Starting Off

So, I have been studying steadily for the TCRG exam since last December, but as I am scheduled to take the test in January in LA, it is definitely time to get down to brass tacks. I thought that creating this blog, posting my study schedule and progress would not only be helpful to moi, but also to anyone else going through this very, very difficult process of working towards becoming officially certified in Irish Dance Teaching. So, where to start? I guess at the beginning. I'll be posting my study tips and hints, my progress, any difficulties that I come across (which I am sure will be plentiful- I mean, really, 30 ceilis? THIRTY? Umm, yeah.) Please feel free to post any comments or suggestions!

The Test Overview

Here is what you need to know, inside and out, backwards and forwards, for your exam:

1) The Thirty Dances in An Rince Foirne- you need to know these word for word as written in the book, how to compare and contrast them, how to teach them. (For me, this is THE absolute biggest challenge so far!)
2) The following 4 Traditional Sets- The Blackbird, Job of Journeywork, St. Patrick's Day, and Garden of the Daisies (At this point, I have all of the down except for Garden...hopefully I will be learning that this week). You will be asked to perform two of these dances.
3) Two Steps of: Slip Jig, Hop Jig, Reel, Hornpipe and Jig- also a good idea to know a boy's reel step or two. You will definitely have to dance the Reels, Slip Jigs, Hornpipes and Jigs. You will also have to teach one or more of these dances. ***Hint*** Apparantly, at the last few exams, the examiners have asked the candidates to teach the dancers more difficult material. You never know what level the dancers will be at, so I am preparing one prelim level step for each dance, and one open level step for each dance, so I'll hopefully be covered. ( I have all of these down pat, and I practice them at least one night a week)
4) 9 Set Dances of Original Choreography (do NOT repeat any of the jig or hornpipe steps that are part of the above section)- I know. 9. Crazy. You will only really have to perform 3 or 4 of them, but, whatever you do- do not select any of the following dances unless you are a glutton for punishment- Blackthorn, Drunken Gauger, Kilkenny Races, Ace and Deuce, Planxty Davis. If you have any of these on your list- you will have to dance it! You should also figure on dancing your three/four longest dances, but you really do need to know all 9 of them, and make sure that each one has different choreography! My nine dances are:

• Three Sea Captains
• Rub the Bag
• Hurry the Jug
• The Orange Rogue
• Miss Brown's Fancy
• Downfall of Paris
• King of the Fairies
• Madame Bonaparte
• The Hunt

I have all of these down, and try to practice them back to back. It is not pretty, but at least I know that I can get through all of them with no mistakes and a decent amount of energy ;) I am figuring that I will most likely be asked to perform Three Seas, Downfall and King- as they are the longest of my dances- but who knows?

5) The Music and Number of Bars in 30 Set Dances- Again, 30! Eek! Not so bad if you listen to your set cd's in the car constantly and make little songs to go along with each dance- you should be able to lilt every tune by the exam, my biggest challenge here is telling Blackthorn from Drunken Gauger (aka the Funny Tailor)...

And that's it! Okay, yes, this is a lot, but you can't let it overwhelm you, and before you start to freak out (as I have, many times) remember that you are taking this exam because you truly love Irish dance, and you are looking forward to passing on that love to your future students. And then, you can still freak out as little, because this really is intense. But Irish Dancers are smart, so here we go!