Irish dance diet - Four ways to celebrate without food

Enjoy Christmas foods while on the Irish dance diet
Photo: flickr user wiccked

The holidays can be a challenging time to lose weight. You and I can do it with a little bit of planning.
After all, there are other ways to celebrate!

I really didn't want to post an update on my Irish dance diet this month. Yes, I did lose weight, but I gained it back last week over the long holiday weekend. I didn't want to post about my failure to lose this month, but I decided that many of you may struggle with holiday weight as well. I'm going to re-commit myself and find healthy ways to enjoy the holidays. Are you with me?

This month I've been faithfully attending my Irish dance classes, one for adults and the other for Intermediate level for all ages. I feel good about my dancing, better than I have for a long time. My teacher is focusing on basics and muscle training, and I can feel my muscles growing stronger. Now I need to tackle my food habits.

If you have any suggestions for me, please leave them in the comments.

Here are a few tips for curbing the urge to celebrate with food:

1-When eating out, ask yourself, is this a special occasion?  If it is, splurge a little and make up for it earlier in the day or the next day.  If not, eat similar to how you would at home.

2-Find non-food ways to celebrate. Reward yourself with a bubble bath, a new book, some great smelling lotion, or a night out at the movies.

3-Bring a healthy contribution to an event. If you are attending a Christmas party and you don't have control over the meal, bring a healthy salad or entree for your part of the meal. At least you know one thing that you will be able to eat. And bring some healthy portable snacks with you. If the food selection is too high in calories, you don't actually have to eat it.  You can survive a few hours without food and the snacks you bring will tide you over.

4-Have a water in hand. Drink plenty of water all day to fill you up and keep you satisfied.  If you have a glass of water in your hand at a party, you will be less likely to snack on high calorie hors d'oeuvres.

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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. 

Irish dancing school thrives like a rose in the Mexico desert - PHOTOS

Yovanna Torres, adult Irish dancer in Mexico in "Take the Floor 2012"
Photo: courtesy Yovanna Torres

In May of 2000, Irish Dancing de Mexico was founded by Alicia Mosti, a trained ballerina, and self- trained and later certified, Irish dance teacher. Now there are seven academies under Mosti's dance school, the newest of which is located in Tijuana, taught by Yovanna Torres Blanco, who also runs an academy in Guadalajara. 

Irish dancers in Mexico

On November 8, 2012, dancers from Irish Dancing de Mexico participated in "Fiesta de los San Patricios", a celebration honoring the Irish fighters of Mexico. Along with the Rose Ritchie Academy of Irish Dance, Blanco's students were able to perform for an enthusiastic crowd. "For the first time, dancers from Mexico and USA shared a stage to dance at a bicultural event without involving any competition," Blanco says. 

Many of the Irish dancers in Mexico began learning the sport on their own from videos of the famous dance shows, Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. From those humble beginnings, a rose has sprouted in the desert. Students of all ages, including adults, participate in dance performances, and travel to competitions in the United States and Mexico, including the school's own, Feis Acapulco. Today, Irish Dancing de Mexico claims over 500 students, and more than 7600 medals and trophies. 

Irish Dancing de Mexico
Photo: courtesy Yovanna Blanco

Among the dancers in Blanco's school in Guadalajara, there are several adult Irish dancers. Blanco encourages adults to join in and dance, regardless of their age. "I like to tell my adult students: in Irish dance, nothing is impossible," says Blanco. "If you are a late starter it will take you longer to get a step right, but it is always possible."

Blanco herself began Irish dancing as an adult at 22 years of age. She  had the opportunity to compete as a senior lady, and recently performed in the show Take the Floor 2012.

She trains by herself and travels once a month to Mexico City, where Alicia Mosti teaches her the steps and helps her polish her technique. "It has not been an easy road," says Blanco,  "but the best feeling in the world is to teach people (Irish dance), and see them grow, and reach their goals."

Ciara Sexton and Yovanna Blanco at Take the Floor 2012
Photo: courtesy Yovanna Blanco

There is plenty of room for the growth of Irish dance in Mexico, and Blanco intends to put in the effort to help others dance for many more years to come. 

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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. 

Gall-Tír dance group promotes Irish dancing in the Czech Republic

Gabriela Klášterková, adult Irish dancer with 
Gall-Tír dance group in The Czech Republic
Photo: courtesy Gabriela Klášterková

 "I think I can say that at least every second or third Czech knows Irish dance, which is a great progress in my eyes."

~Gabriela Klášterková, adult Irish dancer.

Gabriela Klášterková is an adult Irish dancer, and co-founder of the Gall-Tír dance group in the Czech Republic. She and her husband, Jan, founded the school in Prague. 

Christy Dorrity:  How did your love of Irish dance begin?

Gabriela: More than 10 years ago, I had a friend who danced in one of very few dance groups, because Irish dance had just come to our country at that time. It took some time before I decided to try it, and result? My friend Katy stopped after 2 or 3 years, and I have been going on through many injuries, and other problems until today. I think it changed my life maybe more than I realize.

Christy Dorrity:  Is Irish dance popular in the Czech Republic?  How are you received when you perform?

Gabriela: It is very young form of dance in my country. Czech people started learning very first steps approximately 15 years ago. "The teacher" had been a very kind Irish lady working at the British Council who danced a few basic steps, and some ceilí dances, and was willing to share it with people excited to learn.

Gabriela Klášterková, adult Irish dancer with 
Gall-Tír dance group in The Czech Republic
Photo: courtesy Gabriela Klášterková

Since then, Irish dance is becoming more, and more famous every  year. Really huge work has been done by the shows like The Lord of The Dance, Riverdance, and later Gaelforce Dance, as well that started having their performances here regularly after 2000.

I think I can say that at least every second or third Czech knows Irish dance, which is a great progress in my eyes.

Our performances are received extremely positively. Even people who look bored at the very beginning are coming to us after our show, impressed and amazed, to praise us.

Christy Dorrity:  Do you teach adults? Do they fit in well with your dance school and community?

Gabriela Klášterková, and husband Jan, 
qualifying for World's.
Photo: courtesy Gabriela Klášterková

Gabriela: Yes, I do! The Irish dance group Gall-Tír that I and my husband founded, have still been leading mostly of adults. Adults in my country usually have no problem with community. They all fit in well before the steps start to be harder. We have to demand harder work from them in case that they wanted to achieve higher. 

Christy Dorrity:  Where do you perform and/or compete?

Gabriela: I and my Irish dance group, Gall-Tír, perform usually in The Czech Republic. We have not tried to arrange any performance abroad yet because we are absolutely focused on competitions. We, of course, would not refuse a nice offer, but we do not look for it now.

A few years ago my husband, I,  and a friend had a performance in an Irish pub (my husband qualified for The World Championship that year), and I think this experience was probably more exciting for us then for the audience. However, they were  surprised that someone from the middle of Europe, living far away from them can dance their "national treasure" so well.

We are used to participating in all the Europian feiseanna,  especially those closer to Prague,  like our own Prague Feis. We have been at London Feis,  The World´s in Dublin, and Belfast, and my husband also at The All Ireland´s and The Great Britain´s.

Christy Dorrity:  Why do you think Irish dance is popular all over the world?

Gabriela Klášterková, adult Irish dancer with 
Gall-Tír dance group in The Czech Republic
Photo: courtesy Gabriela Klášterková

Gabriela: It is just magnificent! Definitely! I think it is really noble, and elegant dance but also unbelievably difficult, and everyone can see this paradox. You work like an athlete for the Olympic Games but you have to look like an elegant dancer flying somewhere above the dance floor, obviously using no effort. Even people knowing nothing about any form of dance can appreciate Irish dance and we very often hear the people who had never been interested it dance in general say, "Wow, this has really got me!"

Christy Dorrity:  What do you envision for the future of Irish dance?

Gabriela Klášterková, adult Irish dancer, with her husband, Jan.
Photo: courtesy Gabriela Klášterková

Gabriela: That it will spread more and more, it will be more popular, everyone will know it, and many people will do it. This is my belief, and my wish to all irish dancers as well! Irish dance undoubtedly has a future, and we do our best to be a part of this al,l and to be the ones who help Irish dance to penetrate the public awareness.

Christy Dorrity:  Are you currently working toward any shows or competitions?

Gabriela: Yes I am, and so are all the dancers I teach. The qualification for The World´s 2013 in Salzburg is coming (in November 2012) . This is my husband and my closest goal!

Christy Dorrity:  What is the best part of Irish dancing, for you?

Gabriela: Everything! I cannot choose any part because only all of them together can make the final impression I love!!!

Thank you Gabriela.  Good luck to you as you prepare for upcoming events.

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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. 

US dancer and writer S.J. Velasquez might as well keep jigging with two legs - PHOTOS

Adult Irish dancer S.J. Velasquez from New York, USA
Photo: courtesy S.J. Velasquez

"I figure, if my grandfather was dancing a one-legged jig, there's no reason I should stop dancing while I have two perfectly good legs." ~S.J. Velasquez

S.J. Velasquez is an adult Irish dancer, and she writes the blog RincePop here on IrishCentral.com.  She started Irish dancing when she was eleven, and recently took up Irish dancing again as an adult.  I asked S.J. to share with us her unique perspective on dancing Irish as a teen and an adult. You can read her blog RincePop here.

Christy:  How long have you been dancing?

S.J.:  I started dancing when I was 11, and I'm now 27. I danced competitively with Rince na Tiarna (Buffalo, N.Y.) through my teen years. After college, I moved to New York City and danced a year, though I did not compete. In 2010, I danced on an adult ceili team for the Johnston School while living and working in Syracuse, N.Y. Now, I'm back in my hometown where I dance for Clann Na Cara, and I'll be one of nine adults proudly representing that school at the Mid-Atlantic Region Oireachtas in November.

Christy:  As a dancer who competed as a teen and an adult, have you found the stress of dancing to be harder on your body physically? Do you learn the steps equally as quickly?

S.J.:  I actually had a hard time when I was in my early teens. I was definitely a chubby adolescent! I lost a considerable amount of weight in high school and college and that's when dancing was the easiest on my body. I was more flexible, and there was less weight to carry. Since college, my weight fluctuated and body changed, making dance more challenging as the pounds came back. But, to be honest, I am the physically the strongest I've ever been. I now run long distance races (did my second half marathon in May) and have found that the best runners are typically not the younger runners--the best are those who've been training and tuning their bodies over the years. The running scene has given me a new perspective on Irish dance and what our bodies are capable of doing after what's believed to be our physical peak.

S.J.:  But I must admit, there were a few years during and after college where I hadn't really danced at all. Getting back into dancing was very awkward and frustrating. It felt like my body couldn't keep up with my brain. Moves and techniques that I once could do without much thought were suddenly very difficult to execute. It wasn't so much my age that was holding me back as it was my lack of practice. I found a really great school in New York City (the Aherne Sheehan School) that helped me get my Irish dance groove back. 

Now that I'm back in Buffalo, I feel like I'm dancing just as well, if not better, than ever before. My rhythm has improved, I'm stronger, and I finally feel like dancing is natural to me.

S.J. Velasquez and Sarah Culligan, adult Irish dancers 

at the recent Young School Feis in Rochester, NY

Photo: courtesy S.J. Velasquez

Christy:  Is there anything about Irish dancing as an adult that you like better than when you danced as a teen?

S.J.:  Absolutely. As an adult in the media world (I'm a multimedia journalist), I connect with Irish dancers on a whole different level. As a youth, I mingled with friends at dance class and made feis buddies, but I didn't really interact with dancers beyond my region. Now I connect with dancers of all ages and levels from around the world, and I maintain many of those relationships through social networks and travel. I even interviewed my Irish dance idol, Jean Butler, twice in person. It's amazing when you grow up gawking over the stunning beauty that is Riverdance, and suddenly you're interviewing the star of the show.

So, as a teen, my Irish dance circle was very local. Now it's a global network. I look forward to meeting up with international dance friends at events. And I particularly like meeting up with dance friends for an adult beverage after class or performance. Couldn't do that as a teen!

Christy:  Do you feel any animosity from others because you dance as an adult?

S.J.:  Sadly, yes. I admit that when I was younger, I snickered at the sight of adult beginners. That was completely childish and prejudice of me. I realize now that Irish dance adults are extremely talented and devoted, and they're capable of reaching great heights when their teachers and fellow dancers support them and challenge them. So often, dancers that start later in life are not taken seriously, and they may never reach their full potential. I personally feel just as capable of learning steps and training as I did when I was 14. But there aren't as many people who are willing to take me seriously because of my age.

Lucky for me, I have a tough, but supportive dance teacher at Clann na Cara who constantly challenges me to be a better dancer.

Christy:  What do you miss about competition from your teens?

Adult Irish dance 4-hand team 

for the Johnston School (Syracuse, NY) in 2010

Photo: courtesy S.J. Velasquez

S.J.:  I miss having all the options for competition. I retired as a preliminary champion, and there simply aren't that many levels in most adult categories. I'm extremely fortunate to have the option to dance as a soloist in my region's oireachtas (in 2011, the Mid-Atlantic region began offering adult traditional sets at oireachtas), but I'd love to have more opportunities to dance non-traditional choreography, like every other age group.

Christy:  What is the best thing about dancing as an adult?

S.J.:  Irish dance has really shaped much of my social life, and it's now more apparent than ever. As an adult, I can appreciate what dancing has done, and continues to do, for me. I was a bridesmaid in my friend Rachel's wedding a few years ago. Rachel and I met through dancing when we were about 13 years old. And my friend Connor took up Irish dance classes with me when we both relocated to New York City. There's something about dancing friends that makes them different from your friends from school or work. It's like the bonds are enhanced because of this common interest and talent.

Irish dance taught me about being a leader, presenting myself in public and sportsmanship. I credit much of that professional training to Mary Kay Heneghan, my former teacher at Rince na Tiarna. These skills have helped me land jobs and grow as an adult. 

Also, as an adult, I'm interested in what Irish dance means. These last few years, I've been intrigued by the history of Irish dance and how it's developed over the years. Different styles reflect regional trends and cultural evolution, yet it ties me to a piece of my ancestry. I can identify, in some small way, with my ancestors through dance.

Christy:  What do you think the future holds for adults in Irish dance?

S.J.:  Adult dancers are getting better and better. I look at schools like O'Rourke (New York) and Tir na nOg (Germany, Russia, etc.), and I'm blown away by how talented the adult dancers are. They prove that Irish dance is something you can enjoy and master at different ages. And based on what I've seen at the Mid-Atlantic Region Oireachtas, the level of talent in the top adult ceili teams is definitely at par with the youth categories. The fact that our region offers adult trad sets at the oireachtas is extremely promising.

Outdoor dance jam in Washington Square Park in NYC in 2010

with members of the Sneaky Steppers and Hammerstep. 

Photo: courtesy S.J. Velasquez

Christy:  How long do you intend to Irish dance? Will you drop down in to the "& overs"?

S.J.:  Right now, I really don't plan on dropping down to & overs. The competition in adult categories is pretty fierce. My current goals are to place top five in trad sets at the oireachtas and help my ceili teams earn spots on the podium.

I'll dance for as long as I can physically dance. My Irish grandfather (I'm of very mixed ancestry) was always so proud of me for taking up Irish dance. He loved dancing around with me, his only Irish-dancing grandchild. Shortly after having one of his leg's amputated due to a diabetes-related infection, he propped himself up on one leg and hopped around the room while exclaiming, "I can still jig!" I figure, if my grandfather was dancing a one-legged jig, there's no reason I should stop dancing while I have two perfectly good legs.

So how do you feel about dancing when you are an adult, or now that you are an adult? Are there differences that you can see for adult Irish dancers? How do you overcome the differences?

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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.