Make sure in your dance bag you have-
- An extra pair of soft/ hard shoes
- Both your pairs of dance shoes (softshoes and hardshoes)
- A water bottle (bring a few, put them in the fridge overnight)
- Snacks/ Lunch (because you can't always rely on the snack vendor)
- Money (for food, emergancy items, etc.) AND don't forget your parents will need to pay to get in and you need money for the programs as well!
- Cardpin, saftey pin, string for holding on your number
- Bandaids (buh-bye blisters)
- Sock glue (who could live without it?)
- Black electrical tape/ Rosin (don't slip!)
- Pen/ Paper (to mark down your dances/ stages and placings)
Make sure you-
- Have your stuff packed up the night before and ready so all you have to do is walk out the door!
- If you are curling your hair, wait until your hair is completley dry before you start. Use alot of hair spray and also use spike curlers. The other kind are messy and don't trun out as good.
- Get to bed early and think about your steps as you sleep!
On the Feis Day-
- Wake up early enough that you can get out the door without being in a rush. Put on your make-up at home, so you don't have to lug everything around with you. Do bring lipstick, maybe some eyeshadow and blush for tough ups, though.
- Put those water bottles you froze the previous night in a plastic bag in you duffle (they may leak)
- Get to the feis early! You never know what time they will start (you know those Irish....never on time!)
At the Feis-
- Go pick up your number at the registration desk and put in somewhere safe
- Go to your assigned stages and see hoe far they are along the list
- Practice you full dance before one of your friends and ask them to mark you on how well you are dancing.
Before you Get up on Sage-
- Fix up your hair and make-up (if you are wearing a wig make sure the net is off!)
- Glue your socks, double knot your shoes and make sure your number is on
- Look happy and secure onstage! You don't want to look nervous before the juges! Pretend you are an actor/ actress, become the best dancer in the world (would they look like they were about to pee their pants onstage? Neither should you!)
- DON"T TALK IN LINE! Marks are taken off and you look unprofesional!
- When it comes time for you to dance, step forward to the left, and on count 4 point your toe. On count 7 stpe up on your toes and on count 8, start dancing!
- When you are finished your dance, point your toe and bow to the judge. then turn toward the musician and bow to them. Turn back to your position on the back of the stage, and wait until everyone has finished.
Things to Remember-
- You will loose. Yes, at one time or another everyone has lost. From the dancer beside you to the world chmapion to the lead in LOTD, everyone has been there.
- Don't be nervous about others watching you. You are naturally talented , you wouldn't be there if you wern't. Everyone who is there is cheering you on!
- Smile. It can be the difference from winning or loosing.
- If you are a beginner, don't be intimidated by more advanced dancers. They were all once beginners like you!
I really hoped you learned something that will be of use to you at your future Feis's!
P.S- Don't scream too loud when you win (the other dancers may be jealous..hehe!)
