Anonymous asked: Any tips on strengthening my quads? Also, any good stretches to improve height in kicks? Thanks! :)
Squats and wall sits!!! Also lunges.
Flexibility in kicks comes mostly from the hamstrings so this is a great stretch to help increase that! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-wiOqYcxoI
Anonymous asked: I'm doing my Hornpipe for Oireachtas, and it literally sucks. What can I do to keep my self not so aggravated when I break each and every part down? It's going to probrably take all summer to perfect it.
DON’T EVER THINK YOU SUCK. If you tell yourself that you are not doing a good job, you won’t ever do a better job. SO, what you need, my dear friend, is a plan.
1. Start off by figuring out two things: what you’re good at, and what needs the most work.
2. Make yourself a practice schedule. How rigorous or flexible it may be is up to you and your personal life/preference. It doesn’t have to be 4 hours a day! A half hour a day can be plenty! Or, make a goal of 3 hours a week, or 1 hour every other day, or whatever you feel is appropriate. Just take advantage of the fact that you’re off school and have loads more time.
3. Use your information from step 1 to figure out what you’re going to practice. Sure, it’s good to practice everything, but you don’t have to spend days perfecting one treble sequence if your rhythm is actually not bad, or however that applies to you. Spend the most time on what you’re not as good at (being on toes, cross/turn out, pointing on jumps, etc.). But, spend some time perfecting things you know you’re already good at. And you might be thinking “Caiti did you even read what I said?! I suck I’m not good at anything.” But if you are thinking that…
Everyone is good at something! Choose it, or a few things, and make those qualities stand out. If you’re a big mover, make all your runs as pretty and pointed as possible. Or maybe you’re really loud, so you should work on hitting all your beats. Whatever it is, make the judges notice it.
I really hope this helps. If it doesn’t, come back to me and I’ll try again. Don’t be afraid to inbox me on non anonymous, I’ll private message you if you like! Or facebook inbox, whatever. I’m getting super into this because I just can not stand to hear people sound so defeated. I believe in you, mystery person!
Anonymous asked: Do you know anything about the dressmaker Maureen McHugh? Ive heard of her but I don't think she has a website so I can't find many pictures of dresses she's made, but I really like the ones I have seen. Do you know her price range and how easy she is to work with? Thanks Caiti I love your blog. xx
Actually YES because my sister’s dress was made by her!! We didn’t have it made for my sister, we bought it off dance-again, but it is soooo nice and wasn’t anywhere near as expensive as a new Gavin/Siopa/Elevation/etc. It was off the rack, so we did have some direct contact with her, and she was super helpful and even made a new cape and added a bow on the hip! I think we’re actually going to ask her to make my sister’s new dress.
This is my sister’s dress: http://www.dance.net/topic/10116533/1/Dresses-Costumes/Championship-dress-in-EXCELLENT-condition-Girls-sz-12-1200.html&replies=4 (it’s actually sold now)
And here’s another dress by her that I happened to see for sale! http://www.dance.net/topic/10117821/1/Dresses-Costumes/Vibrant-Maureen-McHugh-dress-for-dancer-aged-approx-10-12-years.html&replies=1
Hope this helps! x
Anonymous asked: What inspires u
First and foremost, these two dancers, Jean Butler and Colin Dunne http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWPwLHu5jEw
This dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_DTbfg3UcE
This song, singer, and performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0BVLPm2zrQ
JK Rowling
Lots of movies, books, and musicians
Watching parades of champions, but also lots of other dancers
My parents
“Sail away from the safe harbor.”
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.”
