Dance! - The Road to Heavies: November 3, 2013: A small world...
A competition close to home: Lisa Lubbe Memorial Feis
I read it before, but it wasn't that certain yet, but it is now clear. The Lisa Lubbe Memorial Feis (the name itself gives it away: this is a Feis-in-honour-of) is held in the Zuid-Oost Beemster.
Ha! Normally I have to travel quite far and some competitors live relatively close by, now it's the other way round. I can even easily go there by bike to check it out.
Even though I haven't danced for nearly a month, I do leave home for this Feis. By now, I know how much a Feis can revive my spirit and I try to stay into the world.
I didn't do anything with the new school yet...
Honestly: I didn't do anything yet with the fact there are classes held in Amsterdam. At this moment, that's a bad idea as well. After work, I'm totally exhausted and 'let's sit down for a while' mostly means I enter a deep sleep and I don't wake up till midnight (or even later).
But hey, let's go. After a short check on a map, I hit the road. That proves to be difficult. The fierce Octoberstorm that crippled the country 5 days ago has toppled many trees and many are still lying on the cycling paths: they aren't bothering enough people to be removed by now.
Even though the storm has passed, there are some high winds today as well and when I get near the location of the hall, I'm already breathing rather heavy.
A long road leads into the distance to my left. After a few buildings, nothing more than emptiness remains, with a building in the distance that proves to be a primary school and council-center at the same time.
I'm in doubt if I'm at the right place for a short time, but than I see a big, walking blonde wig making her way through the parking lot (read: it is a woman, but the wig is nothing short of huge).
She pulls a suitcase behinder her: No doubt about it! I'm at the right spot!
My bicycle is the only one in the rack. Everyonce came by car and few by public transport. I'm amazed about the primary school that is quite large compared to the building where I went to school.
They certainly do not have to be ashamed of the big gym and real stage (with real side-stage!) built next to it.
Surprise when entering
Still breathing a bit heavy, I make my way to the table to pay my spectator fee. 'One spectator ticket, please', and the guy behind the table starts stuttering: clearly a Dutchie. I have gotten used to it already that the main language is English. Now he seems to be surprised that he is asked in English and I am surprised it is not a British or Irish gent.
But the surprise gets even better. When he asks why I'm breathing heavy and I respond I came here by bike, he asks me where I live.
"Purmerend." I say rather nonchalant.
"No! You got to be kidding!?" He says, "Where exactly?"
And so we get to the point that I find out that the lady who runs the Feis and also is the director of the school I was looking for, is living like a block away.
Get lost! Is the first thing I think. I couldn't have imagined she would be living so close.
I'm questioned if I dance at her school, but explain how things have worked out so far. He says that I have to talk to her if there is time..
Unfortunately, there isn't enough time, but I do see something from the competition. Sitting beside someone from the Kilkenny School who knows quite a bit about all the dances out there, I hear how one of the contestants is ready to do a certain type of dance which is relatively long and lasts something like 2 minutes. Because of the length, you will most likely see a drop in sharpness as the dancer gets tired. Even I, with my rather untrained eye for it, see tiredness hit about halfway through and things get a little wobbly.
After 30 to 45 minutes I decide to leave again. It's not that I dislike the level, but it's very warm in the hall.