The Ryan-Kilcoyne School

of Irish Dancing

O c t o b e r 2 0 1 4

Christina Ryan-Kilcoyne, TCRG, ADCRG Molly Curran-Burns, TCRG

A Message from Christina: Welcome, Welcome to all of our new students & families and a Welcome Back to my

returning students & families! I hope everyone took some time off to rest & relax your bodies, give Mom & Dad a break from driving, and recharge for an exciting new year of dancing!

Each year I wish to remind all of my students no matter how accomplished they might be – to remember your basics, nothing looks worse, especially to judges, than straight feet, uncrossed legs, un-pointed toes, or dreadful extension. Do not worry about including fancy tricks into your steps; stay focused on perfecting the basics & then eventually tricks will be added to your routines!

I also wish to remind all dancers that not only is this the start of the fall dance season, but also the start of a new school year. I know that we are all very excited about our feising, including our upcoming feis in October & the Oireachtas in November; however, Molly & I do expect you to keep up with your studies to make us proud in the classroom as well. Nothing makes us prouder than to see how many of our dancers earn Honor Roll status and other academic achievements.

Wishing everyone a wonderful October & a Happy Halloween!

A Message from Molly: Welcome back everyone!

It’s been so wonderful catching up with all of you over the past few weeks. As we head into the fall season, I encourage you to make the most out of your time at practice.

Whether you are just starting out as a new beginner or you are training for our upcoming Oireachtas, I implore you to focus your ‘time on task’ during our classes. While you are waiting to dance or you

happen to be the first student at class, put your shoes on and begin working. When you get feedback from us, go and work on correcting the mistakes. Going over your steps one at a time,

breaking down each step, finding a partner and watching each other, etc., are just a few examples of maximizing your ‘time on task.’

As the saying goes, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” I look forward to working with all of you this year and I can’t wait to see you at our next class!

P.S. – Good luck to everyone competing in our upcoming Ryan-Kilcoyne School Feis!

Important & Upcoming Items to Know:

Saturday, October 11th, 2014 — Maple Point Middle School, Langhorne, PA

Our yearly feis rapidly approaches!! We need everyone’s help make it a fabulous day!!

Volunteers Thank you to everyone who volunteered to work at the feis. We really appreciate your

willingness to help make our 20th Annual Feis a success! Your committee chair will contact you a few days before the feis to discuss your duties and/or time to work. If you have not heard from a committee chair by October 8th, please email Jen Jeter at irish2399@gmail.com. If there is a problem with your assignment, please e-mail Jen.

If you still need to volunteer, please contact Jen! What are you waiting for??? Baked Goods:

We ask each Ryan-Kilcoyne family registered for the feis to please bring a baked good into the cafeteria in the morning, preferably something packaged to sell easily (e.g., cookies,

brownies, sliced cake). We encourage new families to come to the feis to check it out and to help by contributing to the baked goods table.

Set-Up: On Friday, October 10th from 4:00 to 8:00 pm we will set up the Maple

Point Middle School for our feis. We need many volunteers!! We have jobs for the big and small, young and

old, weak and strong! Many hands make light work! Please help!

Note to new parents: There will be vendors at the feis selling dance shoes, socks & just about everything for your child’s Irish dance needs, if you are

not sure what you need, please ask Christina or Molly.

Welcome Welcome!!

New Teammates & families In this new season of Irish Dance, we welcome the following new

teammates & their families to the

Ryan Kilcoyne team.

Please welcome them & introduce yourselves!

Emily Austin Madelyn Demonte Mikaela Keithley Amiella Musser Gabrielle Spencer Claire Wegner

“Emily’s Entourage” is gearing up for another JDRF Walk

Dancer Emily Reidy was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) at the age of 6 & lives with

the constant challenges. Each year Emily and her family & friends form a team to walk to

raise awareness & research money to find a cure & for advancements with its complications at

the JDRF Walk in Bucks County (Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund).

This year the Walk occurs on November 2nd at the Bucks County Community College, if any

dancers and/or families would like to walk with “Emily’s Entourage” or donate to our team,

please speak with Emily’s Mom, Jenn, or check out the link at http://www2.jdrf.org.

Practice Update Information Saturday October Oireachtas Practices

October 4 ~ October 11 (Hey! You should be at the Feis!!!) October 18 ~ October 25

All practices will be held at the American Legion 10:00 - 11:00 (ceili) and 11:00 - 1:00 (solos).

Ceili classes will cost $10. The cost per week for solo practices: $20 (no charge for ceili if attending solos)

The solo class is for Preliminary & Open dancers & those that will be competing

with a solo at this year’s Oireachtas, along with dancers that have received permission to attend from Christina or Molly.

*Be sure to check the message board & the News Updates page for any schedule changes*

Training Tips from Coach Molly Managing Stress

For most of us, the summer season is a time to relax and recharge our batteries. Minimal schoolwork, camps, pool parties, day trips to the beach, etc. are all ways in which we

tend to enjoy our ‘dog days’ and de-stress. As we return to the slated school year and our hectic fall routines resume, it can be a very stressful time.

As athletes, students, and dancers we have to manage our stress because if we don’t, our stress will

manage us! I found an interesting and very succinct article that explains how we can identify over-stress (as athletes) and how to handle/manage that stress so we don’t become ‘distressed.’ I will be following up with you regarding this

article during class time over the next several weeks.

Sports Training and Exercise: Stress Management for Athletes

At work or in life, everyone experiences stress. And that goes double for athletes. Not

only do athletes have to worry about lifestyle and emotional stress, they also have to worry about training and competition stress. How do athletes know if they are under stress? Quite simply, an athlete with a manageable training schedule and stress load will be full of energy and will perform well. An athlete, who is stressed, on the other hand, will seem listless and without a competitive edge, may have trouble sleeping and eating, and will be more susceptible to injuries and illnesses. A certain amount of stress is actually useful to the athlete. Stress helps us focus, as well as allows us to perform with more energy. But unfortunately our bodies can't differentiate between performance stress and lifestyle stress. Too much stress is basically too much stress, which eventually has a direct effect on hormonal balance. Eventually stress affects our entire metabolism and immune system. While an athlete can handle stress better than a non-athlete, over-training or competing too much can ruin years of hard work. Athletes must be very careful to achieve a good balance by maintaining a high level of fitness without going over their physical and mental limits. Since the body perceives all stress as the same, athletes who want to perform their best should make sure that their lives outside of their sports are stress free and manageable as well. Stress is impossible to avoid. But it can be managed.

• Managing training stress. A big mistake that athletes make is to train too hard too fast.

Instead, training should be gradually progressive. Make sure the body can handle its current load before you increase the load, and

always give the body adequate rest between sessions.

• Managing competition stress.

If the athlete finds competition stressful she shouldn't avoid it, she should just select it more carefully. You'll have more success if you plan your competitions so that the challenge increases each time out. The athlete's confidence and self-esteem will grow every time she is successful. There will be times she will be unsuccessful as well, and these should be recognized as great learning experiences.

• Managing everyday stress.

An athlete who is moving, breaking up with a partner, or going through other life-changing events will experience stress which will have an effect on performance. Since there is no way to really get rid of the stress, the best way to combat it is to cut down on stress in other areas. If lifestyle stress is high, cut down on competition, and see training as therapy. Do only as much as makes you feel good. Never completely avoid physical exercise when you are stressed, as

exercise, as long as there is no over-training, reduces overall stress. Especially during tough times, athletes should exercise at least 30 minutes a day five days a week. Always monitor your eating and sleeping patterns, which have a direct effect on stress. Eat healthfully and get the correct amount of sleep. Regular patterns will help keep the stress level in check.

"Stress Management for Athletes, Sports Exercise, Problem Advice." Stress Management for Athletes, Sports Exercise, Problem Advice. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.

Have you seen on the website Molly’s weekly installment of “Drill, Technique, Posture and Stamina Class Notes & Agenda”

Follow this link for her weekly notes: www.ryankilcoyneschool.com/Molly/Molly.html

Parent Tips

Help in understanding this sport your child has chosen! Each month we will provide tips & terms to help dancing parents navigate through

competitions and general Irish dancing information.

This month: Irish dance terms Our new families might be hearing a few strange words now that they have

an Irish dancer in their home. Below are a few key Irish dance terms: Beginner Costume: A simpler costumes, for girls usually a skirt and blouse, and for boys usually a

dress shirt and dark pants. Ceili: a group dance Feis: pronounced “fesh”, plural is Feiseanna- a Gaelic word which,

strictly translated, it means festival. In our usage, it could more accurately be described as a competition.

Ghillies: soft shoe worn by women dancers. They are distinctive in appearance, lacing-up from near the toe to up and around the ankle and lower leg. Ghillies are used for all the light dances such as the reel, light jig, slip jig, and single jig.

Oireachtas: Pronounced "O-rock-tus", a type of super feis. A regional competition to qualify for solos at the National and World level of dance

Hard Shoe: Black leather shoes with fiberglass heels & taps on the toes. These shoes make a rhythmic drumming sound when performing hornpipes, hard jigs, sets & treble reels. Dances with hard shoes are more difficult to perform & thus are reserved for later when the dancer gains more basic steps.

Poodle Socks: A special, white sock that must be worn by female dancers in competition. T.C.R.G.: a certified Irish Dance Teacher, "Teasgicoir Choimisiuin Le Rinci Gaelacha".

Are you in the market for a solo dress or used Shoes?

If yes, please check out the “Items for Sale” page on our website, Many of the dresses are most appropriate for a dancer’s first or second solo dress. Most of

the dresses are from dancers from our school, so your patronage helps teammate’s families. We also have a number of slightly used soft & hard shoes and dance sneakers for sale,

please consider here first. Also, if you would like to post a dress on the page contact Lisa at lpevrard@comcast.net.

Advice, memories & Love from one Dancer to another…

Every month we will post a new question & the answers to the month prior. We would love to have as many dancers participate as they might help another

dancer succeed with their own goals!

Current Question: I’m excited to get back to Irish dance because…

Lauren Bunke (u14): I get to have my Panera soup in the bread bowl dinner. #dinner of champs, #carbs on carbs #carpool sisterhood

Roisin Clark (u8): It is fun to do and it is exciting! Maura Cox (u10): I want to learn new dances & improve my old ones. Reese Hollister (u13): It is good! Kiersten Kelly (u11): I want to get better and go to open! Ryan Kelly (u12): I love it & I’m excited for competitions! Nina Prahakaran (u8): I am excited to learn the St. Patrick set dance. Katie Roszyk (u17): I love singing all the way home with Lauren & my dance Moms! #carpool naps #carpool sisterhood Emily Steege (u13): It’s my favorite thing to do & I can’t wait for Oireachtas. Lily Weston (u8): Because I like being with Ms. Molly.

November’s Question: What would your dream Irish dance dress look like?

And other good news on & Off the Dance Floor!

So Very Proud of Aidan and Megan! Aidan Moroz & Megan McPaul (both u17) received recognition from their school, Mount Saint

Joseph Academy, for academic excellence! Both, current members of the National Honor Society, were inducted into the National

Spanish Honor Society at the 2014 Academic Honors Convocation. Aidan additionally earned the coveted "4.0" pin for achieving a 4.0 grade point average or

better for each of the past 3 years. Nothing more to say but, Brilliant Job Aidan & Megan!

Congratulations to Claire! Claire Bond (from Bel Air) received 5th a place medal for Light Jig at the Baltimore Feis!

Gabi Drobot Moves Up to Open! Gabi (u11) earned her third 1st place at the Lynn Feis, moving her up to the Open

Championship level. Congratulations to Gabi!

Jaclyn Timoney Moves Up to Open! Jaclyn (u18) earned her third 1st place at the IANJJ Feis, moving her up to the

Open Championship level. Congratulations to Jaclyn!

To our October Birthday Dancers

Breda Cox on October 6th

Delaney O’Mailey on October 10th

Tara Ford on October 15th

Aidan Cox on October 26th

School Business: Have you changed your Address, Phone or email?

If you have had any changes in your address, phone number, or e-mail since registering in September 2014, please let us know. We need to update our database for any mailings.

You can e-mail any changes to irishdance@ryankilcoyneschool.com.

Tell us how you are doing! Go to the Results page of the Ryan-Kilcoyne website.

Once you are on the page simply click on “Submit Results Here” at the top of the page & enter the requested information.

Show us how you are doing! Submit photos you would like to share on the school photo album

(Please type “Ryan-Kilcoyne Photos” in subject line) to irishdance@ryankilcoyneschool.com.

We’re also on Facebook as Ryan-Kilcoyne!

You can & please do tag us in your photos once you become our friend.

Please share your Good News and/or pictures Please send to Maurar1117@msn.com, Katie’s Mom.

PHotos!!!

Beginner, Lilly earns a 1st place

in both the light jig & reel at the

Delaware Feis!

Aidan earns a Prelim 1st place

at the Long Island feis! Gabi earns a Prelim 1st place at

the Delaware feis!

Claire Bond 5th place – light jig

Jaclyn earns her final Prelim 1st place

Alex receiving her award as the recipient of the

Peter J. Smith Memorial Scholarship.

Aidan & Megan at their

Honors Convocation

Healthy Harford Fair

Bel Air Festival for the Arts

Wishing everyone a safe & Happy Halloween!