Young School Recap (double two-year bonus!)
I competed not terribly long ago at the Young School Feis in Rochester for the second year in a row, and realized in beginning this review that I never talked about it last year! So, here goes, because I think this is easily becoming one of my favorite feiseanna in the northeast.
I enjoy feiseanna in upstate New York since it's a super easy excuse to go home and visit my parents, which I have been doing less and less since I moved to the city, so that's one definite check in the plus column. One of the downsides of upstate feiseanna I've found is that they generally have lower numbers than closer to the city or in the South, but the Young School Feis is certainly an exception to this!
I enjoy feiseanna in upstate New York since it's a super easy excuse to go home and visit my parents, which I have been doing less and less since I moved to the city, so that's one definite check in the plus column. One of the downsides of upstate feiseanna I've found is that they generally have lower numbers than closer to the city or in the South, but the Young School Feis is certainly an exception to this!
The first year I attended, 2014, they offered solos in all levels, plus an open trad set competition. Consequently, there weren't many people per level, but we did have five for the trad set, making it a legitimate competition.
I was very nervous about the open trad set, as I was dancing with mostly prizewinner dancers, and I had just finished learning St. Patrick's Day a couple weeks before. Turns out non-stop practice (including a nice run-through on the roof of my building!) will do a dancer good - I placed 2nd!
[Seriously, people, practice really does make, if not perfect, at least much better! I have been learning that to my detriment lately, and reminding myself of this is critical. Keep your eyes peeled for a future post on this!]
They switched things up for the 2015 feis. Instead of grades and open trad set, they provided a trad set-only competition and adult championship (softshoe/trad set). As I have seen a couple feiseanna that have offered adult championship with no other options, I think it's great that this feis has at least a solo trad set competition for those who aren't ready to compete in championship levels. Personally if I were in that situation it wouldn't be anything I would travel five hours for, but for a shorter distance, I think it's the perfect opportunity to work in a competition while also getting to watch some other fabulous adult dancers.
For the championship round this year, there were nine competitors, which I felt was a pretty healthy number. I was extremely nervous, as my last (and first) time competing in championship ended fairly disastrously, with me completely messing up my steps. Thankfully, this time around I was going in much better prepared, with a new lead around and more practice.
I was also initially nervous beyond that, as my teacher was supposed to be the musician for my stage. I don't know why, especially as he's played for our ceili competition at Oireachtas before, but I always start to overthink everything and feel extremely paranoid that I'll make some horrible mistake while he's watching. Thankfully (for me, at least), one of the adjudicators couldn't make it, and he got roped into those duties instead.
Handling my nerves and getting lots of practice in certainly helped out this time; I placed fifth overall! It certainly wasn't my best performance for either step (despite the compliments I received for my rocks - thanks!), but it certainly gave me confidence after my previous try at championship level. It also shows how much room to grow I still have; if I can place not at my best, I can certainly do even better the next time.
Now all that my bragging and self-promotion is out of the way, let's talk about all the other great stuff at the feis! 2014 and 2015 were pretty consistent with the vendors, all of whom are great. I personally love the woodworker, who makes award shelves along with so many other beautiful hand-carved items, and also happens to be a delightful conversationalist.
The stage layout was the same as last year, inside the Main Street Armory. Last year, the adults were on one of the grades stages all the way in the back of the building; this year, we were on the championship stage, which was first inside the doors. The stages themselves are standard plywood stages, and are comfortably spacious enough, even for those dancers with long legs and reach (judged by how close I come to falling off the edge of the stage while dancing).
As the building is one large, open space, there's room for plenty of stages and vendors. Theoretically, this should also calculate to more space for dancers and families to set up for the day, but, as usual for most feiseanna, the floor gets pretty packed throughout the day. One upside that I noticed between this year and the previous year is that the organizers have done a much better job of keeping pathways clear. At the 2014 feis, I felt like I was constantly walking over people to get around; for 2015, it was very easy to walk from one stage to the next without stepping on anyone.
Overall, this is one of my favorite feiseanna to attend - good location, good competitions and numbers, and a great group of adult dancers!
I was very nervous about the open trad set, as I was dancing with mostly prizewinner dancers, and I had just finished learning St. Patrick's Day a couple weeks before. Turns out non-stop practice (including a nice run-through on the roof of my building!) will do a dancer good - I placed 2nd!
[Seriously, people, practice really does make, if not perfect, at least much better! I have been learning that to my detriment lately, and reminding myself of this is critical. Keep your eyes peeled for a future post on this!]
They switched things up for the 2015 feis. Instead of grades and open trad set, they provided a trad set-only competition and adult championship (softshoe/trad set). As I have seen a couple feiseanna that have offered adult championship with no other options, I think it's great that this feis has at least a solo trad set competition for those who aren't ready to compete in championship levels. Personally if I were in that situation it wouldn't be anything I would travel five hours for, but for a shorter distance, I think it's the perfect opportunity to work in a competition while also getting to watch some other fabulous adult dancers.
For the championship round this year, there were nine competitors, which I felt was a pretty healthy number. I was extremely nervous, as my last (and first) time competing in championship ended fairly disastrously, with me completely messing up my steps. Thankfully, this time around I was going in much better prepared, with a new lead around and more practice.
I was also initially nervous beyond that, as my teacher was supposed to be the musician for my stage. I don't know why, especially as he's played for our ceili competition at Oireachtas before, but I always start to overthink everything and feel extremely paranoid that I'll make some horrible mistake while he's watching. Thankfully (for me, at least), one of the adjudicators couldn't make it, and he got roped into those duties instead.
Handling my nerves and getting lots of practice in certainly helped out this time; I placed fifth overall! It certainly wasn't my best performance for either step (despite the compliments I received for my rocks - thanks!), but it certainly gave me confidence after my previous try at championship level. It also shows how much room to grow I still have; if I can place not at my best, I can certainly do even better the next time.
Top finishers at the feis!
Now all that my bragging and self-promotion is out of the way, let's talk about all the other great stuff at the feis! 2014 and 2015 were pretty consistent with the vendors, all of whom are great. I personally love the woodworker, who makes award shelves along with so many other beautiful hand-carved items, and also happens to be a delightful conversationalist.
The stage layout was the same as last year, inside the Main Street Armory. Last year, the adults were on one of the grades stages all the way in the back of the building; this year, we were on the championship stage, which was first inside the doors. The stages themselves are standard plywood stages, and are comfortably spacious enough, even for those dancers with long legs and reach (judged by how close I come to falling off the edge of the stage while dancing).
As the building is one large, open space, there's room for plenty of stages and vendors. Theoretically, this should also calculate to more space for dancers and families to set up for the day, but, as usual for most feiseanna, the floor gets pretty packed throughout the day. One upside that I noticed between this year and the previous year is that the organizers have done a much better job of keeping pathways clear. At the 2014 feis, I felt like I was constantly walking over people to get around; for 2015, it was very easy to walk from one stage to the next without stepping on anyone.
Overall, this is one of my favorite feiseanna to attend - good location, good competitions and numbers, and a great group of adult dancers!
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