West Van Seniors Show

Thanks to Leanne A for submitting these photos from the recent show at the West Vancouver Seniors Centre. Dancers at this performance were: Emma B (team captain), Emma H, Anna, Taigen, Gemma, Julia, Olivia, Alannah, Rachel and Rhiannon. Thanks to the dancers, sound team and parents!

Dancers: don't forget to bring your cameras along to the shows this weekend, to take some photos for the Photo Contest! Parents: we hope to see you at the Buck & Ear in Steveston on Saturday night for the Worlds and All Irelands fundraiser!

NPIDA St. Patrick's Photo Contest!

It's time for another contest here at the Pickett Line Blog. Since our dancers will be performing in lots of shows to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this month, all NPIDA dancers are invited to submit photos to an NPIDA St. Patrick's Photo Contest !

Here are the contest rules:

1. All photos must have been taken by NPIDA dancers only. No exceptions! Assistant Teachers may submit photos (they're dancers too!)

2. Maximum of 5 photo submissions per dancer. Take lots of photos and submit your best shots!

3. Photos must be taken at a March 2011 Eire Born performance or at the CelticFest Parade (March 20).

4. Identifiable people in your photos MUST only be NPIDA dancers/parents/siblings/family members. (This is an ongoing policy of this blog, for privacy reasons).

5. Photo submissions will not be "judged". All entries that meet the above criteria will be posted on the blog.

6. PRIZES will be announced shortly. Every dancer who submits a photo will have their name entered in the draw for a prize. (Your name will be entered once, whether you submit 1-5 photos).

7. All photo contest entries must be e-mailed to pickettlineblogAThotmail.com no later than midnight on Saturday March 26.

Notes:

- Don't have your own point-and-shoot camera ? If your parents have a camera, ask if you can borrow it to take some photos for the contest.

- If you are an NPIDA dancer but are not an Eire Born dancer or guest dancer, or not participating in the CelticFest Parade, you can still enter the photo contest: attend an Eire Born show or the parade as a spectator and take some photos.

- High resolution photos are best. We will likely use some of the best photos in the 2011 Ceili Slide Show!

- Parents: Please encourage your dancers of all ages to take some photos and submit them to the contest!

- Get creative! Instead of posed group shots, try something different. How about a row of dresses hanging backstage? A peek inside your dance bag? An interesting shot of the venue? Hard shoes lined up sidestage? Dancers applying shamrock stickers to their cheeks at the parade? Backstage snacks and drinks? You and your troupe-mates in the car en route to a performance, or out for ice-cream after the show?

Use your imagination and submit your best shots! We can't wait to see them!

Seattle Feis Photos

Thanks to Sue M (Photo #1) Rosalie D (Photos #2-6) for submitting these photos from the Seattle Feis. Rosalie also told me of a big Trophy Dance win which is not listed on feisworx: Jessie H won 1st place out of 33 dancers in the Barrington Memorial Reel Trophy Dance! She won a huge perpetual trophy as well as a keepsake crystal plate. Congratulations Jessie!

1. Morgan, Jessie and Jadyn on Sunday.

2. Jessie and Morgan celebrating Shannon's 1st-place win in Open U-12 on Saturday.

3. Morgan, Jessie and Jadyn.

4. Jessie and Jadyn with their Prelim trophies (Jessie: 2nd in U-11; Jadyn: 3rd in U-10).

5. Jessie with her Prelim trophy and medals. She placed 1st in her 3 Prelim solo dances.

6. Jessie after being awarded the Barrington Memorial Trophy.

A Glowing Review of the VSO Shows

I found an online review of the 2 shows this weekend in which our Eire Born dancers performed with the VSO at the Orpheum. The reviewer wrote "The Eire Born Irish Dancers, who accompanied the VSO for 3 of the concert pieces, were a delight to watch. The group of dancers added a cheery, youthful air to the pieces in which they danced. They danced with and without their hard shoes, demonstrating the different effect each can bring to a performance".

Congratulations to dancers Mackenzie, Camryn, Anna, Cara, Maria, Jadyn, Emma, Jayne, Catalina, Olivia, Laurel and Hanna! Big thanks also to Courtney (Friday) and Nora (Saturday) for being there!

Click here to read the full concert review: www.reviewvancouver.org/sy_vso_mcdermott2011.htm

Calgary Possak Feis Results

We had 1 dancer competing at the Possak Feis in Calgary this weekend. Congratulations Natalie G for your results! Natalie won 4 solo medals (including 3 1sts!), and also won 4th place in the U-14 Novice/Prizewinner Treble Jig Trophy Dance!

Sunday Results: Seattle Feis

No photos yet, but today's Seattle Comerford Feis results are now posted on feisworx. We have a new Open Championship dancer: congratulations Alex Wallace for winning the 17+ Prelim Championships! This is Alex's second 1st in Prelim.

Preliminary Championship Results:

Prelim U-10

Jadyn M: 1st in Soft Shoe, 3rd in Set Dance, 3rd overall

Morgan G: 3rd in Hard Shoe, 3rd in Set Dance

Prelim U-11

Jessie H: 1st in Soft Shoe, 1st in Hard Shoe, 1st in Set Dance, 2nd overall

Prelim 17+

Alex W: 2nd in Soft Shoe, 4th in Hard Shoe, 1st in Set Dance, 1st overall! Congratulations and welcome to Open Championships!

Trophy Dance Results:

13+ St. Patrick's Day Trophy

Lauren N: 4th

Saturday Results: Seattle Feis

On Saturday at the Seattle Comerford Feis, Open Championship dancers and non-Championship dancers up to age U-13 competed. On Sunday, all Preliminary Championship dancers and non-championship dancers age 13+ will be on stage.

Saturday Trophy results:

Leila K: 2nd in the U-7 Beginner/Advanced Beginner Reel Trophy

Sophie R: 3rd in the U-12 Novice/Prizewinner Treble Jig Trophy

Also winning solo medals today were Leila K, Sophie R, Pixie K, Leila J, Alexis B, and Halle N. Leila K is now a new red dress qualifier - congratulations Leila!

Open Championship results:

Shannon G: 2nd in Soft Shoe, 1st in Hard Shoe, 3rd in Set Dance, 1st overall in U-12 Open Championships. Congratulations Shannon on your first Open win!

Photos submitted by Nora:

1. Shannon G and Leila K

2. Shannon and Leila

3. Leila with her trophy

4. Leila's proud supporters; dad Marcel and sister Malia

Eire Born with the VSO

Eire Born performed 3 beautiful dances with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum last night. They quite simply were stunning on stage; congratulations girls! Of course no photos are permitted during the performance but a big thanks to Courtney for using Hanna's camera backstage to capture these shots of the dancers. They'll be back at the Orpheum tonight for a second show.

Back row: Cara, Emma, Mackenzie, Catalina, Hanna and Maria

Front row: Jadyn, Anna, Laurel, Camryn, Olivia and Jayne.

Flying Colours Dancewear Update

Hannah P of Flying Colours Dancewear has updated her blog today with a brand new dress for sale and 2 more used dresses for sale. This gorgeous new pink and green asymmetrical dress (above left) is a Girls Size 12; the beautiful new orange and pink dress on the right (Girls Size 10) was posted two weeks ago and is for sale as well.

Please take a look at Hannah's blog for more details about these 2 dresses and the second-hand dresses that are also now available. Click here: www.flyingcoloursdancewear.blogspot.com

Good Luck to the 13 NPIDA dancers competing at the Seattle Comerford Feis this weekend!

Do You Have Your Pub Night Tickets?

Next Saturday night, March 12, is the Pub Night Fundraiser for our 2011 Worlds and All Irelands dancers (Ellen, Mackenzie, Camryn, Jessie, Macaela and Shannon). This event will take place at the Buck & Ear in Steveston. Tickets are $15 and you can buy them from any of the parents of these 6 dancers, or at the reception desk of the studio in North Van. Your ticket includes a burger (or veggie burger), chips, beer or wine or a soft drink.

Don't miss out on a fun evening of food, drink, raffles, a 50/50 draw, a toonie toss, and a dazzling performance by the dancers! The event begins at 6:30pm; food will be served from 7:00pm-8:30pm. Please see the February 1 post for additional details.

Van Eire Photos from Parents

Many thanks to NPIDA parents Nicole D (photos #2-5), Leanne A (photos #6-9), Jay and Krista L (photo #10), and Christine B (photos #1 and #11-13) for these great shots from the Van Eire Feis last weekend!

1. Emma B with her 3 solo medals and her 3rd-place trophy in the U-7 Beginner Reel Trophy Dance.

2. Katelyn D and Assistant teacher Rebecca R.

3. Kyra G and Katelyn D. Kyra won 4 solo medals and placed 2nd in the U-7 1st Feis Trophy Dance. Katelyn also won 4 solo medals and placed 3rd in the U-7 1st Feis Trophy Dance.

4. Katelyn D and dad Jay D

5. Assistant teachers Paula K, Rebecca R and Rachel S

6. Back row: Morgan G, Alex W and Olivia A. Front row: Jadyn M, Caitlin B and Macaela B.

7. Olivia A, Jadyn M and Alex W

8. Olivia A, Macaela B, Shannon G, Catalina G, Emma B and Caitlin B; waiting for results on Saturday.

9. Sarah A - she won 6 solo medals and also placed 1st in the U-9 Novice/Prizewinner Treble Jig Trophy.

10. Mckenna L - she won a medal in all 6 of her solo dances (including two 1sts), and also won 3 trophies: 2nd in the U-8 Novice/Prizewinner Treble Jig Trophy, 1st in the U-9 Novice/Prizewinner Reel Trophy, and a 1st place trophy in the Art competition.

11. Josie S and Emma B. Josie won 2 solo medals and placed 5th in the U-7 Beginner Reel Trophy Dance.

12. Caitlin B and Cassidy C. Cassidy won 4 solo medals and placed 2nd in the U-9 1st Feis Trophy Dance.

13. Macaela B, Catalina G, Emma B and Caitlin B.

Congratulations to all the dancers for their great results at the Van Eire Feis!

Cheryl's Van Eire Photos

Cheryl G attended the Van Eire feis on both days last weekend to take photos. You can view all of her photos on her website; click here: www.cherylgaldertphotography.ca Chose the "Irish Dance" icon; the first two albums are Van Eire Saturday and Van Eire Sunday. There is also a permanent link to Cheryl's website on the sidebar of this blog. Thanks for the great photos Cheryl!

1. Mackenzie C: 5th in U-16 Open Championships

2. Caitlin B: 1st in U-10 Open Championships

3. Jessie H and Macaela B: 2nd and 1st in the U-12 Hornpipe Special

4. Cara J, Maria M, Emma B and Camryn C

5. NPIDA dancers outside on Sunday

6. Nora and Julia R

7. Nicole D and daughter Katelyn (her first feis)

8. Josie S and Emma B

9. Alexey K; his first feis!

10. Championship dancers Mackenzie C, Emma B, Paula K, Rebecca R, Rachel S and Catalina G, volunteering on Sunday. Thanks girls!

11. Anna M worked all day Sunday in the medal room. Thanks Anna!

12. Rhiannon M volunteered both days in addition to competing on Sunday. Thanks Rhiannon!

Tomorrow I will be posting a few more feis photos submitted by NPIDA parents. If you have a photo(s) that you would like to be included, please e-mail it to me at: pickettlineblogAThotmail.com

Eire Born with the VSO on March 4th and 5th

Eire Born will be performing with the VSO (Vancouver Symphony Orchestra) and Celtic vocalist John McDermott at 2 shows at the Orpheum this weekend (Friday night and Saturday night). The dancers will first attend a rehearsal on Friday morning at the NPIDA studio in North Van, and then head to the Orpheum for a formal 3-hour rehearsal with the VSO. Both evening shows begin at 8:00pm. Thanks to Leanne A for submitting this newspaper ad.

Dancers performing are: Mackenzie, Camryn, Emma, Anna, Olivia, Hanna, Catalina, Jayne, Maria, Cara, Shannon, Jadyn and Laurel.

Click here for a direct link to the VSO website and more info about these 2 shows: www.vancouversymphony.ca/co_concert.php?concertcode=10POPS04

This is the second time that Eire Born has danced with the VSO and John McDermott; the first time was 6 years ago, back in March 2005. Here are 3 photos from the archives:

1. Kelly D applying Paige K's eye makeup on the Orpheum bathroom floor :)

2. Hanna S, Kelly D, Natalie P and Kali M heading out for a late lunch during a break after rehearsals at the Orpheum.

3. Eire Born on stage with the VSO (photo by Regina L). Left to right, dancers are: Kali M, Natalie P, Karis M, Paige K, Natalie L, Lisa Y, Hanna S, Kelly D and Napiili S.

Note to NPIDA dancers/parents going to the 2011 North American Championships: the Grand Opryland Hotel is taking reservations as of today, and the day schedule has also been confirmed. Full details can be found on the IDTANA website; click here: www.idtana.org