Sunday, 12 August 2012
Well, that's the end of the competition for 2012...
We are waiting for results and presentations, then the Champions will warm up for their Dance - truly spectacular!
Feis update - timing
Well, we are a little late, but nothing out of the ordinary. Due, in no small part to the valiant efforts of John Joyce to break the speed reading record when announcing results, we have made up considerable time at the expense of the photographer (me), who has probably composed some accidentally entertaining shots on stage.
We wish John all the best in his new career as a speed announcer at auctions or as a CityRail guard or station announcer :)
We wish John all the best in his new career as a speed announcer at auctions or as a CityRail guard or station announcer :)
Seniors doing their soft shoe dance
Soon they will be back for the set dances...in the interim, the Dance of Champions (minus Seniors) have been called back stage to practice for their dance extravaganza. Which will be on LiveCam :)
Soft shoe dances progressing nicely
Soon it will be time for the sets, then presentations and dinner - for some :(
Seniors will wrap-up the competition and the Dance of Champions will be icing on the cake. the Dance of Champions will be broadcast on LiveCam...stay tuned.
Seniors will wrap-up the competition and the Dance of Champions will be icing on the cake. the Dance of Champions will be broadcast on LiveCam...stay tuned.
Late afternoon activities - a version of musical chairs
- take some teachers, say five or so
- add eight hours of dances
- add refreshments
- place teachers in the front row with only five seats available
- ensure they all need to see their dancer at different times from the best angle
- watch as they race for a better seat when the music stops
- repeat
- add wine - if the canteen is open :)
- report back in under 250 words, with diagrams and references
- point awarded for the most unlikely answer
Back in the real (reel?) world, the dancers have been called to marshalling for their soft shoe round.
Call just made for a search party to find the adjudicators
Gee, they are getting good at this!
Bob Henderson is getting into John Joyce's act - he just gave NRL scores to complement John's Olympic medal tally.
The adjudicators, and musician, have returned. Not long to go now troops!!
Bob Henderson is getting into John Joyce's act - he just gave NRL scores to complement John's Olympic medal tally.
The adjudicators, and musician, have returned. Not long to go now troops!!
And the 15 Years section is over
The 13 & 14 Years are now taking the opportunity to perform the world-famous 55-hand mixed schools team representing the fight for the last chip on a plate - all on stage at the same time :)
The sets continue...
Off into the distance, as far as the eye can see, are set dances and dancers. And when the 15 Years finish, the 13 & 14 Years will have their turn at all the dances, before we get to the presentations and dinner break....
Feis update
The 15 Years sets are ongoing.....and the hall is quite full and a little cooler than yesterday.
Not too much to report, just the usual small slips, stumbles and occasional lapse of memory on stage, but everyone is enjoying a great day's dancing.
No gourmet food report as there is none in the vicinity. This morning's chocolate crackle topped muffins were dispatched with great thanks amongst the ChaosCentral team. This afternoon's lunch was kindly provided by Suzie Cousens who foraged for some fried rice - and delicious it was too :)
Still more age groups to dance before the Seniors this evening.
Not too much to report, just the usual small slips, stumbles and occasional lapse of memory on stage, but everyone is enjoying a great day's dancing.
No gourmet food report as there is none in the vicinity. This morning's chocolate crackle topped muffins were dispatched with great thanks amongst the ChaosCentral team. This afternoon's lunch was kindly provided by Suzie Cousens who foraged for some fried rice - and delicious it was too :)
Still more age groups to dance before the Seniors this evening.
The 15 Years are not on the stage....
They are side-stage as the adjudicators have given us an encore of their famous vanishing act!!! Well, they also need to eat, drink and have comfort stops :)
The feis will resume very soon...
The feis will resume very soon...
12 Years soft shoe round finished
15 Years are in marshalling and the 12 Years are getting ready for their set dances. John Joyce's threat to read another Olympic update was met with disapproving sounds from the crowd, so he will return to his daytime job as MC :)
Having a short break
The best china tea set has been brought out and we are having afternoon tea. Perhaps that is just my imagination, but two of the adjudicators have made good their escape and the feis is in a hiatus. Search parties being rounded-up to find the adjudicators and bring them back - with good china cups of tea made from good china and real tea - not tea bags!
Must be a slow news afternoon.....
When the dancers return it will be soft shoe rounds for young and old, specifically 12 and 15 Years.
Must be a slow news afternoon.....
When the dancers return it will be soft shoe rounds for young and old, specifically 12 and 15 Years.
15 Years are now on stage
John Joyce announced that they are dancing for the Dwyer-Whelan Tiara, noting that the Boys don't get one :)
And the answer is.....
The 15 Years will dance interleaved/intermingled/inbetween/comingled/something....
12 Years are on stage now
Hard shoe round is underway, dancing three at a time on the stage. The hall is quite full and the canteen is doing a brisk trade. Given that people will be here until at least 9PM, I wonder what time they will close today....? Any time from now I suppose :(
Will the 12 Years return for their soft shoe round or will the 15 Years dance next? Stay tuned to find out....
Will the 12 Years return for their soft shoe round or will the 15 Years dance next? Stay tuned to find out....
Lunch break at the feis
And what do we do? Practice on the stage of course!!
The adjudicators have returned, refreshed and relaxed and thankfully not spotting grammatical errors as some of our erstwhile readers are wont to do :) Otherwise we wouldn't rate a place on the blocks...
So, once the dancers have had a bit of a jump around and determined that the wigs are correctly glued/nail-gunned to their heads, that the shoes won't fly off and nearly take out an adjudicator (hello Julia!), we will be on our way - again.
12, 13, 14 & 15 Years this afternoon, then the Seniors late into the night followed by the Dance of Champions.
The adjudicators have returned, refreshed and relaxed and thankfully not spotting grammatical errors as some of our erstwhile readers are wont to do :) Otherwise we wouldn't rate a place on the blocks...
So, once the dancers have had a bit of a jump around and determined that the wigs are correctly glued/nail-gunned to their heads, that the shoes won't fly off and nearly take out an adjudicator (hello Julia!), we will be on our way - again.
12, 13, 14 & 15 Years this afternoon, then the Seniors late into the night followed by the Dance of Champions.
Like Herding Cats
The phrase that springs to mind watching 19 boys getting into the one presentation photo.
Boys 7 - 11 Champions
7 years and under Jack Carey - Carey School
8 Years Liam Fitzgerald - Halloran School
9 Years Liam Costello - Creer School
10 Years Daniel Brennan - Walton School
11 Years Nathan Ball - Carey School
8 Years Liam Fitzgerald - Halloran School
9 Years Liam Costello - Creer School
10 Years Daniel Brennan - Walton School
11 Years Nathan Ball - Carey School
11 Years Girls presentation
The girls' presentation is on first, then all the boys from 7 to 11.
Lots of tapping feet waiting nervously for the call onto the stage.
Lots of tapping feet waiting nervously for the call onto the stage.
And the Boys set dances are off and racing!
After their sets, we will have the presentations and possibly a light lunch....
Boys soft shoe round is well underway
Bouncing around on the stage and full of energy. We are about 30 minutes late, but that is quite on time.
And the chocolate crackle muffins were a taste sensation never before experienced - thanks!
And the chocolate crackle muffins were a taste sensation never before experienced - thanks!
Boys 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 years now on stage
Not competing together in one age group, just their sections one after the next
Chaos Central has found a new power source
These little beasties are muffins with chocolate crackle icing. - Dancing? What dancing?? mmmmmm.
11 Years Girls Sets have finished
The sets are done and the stage stairs are awash with young lads ready for a real competition.
Soft shoe round for the 11 Years has finished
Set dances are about to start, so ChaosCentral will be off manning the HD video thingy to produce moving images of dubious quality for teachers. Really don't get the hang of video, still photos seem so much more natural :)
The hall is very quiet and polite - yesterday was much more boisterous, something noticed many times by the adjudicators and organisers, leading to requests for quiet and some very loud shushing noises!
The next presentations could be an interesting affair - the younger age groups always provide photographic entertainment as they crowd to the front to support their friends - lots of photos of dancers on the podium with a sea of curly wigs at their feet! And a great atmosphere too as there is usually so much energy in the crowd.
The hall is very quiet and polite - yesterday was much more boisterous, something noticed many times by the adjudicators and organisers, leading to requests for quiet and some very loud shushing noises!
The next presentations could be an interesting affair - the younger age groups always provide photographic entertainment as they crowd to the front to support their friends - lots of photos of dancers on the podium with a sea of curly wigs at their feet! And a great atmosphere too as there is usually so much energy in the crowd.
Feis update
Our Official Olympics Correspondent, John Joyce, is expected to provide edited highlights from the Olympics medal tally as the day progresses. Yesterdays's bronze medal performance prior to the 18 Years presentations left the audience in stitches and many wondered why he left his day job of coaching the English middle distance farnarckling team.
In feis related news, the 11 Years have been called to marshalling for their soft shoe round.
In feis related news, the 11 Years have been called to marshalling for their soft shoe round.
Welcome to Sunday at the NSW State Championships
A very brisk morning at Hurstville and for those here for the dancing, a world away from the City to Surf race that will shut down the city and Eastern Suburbs for most of the day. Makes parking here seem a charm :) And in relation to parking, as it is Sunday there are no time limits in the car park, so feel free to enjoy a stress-free day when you come to the competition.
The hall is cooler this morning and not very full, but the early sections of 11 Years plus minor Boys of various ages will provide great entertainment.
And ChaosCentral has survived a day of experimentation, with LiveCam, LiveCommentary and filming set dances for teachers - it all worked apart from the minor glitch of tripping and pulling out the power to the modem....
So, in a few moments the show will begin!
The hall is cooler this morning and not very full, but the early sections of 11 Years plus minor Boys of various ages will provide great entertainment.
And ChaosCentral has survived a day of experimentation, with LiveCam, LiveCommentary and filming set dances for teachers - it all worked apart from the minor glitch of tripping and pulling out the power to the modem....
So, in a few moments the show will begin!
Saturday, 11 August 2012
Champions tonight
Champions
17 Years -Ceili Moore - Aisling
17 Years- William Bryant - Halloran
18 Years - Amy Longstone - Carey
18/19 Years -Jeremy Higgins - Walton
19 Years - Natasia Petracic - Halloran
Dancing is finished for the day
Now we have the 17, 18 & 19 Years presentations.
Today's photos will be on www.swoose.net well after midnight :)
Today's photos will be on www.swoose.net well after midnight :)
19 years soft shoe round
Last group before the presentations, so we are running about 30 minutes late, which is perfectly on ID time :)
And now the 18 Years are doing their soft shoe round
Did we mention that the canteen and bar is closed? And that the hall is full of potential patrons? Who are not happy :(
ALL the soft shoe dancers have been called to marshalling
They are going to race through these age groups!
And now the 19 Years are doing their hard shoe round
Then all back again for their soft shoe rounds, then 13 & 16 Years presentations....those age groups seem soooooooo far ago.....
The 18 Years have taken the stage
Please bring it back...no, hang on, they are dancing on it for their hard shoe round......
More comments form the supporters of the senior dancers that it is a pity that the canteen and bar has already shut, especially when the hall is still full :(
The 19 Years are marshalling for their turn at the hard shoe dances....and we are approximately on time!
More comments form the supporters of the senior dancers that it is a pity that the canteen and bar has already shut, especially when the hall is still full :(
The 19 Years are marshalling for their turn at the hard shoe dances....and we are approximately on time!
Actually, the 17 Years Junior Men go the drop on them!
The 17 Years Junior Ladies will follow, then the 18 & 19 Years will dance interleaved or intermingled or in between or something similar.....for their first two rounds.
Then, presentations for the 13 & 16 Years....
And the canteen seems to have shut - even though the hall is full :(
Then, presentations for the 13 & 16 Years....
And the canteen seems to have shut - even though the hall is full :(
Junior Ladies 17 Years
The set dances have finished and the 17 Years Junior Ladies are about to commence.
Set Dance Update
Not much to say, except five more 13 year olds go.
But wait . . . Irish dancing first, proceedings are suspended while 400 people watch a water bottle slowly roll across the stage.
But wait . . . Irish dancing first, proceedings are suspended while 400 people watch a water bottle slowly roll across the stage.
Set Dances
The Own Choreography Set Dances have begun for the 13 years Girls. Commencing with competitor number 5.
The set dances are almost upon us!
The dancers have moved back stage in preparation for their sets, and the hall is beginning to fill with the next age groups, bringing a level of buzz and excitement.
16 Years Girls
The girls have marshalled and are starting their soft shoe round. They are dancing a Slip Jig.
13 Years are now trooping onto the stage for their soft shoe round
And for the military readers, they have broken step.
Gourmet food update
As our guest commentator has temporarily fled the scene, the usual management is back in control.
So, what has been happening?
Well, dancing and lots of it. The hall is quite full but there is still plenty of seating. Those travelling here are advised that they *can* park in the car park next to the centre as the three hour limit expires at 4PM today. So, stay as long as you like :)
The hall is warm and comfortable and there is a canteen on the premises, as yet unvisited by ChaosCentral, so no gourmet food update yet....but people are welcome to bring in their own food.
Breaking news:
The guest commentator has returned with a mini Gourmet Food update - tea and coffee is available at prices that would not be met by the meaning of the word "moderate" - $3 for a tea-bag and water....there is percolated coffee at the same price. So, bring your own supply of lattes and cappuccinos....
So, what has been happening?
Well, dancing and lots of it. The hall is quite full but there is still plenty of seating. Those travelling here are advised that they *can* park in the car park next to the centre as the three hour limit expires at 4PM today. So, stay as long as you like :)
The hall is warm and comfortable and there is a canteen on the premises, as yet unvisited by ChaosCentral, so no gourmet food update yet....but people are welcome to bring in their own food.
Breaking news:
The guest commentator has returned with a mini Gourmet Food update - tea and coffee is available at prices that would not be met by the meaning of the word "moderate" - $3 for a tea-bag and water....there is percolated coffee at the same price. So, bring your own supply of lattes and cappuccinos....
16 Years Boys Championships
There are five competitors and they have just started their hard shoe round.
13 Years Girls Hard Shoe
We are half way through and one of our dancers has slipped and will redance.
And away we go
The stage has cleared the diamantes swept and the afternoon program begins with 13 Years Girls
Feeding time at the zoo.
Some lovely person has noticed the ravenous look hanging around Chaos Central and delivered a plate of very exotic looking chocolate crackles. They are not based on rice bubbles, hmmm more investigation needed.
Ahh it's the thought - and the calories - that count.
Ahh it's the thought - and the calories - that count.
Trad Sets
Yay! A new tune - King of the Faeries makes an appearance in between St Pat and his Blackbirds.
Trad Sets
Starting with 7 Years Dancers (Number 2)
An avalanche of colour has rolled past chaos central and gone backstage. It will be starting soon.
An avalanche of colour has rolled past chaos central and gone backstage. It will be starting soon.
The 8 years soft shoe has finished
So NOW the trad sets are starting. Our last poster got a bit excited.
Sub Minors about to start their traditional set dances
And after that, there will be results and presentations!
Why ChaosCentral was never a dancer....
Having successfully set-up ChaosCentral in the middle of marshalling and a high-traffic area, in an attempt to move around the rats nest we created, we tripped over a shadow and unplugged the wireless router - oops :(
On a more positive note, the 8 Years are about to start their soft shoe round.
On a more positive note, the 8 Years are about to start their soft shoe round.
Sub Minors are now dancing their soft shoe round
And they all look so confident on the stage. And speaking of the stage, is it the full width of a roll or tarquette and it is four rolls deep - so there is plenty of room to dance!
Sections and numbers
- In the Minor Girls 9 Years Championship, 27 dancers are competing for The Paddy Whelan Memorial Trophy & the Halloran Family Tiara
- In the Minor Girls 10 Years Championship, 22 dancers are competing for The Irish National Association (INA) Perpetual Trophy & the MF Bird Tiara
- In the Sub Minor Girls 7 Years & Under Championship, 21 dancers are competing for the Cathy Lea TCRG Perpetual Trophy, Tiara donated by Geraldine French ADCRG
- In the Sub Minor Girls 8 Years Championship, 35 dancers are competing for The Brennan Trophy & the Myrl Matthews Memorial Tiara
- In the Intermediate Girls 13 Years Championship, 22 dancers are competing for the Frank & Bobbie O’Brien Memorial Trophy and the ME & FM Fahey Memorial Tiara
- In the Senior Girls 16 Years Championship, 15 dancers are competing for The Aisling Society Trophy & the Leanne Ney Tiara Elizabeth “Lily” Claro Memorial Trophy
- In the Senior Boys 16 Years Championship, five dancers are competing for The Darcy Franklin Memorial Trophy
- In the Junior Ladies 17 Years Championship, 13 dancers are competing for The Amy Viles Memorial Trophy & the Sheary Family Tiara
- In the Junior Mens 17 Years Championship, three dancers are competing for the James A Carroll Memorial Trophy donated by Genevieve Carroll TCRG
- In the Junior Ladies 18 Years Championship, 11 dancers are competing for The Marcelle Bird Cup & the Hilda Walton Memorial Tiara
- In the Junior Mens 18 & 19 Years Championship, four dancers are competing for The Joyce Trophy donated by John Joyce TCRG and The Kathleen & William Douglas Memorial Cup donated by Margaret Rox Jimmy Costello Memorial Trophy
- In the Ladies 19 Years Championship, 12 dancers are competing for The AIDA Teachers Trophy & the Hamilton Family Tiara
- In the Junior Girls 11 Years Championship, 41 dancers are competing for The Harry McCaffrey Memorial Trophy & the Geraldine French Tiara Proudly sponsored by The Penrith Gaels Club
- In the Sub Minor Boys 7 Years & Under Championship, four dancers are competing for a Trophy donated by Geraldine French ADCRG
- In the Sub Minor Boys 8 Years Championship, three dancers are competing for The Ashe Family Trophy
- In the Minor Boys 9 Years Championship, four dancers are competing for The Fogarty Family Perpetual Trophy
- In the Minor Boys 10 Years Championship, five dancers are competing for The Halloran Family Perpetual Trophy
- In the Junior Boys 11 Years Championship, three dancers re competing for The Maher-Hamilton Perpetual Trophy
- In the Junior Girls 12 Years Championship, 22 dancers are competing for The Gaelic Athletic Association Trophy & the Donna Reilly Tiara
- In the Junior Boys 12 Years Championship, four dancers are competing for The O’Brien Family Perpetual Trophy
- In the Senior Girls 15 Years Championship, 31 dancers are competing for The Currie & Byrne Families Memorial Trophy & the Dwyer-Whelan Tiara
- In the Senior Boys 15 Years Championship, one dancer is competing for the Bob Struthers Memorial Trophy Donated by Charmaine May ADCRG
- In the Intermediate Boys 13 Years Championship, two dancers are competing for the Cannon Family Shield donated by Donna Reilly-Cannon ADCRG
- In the Intermediate Girls 14 Years Championship, 22 dancers are competing for The AIDA Irish Musicians Club Trophy, the Fogarty Family Tiara
- In the Intermediate Boys 14 Years Championship, two dancers are competing for The Hanrahan Family Perpetual Trophy
- In the Senior Ladies 20 Years & Over Championship, 20 dancers are competing for The AIDA NSW Trophy & the Janice Currie-Henderson Tiara
- In the Senior Mens 20 Years & Over Championship, one dancer is competing for the Jill & Bob Struthers Perpetual Trophy
Last set dancer now on stage
And ChaosCentral is slightly (!) wrong in the order of things, sub-minors are next, then presentations!
Just a short break whilst the adjudicators have a biscuit :)
10 Years set dances will be underway soon...
9 Years sets almost finished
10 Years dancers are now fidgeting back stage :)
And ChoasCentral is filming sets for teachers....
And ChoasCentral is filming sets for teachers....
Championships timetable
SAT URDAY
9.00am 9 years Girls
9.30am 10 years Girls
10.00am 9 & 10 yearsSets
11.45am 7 & 8 years Girls
1.00pm Sets
1.40pm Presentation 7, 8, 9 & 10 years
Lunch
2.30pm 13 years Girls /16 years Girls / 16 years Boys
4.00pm Sets
5.30pm 17, 18, 19 years Ladies
17, 18, 19 years Men
7.00pm Presentation 13 & 16 years
7.30pm 17, 18, 19 years Sets
9.00pm Finish
SUNDAY
8.30am 11 years Girls
9.10am Sets
10.30am 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 years Boys
11.00am Sets
11.45am Presentation & lunch
12.45pm 12 years Girls & Boys
15 years Girls & Boys
2.00pm Sets
4.00pm 13 years Boys
14 years Girls & Boys
4.45pm Sets
5.45pm Presentation & Dinner
6.30pm 20 years & over Ladies & Men
7.15pm Sets
8.00pm Presentation & Dance of Champions
Feis update - 10 Years now on stage....
And our apologies for the tardiness, but we are trying to do too many things at once :)
A belated welcome to the 2012 NSW State Championships
Today we are at the wonderful Art Deco Hurstville Entertainment Centre for the NSW State Championships. It is a very windy day outside, but inside it is warm and inviting. Te stage is excellent, the hall has plenty of seating and the atmosphere is wonderful.
A little later we will get the usual section statistics up for your edification, but at the moment , we are flat out trying to get multiple technologies to work in a short time and little space :)
So, the important matters.....
Our adjudicators are:
A little later we will get the usual section statistics up for your edification, but at the moment , we are flat out trying to get multiple technologies to work in a short time and little space :)
So, the important matters.....
Our adjudicators are:
- Grainne Feely ADCRG (Ireland)
- Cathy Crocker ADCRG (Queensland)
- John Carey ADCRG (England)
Our musician is Cormac O'Se (USA formally Ireland)
And we have in attendance the Patron of the Australian Irish Dancing Association Inc, Mrs Janice Currie-Henderson.
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