TCRG Exam

I am currently studying for my TCRG, which is an Irish Dance Teacher Certification Exam. I am taking it in June 2016 in Dublin, Ireland.

I have been studying since November of 2015 and am getting all different types of feelings about the exam approaching. The exam is costly- it's about $500 to take it so failing isn't an option lol. You also have to know a lot of information... more than one would think.

What you need to know:

1. 40 dance tunes and their timing and number of bars- the exam has a blind test where the examiner will play 19 of the 40 tunes and one has to name the write tune, give the number of bars in the dance, and the proper timing.

2. 30 ceili (team) dances- you are expected to know the music, timing, and movements (including the number of bars it takes to complete each movement and the entire dance). There are two parts for this part of the exam. There is a dancing portion where one has to dance a random ceili selected and there is also a written portion where the examiners ask whatever they want basically lol.

3. Solo dancing- you have to know 7 traditional set dances, 6 non traditional set dances as well as 2 hard shoe dances, and 2 soft shoe dances. The examiners will randomly select dances for you to dance and you must remember the dance, have proper timing, and proper dance technique. 

4. Teaching- the last section is the teaching portion. One will have to teach a randomly selected ceili dance and also steps chosen by the examiner.

My hopes are to pass the exam and to one day become a judge and travel the world! I am excited for what my new journey will bring and fingers crossed I pass lol. 

Worst Irish Dance Injuries

Like any sport, there are injuries. I have played travel soccer, lacrosse, Ice-Hockey with boys, gymnastics, and softball but my worst injuries com from Irish Dance.

My Worst Injuries Include:

1. Sprained Ankles: In most ways these are worse than breaks- and yes I have had several broken bones from my clavicle in hockey to feet from dance but sprains take a lot longer to heal and can be tricky. In my opinion, I would rather have a break and be in a cast for 6-8 weeks knowing I will get it off than to be wishy washy for weeks on end due to a sprain. 
2. A Dislocated Knee Cap: Yup that hurt. I went for a jump in dance and something just didn't go right when I landed. I was in a lot of pain and had to go to the doctor. The physical therapy was the worst part of this injury- I really had to make sure I was doing the exercises.
3. Achilles Tendonitis: This was due to improper stretching and lack of warmups. This happened in high school when I thought stretching and warming up was stupid... no you really need to do those. This injury made me mad because it was honestly preventable if I had just been more caring of my body.
4. Shin Splints: These hurt just running...now imagine jumping and pounding the ground while having shin splints. Yeah, not fun at all. The amount of Advil I consumed is impressive.
5. Plantar Fasciitis: WINNER OF WORST INJURY EVER: This injury sucks and I feel so bad for anyone who has it. Plantar Fasciitis is basically when the muscles on the bottom of your feet tear and snap. I didn't know what it was at first, when I got it two years ago. I kept dancing on it and the pain got worse and worse. It hurt so bad that I couldn't even walk. I remember going home for the weekend and crying because it hurt so bad to walk. I would say I have a very high pain tolerance- I danced with broken bones, stitches on the bottom of my foot, etc. so when I say it hurt, I can't even explain the unbearable pain. I later found out that it can occur from lack of stretching in your calves- or having tendonitis in the achilles... so make sure you stretch properly! I also had to tape my feet from that moment on, which was horrible.

I have had a lot of injuries in my dance career, but if I learned one thing it is to always stretch and warmup properly. It's important to listen to your body and know your limits. We are blessed with bodies that can tolerate things like working out so don't abuse your body!

What do you do once you quit?

I have been getting a lot of questions on what I am doing after quitting/retiring from Irish Dance. I have to admit- not having your day revolve around training or Irish Dance in general is refreshing in a way. I feel so much more relaxed and have a lot more time on my hands.

So many of us have damage/ injuries from dance it's hard to find a workout that works but isn't hurting you. I know for me it was tough... from all my injuries in dance running on treadmills or anything of that nature is out of the question. Swimming is a great exercise for post-dancers because it doesn't put stress on your joints. I have always loved swimming and am happy now I can do it more often. The other plus side of swimming is that you can do whatever you want! There is no right or wrong to swimming- you can really listen to your body and make adjustments to your workout routines!

The other exercise I am getting into thanks to my dear friend Sarah is Insanity. She has always done the Insanity workouts and loved them. After dance I realized maybe this will be a good workout. I'm not going to lie it's really hard but it also is a great workout, which I highly recommend.

I am still taking it easy when it comes to working out. I have done the set routines and a strict schedule and decided to be more leisure to it. However, that being said I do enjoy exercising and continue to do so about 5-6 days a week!

Action Shots

If you ask any Irish Dancer they will all have the same response. Action shots are one of the best things from Major Competitions. No matter how you did, it's exciting to check online to see if you got a good photo to post or not.

At competitions the photographers will take pictures of girls during their first two rounds. Usually the higher level of major- the better quality and quantity of photos one has to choose from. But, each dancer will be guaranteed a starting shot of them pointing there foot and then hopefully the odds are in your favor for a decent action shot.

At awards the photographers also take pictures. Obviously, they are there to take photos of girls and their awards but they also take action shots of peoples reactions to their results. At awards the announcer will first call out the numbers for world qualifiers or the top ten dancers. Dancers will run on stage in tears and excitement. Then they wait on the back of the stage while the announcer annonces the awards starting from the lowest place to the highest place. As one can imagine, the suspense builds especially when you get to the top 5 and are counting down to the winner.

Action shots are the craze of Irish Dance at the moment and we are anxiously awaiting the worlds 2016 photos to be posted. Fingers crossed the odds are ever in our favor for a decent photo!

Post Worlds Thoughts

Well I am finally home and feel like I made the right choice in retiring. I had bittersweet emotions at Worlds, and at times felt like I should continue dancing because it's what I am use to. However, I know I made the right choice for myself and know there is better things to come in the future. We had quite the adventure!

Day 1: We landed Monday morning and ate breakfast at our hotel, walked around Edinburgh, Scotland. We went to Real Mary's Close and the Dungeons of Edinburgh tours. Real Mary's Close is an old street that was accidentally built on top of- we were able to go down and see what the town use to be like and how they tried to prevent the black plague from spreading. In the dungeon tour, we learned all about Edinburgh in the 18th century and how people were treated- Scotland is brutal with their witch trials, tortue devices, and myths of cannibals.

Day 2: We explored the Edinburgh Castle and went to the Elephant Cafe, which is where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter. At night, we went to a ghost tour. We walked around the town late at night and were told famous stories of hauntings in Edinburgh.

Day 3: We left for Inverness, Scotland. We stopped at Rosslyn Chapel, where the final scenes of the Da Vinci Code take place. Then we went to Stirling Castle and drove through a national park. We spent the night at Culloden House, which is Forbes' ancestral estate.

Day 4: We went to Culloden Battlefield and explored their museum. We then rode a boat in search of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. We explored Urquhart Castle for a bit and went to eat lunch and then drove through Glen Coe. We spent the night at Inverlochy Castle and explored the highlands.

Day 5: We went to Lochmond and ate lunch there while exploring the town. We then drove to Glasgow, Scotland. We went to a couple museums and prepared for my dancing. At night, we went over to watch some other Chicago dancers.

Day 6: Dance day! It went great. I danced to my best potential and my teachers said it was absolutely beautiful. This made me happy because I couldn't of asked for a better way to end my competitive dance career- I danced at worlds, and placed in the top half. It was a fantastic day!

Tan Legs

People often wonder why Irish Dancers tan their legs for competition. To be honest there isn't really a clear answer to this.

Some say it shows off our muscle tone, like in body building competitions. In body building, one uses tanner to the extreme to showcase their muscle definition. Other says Irish Dancers tan their legs for a better stage look. The lights on stages, especially the majors, are very bright; the stages also have backdrops usually with bright colors. The tanned legs are thought to make one not looked washed out while on stage.

Nowadays if you don't tan your legs at a major competition, you'll stand out. I couldn't tell you if it would be in a good or bad way. However, I see both sides. It may make judges notice you, but I hope you practiced if you want that extra attention ! haha :) On the other hand, you may look out of place. Like at the Worlds, everyone tans their legs. If one were to show up with untanned legs then they may look inexperienced and judges may not watch you.

Irish Dance is a subjective sport so it's up to dancer, teachers, and family whether or not tanning is for them. My personal preference was to only tan at the majors and not small competitions. Also, younger age groups are not allowed to tan, wear rhinestones on their dresses, and makeup; this is to keep them looking natural and not like Toddlers and Tiaras.

Dressmakers

Another question I get a lot is: Who should I get my dress made from?

This is a personal preference. Each dressmaker offers something unique. Cost clearly has a huge part in it; each dress maker has its own price range and one can order rhinestones for an additional cost. Some dress makers allow you to customize your design but this also depends on your dance school. Some schools only allow the teachers to design the dress with the dress maker and some dance schools will only allow their students to get dresses from certain dress makers.

If you're looking to get a custom made dress there is a lot that goes into it. You'll need to talk to your teachers, parents, and do research to make sure you're happy with your result.

Steps to order:
1. Contact/ research several dress makers to get an estimate and to find who truly will make you happy.
2. Measuring/ Dress Fitting- usually teachers will handle this since each dress maker has their own form they would like filled out.
3. Patiently wait for your dress to be made. Sometimes a dress maker will send you a proof of your dress.
4. You will give the dress maker a deadline for the dress and your dress will arrive in a giant box on your doorstep. This will be one of the most exciting days of your life!

Gavin Doherty is a popular dress maker so I have included a small documentary on him.

My current dance dress is made by Siopa Rince in Ireland. She was lovely to work with; she skipped me several times for dress fittings while I was away at school and did everything I wanted and more.  My mom, dance teachers, and I designed everything about my dress and truly tried to make it elegant, timeless, and age appropriate yet stunning. 

I absolutely love my dress and it has brought me a ton of luck! It'll be weird to sell my dress after worlds. I hope it brings the next owner just as much joy as it has for me.