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Showing posts with label Irish Dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irish Dance. Show all posts

Monday, March 12, 2012

The Bear Necessities

Bear necessities, those simple bear necessities, forget about your worries and your strife! (Yeah man!) I need those bear necessities!

This blog post is about getting back to what's important, and figuring out what I care about most.

Part of the problem was that I never believed I was able to be singleminded enough to be really great at anything.

I always wondered why I couldn't stick to one pursuit and be a great singer, poet/songwriter or dancer. Just to do any of my favorite things as well as I would have liked. I accepted that I was a jack of all trades for many years and that was my excuse for never really dedicating myself to any of it. I never realized that all along I actually was dedicated with a dogged determination to the one thing that mattered the most to me.

For the last 8 years the dream and goal I have been pursuing was to return to Ireland without doing so foolishly. I wanted to still live a full life, keep advancing in my career, and not have to give up true love. Basically it had to make sense, and it hasn't until now. So I can forgive myself for not doing those other things because i have just reached the goal i had for 8 years and can even be proud of what I have achieved in getting here where I am now at a cross roads.

Getting here involved seizing the right opportunity at the right time, and having patience, both of these are difficult and things were harder than they needed to be thanks to the pace I set myself. All the 'milestones of life' I have rushed and pushed, I forgot to enjoy the journey, figure out what I truly wanted and take my time, to enjoy the journey.  It is sheer luck maybe that I actually have been truly blessed in what and who I have.

I don't know what the rush was though, it is one piece of advice I was given that I would try to give to my children, but I did not heed it when it was given to me. Don't be in such a hurry to do everything, especially grow up. Live a little, have some fun. I don't know how I will communicate how important this is to my kids, but I have a little time to figure that out.

but it's time to de clutter my life now. Take my time. Before I could only graze the surface of things that weren't part of getting here, but now that I have, I feel freed and fired up to see what's next. So the real question is,

What do you do when you finally achieve everything you thought you ever wanted?

I am committing myself to the pursuit of happiness, allowing myself to be present in the journey. The first step in the happiness project by Gretchen Rubin is simple, get enough rest, so you can have energy to use. Another is to de clutter your life, and so I will de clutter my goals, to accomodate my new status as a parent. With this in mind in mind, and some soul searching these are my four areas of focus. None matter without the others.

Resting... taking care of me - Stick to doing this, to enjoying the journey, taking my time, and being sure I have the energy to be at my best, so i can give my best. Making myself a priority is a challenge but doing it means I wont let others down.

Family - There is nothing more important than taking care of the most important people in my life. My daughter, husband, pets and family and friends all over the world. I am not doing this the way I want, and being able to love people and make room for them in my life is very important to me. Parenting is the biggest chunk of this next to falling in love with my husband every day, rediscovering all our love and joy, our reasons for being together, daily.

Career - Spending time developing my expertise and keeping current, being sharp and organized while at work, taking it to the next level, owning and taking pride in my work appearance and professional persona.

Self Expression - Song writing, blogging, getting to 'know thyself' (see my professional blog on using technology to do this and why it's important).

Anything else, I don't have room for right now, and will just take away from my ability to enjoy this phase of my life. I'm excited, and not anxious and thats a first, so bring it on, Carpe Diem.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Upcoming Performance - Celtic Rhythms on Fire

I am getting ready for our upcoming show, celtic rhythms on fire, Nashville Irish Step Dancers on Facebook will have all the info, as well as http://www.nashvilleirishstepdancers.com/.

I will be singing 2 solo numbers, but have to decide between 3 possibles, and performing in another with harmonies for amazing grace.

I am dancing in 4 numbers, all soft shoe, and the preparations are well underway, a drowsy maggie reel, Lord of the Dance soft shoe, a traditional Jig, and a Ceili performance to Carmen-the lords prayer.

The three possible solo numbers to be narrowed down are shown below as done by others, this is a male sung version by clannad of Teir abhaile Riu

The second is is a Brid Og Ni Bhaile
and the third is Siul A Riun

I am probably going to do the second and third option, because they are more substantial and one is new for the crof show. Any votes for these?

I also need to sell tickets for the show, it is going to be spectacular, with the Celts, and some amazing hard working young Irish Dancers, they are all champions to me.

xx

Sunday, January 24, 2010

King O'Sullivan Feis ATL

Hi,

So I am feeling very victorious in a little bit of an 'I don't deserve it' kinda way. I went to Atlanta on Friday, taking a half day off work, and entered a Feis, the last before our wedding.

In case you aren't aware, this word means an all things 'Irish' competition, but most especially, Irish step dancing. I have been dancing for 1 year and 3 months so far and have entered a total of 3 feis. This time I decided to enter the singing competition also, and so entered 4 events, 1 musical and 3 advanced beginner soft shoe dances. These were the reel, the slip jig and the light jig.

I was up against one girl in the singing, and 2 others in each of my dances the competition was few, but not easy.

I find it a strange feeling then to come home with 3 gold medals for dance and a first place trophy for singing, I could have worked harder for it, and I would feel more victorious if there had been more participants, however those I was up against did put up a fine showing, and so I am still proud of having stood out as the winner. The win would ordinarily mean I was ready for novice however there needs to be a total of 5 competitors for the win to matter, so all adult dancers, how about entering a feis or 2 huh?

In the vein of 'I can always work harder' and more in the vein of I wish I had, the results were still wonderful to get. Dana, with whom I have carpooled with to the last 2 feis, got all silver, and one gold, so as we discussed, I am her only hurdle, we are still friends though, safe to say :)and a little healthy competition didn't hurt anyone, next reel step, here I come.

This comes on the heels of a similar win at the last Atlanta feis (all golds in 4 dances) but I really enjoyed the singing portion of it this time. There were mostly fiddle players and another girl from our school Niamh, won the under 13 musical instrument with her rendition of a lively song called Christmas eve. The winner of the over 13 played a large wooden flute, which made the most beautiful sound, I have heard it before in Irish music but didn't know the instrument, but she did a great job, so it was really fun to listen to the few people that entered the music, although I wish there was more to it (i.e. more participants and audience) and that the whole event were more festive, than competitive. I sang a song in Gailge (Gaelic) called Teir abhaile Riu, which means, marry the piper, a song I had performed and may perform again in our dance schools yearly show, called Celtic Rhythms on Fire. It went down well, and I suppose the Irish really struck a chord, and got me the win with the judge.

Monday, November 23, 2009

My Latest Dance Results

(456) Keogh, Sarah

Nashville Irish Step Dancers, TN

901: Adult Beginner Reel
3 Competitors Danced

456 - 90.00 136 - 87.00 466 - 85.00

Reel- Very neat! nicely crossed feet


902: Adult Beginner Light Jig
3 Competitors Danced

1 90.00
456 - 90.00 466 - 86.00 136 - 84.00

Jig good cut eyes


903: Adult Beginner Slip Jig
3 Competitors Danced

456 - 86.00 466 - 82.00 136 - 80.00


Slip-Jig - nice toe points


903-SN: Adult Beginner Single Jig
4 Competitors Danced

456 - 100.00 136 - 75.00 466 - 65.00

Jig - good presentation

Monday, September 21, 2009

My First Feis, Irish Dancing Results

(312) Keogh, Sarah


Nashville Irish Step Dancers, TN


300: Adult Beginner Reel
4 Competitors Danced
OverallMark1st2nd3rd
2
76.00
301 - 77.00
312 - 76.00
260 - 75.00
EventAdjudicatorMarkRankPoints1st2nd3rdComments
Reel
Grace Ann Coyle
76.00
2

77.00
76.00
75.00T
Toes down 1st step, lively

301: Adult Beginner Lt Jig
4 Competitors Danced
OverallMark1st2nd3rd
2
69.00
301 - 70.00
312 - 69.00
260 - 68.00
EventAdjudicatorMarkRankPoints1st2nd3rdComments
Lt Jig
Julia Bell
69.00
2

70.00
69.00
68.00T


302: Adult Beginner Slip Jig
3 Competitors Danced
OverallMark1st2nd3rd
1
70.00
312 - 70.00
260 - 68.00
320 - 62.00
EventAdjudicatorMarkRankPoints1st2nd3rdComments
Slip-Jig
Julia Bell
70.00
1

70.00
68.00
62.00


303: Adult Beginner Single Jig
2 Competitors Danced
OverallPoints1st2nd3rd
1
100.00
312 - 100.00
260 - 75.00
EventAdjudicatorMarkRankPoints1st2nd3rdComments
Single Jig
Grace Ann Coyle
76.00
1

76.00
74.00

nice


Tuesday, December 23, 2008

My Obsession

So I am seemingly obsessed with Stephanie Meyer's books, at first I thought it was Twilight, so phenomenal, but no it is just her writing. I think the distinguishing factor is her ability to take you inside the character and sympathise, I really felt I was living her books. I am somewhat intense at times and I guess that's the other factor that made this from a like, to an obsession. Its the only series I think I could read over and over and over, without ever getting sick of it. I reread the series for the movie, which I was somewhat disappointed in. I was shocked to get the same withdrawals when I finished breaking dawn for the second time.

I thought The Host was something 'out of this world' too. (Pardon the pun!) Its truly the alien book for people that don't read alien books, so if you are looking for a new author Stephanie Meyer is it. Seriously.

I am also disappointed that my favorite series' are over for christmas, I like to watch desperate housewives, grey's anatomy and private practice. I realize they can be predictable at times but there is something about stepping outside of myself and living vicariously that is so great for me, they are crazy but fun to watch.

On a more serious note, I am really gonna miss my family in Ireland and New Zealand, and friends around the world this Christmas, but I have a great 'husbiancee' (husband fiancee combo) and two great dogs here in Tennessee, the profile pic for this post is my dog rascal btw.

I am also a little obsessed with Melaleuca, this is a result of my mother in-laws making. Its a line of stuff made out of only natural and non toxic ingredients, and they make everything, lip glosses, body scrubs, moisturizer from heaven and even household cleaners. The thing that originally hooked me was the carpet cleaner, but I really just love the way it all smells and feels, and by gosh does it work, all of it, the moisturizer, the carpet cleaner and sugar scrubs are my favorite, followed by the candles and laundry detergent, I just can't get enough, I am on a conversion mission to make sure everyone gets to try it. 

Final obsession of the day is games, I love playing games with people, social games, they can be cards, board games (cranium etc) or multiplayer video games (shrek and mario party spring to mind). I am currently trying to get my in-laws to play a game christmas eve, anything I don't care what, I always have so much fun, I am kinda competitive but I think I have being a good loser and winner down so hopefully its still fun for everyone else. I just get fed from being around people and interacting with them in that way, there is not enough of that here in the USA in my circles, I am trying to find people to do this stuff with.

I am also really enjoying my Irish Dance lessons, I am not the only adult learner, and its really really great as an aerobic work out, slash strength training excercise, not to mention how gorgeous it looks when it's done right. New Years resolution will probably be to get a guitar instructor lined up, I am sick of procrastinating, I am a procrastinator naturally and with my husbiancee thrown in the mix nothing will get done, we are as bad as each other!

I mailed my two overseas packages and 50 cards last week for christmas, 2 days after I mailed the package for Ireland (from Tennessee) it was signed for, I was flabbergasted! that was amazing and a new record, but luckily all tasks are out of the way for Christmas now, just have to bake some doggie treats and cookies tonight/tomorrow (Christmas eve tomorrow) and enjoy Christmas. Thanks for the cards from people overseas, the cards that arrived were from people I wasn't expecting and it was a really nice surprise...

Happy holidays everyone.

:D

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