Chloe as she began to see her fellow classmates move ahead of her.  There wasn't much she/we  could do. We were moving and I know the stress was very difficult for her.  We finally moved on December 15th and our home is beautiful.  It's a place I want to be.  Chloe's mood improved and on December 31, 2007 she asked me if she could make a New Year's resolution to practice more and to have a better attitude at dance class?  I was very proud of her.  She did that all by herself.  I'm not going to force her to practice...I never have had to. Every chance she gets, she's jiggin' it up.  

Sorry about the quality of this photo. It's actually the start of a video....but I don't have any skillz at editing/coding/uploading little video clips. Regardless, you get to see where she practices for the time being. Do you like my red wall? I'm still decorating, btw. Oh...that reminds me!! See that cross next to the mirror? I am looking for a twin to match. They were sold by PartyLite candle company. I need another one to complete my wall.