Another success!

February finds Mom and I gearing up for the Boise Clogging competition (which actually happens in Nampa). We've been dancing with Boise Cloggers for a little over 6 years, and have been competing for probably 4 or 5 of them. As a disclaimer, none of us particularly love to compete, and if it was a solo, I would be out!!! But since we go as a team "for the fun of it" it all works out. :)

Our adult team always gets so stressed out and we practice to the point of exhaustion on a weekly basis in the weeks that lead up to competition. Who knows why we put ourselves through the stress - mentally as much as physically- but once competition is over, it all feels worth it.

It has nothing to do with prizes, or fame ('cause there really isn't any of that!) or anything like that: it's the feeling that comes from knowing that you did your best, pulled together as a team, and the outcome was good...great even!

There's just nothing like the satisfaction of getting up there, feeling the energy of the lights, and music, and crowds and then giving it all you've got. All of us were nervous, or stressed about things going on in our lives, or just plain tired. But the minute you walk onto the stage, all of that goes away and the only thing left in your mind is the dance.

It's funny how many things run through your thoughts once you actually start dancing! Of course the steps of your dance start out as you try to keep all the "step toe step heel up - step toe step heel down" 's straight. But then the muscle memory in your feet and legs start to run the show and your brain can start noticing things out in the crowd, or you start thinking, "Man, it's hot up here!" Or, "I hope I don't slip!" :) And before you know it, you've done it and it was actually ok! So you walk off with a smile, and head off to change into the outfit for your next dance, and go through all those emotions again.

Our adult class decided to cut back and only compete 2 dances this year, which were combined with the younger (but extremely skilled) team. Then, long story short, we ended up competing a dance that is just our adult team. So three dances later, we were pretty happy with how it all went.

Here's some of the adult team. One of the other dancers had already gone home, so we missed getting her in the picture. During our first dance, I remembered there were judges watching at the very front of the stage, so I looked down at them and the first one I saw was someone who used to dance with us before she moved, a couple years ago, and was actually Mom and my teacher when we first started. I had no idea she was a judge, so I was happily surprised to see her there! Once the competition was over, we all got to tell her hi, and get her in our picture - fun!!!

   A few of us were still there when they started giving out awards, so we all went up on stage together, along with other studios who were being awarded. I have to admit, Boise Cloggers made a haul!! :)

 Zack and Allie pretty much sum up how it felt right about then!

 Model those awards, Laura and Carsten!

 I guess the point is, sure it felt nice to be recognized for doing our best. But more than that, it was just fun to be there as a team and as friends, and be part of something exciting.

 Dancing might not get me into a major job, or Harvard. Some people might see it as a nice hobby but nothing special, but those are the people who have never known how it feels to dance.

Nothing can compare to that feeling when you are able to express something through dance that you could never say in words. I'm so lucky to dance where I do and get to be an Irish dancer, and a clogger. I'm just going to enjoy it for as long as I can, and know that "once a dancer, always a dancer."