"I like people to watch me dance; it makes me feel famous!" - -KATLYN, ADVANCED BEGINNER, 9

Katie, how long have you been dancing?
K: Two years.
What made you want to do Irish dancing?
K: Well, my older sister was dancing. See, when my mom had her 40th birthday, her friends took her to see Riverdance and she loved it (rolls eyes) and she made us watch the tape about 400 times and my sister said, yeah, she'd like to try it but I didn't want to.
How long has your sister been dancing?
K: Almost three years. She's Novice and in Prizewinner in a couple of dances.
Can you explain what that means?
K: Well, if you compete there's different levels, and you have to win to move to the different levels, see. Like, if you're beginner, you have to win 1st, 2nd, or 3rd to be advanced beginner, or now I think you move up if you dance one year. I don't know, but you have to win 1st, 2nd or 3rd to move up to Novice.
And Prizewinner?
K: Well, that's the hardest because you have to win first in Novice to be Prizewinner!
So you're saying that you can be Advanced Beginner and Novice and Prizewinner all at the same time?
K: Yep.
What's your favorite thing about dancing?
K: I like to do shows. I like people to watch me dance; it makes me feel famous! (giggles)
Would you like to do a show like Riverdance?
K: I would rather do Lord of the Dance . It has a better story.
What part would you like to dance?
K: Gillian Norris' part. She's the bad girl in the red teddy!
Why not Bernadette Flynn? (the "good girl")
K: Because I like the way she dances and red is my favorite color. And in Feet of Flames Bernadette Flynn dances "King of the Fairies" and I hate that set because my sister dances it all of the time!
Thank you, Katlyn!

"I'd like to get good enough to qualify for Worlds, if I can!" -JENNIFER J., NOVICE, 12

How long have you been dancing, Jennifer?
JJ: Almost 4 years.
How did you get started?
JJ: Some of the girls at my church danced, and they did a show, and I thought it was cool so I started taking class.
What are your goals as a dancer?
JJ: Well, right now I just want to get all my dances out of Novice! I can move up in my light jig and slip jig, but that's all.
Do you think Novice is a hard level?
JJ: Most people seem to think so. It's hard to move up to prelims, too.
Preliminary Champion comes after Prizewinner?
JJ: That's right. You need to get a first in light shoe and heavy shoe, but most teachers make you place first in all your dances.
Do you want to go that far with it?
JJ: Yeah, I do. I'd like to get good enough to qualify for Worlds, if I can!
So that's a goal, too. How much do you practice?
JJ: I try to practice every day and extra on weekends.
So even though you're Novice Level you're serious about being a good dancer?
JJ: Oh, yeah. But it's fun, too. Like we got to be on TV on St. Patrick's Day.
Thanks, JJ.

"(My solo dress) cost $700, and I probably won't get another birthday or Christmas present for the rest of my life!." -GWEN, PRIZEWINNER, 14

How long have you been dancing?
G: 4 years.
Why did you decided to take Irish dancing?
G: (laughs) I didn't really! My Mom decided I should. I didn't like it at first and my brother hated it. But then I got to like it, and so did he. He's a really good dancer, better than me. He's real athletic. After he started winning medals he got hooked.
And you?
G: Well, I like to win, but I really like making friends. I mean, my best friends are my dancing friends. And when you go to feises, you meet people all over. I have a lot of penpals and email pals. When I got my solo dress they really understood what a big event it was!
Do you post on the message boards?
G: No. Well, I have a few times but we share a computer and I don't have a lot of time to do that. I mean, dancing and school and church and all. But I do email.
Did you have your solo dress made?
G: Well, not my first one. It belonged to a girl in my dance school. But my new one was made and it cost $700.00 and I probably won't get another birthday or Christmas present for the rest of my life! (laughs) No, really, I paid for some of it with my baby-sitting money and money I saved. But not much. My parents mostly paid for it.
Does it ever seem unfair to you that your brother's costume is so much cheaper?
G: Yeah, it does kinda, but really, I like solo dresses. They're soooo beautiful!
What are your dancing goals?
G: Well, I danced my first time in the Oireachtas this year. So I met that goal. I guess my next goal is to get a recall? Yeah, I guess so. And get my birds higher!
Did you practice a lot more before the Oireachtas?
G: Oh, yeah. We had two extra classes a week, and I practiced about an hour more at home. I think my Mom almost got sick of it, and I didn't think that was possible! (laughs) Thank you, Gwen.

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