Hints and Tips

Always enjoy the dancing & examine your approach

Irish dancing isn’t just about the dancing. It’s about how you approach it, how you look and how to make sure you enjoy it. This holds true regardless of whether you are the parent or the child!

So with that in mind here are some hints and tips to help you achieve your best.

How to create an outstanding outfit

Firstly start looking at what other people are wearing. This will inspire you and give you ideas for your own outfit. Next, sketch out some ideas and look at some different colours too. You want to have an authentic Irish look without sacrificing the need to be innovative.

How to get the best hairstyle

Just like creating your Irish dancing dress, it will take time to find the best and most stunning hairstyle. It must stay in place and look good all the while you are dancing, and as such it is just as important as the dancing and the dress – an essential part of the whole look. Again, look at how other girls style their hair and add a dash of your own inspiration too.

How to survive your first feis

Sleep well the night before – you’re in for a long and busy day! Make sure you prepare properly and pay in advance if need be; otherwise take the money you’ll need on the day. Arrive early for your dances so you can warm up and get some practicing in. This will help you loosen up and warm up those muscles, which could be a bit stiff if you have had a long journey to get there. Additionally getting there early means you can familiarise yourself with your surroundings and loosen up so you don’t feel as nervous about dancing.

How to improve your dancing

It’s a good idea to develop a warm up routine that you do before every dancing session. Keeping as fit as you are able to will also help with stamina, not to mention making various moves easier to do. And of course, practice really does make perfect, so remember to put in as much practice as you can. Even the tiniest of improvements can lead to a better performance and more opportunities to get a higher placement when you enter a feis.

How to minimise the chances of being injured

Dancers are always at risk of injuries, but there are ways you can reduce the odds of suffering a twisted ankle or a pulled muscle. Making sure you warm up properly before every dance – whether it is a practice session or the real thing – will ensure you stay supple.

Once you have attended a couple of feisanna you will gradually come to know what to expect. But as you can see, there are various things you can do to enhance your performance and get more out of your Irish dancing at every opportunity. From warming up properly to looking your best at the next feis, these tips and hints should help you a great deal.