Cas Dansa is my dance studio's performing group. Every Friday all the girls who perform with the studio practice for three hours.
We teach the younger girls dances that have been passed down for years. We also choreograph or make up new dances with all the girls.
We do a couple performances annually. Every year we perform at Milwaukee's Irish Fest, Chicago's Celtic Fest, The Burns Supper, and The Feast of the Haggis.
The Burns Supper and The Feast of the Haggis are both St. Andrew Society dinners. They are very formal and we always dress up after we perform and then eat dinner with anyone else.
Irish Fest and Celtic Fest are both performances outside at huge festivals where there are many different things to do such as watch the bag pipe bands or go to booths that sell Celtic jewelry or paintings.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
A Highland Dancer's Schedule
I am at the highest level of highland dance and currently preparing for Regionals. If i do well enough at Regionals this year, I'll make it to Nationals.
Every week I have Highland Dance class three nights a week. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have a two hour dance class. On Fridays I have dance class for three hours.
On Wednesdays I have an hour and a half ballet class and a half hour pointe class. Ballet helps me to learn to be graceful in Highland dance. Highland dance originated from ballet therefore it helps me to be a better highland dancer.
On days like Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays when I don't have dance class I practice at home for at least an hour.
Some Saturdays however, I have a competition or a performance.
Every week I have Highland Dance class three nights a week. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have a two hour dance class. On Fridays I have dance class for three hours.
On Wednesdays I have an hour and a half ballet class and a half hour pointe class. Ballet helps me to learn to be graceful in Highland dance. Highland dance originated from ballet therefore it helps me to be a better highland dancer.
On days like Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays when I don't have dance class I practice at home for at least an hour.
Some Saturdays however, I have a competition or a performance.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
History of Dances
The Sword Dance is done over swords placed on the ground in a cross. While doing this dance you move in and out of the swords placed on the ground.
This dance was symbolically done by soldiers before they went off to war. As a soldier if you touched the sword with your feet at some point in the dance, it was said that you would die at war.
Another dance that has a story background is the sailors hornpipe. In this dance the dancer dresses up as a sailor. Many of the different steps of the dance imitate actions of sailors such as pulling ropes, looking out for enemy boats, or saying good bye as the ship leave dock.
One last dance that has rich history is the Irish Jig. In this dance the dancers dress up in a dress and apron. The story for this dance is that a house maid that hung up laundry to dry outside is very angry with the children in the town. The children let a muddy pig loose and the pig pulled down all of the laundry onto the ground.
The steps in the dance are all very angry. The dancer has her hands in fists and she is stomping throughout the whole dance.
This dance was symbolically done by soldiers before they went off to war. As a soldier if you touched the sword with your feet at some point in the dance, it was said that you would die at war.
Another dance that has a story background is the sailors hornpipe. In this dance the dancer dresses up as a sailor. Many of the different steps of the dance imitate actions of sailors such as pulling ropes, looking out for enemy boats, or saying good bye as the ship leave dock.
One last dance that has rich history is the Irish Jig. In this dance the dancers dress up in a dress and apron. The story for this dance is that a house maid that hung up laundry to dry outside is very angry with the children in the town. The children let a muddy pig loose and the pig pulled down all of the laundry onto the ground.
The steps in the dance are all very angry. The dancer has her hands in fists and she is stomping throughout the whole dance.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Competions
For most highland dancers competing is a dancers favorite part. We get the privilege of traveling all around America. We make new friends from all over the country.
At most competitions there are four dances done. The dances and the length of the dances vary with the level that you are in.
Some competitions are called Championships. Championship competitions have required things each dancer must do. In each dance there are sections of the dance called steps. Each dancer in a Championship competition is required to do the same steps.
Another competition is Regional. Regionals is a competition that is for your region. (example: Midwest)The only thing you need to do to compete in regionals is live in that region and be at the highest level of highland dancing.
At regionals if you are awarded Champion, 1st runner up, or 2nd runner in your age group, you qualify to go to Nationals or USIRs(United States Inter-Regional Championships). USIRs is all the best dancers throughout the United States coming to one competition and competing against each other.
Becoming a USIR Champion means that you are the best highland dancer throughout the whole U.S. in that age group.
This link gives more informtaion about the history of USIR and where it is being held in 2010.
At most competitions there are four dances done. The dances and the length of the dances vary with the level that you are in.
Some competitions are called Championships. Championship competitions have required things each dancer must do. In each dance there are sections of the dance called steps. Each dancer in a Championship competition is required to do the same steps.
Another competition is Regional. Regionals is a competition that is for your region. (example: Midwest)The only thing you need to do to compete in regionals is live in that region and be at the highest level of highland dancing.
At regionals if you are awarded Champion, 1st runner up, or 2nd runner in your age group, you qualify to go to Nationals or USIRs(United States Inter-Regional Championships). USIRs is all the best dancers throughout the United States coming to one competition and competing against each other.
Becoming a USIR Champion means that you are the best highland dancer throughout the whole U.S. in that age group.
This link gives more informtaion about the history of USIR and where it is being held in 2010.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
What Music Do Highland Dancers Dance To?
At competitions highland dancers dance to bagpipes. While practicing and getting ready for competitions most dancers use bagpipes on a CD. At competitions a live bagpiper plays the music for each dancer. Every song is played on bagpipe.
For the choreography, which is something that you are able to do at the premier level, you get to pick your own music. You make up your own dance to go with this music.
The music for competitions should have bagpipes in it. It can be fun though. It could be by a band with bagpipes in it. So it would also have drumming and maybe even guitar/bass in it.
This web page explains how a bagpipe works and makes sound. It includes links for what each of the specific parts of the bagpipe do.
For the choreography, which is something that you are able to do at the premier level, you get to pick your own music. You make up your own dance to go with this music.
The music for competitions should have bagpipes in it. It can be fun though. It could be by a band with bagpipes in it. So it would also have drumming and maybe even guitar/bass in it.
This web page explains how a bagpipe works and makes sound. It includes links for what each of the specific parts of the bagpipe do.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Levels of Highalnd Dancing
The first level in Highland dancing is Primary. This is for children under seven. If you begin highland dance at an age younger than seven you would compete in this group. This is the only group that has an age requirement.
Once you are seven, you are automatically bumped up into the Beginner category. After beginner is Novice. Neither of these level have age requirements.
To move onto the next level you must meet a requirement. Every dancer gets something called a F.U.S.T.A.(Federation of United States Teachers and Adjudicators) card. This card is like your dancer I.D. It is how you register to compete in competitions.
At a competition if you receive a first, second, or third place, you get a stamp on the back of your. Once you receive six stamps you move onto the next level. This applies for the Beginner and Novice levels of highland dance.
After you get six stamps on your Novice card, you move into a level called Intermediate. This level is preparing you for Premier or the highest level of dance. Intermediate doesn't require anything to move on. You stay in Intermediate for a whole year and you are automatically moved into Premier.
Once you get to Premier, it is the highest level so you don't move up. You start to receive money at competitions instead of medals and trophies. You can qualify for Nationals once you are in Premier. It is also much more difficult to win. The groups get much bigger.
As an example of the groups, here are competition results. Scroll to the bottom of the page. It lists the dance, the dancers name, the place they received, the age group and of course the level they're in.
Once you are seven, you are automatically bumped up into the Beginner category. After beginner is Novice. Neither of these level have age requirements.
To move onto the next level you must meet a requirement. Every dancer gets something called a F.U.S.T.A.(Federation of United States Teachers and Adjudicators) card. This card is like your dancer I.D. It is how you register to compete in competitions.
At a competition if you receive a first, second, or third place, you get a stamp on the back of your. Once you receive six stamps you move onto the next level. This applies for the Beginner and Novice levels of highland dance.
After you get six stamps on your Novice card, you move into a level called Intermediate. This level is preparing you for Premier or the highest level of dance. Intermediate doesn't require anything to move on. You stay in Intermediate for a whole year and you are automatically moved into Premier.
Once you get to Premier, it is the highest level so you don't move up. You start to receive money at competitions instead of medals and trophies. You can qualify for Nationals once you are in Premier. It is also much more difficult to win. The groups get much bigger.
As an example of the groups, here are competition results. Scroll to the bottom of the page. It lists the dance, the dancers name, the place they received, the age group and of course the level they're in.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Judging System at Competitions
The judging system for highland dance is complicated for non dancers to understand.
You start out with a certain amount points. Every time the judge sees something wrong they take off a point. The judge decides how many points get taken off for what thing.
This means that it id the judges personal opinion on your dancing. One judge could think you danced really well that day because you do all the things she likes while another could think you danced horribly because you don't do the things she likes.
The judges look for things like if your toes are pointed, if your feet and arms in the right position at the right time, how high you are jumping off the ground and a lot more technical things like that.
How do you know what you are suppose to perfect? There are books for every single competition dance. They specifically tell you what you are suppose to do. You also must have a certified dance teacher. To become a certified teacher you must pass a test. If they pass the test they are officially a teacher and they should be able to tell you all the things you need to work on.
A lot of people believe the judging system to be very political. That you only win at competitions if the judge knows you. From my personal experience it certainly helps if you know the judge. The seem to take a liking to you if you are very well known. I have seem dancers that are much better than any one in their group get beaten by someone the judge knows. It's a very controversial thing.
The organization that creates the books, runs competitions, and organizes all the world event for highland dancing is SBOHD or Scottish Board of Highland Dancing. Here is a link to there website.
You start out with a certain amount points. Every time the judge sees something wrong they take off a point. The judge decides how many points get taken off for what thing.
This means that it id the judges personal opinion on your dancing. One judge could think you danced really well that day because you do all the things she likes while another could think you danced horribly because you don't do the things she likes.
The judges look for things like if your toes are pointed, if your feet and arms in the right position at the right time, how high you are jumping off the ground and a lot more technical things like that.
How do you know what you are suppose to perfect? There are books for every single competition dance. They specifically tell you what you are suppose to do. You also must have a certified dance teacher. To become a certified teacher you must pass a test. If they pass the test they are officially a teacher and they should be able to tell you all the things you need to work on.
A lot of people believe the judging system to be very political. That you only win at competitions if the judge knows you. From my personal experience it certainly helps if you know the judge. The seem to take a liking to you if you are very well known. I have seem dancers that are much better than any one in their group get beaten by someone the judge knows. It's a very controversial thing.
The organization that creates the books, runs competitions, and organizes all the world event for highland dancing is SBOHD or Scottish Board of Highland Dancing. Here is a link to there website.
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