Archive for November, 2005
Laundry dancing
Yesterday was the last Irish dancing short course of the semester and we ended on a creative note–the class collaborated on making up a new, unique ceili dance. Every student contributed an idea or even a full figure, we pieced it together, and ended up with a very energetic and very visually awesome dance! Most importantly, the process involved a lot of laughter 
I realized that, strangely, each of the figures was like doing laundry–soak cycle, rinse cycle, wringing out the clothes/swishing them around, the spin cycle, and finally hanging them up to dry. How is this possible in an Irish dance? Well, it’s all the side steps (rinsing), the spins and swings and turns (wringing out/swishing), the ultra-fast spinning group circle, and finally the line-up at the end.
I was very pleased with the product and very proud of my students. Now I’m considering submitting the choreography to An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (Irish Dance Commision) to add to the official Ár Rince Foirne 
Well, you can at least count on us performing it somewhere in Charlottesville this St. Patrick’s Day.
Gone with the Wind
And winter comes rushing in…it’s eerily windy and overcast today. Mid-November, 11 months.
Last weekend I saw ‘Gone with the Wind’ for the first time at the Paramount Theater on the Downtown Mall. Overdramatic, yes, but it was so epic.
This weekend I’m going to Raleigh, NC to see my good friend Nick perform with Riverdance! He’s living his dream and, actually, he’s living mine too
Greenwood Ceili
Last night was the Irish ceili in Greenwood. Most of the short course students came out, plus some of their friends, plus some VA Irish kids. It was a good group.
We did the Bridge of Athlone, Siege of Ennis, and Haymaker’s Jig. Then we did a small impromptu performance during the intermission–we performed our reel step and some solos for those who knew them. Plus, we had some BRIMS girls join us–Marina, Becca, and Phoebe.
All this was followed up with 2 set dances–the Sliabh Luchre set and some Clare sets.
Gallery opening
The All Saint’s Day gallery opening at the Washington Theological Union went very well. It was a bit overwhelming to see Uncle Di’s artwork all in one place like that–really, a beautiful litany of the saints. I met many of his friends and got an interesting and different perspective on the person he was. I now appreciate his art even more, if that was even possible. Tim Nau gave a wonderful talk and I had many interesting conversations with various people. It was the best thing my mom could have done as a tribute to her brother, and it went perfectly.
I attempted to photograph the exhibit.
All was followed by a group dinner at Jaleo in Bethesda.
- 11.17.05 Laundry dancing posted in Dance
- 11.16.05 Gone with the Wind posted in Arts, Dance, General
- 11.7.05 Greenwood Ceili posted in Dance
- 11.4.05 Gallery opening posted in Arts
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