Book Review - The Dancer in the Painted Mask by Rod Vick

The Dancer in the Painted Mask by Rod Vick
Photo: Flickr user Beyond Elements

"The sound of change would not be the harsh crack of a bullet, but the regal tap of an Irish dance shoe."
~The Dancer in the Painted Mask by Rod Vick

From the back cover:

No one can beat the Doppels. Science has seen to that.  

It's frustrating for fifteen-year-old Wynn Jameson to be a "norm" or "normal human" dancer in an age when Irish dancing is dominated by super clones. But when Wynn breaks the law to rescue a dying Doppel clone, her frustrating turns to shock as she unearths a thirty-year-old mystery that plunges her into a shadowy world of assassins, corporate conspiracy, unexpected friendship, and an impossible Irish dance legend that turns out to be true. A legend that will answer questions about her missing mother, and forever change irish dance. . . and the world. 

~2012 by Laikituk Creek Publishing

You don't have to be an Irish dancer to enjoy Rod Vick's latest novel. The Dancer in the Iron Mask is a thriller, with Irish dance set as the background of a story that explores a greater moral dilemma.

Wynn Jameson lives in a futuristic society where humans create clones of themselves to perform menial tasks, harvest organs for transplants, and participate in sports as avatars. The clones are said to have no feelings or emotion, a fact that Wynn believed until the day she sees one survive a malfunctioning "meltdown". Clones are not supposed to survive a meltdown, and are ritually terminated.  When Wynn sees emotion in the malfunctioning clone, she realizes that her discovery will effect more than the Irish dance community, it will change the way the world views Doppels forever.

Vick does an amazing job of creating suspense.  There were many times that my jaw dropped while reading. Every time I thought Wynn was about to wiggle her way out of trouble she would be thrown further into the fray. I found myself rushing through other tasks to get back to my reading.

The idea that our society could come to depend on clones in the future is interesting, and even plausible. Vick's story delves deep into the questions and problems that could come from such a future. Much of the beginning of the book is bogged down with world building, but once I learned how the world looked through Wynn's eyes, I was able to believe in the futuristic world Vick painted.

My favorite part of the book is when Wynn is forced to see things from the point of view of those who oppose her. The dilemma deepens the book, and will make you question your own ideas.

My only complaint is the cover. Don't let it scare you off, the story inside is captivating.

The Dancer in the Painted Mask will appeal to those who have already fallen in love with Irish dancing, as well as those who have never before heard of it. The book is especially suited for middle grade, and young adult readers.

Rod Vick, author of The Dancer in the Painted Mask
Photo: courtesy Rod Vick

Rod Vick is the author of Kaylee's Choice, and many other Irish dance novels. Vick's latest work, The Haunted Island Feis will be available soon. You can find purchasing information on Vick's website.

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Readers: Are you an adult Irish dancer, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing? Please visit www.christydorrity.com. 

Interview with adult Irish dancer Lia Avetisyan from Germany - PHOTOS

Lia Avetisya, adult Irish dancer in Germany
Photo: courtesy Lia Avetisyan

Irish dancing is a world-wide phenomenon, and dancers all over the globe participate in the Irish dance music and culture.

Please welcome Lia Avetisyan. Lia was born in Armenia and she currently lives in Munich, Germany.  She dances for the Tir na nOg Irish Dance School.


"Dancing is not only about competition, it’s an art and you can never be too old for art."
~Lia Avetisya, adult Irish dancer

Christy:  Tell me a little bit about your Irish dance journey.

Lia:  My journey started over three years ago, when I saw an announcement in one of the local forums that invited adults to a free trial lesson at Tir na nOg school in Munich. The announcement said “come even if you have two left feet”, which I thought sounded encouraging, because I had never had dance lesson before. I had wanted to learn Irish dancing for years, but I had no opportunity as there were no Irish dance schools where I lived, so I seized the chance, and have been dancing ever since. By now I have taken part in quite a few feiseanna, a show project, a number of summer camps and gigs. I had multiple injuries, and prizes, and I still think this was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

Lia Avetisya, adult Irish dancer in Germany
Photo: courtesy Lia Avetisyan

In fact, I consider Irish dancing something like a therapy. There have been quite a few times when I came to the class after having a stressful day, but my bad mood and worries disappeared about 10 minutes after we started dancing. Probably that has also to do with the fact that Tir na nOg has great teachers. I cannot remember a single lesson that was not full of fun, laughter and, of course, exercise.

Christy:  How prevalent is Irish dancing in Germany?  In Armenia?

Lia:  There are quite a few Irish dance schools in Germany, and I believe Tir na nOg is one of the biggest ones in Germany/Europe. There are no Irish dance schools in Armenia, unfortunately. 

Christy:  How do you feel connected to adult Irish dancers around the world?

Lia Avetisya, adult Irish dancer in Germany
Photo: courtesy Lia Avetisyan

Lia:  I remember at one point in time, I had to move to another town for a few months because of my job, and one of the dancers who lived in that city immediately suggested to help out with everything I  needed. That was the first time I realized that once you become a part of Irish Dance, somehow you are connected with the dancers all over the world. Through Irish Dance I've met a lot of people, including one of my best friends, who are now a part of my life, and I’m very glad that they are.

Christy:  What is your favorite practice music?

Lia:  I like music with a good beat so if you see me tapping my feet on a subway train, under the table, next to a coffee machine, or skipping down the street then I must be listening to Beoga on my iTunes.

Lia Avetisya, adult Irish dancer in Germany
Photo: courtesy Lia Avetisyan

Christy:  What do you think the future looks like for adult Irish dancers?

Lia:  I am very thankful to Shane McAvinchey, who made it possible for me to start dancing, and I think it’s fantastic that adults are given the chance to learn Irish dancing. I know that not all schools are offering adult Irish dance classes. However, I’m hopeful that more and more schools will open their doors for adults. Dancing is not only about competition, it’s an art and you can never be too old for art.

Christy:  Thanks Lia and happy dancing!

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Readers: Are you an Irish dancer, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing? Please visit www.christydorrity.com. 

Foot care for Irish dancers - how to keep your feet healthy with Craig Coussins

Hullachan shoes
Photo: courtesy Craig Coussins, Hullachans

Let’s face it. Irish dance is hard on a person’s feet, especially if that person has been walking around on those feet for a few decades (or more). Tender care of your feet and selection of proper fitting shoes can help keep your feet in prime condition.

Craig Coussins, the original creator of the famous Hullachan Irish dance shoes, kindly agreed to let me share with you some of his foot care tips.

Arch

Mr. Coussins cautions against tying your laces under the arch of your foot. He feels so strongly about this that he has developed a revolutionary way to tie laces. An instructional video can be found on Mr. Coussins’ website.

Toes

Cut your nails straight across to prevent ingrown toenails. Buff the edges lightly and never pick at the nail or skin of your toes. Keep your feet clean and treat blisters and fungal growth. Watch for redness on the toe joints and consult a podiatrist if there is an ongoing problem. 

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Read more:
Spotlight on Birgit Engleken adult Irish dancer from Hamburg, Germany

Book Review and Interview - Heidi Will, author of "The Ghillie Girls"
Irish dance competitions for adult Irish dancers in September
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Heel

Watch for soreness under your heels. Be careful not to tie your shoes around the heel area where it can press into the Achilles tendon. Heel pads can be helpful in relieving tenderness.

Mr. Coussins recommends that dancers should always warm up their feet before class and cool down after dancing. Take time to massage your feet after class to relieve tension.

Proper shoes contribute to overall foot health. An adult Irish dancer’s shoe should fit snuggly, with no “room to grow”. Toes that bulge through the leather where they knuckle might indicate that a larger size is needed. If your feet differ in size (more than ½ inch) you may want to consider purchasing two different pairs of shoes. 

Hullachan shoes in Craig's workshop
Photo: courtesy Craig Coussins, Hullachans

Spend a little time and make your feet happy. An investment in preventative foot care will enable you to pound on the floor for decades to come.

I am interested to know what other dancers do to keep their feet in good shape. Is time spent on your feet worth it in the end? What do you think?

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Readers: Are you an Irish dancer, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing? Please visit www.christydorrity.com. 

Book Review and Interview - Heidi Will, author of "The Ghillie Girls"

Heidi Will is the author and illustrator of The Ghillie Girls: Irish Dance Pals, published in 2008 by Cinealta Press. Will based her book on the experiences she and her friends had in Irish dance. Visit Heidi Will online at www.ghilliegirls.com.

The Ghille Girls introduces four very different girls who have one thing in common: a love for Irish dance. Heidi Will uses these girls to illustrate the terms, and language that is unique to Irish dance. Vocabulary blurbs define the words that are sometimes foreign to the beginning Irish dancer.

Bold and colorful, the illustrations show striking colors reminiscent of the flamboyant solo dresses often worn in competition. The cut-out style of the pictures make me think of paper dolls.

I love the information page in the back that includes vocabulary, basic Irish dance history and directions of where to find an Irish dance school.

We are thrilled to be able to have Heidi Will with us on the blog today. 

Feis America:  What prompted you to write about Irish dance?

Heidi Will:  I initially wrote The Ghillie Girls as a Christmas present for three of my Irish dance friends. Kim (“Addy”) had moved away from Phoenix to New Hampshire, Beki (“Libby”) and I had stopped dancing competitively, and Jacqui (“Keelin”) was the only one left at our old dance school. It seemed that we were drifting apart, and I wanted to do something to bring us together and celebrate the friendship we had developed through Irish dance. It started as The Wig Sisters, which is what we called ourselves. That first version was quite a bit different than the final published version of The Ghillie Girls (I changed the name to make it more specific to Irish dance). I printed copies for everyone and they loved it, and suggested I publish it. I decided to tweak the book to be an introduction to Irish dance in the hopes of exposing more people to this wholesome and enriching art form. I happened to stumble across the Irish dance world in my college years, and still view it as a well-kept secret that needs to be shared!

Feis America:  Your illustrations are unique, how did you design them?

Heidi Will:  Thanks! I considered many different illustration styles and finally chose a simple, modern look. I love color (as one can tell instantly upon entering my home) and so I had fun making the book very bright and colorful. The illustrations translate well into coloring pages, which I use a lot with my own Irish dance students at the Phoenix Irish Cultural Center.

Feis America:  What were the challenges you had in bringing your book to life?

Heidi Will:  I wanted to make the book accessible to non-dancers so I got feedback from several people who knew nothing about Irish dance to be sure that I explained things that dancers take for granted—especially the pronunciation of Irish words. Since every Irish dance school does things a little differently and calls things by different names, I consulted people from different schools and regions to make the book as accurate as possible. It was hard to decide if I should seek a traditional publisher for my book, or attempt to self-publish. I finally chose the self-publishing route, because it allowed me to have complete control over the final product. As a graphic designer, I enjoyed every aspect of the process—writing, illustration, and layout design.

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Read more:
Book Review:"Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing by Dr. John Cullinane

Book Review, Norah and The Irish Dresser series by Cynthia G. Neale - VIDEO

Book Review:"The Little Book of Inspiration for Irish Dancers" by Sean Connolly - VIDEO
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Feis America:  Do you have future plans for the Ghillie Girls?

Heidi Will:  I have more books in mind, if I can make the time to write them. I would love to write about the adventures we had while competing in Irish dance. We had so much fun traveling together; going to Oireachtas, taking road trips, visiting friends across the country while “feising.” I would also like to explore the struggles we had, competing against each other. Sometimes it really strained our friendship, but in the end, I value our friendship and the memories we made so much more than any medal I won. That is what I want to communicate to young Irish dancers: to appreciate what is really important, and not to get hung up on winning.

Feis America:  Can you share anything with us from what you are currently working on?

Heidi Will:  The book that has taken the most shape in my mind tells the story of how the Ghillie Girls meet and become the Ghillie Girls. It is longer, with more words and fewer illustrations. I’m also working on a coloring and activity book.

Feis America:  Thank you for sharing the inside scoop with us. We look forward to reading more about the Ghillie Girls.

To find out more information, purchase The Ghillie Girls, and print off free coloring pages, visit www.ghilliegirls.com.

Readers: Are you an adult Irish dancer, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing? Please visit www.christydorrity.com.