It's more of the same, just like the class from last week. Practice just doesn't really work out and I start to notice that especially long-term stamina is a problem. A short, intense work-out isn't such a big deal, but dancing takes a longer more intense workout. After the Reel, I'm short of breath and I really need to catch that before I move on with something else.

Posture

Besides the steps, I'm now also taught more and more to keep the right posture. Though the Feis is out the question for me, it is something I need for the future. So chest out, arms glued to the sides of my body and the fists slightly clenched and partially hidden behind the hips. The teacher notices that I dance with my fists momentarily. At certain points, both swing out as I try to keep my balance.

Awkward side-step

As I won't be making any progress soon, we return to a familiar problem: my side-step. How, I don't know, but I have to get more 'flow' into it, to turn it into something smooth instead of the hopperdyhop I'm doing now. I can't agree more with my teacher, but no matter how hard I try, it doesn't become more than a little 'less-hopperdyhop'.

The Single Jig

I missed part of the explanation from the Single Jig-steps. The first time, my teacher told me there is a jump he omitted to explain the steps easier in counting. It takes some extra work to get going with this dance and I need to learn the steps again more or less.

• Lesson 9. January 13, 2012
• Lesson 11. January 27, 2012

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