Dancey, dance, dance.......Ouuuuuuuuch!!!!
This just in, my legs cannot do what they used to. 5 hours of ceili will leave me sore the next day. Especially when followed by sleeping the night in the car.
Let me back up a couple days. It will make more sense.
About a year ago, we went to a Celtic festival here in Austin. While we were there, we ended up teaching Irish Ceili because the people scheduled to teach didn't show up. One of the musicians liked what we were able to do on spur of the moment and talked to us a bit afterward. She plays locally and is pretty involved in the Irish scene around here. That was Heather.
Periodically, Heather lets us know about events in the area with Irish or Celtic music going on. Last St. Patrick's day, she and one of the Scottish dance organizers recruited us to teach at an event in town. She would probably also be the one to talk to about organizing live music for a ceili set/event like what went on at the Plough since she is heavily tied into the music scene.
Last week, she notified me of a traditional Irish music group that would be playing in town, The Brock MacGuire Band for those interested. Yes, they were phenomenal. The only problem on Friday night was a distinct lack of space to dance. The place was packed. While we were there, Heather asked us if we were going to the North Texas Irish Festival since there would be a 3 hour ceili and a workshop beforehand. For those keeping track, we're in Austin, the festival is in Dallas. Yes, that is a three hour drive one way. We went anyway because it had just been way too long since we'd been dancing or done anything on a spur of the moment.
We got there about 2:30 and wandered the fair for a bit. The first dance workshop was at 4. Watching some of the performers from around the country, it was rather shocking to find that I knew better sets, that just did it for kicks through the Plough and Siamsa. That was eye-opening in and of itself. After the first workshop, Heather called us over and introduced us to the people that would teach the ceili workshop. It's still kind of weird to me to start to get tied into the dance community in that way. Especially when spoken of quite so highly by the musicians/organizers. Susan was nice enough and we talked dance a little bit, but I got the impression that she was willing to think we might be decent on heather's say so. After the workshop, she wanted to know where we had learned because we blew them out of the water.
Then we went and got mediocre dinner from people moving way too slow for how busy they were and went back for the ceili. Susan asked us if there were any specific dances we'd like to do. As much as High Caul Cap or Glenbeigh Jig would have been, they didn't feel appropriate for the nature of this event. So we just limited it to Haymakers, Siege of Ennis, Fairy Reel, etc. The dances for everyone that are easily taught.
After that, things got interesting. It started with a whole lot of newbies and set wrangling. But it was so good to be back in this style of dance. Then some of the performers started to trickle in. It didn't take long before they started asking where we had learned what we know. A couple of cycles through and who do we see but Shea Black. We looked at each other thinking that couldn't possibly be who we though it was. So we asked and I think he was as surprised as we were.
Break Time! But, but....the band is playing a waltz. Se we danced through the break. We did this for both breaks. About halfway through the song two other couples got on the floor among them the teachers for the ceili. After that, approached us about needing to learn how to waltz from us and wanted to know what else we knew. The night progresses and some of the performers start to leave to head beck to their hotel. They invite us along for further music and probably dancing. *shock* Ummm....they're from Jackson, Mississippi and the guy that approached us was the best in the troupe. *blush* We regretfully turned them down because we didn't have a place to crash and needed to head back to Austin that night anyway.
So more dancing. Near the end of the night, I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to see....
Myra!!! A familiar face in the wrong state. *squee* *massive hug* Bad form for completely disrupting the set. Oh well. After that dance is over, we go over to sit and talk for awhile. But now they're short a couple for eight hand polka sets and try to call us over. So Myra and I join the set. Easy, no problem. Aaaaannnd, people are surprised that I 1)changed partners and 2)she was every bit as good as my former partner and had learned in the same place. After the ceili was over, about 10 PM, the other performance troupe and the teachers, all of whom dance together socially, invite us to come back up for one of their dances every couple of months.
I guess they liked what they saw. Especially since there was some interest in new dances even if they weren't traditional. Yay! Spreading Bonwyn, Ironhand, Chutney, and maybe even Hallucination.
Afterward, we started the drive back to Austin and slept in the car for several hours. Huge high, but 5 hours of more or less solid dancing after over a year with almost no dancing HURTS.
Let me back up a couple days. It will make more sense.
About a year ago, we went to a Celtic festival here in Austin. While we were there, we ended up teaching Irish Ceili because the people scheduled to teach didn't show up. One of the musicians liked what we were able to do on spur of the moment and talked to us a bit afterward. She plays locally and is pretty involved in the Irish scene around here. That was Heather.
Periodically, Heather lets us know about events in the area with Irish or Celtic music going on. Last St. Patrick's day, she and one of the Scottish dance organizers recruited us to teach at an event in town. She would probably also be the one to talk to about organizing live music for a ceili set/event like what went on at the Plough since she is heavily tied into the music scene.
Last week, she notified me of a traditional Irish music group that would be playing in town, The Brock MacGuire Band for those interested. Yes, they were phenomenal. The only problem on Friday night was a distinct lack of space to dance. The place was packed. While we were there, Heather asked us if we were going to the North Texas Irish Festival since there would be a 3 hour ceili and a workshop beforehand. For those keeping track, we're in Austin, the festival is in Dallas. Yes, that is a three hour drive one way. We went anyway because it had just been way too long since we'd been dancing or done anything on a spur of the moment.
We got there about 2:30 and wandered the fair for a bit. The first dance workshop was at 4. Watching some of the performers from around the country, it was rather shocking to find that I knew better sets, that just did it for kicks through the Plough and Siamsa. That was eye-opening in and of itself. After the first workshop, Heather called us over and introduced us to the people that would teach the ceili workshop. It's still kind of weird to me to start to get tied into the dance community in that way. Especially when spoken of quite so highly by the musicians/organizers. Susan was nice enough and we talked dance a little bit, but I got the impression that she was willing to think we might be decent on heather's say so. After the workshop, she wanted to know where we had learned because we blew them out of the water.
Then we went and got mediocre dinner from people moving way too slow for how busy they were and went back for the ceili. Susan asked us if there were any specific dances we'd like to do. As much as High Caul Cap or Glenbeigh Jig would have been, they didn't feel appropriate for the nature of this event. So we just limited it to Haymakers, Siege of Ennis, Fairy Reel, etc. The dances for everyone that are easily taught.
After that, things got interesting. It started with a whole lot of newbies and set wrangling. But it was so good to be back in this style of dance. Then some of the performers started to trickle in. It didn't take long before they started asking where we had learned what we know. A couple of cycles through and who do we see but Shea Black. We looked at each other thinking that couldn't possibly be who we though it was. So we asked and I think he was as surprised as we were.
Break Time! But, but....the band is playing a waltz. Se we danced through the break. We did this for both breaks. About halfway through the song two other couples got on the floor among them the teachers for the ceili. After that, approached us about needing to learn how to waltz from us and wanted to know what else we knew. The night progresses and some of the performers start to leave to head beck to their hotel. They invite us along for further music and probably dancing. *shock* Ummm....they're from Jackson, Mississippi and the guy that approached us was the best in the troupe. *blush* We regretfully turned them down because we didn't have a place to crash and needed to head back to Austin that night anyway.
So more dancing. Near the end of the night, I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to see....
Myra!!! A familiar face in the wrong state. *squee* *massive hug* Bad form for completely disrupting the set. Oh well. After that dance is over, we go over to sit and talk for awhile. But now they're short a couple for eight hand polka sets and try to call us over. So Myra and I join the set. Easy, no problem. Aaaaannnd, people are surprised that I 1)changed partners and 2)she was every bit as good as my former partner and had learned in the same place. After the ceili was over, about 10 PM, the other performance troupe and the teachers, all of whom dance together socially, invite us to come back up for one of their dances every couple of months.
I guess they liked what they saw. Especially since there was some interest in new dances even if they weren't traditional. Yay! Spreading Bonwyn, Ironhand, Chutney, and maybe even Hallucination.
Afterward, we started the drive back to Austin and slept in the car for several hours. Huge high, but 5 hours of more or less solid dancing after over a year with almost no dancing HURTS.