I'm doing much better with dancing, allthough I mess up the Reel a few times. To make sure class isn't too boring, the point where I mess up gets repeated a couple of times and after that I get 'tested' on my knowlegde of the Single Jig, being warned that I have to dance the Reel completely at the end of class.

The lead-around of the Single Jig doesn't really work out, but that's okay, I just started it.
When I dance the Reel again, the teacher is watching me with a troubled look on her face. When I finish the Reel and hold 5th position for a while, she's still watching me she's in doubt.

A Feis?

"I'm in doubt if I should register you for the Feis," she says. That scares me... Does she really mean that?
Yes, she makes clear that she's not joking and really doubts she will register me or not. I thank her for the occasion, I refuse. I have never been to such a thing called a Feis and I have no idea what to expect of it.

High up on the toes... very high

A positive surprise is waiting for me the oncoming week. When I walk into the kitchen on some night, I do that up on my toes, a habit I developed since I started dancing. I take a peek at the stove to see what we will be eating.

Being stationary, I again practice getting up on my toes and gently lower my feet back on the floor. Suddenly, I feel something strange. What the hell? I notice that I can - for a very short time, but even so - get the ball of my feet off from the ground and stand on my toes for real.
I can't be happier: I achieved that in only 4 months!

• Lesson 10. December 20, 2012
• Lesson 12. Or: what should have been lesson number 12

---