Stuckk!!! :/

[22chiyo1000]

I've been in prizewinner for about five years now, and I just can't get into prelim! My hardshoe's pretty good (I've won my hornpipe 9 times and my double jig 3 times), but I just can't seem to win my softshoe! I've gotten a ton of seconds and thirds and have sometimes gotten second by just a point or two! It's driving me insane! Any tips on how I can get those last few points and get into prelim? Thanks!:)

[Once-Always-Dance]

Hiyaa. My advice would be to become lighter on your feet and lift more because that could be why you place a lot in hardshoe but not lightshoe. So maybe practice toes and pointing, lifts and moving quickly and lightly.
Good luck in your next feis (:

[irishdance823]

I totally know what you feel like, I was stuck in Novice for 2 1/2 years before I went to Prizewinner and then I was stuck there before I went to Prelim...It is so frusterating to be SO close to placing, but then get a 2nd when you know you deserved a 1st. All I can reccomend is practing everyday if you don't already and if you get your marks at feises use the judges comments to perfect your dancing. Good luck moving up to Prelim!:D

[Whip my Cher]

Just practise your light dances every day, getting up on your toes & leaping high! Tips of getting your leaps higher: get between two chairs and hold on to them & do a few leaps. Also come down on your feet lighter and listen to the music!


iloveu Cher Lloyd

[22chiyo1000]

Thanks everyone :)! I'll definitely try these!

[dancingal]

i agree with the advice to dance lighter on your feet. i have a tendency to be heavy in soft shoe and it does bring me down. i would also work on stage presence. try to own the stage and look confident. definitely practice everyday and really work on the basics:turnout, crossing, etc.
also focus on stamina. try to get your stamina so good that you can go through your entire dance without getting tired.

[22chiyo1000]

Thanks everyone for all of the help! I won my reel yesterday!:D

[irishdancer4life320]

Congrats on your placing.:)

[Heidegger]

Thanks everyone for all of the help! I won my reel yesterday!:D

Congrats! I thought you would, you looked really great! So are you moving up to prelims now?

[22chiyo1000]

Thanks :) And Heidegger- Your leaps are amazing! Yep, I'm moving up!

[Heidegger]

:( Thanks :) And Heidegger- Your leaps are amazing! Yep, I'm moving up!

Thanks, but I wish the judges and my teacher thought so,too. :(

Good luck in prelims, I'm sure you'll do great!

[22chiyo1000]

Thanks! You'll be there really soon! Are you going to Little Rock?

[idanceirish101]

I had a softshoe dance that I needed to get into prelim too! What I did was really watch the prelim girls' slipjigs/reels. I watched to see what they did and I did not do. This really helped me when I was in that situation :)