r/irishdance

Hello ID family ❤️ I wanted to take an informal survey to maybe help my daughter who is struggling a little with her confidence. She’s been competing in full PW since April in mid America region. She’s moved 3/4 dances up (some of them multiple times now) and is stuck on one. I was hoping to give her some anecdotes about how long it’s taken others to move up so maybe she doesn’t feel so alone. She’s a lovely dancer and she’s gotten really close with seconds and thirds multiple times. As her mom I know in my bones that she’s going to get it soon, and I also know there’s no rush, and the longer she stays in PW the more ready she’ll be for PC, but all of that is hard to hear when you’re in middle school and everyone around you seems to be moving up. To me six months in this giant region and being 75% to PC is a huge accomplishment, but I’m her mom and super biased 😂

So any anecdotal evidence you have to help my girl would be appreciated. Thanks in advance ❤️

I just got a new pair of hard shoes (used, but lightly worn). They're quite stiff, especially in the heel, so I'm wondering how to break them in to make them more comfortable. They fit fine otherwise, they just dig into the back of my foot because of how stiff they are. Tips?

Hey all!

After a ten-year break, I’ve decided to get back into Irish dancing. I bought a horse-stall mat to practise on and was thinking of adding foam tiles underneath for extra shock absorption, but I’m not sure that will be enough. The rubber mat also has a bit of texture, so I’m looking for ideas for a smoother top layer.
I’d also love suggestions for improving the cushioning—or for building a more portable practice floor, ideally something roll-up. My current setup is pretty heavy and awkward to move.
Anyway. I’d like something that will work for soft shoe and hares shoe drills.

Any tips that you found helpful for taking in Irish dancing from home are welcome as well. I’m currently not enrolled in a class, and money is tight and so I’m looking into more affordable options to practice.

If there are any resources that you found helpful, feel free to drop them. I trust many others would appreciate them too.

Thanks!

My 9 year old has been doing Irish dance (in Germany) for around 18 months. She does both soft and heavy shoe. Today she competed at her 2nd ever Feis. To my untrained eye , she looked like she did amazing , far superior to her first Feis. However she placed dismally. Her younger brother who has only been dancing for less than a year placed higher in nearly all the dances they did. They dance under the same age group. My daughter danced all her beginner and her primaries and then a few heavy shoes as well. My son danced his beginners , but placed higher than my daughter in all of them. I am so proud of both my children, but I am so confused, how did my daughter do worse than her feis a year ago. How has she learned primary dances but placed in the bottom of the beginners. She is very disheartened because she has worked very hard , she practices outside of class, and does performances for the school. My son only dances because he got bored watching. He doesn’t practice ever outside class and could honestly take it or leave it.
What are the judges looking for that I am missing ?