Thistle! First comp of the year!

So - at the start of the year I promised myself I would keep this blog update ... but it's now May and I am blogging about a comp from March ...yep ... failed at that! Anyway ... onto the dancing!


Our first comp of the year was Thistle. Not one we have done before and not one our school attends each year (travel becomes an issue when you live in the country!). It was a nice comp to start the year though, and to get the girls started in the comp season.

It was definately one of  E's most consistent comps to date- 4th in the fling, 3rd in the sword, 4th in the Seann triubhas, 3rd in the flora, 4th in the trophy fling, and 4th in the title.

She was actually awarded and presented the medal for 3rd in the fling ... but seconds before her lilt was called up and told she was actually 4th. She conducted herself beautifully and graciously returned her medal and accepted the new one, but it did shake the poor girl. (understandably). She had to go immediately from this to marshalling for the lilt without time to regroup and I do think it effected her dancing in the lilt.

However - despite not placing in the lilt she danced beautifully, placed well, and got another Beginner Square marked with the sword dance.

Feedback from her teacher was that a teacher from another studio had noticed how well she was progressing - this was a beautiful complement to her too.

Dances to date ...

So - Miss E has been dancing about 18 months ...

I thought it would be interesting to list the dances she has learnt so far - and what she thinks of them ... so we can look back later on.

So ... as of May 2014

Highland Fling - 4 step.
This is becoming much tighter. I do think I will forever be saying KNEES OUT tho! You would think all those years of ballet would have helped!

Sword Dance.
I think this is E's least favourite dance. But it's one of the one's she's been dancing the longest so that is understandable.
Her confidence in not hitting the swords has grown and it is getting much more technically correct

Lilt
She loves the lilt. I think it really suits her. Maybe it's the ballet. She does a really pretty Lilt.

Flora Mcdonald's Fancy (Flora)
Again - she loves it!

Seann Triubhas
One of her newer dances and she has worked so so so much on it. She loves it - especially the intro

Hornpipe
Well - we have only covered the first step or so. I think she is going to really enjoy this one tho - she likes the character dances when she watches them.

Strathspey and reel.
Her teacher says the new dances are always the favourite. Definately the case right now. She is practising it twice as much as her other dances. She should be competing in it in 3 weeks. I am rather nervous.

That's where we are right now! What will another 6 months bring??