IDM blog..

Were you lucky enough to compete at An Comhdhaill's All Irelands this year? If so, IDM thinks you deserve a medal for doing so well for competing in one of the BIGGEST Irish dancing competitions in the world!
The medal is worth 800 profile points and all you have to do is: Send a message to me with the following information:
Your real name, age and ranking.

Congratulations to everyone who competed this year and for those of you who didn't make it - remember there is always next year and plenty of time to practice!

Love, Lucy x

If you are already there or are planning on going to the CRN Irish Open 2009, we would love to see any pictures you take and they might just be featured in the July issue of IDM! All you have to do is email your pictures to lucy@irishdancing.com

IDM couldn't make it this year but we wish all the competitors the best of luck and can't wait to hear from you.

Have a great weekend!

Lucy x

Well its finally here the last week of our UK tour, its hard to believe that its three months ago since we started in Bristol. Even though we hard a great tour and seen some beautiful cities I think most of the company was happy to be heading home to see their family and friends and I’m sure it wont be long until were all back on the road together again.

Liverpool was a great city to finish the tour off in as there is such a buzz about the place and there is so much to be seen and done as well. Also it was capital of culture last year so you could see that there were a lot of improvements made to city over the last number of years.

Patricia & CarmenWe arrived in on the Sunday and after everyone had rested we all headed out to celebrate Aoife McDarby's birthday, a female member of the Irish dance troupe. A great night by all was had. Most of the week was spent sight seeing and shopping, trying to get all the last minute bargains before heading home - I think it’s the best city all tour for shopping! The newly built shopping area called Liverpool One is amazing, it has everything to offer, from high street shops to the more expensive shops, and it also had a great array of restaurants to choose from, as well as an Odeon Cinema. It’s definitely a city I will be going back to! For those who don’t really like to shop there was still plenty to do, as there are many museums to go see such as the Tate Liverpool Museum down at Albert Dock.

Orla GriffinOn Thursday we celebrated another big birthday in the company, Orla Griffin another female troupe member celebrated her 30th birthday. We all got dressed up in our dresses and headed out on the town for the night.

All week the audiences were amazing in the Empire theatre but without doubt Saturday night was by far the best. Sarah Murray had about 100 family members and friends at the show as she is from Liverpool, and boy did they know how to make noise. It was such a nice way to finish the tour.

Well I hope you enjoyed my Diary entries for this tour, I’m going to enjoy my few weeks at home before I get ready to do the Gaiety for the summer, if your in Ireland make sure to come and see us. If not maybe you might see me back on the road for the next tour.

The countdown is now on for the Elevation Video Competition as we near the closing date for the chance to win a dress worth £1000! To be in with a chance of winning, this years competition gives you the chance to make your very own Irish dancing video. Create a video of no more than three minutes in length that shows the world: What Irish Dancing means to me! It could be of you and your friends dancing, a puppet show, play...whatever you want! It can be funny, silly, or serious as long as it is dance related and includes the word Elevation...You could shout it, sing it, hold up a sign...anything! All you have to do is...Film your routine on your phone, webcam or video recorder. You can either upload your video to YouTube and send the link to lucy@irishdancing.com or posted on CD to: Elevation Video Competition, IDM, Unit 2.4 Paintworks, Arnos Vale, Bristol, BS4 3EH by June 1st 2009. Deadline: June 1st 2009 The best 10 videos will be showcased on both IDM's and Elevation Design's website.
Closing date is June 1st 2009

Were you lucky enough to compete at the Worlds this year? If so, IDM thinks you deserve a medal for doing so well for competing in one of the BIGGEST Irish dancing competitions in the world!
The medal is worth 800 profile points and all you have to do is: Send a message to me with the following information:
Your real name, age and ranking.

Congratulations to everyone who competed this year and for those of you who didn't make it - remember there is always next year and plenty of time to practice!

Love, Lucy x

Check out our photos at:

http://photobucket.com/2009WorldIrishDancingChampionships

Also - EMAIL denise@irishdancing.com with your 2009 World's photos and I'll add them to our photobucket and they will also have a possibility of being included in the June issue. Submit them ASAP to denise@irishdancing.com

If you missed subscribing at Worlds, we still have a select number of 2009 World Championship Shoe bags available FREE with a subscription. Phone 630-279-7521 or email maureen@irishdancing.com today!

p.s. I'm going to reload some of the photos I took early in the event, so they are larger on the photobucket. Watch for these in a larger size in the next few days.

Hi everyone - I've had several calls today wondering about World's fashion trends. I wanted to drop everyone a quick line about my personal observations.

In dresses, I noticed that the neon colors are making a comeback. Velvet is still very much "in". Most of the top dress makers are using hundreds(possibly thousands) of diamantes of various sizes and colors on dresses. Soft skirts are definitely "hot" and the bubble, double bubble, triple bubble are also seen in full force. I also noticed a new layered skirt style(think three layers of fabric going around the skirt). The refreshing thing to me is that almost any skirt style is in, as long as the waist is a drop waist. There was bling on the socks and buckles too, for many of the dancers.

Wigs are very long and full and the headpieces have a lot of bling. Tiaras are making a comeback. There were MANY new team dresses. The team dresses are looking a lot like solo dresses. I found that interesting. I almost miss the tradition found in the team dresses, but maybe that's me just being nostalgic!

Make-up...The eye-liner is very dark, lips very dark/bright, and bronzer used on faces. Many people appeared to have done spray tans as the tanning overall seemed much more even and appealing. The legs were not as dark and streaky as I've seen in the past (a good step forward for Irish dancing)!

Boys--I didn't forget you! I actually thought the boys moved the most in fashion this year. There were quite a few embroidered vests/waistcoats(dark vests/waistcoats with bright embroidery). Also, BLING everywhere on the boys shirts, vests and ties. WOW! Showmanship is now king in the boys'world. I would not be surprised to see a change in the boys'pants in the next year or two with colored pants matching vests or possibly even bling or embroidery on the pants. It was really surprising to see how far the boys' fashions moved this year. Maybe they were tired of hearing about the girl's fashion trends (ha, ha) for so many years! Either way, it was a big break-out year in Irish dancing fashion for men! And...I don't think it looked girly at all! There is a difference between flashy and feminine and in my personal opinion, it was stage "flash."

Just a quick footnote though...Even though we love the fashion, in the end, the results are truly about the dancing. Of course it is good to look your best, but it is most important to dance your best!

All the best,

Denise Keane-Gillette

Hi everyone! I met Glasgow Tourism today and they had a really cool brochure about Glasgow 2010. Yes, I'm already thinking about NEXT year's Worlds. I heard the senior mens and ladies competitions were incredible today and I also saw a couple of television stations coming in and interviewing teachers and dancers. There were a lot of girls sporting high fasion coupled with their sashes today too. Many people are coming in off the street, unfamilar to Irish dancing, yet drawn in enough to buy tickets to the event. The An Coimisiun volunteers are doing an amazing job. I've seen many of the same people all week selling programs, raffle tickets, handing out numbers, etc., Two thumbs up to these incredible volunteers.

We also did a photo shoot today for two upcoming covers for IDM. It was so exciting and the dancers were so much fun!

Check out our new photos, taken at our stands today at:

http://photobucket.com/2009WorldIrishDancingChampionships

Also - If you missed subscribing at Worlds, you can call our USA office at 630-279-7521 beginning next Tuesday to still get our World's special offer, or email maureen@irishdancing.com! We have a limited number of 2009 World Championship back-pack/shoe bags left and we will mail you one of these when you subscribe (for FREE)!

I'm heading over to the venue to take more photos!

Bye for now! Denise

Michael Flatley came to the WORLDS today! It was so exciting!!!!!!!! He stayed and watched one of the competitions and took a lot of photos with many dancers and even addressed the audience/dancers about achieving their dreams. We caught a photo of Michael outside of the Kimmel Center as he was leaving in his limo with his wife and son.

Did you know that the Dennehy School in Chicago is the school that Michael Flatley learned how to dance? In addition, Michael was the first American to ever win a World Championship title for the USA. And this weekend the most amazing and wonderful thing happened at the first Worlds in the USA --- the Dennehy school had their second World Champion - MICHAEL PUTMAN! It's been many years since Dennehy's Michael Flatley brought home a World title in solo dancing, and ironically - another Michael from Dennehy has claimed a World title in boys 16-17. IDM couldn't be happier for Michael Putman who happens to live in the same hometown as our USA office.

Click here (or copy paste) for MORE WORLDS PHOTOS!

http://photobucket.com/2009WorldIrishDancingChampionships

IDM's Easter Treasure Hunt begins tomorrow so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for a piece of hidden treasure and could get 500 profile points! Remember to message me the details of what the treasure is and where you found it. Good luck! Lucy x