St. Patrick's Day Shows #2 Lucky Leprechauns Troupe

Craft Beer Market
Back: Eden, Kristen, Sophie
Middle: Lucy, Justine, Bryn, Eloise
Front: Zoe, Malia, Francesca, Eliana

 The following photos are from Seymour's Pub.

Back: Sophie C., Eden, Eloise, Justine, Kristen, Leila, Bryn
Front: Ashley, Malia, Zoe, Eliana

Eliana

Lucy, Bryn, Justine

Justine, Kristen, Lucy
Bryn

Sound Crew: Bridget

Sophie, Bryn

Nora, Michele

Ashley

Justine, Lucy, Bryn, Eloise (Sophie: Troupe Captain)

Sophie - Look at that hair!

Kristen, Lucy, Leila, Justine, Malia, Zoe

Lucky Leprechauns Troupe at Seymour's Pub

Zoe, Justine, Lucy, Leila, Sophie, Kristen,

Eloise, Bryn, Malia, Eden, Eliana, Ashley

Thank you to Kendall (Justine's Mom) for these photos of the Lucky Leprechauns at the Craft Beer Market and Seymour's Pub on March 17th!!

St. Patrick's Day Photos

Celtic Cross at the Dania Care Home
Back: Anna McT., Camryn, Mackenzie, Jayne, Anna M., Mary
Middle: Maya, Katelyn, Poppy, Tess
Front: Willow, Jessica

Mary

Sisters: Mackenzie & Camryn

Willow

Shamrocks
Esther, Holly B., Morgan, Holly W., Naomi N., Sophie X.,
Naomi K., Hannah B., Kairavee, Shannon; Patrick - MC

Shamrocks at O'Hares' Irish Pub

Left to right: Aki, Yuka, Morgan, Riley C., Callie, Naomi K.

Shamrocks at Ceili's Modern Irish Pub
Left to right: Aki, Callie, Yuka, Naomi K., Riley C., Morgan

Shamrocks at Buck and Ear Pub
Left to right: Callie, Naomi K., Morgan, Riley C., Natalie L., Alex M.

Pot of Gold
Left to right: Reese F., Reese T., Maria M., Shu-In, Riley T., Julie, Aki, Yuka

Thank you to Steve T. for photos #1-4, Lana S-K for photos #5-8, and Cara F. for photo # 9.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

to (and from) all the NPIDA dancers,

parents, volunteers and staff!

Please check back in the coming days for more photos from our five Eire Born troupes who are out doing shows all across the lower mainland today! Good luck today dancers, sound teams and parents - and have fun! Safe travels to our 18 Worlds dancers and families who are heading to Glasgow!

- Image from Google Images

Show Photos and Heading to Worlds (*Updated)

Naomi N, Hannah B, Sophie X and Naomi K

Yaletown House Senior Residence (March 15)

Back: Eden, Kristen, Sophie, Cara, Eloise,

Front: Eliana, Justine, Zoe and Malia
Lucky Leprechauns at Mulberry Parc (March 16)

At YVR before flying to Glasgow tonight!

Back: Anna, Kyla, Stephanie, Jadyn, Megan and Jayne

Front: Avery, Sage, Mckenna and Katelyn

REMINDER: All dancers, please remember to tape your hard shoes with clear duct tape before every show in order to protect the floors at the venues! Thank you!

Photo #1: Thank you to Lana for submitting this photo, taken yesterday at Yaletown House Senior Residence. Both Richmond troupes (Shamrocks and Limerick Legends) participated in this show.

Photo #2: Thank you to Kendall for submitting this photo of the Lucky Leprechauns troupe, taken today at the Mulberry Parc Retirement Residence in Burnaby.

Photo #3: Thank you to Gillian for submitting this photo of some of our Worlds dancers and siblings at YVR before their flight to Glasgow tonight.

Interview With Megan, 2015 PMAE Winner

PMAE trophy

In May 2015, Megan S was awarded the $1000 PMAE award. Below is an interview with Megan, which can also be viewed on the PMAE website:

Megan

1. What does winning the PMAE mean to you? 
Winning the PMAE means a lot to me. I’ve worked really hard in my dance career to try and be the best I can be, as well as working really hard at school, and I have worked really hard to volunteer as much as I can. It feels good to do this kind of work and it makes me feel good that people appreciate what I do.

2. Can you tell us a bit about your love for Irish Dance and your passion, work ethic, dedication and persistence towards Irish Dance?
Irish dance is my main passion and there are so many things I love about it. As well as having so many great friends, one of the reasons why I love Irish Dance is all the challenges involved in it. Sometimes the dance teachers give us some hard choreography and it takes a lot of practice to perfect it and I really like the challenge of that. I have really put in the effort towards Irish Dance to be the best that I can be. I dance at least four days a week and I normally have a cross training class on the weekend. I’m working really hard and putting in a lot of time to try and improve my dancing. Dancing means so much to me and I always want to put my best effort into it.

3. How did you initially get involved in volunteering and what was one of your first experiences and/or favourite early memories from volunteering?
I initially got involved in volunteering when I was in elementary school. I had a few friends in some of the older grades at my school and I saw them volunteering a lot, so that made me want to start volunteering and help the school and our community.

One of my first experiences volunteering was delivering hot lunch and frozen yoghurt to classes in my school. Sometimes my friends and I would get our own class and it was fun delivering the food to our friends and classmates. I’d have to say one of my favourite memories from volunteering was lunch monitoring with some of my friends. During lunch, we would go to a kindergarten class every day and monitor them and help them. We would play games and the kids were really fun to be around.

4. What types of volunteer work did you do in the past few years that you included in your PMAE application?
I did a lot of volunteer work at my elementary school. I did anything from helping out the teachers in their class, lunch monitoring, peer counselling, and more. I wanted to help make our school a better place and I wanted to be a good role model for the younger kids so that when they got into the older grades, they would help our community as well.

5. Can you describe what you have learned and how you have grown from doing volunteer work?
I have learned many things from volunteering. I have learned that getting involved is important because by getting involved, you could be helping make a difference in people’s lives. I also learned that volunteering and helping others makes me feel good and makes me happy. And finally, I learned that anything you do to help, you’re helping the community in many different ways.

I feel like I have grown from doing volunteer work because I have become more responsible. People are showing me that they trust me by giving me more responsible things to do. From teaching dance classes, to helping my classmates at school, it makes me happy and excited to do more volunteer work.

6. What would be your advice to other dancers as they are thinking about applying for the PMAE award? 
I think my advice for the dancers at NPIDA would be to get involved. If you get involved, you could be helping people’s lives and help make them better, including yours. Even helping with little kids or picking up some garbage around your school could really help. You may not think what you’re doing to help is a lot, but you could really help the community and help make our world a better place to live in.

For further information about the PMAE,

and to apply, please click HERE

- Reference Request forms must be submitted by May 1, 2016

- Applications must be submitted by May 15, 2016

Hollyburn and CelticFest Shows

Reese, Jadyn and Megan

Hollyburn Sailing Club (March 12)

Hollyburn Sailing Club (March 12)

Yuka, Aki, Megan, Kassidy, Reese and Alexis

CelticFest; Tom Lee Music Hall Stage (March 13)

Pot of Gold troupe

CelticFest; Tom Lee Music Hall Stage (March 13)

Aki, Yuka, Megan and Reese

CelticFest; Tom Lee Music Hall Stage (March 13)

Pot of Gold troupe and guests

CelticFest; Tom Lee Music Hall Stage (March 13)

Thank you to Cara for submitting these photos taken at Eire Born shows over the weekend.

Seattle Feis Photos and Advancements

Leia A: new Prelim qualifier

Naomi N (U-11) and Leia A (U-9) both placed 1st

in the Novice/Prizewinner Reel Trophy

Naomi K: red dress qualifier

Thank you to Nora for submitting these photos, which were taken last weekend at the Seattle Comerford Feis by Nancy (photos #1-2) and Lana (photo #3). Leia A has advanced to Prelim, Naomi N is "halfway to Prelim", and Naomi K is our newest red dress qualifier. Congratulations girls!

Eire Born: March 11 Shows (*UPDATED)

Back: Jadyn, Kyla, Holly and Kristen

Front: Leia, Naomi and Avery
O'Hares Pub (March 11)

Eliana, Kristen, Yuka, Aki and Malia

Windemere Care Centre (March 11)

Back: Claire, Maria and Reese

Middle: Emily, Lindsay and Eloise

Front: Malia, Zoe and Samantha
Scanline VFX show (March 11)

Thank you to Sue M-T (photo #1) and Nora (photos #2-3) for submitting these photos taken at shows on Friday March 11. Thank you to the sound crews (Nora, Vic and Pat) and all the dancers and parents!

Good luck to our five St. Patrick's troupes (Eire Born dancers and guest dancers) who will be performing in dozens of shows over the next week!

Good Luck at the 2016 World Championships!

Our 2016 World Championship competitors

Row 1: Emma, Samantha, Kyla, Mckenna, Caitlin and Sarah

Row 2: Jadyn, Megan, Thea, Macaela, Camryn and Jayne

Row 3: Anna, Shannon, Sophie, Mikaela, Mackenzie and Stephanie

Nora and Aisling will be travelling to Glasgow next week to support the following 18 NPIDA dancers who will be competing at the 2016 World Championships March 20-27. GOOD LUCK dancers!

SUNDAY MARCH 20
U-12: Emma B-T and Samantha S

MONDAY MARCH 21
U-13: Kyla F and Mckenna L
U-14: Caitlin B-T, Sarah A, Jadyn M-T and Megan S

TUESDAY MARCH 22
U-15: Thea M

WEDNESDAY MARCH 23
U-16: Macaela B-T, Camryn C and Jayne D
U-17: Anna M and Shannon G

THURSDAY MARCH 24
U-18: Sophie C

FRIDAY MARCH 25
U-19: Mikaela P
U-20: Mackenzie C

SATURDAY MARCH 26
Senior Ladies: Stephanie M

Qualified for Worlds but not attending: Jessie H and Tomas M.

Recalls and results will be posted here on the blog in as timely a manner as possible. Safe travels to all our Worlds families and good luck in Glasgow!

(Worlds 2016 logo from the CLRG website)

Bridget and Gillian's Seattle Feis Photos *UPDATED

Eloise: 3rd in U-13 Open Treble Reel

Zoe in Seattle

Megan: 1st in U-14 Open Championships

Open Championship dancers

Megan (U-14) and Kassidy (U-16)

Thank you to Bridget (photos #1-2) and Gillian (photos #3-4) for submitting these photos, all taken last weekend at the Seattle Comerford Feis.

Dress For Sale (#2016-2) **SOLD**

THIS DRESS HAS SOLD!

Information about this dress from the owner:

Red, black and white elegant velvet, lace and satin Siopa Rince, size 8 dress with tulle under skirt. Celtic knot embroidery. Looks  fantastic on stage with lots of crystals. Excellent condition. Includes bloomers and headpiece.

Measurements (in inches)
Chest: 25"
Natural waist: 23.5"
Bodice length from mid-shoulder to center waist seam: 10.5"
Skirt length from waist seam to hem: 9"
Sleeve length from shoulder to hem: 19.5"
Shoulder seam to shoulder seam across top of back: 11.5"
Front full length-center neck to hem: 24"

Asking Price: $850.
Please contact Mei at tiexiaomeiATgmail.com (please replace AT with @).

Interview With Jessie, 2015 PMAE Winner

The PMAE trophy

In May 2015, Jessie H was awarded the top ($2000) PMAE award. Below is an interview with Jessie, which can also be viewed on the PMAE website:

Jessie

1. What does winning the PMAE mean to you? 
Winning the PMAE award this past year was truly an honourable moment for me. There are so many dancers that are so deserving of the award, and I was overjoyed to receive it! Winning the award not only made me feel great about what I do with community volunteer work, but it also helped me to believe that I am a good leader, and that what I do really makes a difference. Of course, it was extra special to me since Patrick is such a huge inspiration to me!

2. Can you tell us a bit about your love for Irish Dance and your passion, work ethic, dedication and persistence towards Irish Dance?
To me, Irish dance isn’t just my hobby, it’s so much more than that. Ever since I first stepped onto the dance floor I have been completely in love with dancing. I knew on my very first day that I would be doing this for a very long time. And I was right! From a very young age I have had very high goals and always pushed myself to the limit to achieve them. There have been days when I spend hours and hours after class with the furniture cleared, drilling steps in front of my little mirror. And although I don’t always reach my goals, it doesn’t hold me back, but rather motivates me to work even harder. Through injuries and health issues, I will continue to put my all into achieving my goals and being dedicated with Irish Dance.

3. How did you initially get involved in volunteering and what was one of your first experiences and/or favourite early memories from volunteering?
I got involved in volunteering with leadership clubs in elementary school and also with the animal shelter initially. Eire Born and teaching at dance was also a part of the beginning of my volunteering.

One of my most memorable experiences from volunteering was when I did a show at a nursing home which my grandmother worked at. Everybody wanted to see me dancing, so I put on a show for them and they absolutely loved it! They kept telling me how honoured they were to be able to see a famous dancer, which made me laugh a bit but it was really sweet of them to say. It made me so happy to leave them all smiling after the show.

4. What types of volunteer work did you do in the past few years that you included in your PMAE application?
I have done lots of volunteer work at school in clubs such as student council. We did food drives, a penny drive for clean water in Africa, and a bake sale for cancer research. I have also volunteered at the animal shelter and at the food bank, which have been amazing experiences.

I have also done a lot of fundraising on my own for foundations such as the Children’s Hospital, food bank, and the SPCA. Every year my neighbours and I sponsor a family in need over the holiday season as well.

5. Can you describe what you have learned and how you have grown from doing volunteer work?
Doing volunteer work has taught me that you don’t necessarily have to be super experienced or an expert about things to be able to make a difference in your community. Making a change can be as simple as feeding animals at the animal shelter or donating to the food bank. Since I started volunteering, I have started to take initiative more and I feel like I am a contributing member of the community.

6. What would be your advice to other dancers as they are thinking about applying for the PMAE award? 
My advice for other dancers applying for the PMAE award would be to not only find a bunch of volunteering opportunities to use for your application, but make sure you are gaining something from it. The award is all about inspiring people to be leaders, so it is so important that you learn something from it your experiences! I suggest you do things you are really passionate about and take time to think about what you are doing to help.

As well, you should make it a part of your regular schedule to do some community service every once in a while. Remember, every little thing you do counts!

For further information about the PMAE,

and to apply, please click HERE

- Reference Request forms must be submitted by May 1, 2016

- Applications must be submitted by May 15, 2016

Sunday at the Seattle Feis *UPDATED*

Kristen: 2nd in the Treble Jig Trophy

(Novice/Prizewinner 15+)

Below are today's NPIDA results at the Seattle Comerford Feis (Pacific Northwest Championships). Thank you to Erik for submitting the above photo.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
U-13
Kyla F: 2nd in Soft Shoe, 1st in Hard Shoe, 1st in Set Dance, 2nd overall

U-16
Kassidy P: 3rd in Soft Shoe

PRELIM TREBLE REEL
U-11
Avery F: 4th

NOVICE/PRIZEWINNER TREBLE JIG TROPHY
15+
Kristen L: 2nd

Good Luck at the Seattle Feis! *UPDATED*

UPDATE: Below are NPIDA's results at the Seattle Feis today. Nora has also confirmed that Leia A has advanced to Prelim Championships based on her results today; congratulations Leia!

PRELIM CHAMPIONSHIPS
U-11
Bryn C: 4th overall
Reese T: 6th overall
Avery F: 6th overall

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
U-14
Megan S: 2nd in Hard Shoe, 2nd in Set Dance, 1st overall!

U-15
Thea M: 3rd in Soft Shoe, 3rd in Hard Shoe, 2nd in Set Dance, 3rd overall

U-16
Camryn C: 2nd in Soft Shoe, 3rd in Set Dance, 3rd overall

U-19
Mikaela P: 3rd in Soft Shoe, 2nd in Hard Shoe, 3rd in Set Dance, 4th overall

19+
Mackenzie C: 1st in Soft Shoe, 1st in Hard Shoe, 1st in Set Dance, 1st overall!

OPEN TREBLE REEL
U-13
Eloise C: 3rd

U-15
Thea M: 2nd

BEGINNER/ADVANCED BEGINNER REEL TROPHY
U-9
Naomi K: 5th

NOVICE/PRIZEWINNER REEL TROPHY
U-9
Leia A: 1st!

U-11
Naomi N: 1st!
Justine F: 6th

NOVICE/PRIZEWINNER TREBLE JIG TROPHY
Leia A: 4th


NPIDA has 18 dancers travelling to Seattle to compete in the Comerford Seattle Feis (Pacific Northwest Championships) this weekend. Good luck to all dancers! Results will be posted here when available on feisworx.

- Photo from Google Images

More Van Eire Feis Photos

Back: Lindsay, Lucy and Poppy

Front: Willow and Eliana

As above + Kristen, top right

Lucy, Poppy and Lindsay

Erika and her sister Haley

Thank you to Steve (photos #1-3) and Rebecca (photo #4) for submitting these photos taken last Sunday February 28 at the Van Eire Feis.

Pat McAndless Award For Excellence 2016 and New PMAE Website

THE PATRICK MCANDLESS

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE (PMAE) WEBSITE

IS UP AND RUNNING

Pat

The McAndless Family Foundation in conjunction with the Nora Pickett Irish Dance Academy (NPIDA) and the Eire Born Irish Dance Society (EBIDS) is pleased to announce the Patrick McAndless Award For Excellence (PMAE) website is available and ready to receive applications.

About PMAE

The PMAE recognizes dancers with NPIDA who demonstrate the highest qualities of passion, work ethic, dedication, persistence and leadership in pursuit of excellence in Irish dance, academics and voluntary community service. The PMAE is available as a $5000 donation that is divided into six (6) awards for excellence:

* 4 recipients each receive $500
* 1 recipient receives $1000
* 1 recipient receives $2000

To apply for the PMAE, applicants must be:

* a registered dancer with the NPIDA
* 10 years of age or older
* currently enrolled in elementary, secondary or post secondary school

For further information about the PMAE and to apply please click HERE.

Reference Request forms must be submitted by May 1, 2016.

Applications must be submitted by May 15, 2016

About Patrick

Patrick McAndless is a recognized leader in the minerals industry, and now dedicates his time as a guest lecturer helping students with their career development. He is a long time volunteer and former board chair of NPIDA, and continues to be involved with Eire Born shows.

When asked about the award, Patrick said, “This is my way of giving back to the community by supporting the growth and development of youth in their pursuit of excellence in dance, academics and community service."

We encourage all eligible NPIDA dancers to apply - no matter what your level of dance or volunteer experience.  Everyone has an opportunity to be a PMAE winner!

- The McAndless Family Foundation

Three New Red Dress Qualifiers *UPDATED*

Alexandra

Erika

Jacquie

Nora is pleased to advise that Jacquie G, Alexandra S and Erika C all qualified for red dresses based on their results at the Van Eire Feis yesterday. Congratulations girls!