trinity timestrinityboosterclub.wildapricot.org/resources/documents/trinity times... · fun facts:...
TRANSCRIPT
INSIDE THIS WEEKS TRINITY TIMES:
-NOTE FROM MARK AND NATALIE
-GIVEAWAY!
-AUCTION
-LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
-ST.PATRICK FACTS
-PARADES
-OPEN HOUSE
-GALWAY RACES PT 3
-ST. PATS EXTRAS!
Trinity Times Welcome To The Trinity Times!
A Special Note From Mark and Natalie Howard
The St. Patrick’s Day season is our busiest and very
best time of each dance year. Between dress re-
hearsals, Community Outreach Day, parades, TV
spots, and performances near and far, Trinity will
be at it’s most visible for these upcoming weeks,
and we are thrilled to have you all along for the
ride! Our only request for you as we journey to-
gether, is that you watch for the moments…
...The Moment a tiny Pre-Beginner takes his or her “Big Kids” hand for the first time
and dances out with a smile. How does a three year old lift their chin and skip their tiny
feet on stage in front of a crowd of people? They do it because their teachers and parents
have made them believe they are capable and ready for the challenge.
...The Moment a growing “Man of Trinity” races on stage for his first solo appearance
and hits his very first “click”. He knows he can because he’s been waiting for his turn,
watching the bigger boys pull their shoulders back and flash the audience that signature
“Just watch what I can do…” smile, and he is ready to claim his place in line...to own his
part of the legacy.
...The Moment you have the privilege of overhearing a conversation between a resi-
dent of a retirement community, who has just seen Trinity for the first time, tell one of
our dancers the she “used to dance, too...back home.” And you know for that day, for
that hour, a priceless memory has been brought to life, a connection between old and
new homes, between past and present, between two beating hearts.
In life, it is truly the details that define us. The moments that make us. The connections
that keep us. And the ties that bind us. During this hectic time, when it can sometimes
seem like nothing is going to plan despite the best efforts of everyone involved, we ask
that you watch for these moments. And that you trust us to know that these will be some
of the very best times of our lives together. Get ready everyone...we’re going for a ride!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
From Mark Howard (Founder) and Natalie Howard (Director)
March 15th, 2017
A HUGE Thank you to everyone who helped put costumes on our dancers for St Pat-rick's Day! We have seen all the pictures and you all look Amazing!
If we sold your dress, a check has been sent to you. As a reminder, while we are transi-tioning costumes, the TBC is waiving con-signment fees.
Hey Trinity Families!
Head over to Facebook and find this post for a chance to win a Trinity sweatshirt and hat. This is a raffle giveaway – so everyone has equal chance to win!
Last Chance!!
Hurry, Ends Tonight!!
Worlds Team Fundraising
Auction Trinity is thrilled to be sending a U13 choreography
team to the World Championships in Dublin! In addition to their own travel costs,
the team covers the expenses of the teachers' travel as well as additional costs on-
site in Ireland. To help defray these expenses, the team has put together a fantas-
tic auction of unique and exciting items, with all proceeds going directly to the
team.
You can support the team through the auction in three ways --
Bid early and bid often! Pick up some fantastic deals and unique experiences!
Click the "donate now" button on the left pane of the home page! Simi-lar to "go fund me" this option allows you to show your support through a simple cash donation.
Share -- and then share again! Help get the word out by sharing the link on Facebook. Your FB friends will appreciate the great deals on the auction, and your Trinity friends will appreciate the show of support.
Www.biddingforgood.com/tbc
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Attention: All TBC Wild Apricot Online Solo Dress Participants!
If you have sold your dress or need a price change PLEASE email me as soon as possible! I am working on updating the site and need your help!
Please join us as we celebrate our Madison Families and Trinity Irish Dance's 20th Anniver-sary in Madison.
Join us for a casual family friendly celebration with music, food, drinks, dancing and enjoying friendships new and old. Tickets are $10 a piece and dancers are free.
If you would to come please follow the registration below to purchase your tickets!
http://trinityboosterclub.wildapricot.org/event-2483893
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!!!!!
GET THOSE CAMERAS ROLLING!
As we head into the final weekend of our St. Patrick’s Day shows, we need your help! We would love to see full length show videos. We know there are people out there with the talent and equipment to make this happen. Having full length show videos helps us to review, change and improve our choreography.
Email [email protected] if you can video a performance and she will send you the submission details.
As always, we appreciate all you do!
The Origins of St. Patrick's Day St. Patrick's Day celebrates the Roman Catholic feast day of the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick died on March 17, 461. But did you know that he wasn't even Irish? Here are some fun facts about St. Patrick and his day!
History: Patrick's birthname was Maewyn. He was born in Roman Britain. He was
kidnapped into slavery and brought to Ireland.
He escaped to a monastery in Gaul (France) and converted to Christianity. He went back to Ire-land in 432 as a missionary. While Christianity had already taken hold in the country, tradition has it that Patrick confronted the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites, making Christi-anity more widespread.
Patrick became a bishop and after his death was named Ireland's patron saint. Celebrations in Ireland were understated though. When the Irish emigrated to the U.S., they created the bigger celebrations and parades known today.
Eighteenth century Irish soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War held the first St. Patrick Day parades. The celebrations became a way for the Irish to connect with their roots after they moved to America.
Fun Facts:
The shamrock: According to legend St. Patrick used the three leaf clover (or shamrock) to ex-
plain the Trinity.
Dyeing the river green: The practice of dyeing the river green started in Chicago in 1962, when city officials decided to dye a portion of the Chicago River green.
Corn beef and cabbage: This is an Irish Ameri-
can dish. Irish Americans were so poor they
could not afford certain meals. On St. Patrick's
Day, the best meal they could afford was beef
and cabbage. It became a staple for the holiday.
Information discovered at http://www.gpb.org/education/origins-of-st-patricks-day
Thanks GPB for the great information!
Don’t Forget!!!
6
OIREACHTAS TEAM TRYOUTS!
Its that time of year again! Getting ready for our favorite competition in the Mid-West!
1st Round of Tryouts - Saturday, May 13th / Illinois & Wisconsin dancers on the same day
Illinois Dancers / Elmhurst Studios
U15/O15 9-10:30am
U12 10:30-12pm
U10 12-1:30pm
U8 1-2pm
Wisconsin Dancers - Third Ward Studios
U8 3-4pm
U10 3:30-5pm
U12 4:30-6pm
U15/O15 5:30-7pm
2nd Round of Tryouts (Callbacks) - Saturday, May 20th / Illinois & Wisconsin dancers on the same day
Illinois & Wisconsin Dancers / Oak Grove School - 1700 O'Plaine Rd, Libertyville, IL 60048
U8 11:30-12:30pm
U10 12:30-2pm
U12 2-3:30pm
U15/Senior 3:30-5pm
Who is eligible for the Oireachtas Team Trinity tryout?
PERFORMANCE AND CONDITIONING CLASS - U14 and older are eligible to tryout if you were on a 2016 Oireachtas
team, or by invitation from your weekly teacher.
ACCELERATED SERIES – All ages and levels are required to tryout for Team Trinity.
CORE SERIES – (The below age groups are as of January 1st, 2017).
PRE-BEGINNER: Dancers at this age and level would naturally not yet possess the skills necessary for this level of team
dancing. Please look forward to this opportunity in the future!
BEGINNER: Dancers at this level are still very new to the skill set necessary for this level of team dancing, however there may
be a handful of students that teachers feel are able at this time. You have to be invited by your teacher in order to tryout.
BEGINNER 2: Any dancer U13 and younger is eligible to tryout.
NOVICE/PRIZEWINNER/PC: Any dancer U13 and younger is eligible to tryout. U14 and older are eligible to tryout if you
were on a 2016 Oireachtas team, or by invitation from your weekly teacher.
Questions about info above: Email Anne Blume ([email protected])
“Galway Races” is a four-part narrative about 48 hours during the 1994 World Irish Dance Championships
when all seemed lost for Trinity Academy of Irish Dance’s Under 13 Figure Choreography team. Central to the
story is Trinity Team Director Anne Bloom, who is now coaching Trinity’s Under 13 Figure Choreography team
bound for the 2017 World Irish Dance Championships in Dublin, and Trinity Instructor Katie Hughes whose
spirit and dedication during the 1994 competition, and beyond, inspired an annual award for Trinity dancers.
GALWAY RACES
7
Just after 8 a.m. on a Monday morning in April 1994, eight dancers solemnly
approach the stage for their Ceili competition at the World Irish Dance Championships
in Dublin. These Trinity Academy dancers, all under age 13, have slept less than four
hours and have no expectations of winning, only a prayer that they can make it through
the dance and maybe get recalled for another round. Coach Amy Campbell stands in
the back of the room as her dancers take the stage. Less than 24 hours ago, one of her
Ceili dancers, Anne McCarthy, sprained her ankle so Amy has trained one of Trinity’s
best dancers, Katie Hughes, to step in for Anne. Even without this last-minute line-up
juggle, the odds are against Trinity. No North American team has ever won, or even
placed in the top three teams of this competition as of this Spring 1994, the 25th anni-
versary of the world championships. The agility and grace of a good Ceili dancer seems
to be passed on through the DNA of the Irish. Amy often thinks of the childhood game,
“Barrel of Monkeys,” when training a Ceili team. Once again, she hopes that these eight
dancers link up on the dance floor as cleanly those smooth plastic monkeys. She prays
that they make no major mistakes, fearing that any wrong move might haunt these
dancers, especially Katie who stepped up and Annie, who had to step out, for the rest of
their lives.
She thinks to herself : Make the catches. Keep those fingers together like Bar-
bie doll hands. Stay up on your toes. Anne sits with other Trinity dancers and feels as
if she’s on stage with her team, connected after four months of practice together. The
team, which is made up of dancers from Wisconsin and Illinois, performs the 90-
second dance perfectly. Amy breathes a sigh of relief. Her eyes well with tears. “Good
girls,” Amy says to herself. She is pleasantly surprised that it went so well. But there is
no time to stand around the competition hall waiting for results because these dancers
must get back to working on choreography. Early this morning, Trinity’s Head Coach
and founder Mark Howard sent his Trinity dads on a mission: Find an emergency all-
day practice space that’s away from the chaos of the competition hall. The dads secured
a room in an old stone church, pleading their case with a wink and a few Irish pounds.
“We are here to beat the Irish at their own game,” one of the dads had told the parish
priest. “We need to commandeer your church.” The priest pocketed the cash and quiet-
ly wished the outsiders well. As soon as they finish their Ceili, the group of 11 and 12-
year-old girls run down a street, around a corner and through an alley to the church.
They quickly change into sweats and practice the choreography dance, “Galway Races,”
in the church’s small and dank basement hall.
The team alternate, Ashley Casey, practices in Katie Hughes’ position while
Katie practices in Anne’s spot. It is a slow, tedious process in this cold church hall. The
girls move for 30 seconds, then stop to hear Amy’s instructions on how to improve
each movement and try again. Katie and her teammates quietly note Amy’s orders, tak-
ing note of their coach’s serious tone and all keenly aware that their deadline is ap-
proaching. Then, a parent bursts in the hall to announce the Ceili has recalled. The
eight dancers joyfully run back to the competition hall, careful not to get their hair wet
as the temperature outside drops to near freezing and the rain turns to sleet. Once
again, the team performs well and the girls race back to the church hall for more prac-
tice amid bites of sausage, chicken and grilled cheese sandwiches.
The Story continues on the next page…...
Part Three: Simple and Worldly Gestures
U13 Ceili perform Monday,
April 4, 1994. (Photo by
Kathy Hughes)
Ceili Closeup: Left to Right: Patricia
Graf, Laura Fisher, Maggie McFadden,
Katie Hughes, Mark Howard, Amy
Campbell Moran, Bottom row: Katie
Humphrey, Mary Gillick Daniels, Tara
Wojnicki and Kristen O’Connor.
(Photo by Jon Sall)
8
A couple of hours later, the girls dash again to the hall to watch the final Ceili results. They show up, more as a matter of obligation rather than anticipation. They sit on the auditorium floor together and hold hands as the giant electronic scoreboard begins to list the scores of seven judges for each team. The numbers coming across for the Trinity team are high and the girls begin to squeeze hands tighter and quietly squeal as everyone tries to add up the various scores, no calculator in sight. Finally, the announcer and scoreboard declare that Trinity has finished in third place, the highest ranking ever for a North American team in the Ceili category. The girls take turns hug-ging each other as well as Mark and Amy before they take the stage to receive their bronze medals. Anne watches happily but takes a moment to step away and gather her thoughts. Now, more than ever, Anne wishes she could push through the pain of her sprained right foot and dance in the Figure Choreography competition scheduled for later that night. She takes a moment to imagine herself dancing in “Galway Races” when, suddenly, Katie is down from the stage and standing before her. All around them, the hall has erupted into the chaos of cheers and hugs following the awards cere-mony. Katie, slight and determined, has slithered through the crowd on a mission to find her teammate. She stretches out her arm and holds the bronze medal between her thumb and forefinger. “This is yours. You did all the work,” Katie says. “If you didn’t hurt your foot, it would have been yours.” Anne, in shock at this gesture, immediately rejects it. She believes Katie earned and deserves the medal. Katie pushes the medal into Anne’s hand. “It’s yours. You deserve it,” Katie says again. Anne accepts the med-al, throws her arm around Katie and cries in appreciation. Kathy Hughes watches her daughter, Katie, with a mixture of surprise and awe. Dan McCarthy, Anne’s dad, watches too, and soon he is approaching Kathy, tears running down his face and arms stretched out for a hug. This is why he loves the cult. Long-time dance adjudicators from Ireland hear of the exchange and join the commotion. One of them is wearing a gold medal earned in childhood around her neck. She takes it off and offers it to Katie, who refuses to take it. The scene repeats moments later between another judge and Katie. The hall fills with chatter about Trini-ty’s Ceili performance, this American team’s third-place ranking and the simple, kind gesture of an 11-year-old girl. Despite their joy, the team is whisked back to their rustic practice space in the church for another go at working through the choreography with the new lineup. The girls are now overjoyed, exhausted and emotional. Amy has made some headway teaching Katie and Ashley their new spots, but they are nowhere close to where they need to be. Amy has just taught Katie about two thirds of Anne’s spot in the dance. They could easily use a month to go over the dance and perfect it. They have just three hours. Coach and dancers work for 45 minutes but the team is at its breaking point. The young girls haven’t slept or eaten right in days and jet lag has set in. Girls break down in tears, uncertain about how they will move on with this next complicat-ed, fast-moving dance. Anne’s dad, Dan McCarthy, paces just outside the practice space in the church and worries about the team and his daughter’s predicament. Mark looks over at Dan and takes a moment to huddle with a Trinity parent, also a physician, who has been monitoring Anne and her sprained foot. “So just think-ing out of the box,” Mark begins carefully, “but what if Anne dances? I know she won’t be able to curl her toes or even come close to dancing full force but would she injure herself more if she dances?” The doctor replies that four minutes of dancing won’t make Anne’s sprained foot any worse. Mark calls Dan McCarthy over to quietly speak with him and the doctor.“ Are you sure?” Dan McCarthy asks. The doctor nods. Mark grabs Amy and asks for her thoughts. Amy immediately brings Anne over and asks the 12-year-old girl if she’s up for the challenge. Anne doesn’t hesitate. She’s eager to get back in the race. Amy and Mark see no good option but like Anne’s enthusiasm and the comfort of returning to the original line-up. They turn to the team and watch the danc-ers’ eyes widen with joy as they announce that Anne will join them for the competition. Suddenly everyone dashes about with more energy. Even Ashley, the team alternate who was moments away from competing, wants Anne to dance. It is what’s supposed to happen; Anne should dance. Katie will return to her spot. Ashley will return to the sidelines. Mark fears they have now all but given up their chance at a title but he also knows this was possibly the best decision for the team. The girls are intoxicated with the joy and relief of having Anne back. Everyone runs off for a quick sandwich before the competition. These girls are hungry.
To Be Continued March 29th for the fourth and final installment……….
Part Three : Continued
Anne McCarthy joins her Ceili
team on stage for a photo.
(Photo by Jon Sall)
Katie Hughes talks with a teammate
at the Ceili Award ceremony on
April 4, 1994. Moments earlier she
had given away her bronze medal to
the injured Anne McCarthy, saying
"This is yours. You did all the work.
If you didn’t hurt your foot, it would
have been yours.” (Photo by Kathy
Hughes)
Happy St Patrick's Day! Find the St. Patrick’s Words in the clover!
W E W E B I
K Z X I C M Q U G D R R
L F F G S R E I D Z U Q H T F T D H
G G V S H S E L L M E A Q P F L K X
H A S N A K E L T N H L T B Q P O V L A
H S B J M O X K A I S K P S B G Z V V M
Q A U V R I X B Z N C I H O Q U F L S I D B
X Z P O D B L T Y D D P U P N O D Z G J U V
M Y C L C A Z F L I O Q J T X T E L V A
K M C R J A W M T F O G P U W
N R B K W A P J A
W C E S Y D Z T G X U J A
H H M Y T B B L O C Z X V P D
D L O E I S C S A I N T P A T R I C K
J I G Z H P T B W L M A R C H S C T M A V
G G A J U A O N P E G G G R E E N G F T O
A N V E J F R N Z Z P I A B O V W D F M R E G
K D S L A Q A E N R J V A R U K B W I Y L
Y D H I Y X D I L E E A N G L V Q D N G S
R G A C T H E I C Q Z P P Z I V I G O
O B R Y M E S H V U N I V J T D H
S P M L D A Y O N P P Y V
C I G U P J S E P
N B A
U C S
WORDBANK
PARADES
TRINITY
SHAMROCK
BAGPIPE
BLARNEYSTONE
CELTIC
EMERALDISLE
GAELIC
GREEN
HARP
IRELAND
JIG
LEPRECHAUN
MARCH
POTATO
POTOFGOLD
SAINTPATRICK
SNAKE
MEET THE OFFICE! BETWEEN CLASS ENROLLMENT, SHOW SCHEDULES, MEMBERSHIP DUES, DRESS FITTINGS, AND EVERY
OTHER ASPECT OF TRINITY, THERE ARE BOUND TO BE SOME QUESTIONS. HERE IS A LITTLE WHO'S WHO
IN THE OFFICE TO HELP GET YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE RIGHT PERSON.
The Trinity Elmhurst Office is Open Monday-Friday from 9a-5p
The phone number for the Office is:
630-415-3382
Natalie Howard is the director of the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance.
Maggie Doyle is the Performance Manager. Send her any of your TPT, Ensemble or Trinity Irish Dance Company questions.
Sarah Russell is our Booking Manager. If you have any questions about booking a show, she can help you.
Alicia Murphy is our Program Administrator.You can contact Alicia for class registration help, questions about programming, and class changes
(transferring locations, signed up for a wrong class/level, etc.).
For help with anything regarding Trinity Wear, you can contact Alicia at [email protected]
Anne Leonard is the Trinity Booster Club Manager. She is here to help with any and all Booster Club related
questions.
Casey Carroll is the Trinity Booster Club Communications Coordinator. Send her any questions about your TBC membership dues, TBC website
questions, dress questions, and TBC events like Winter Weekend.
Limited Office Hours:
Ian Dolby handles all billing inquires
Cynthia Oblein New Enrollment Coordinator [email protected] Kim Niewiedzial New Enrollment Coordinator [email protected]
Your teachers are also a great resource. You can reach them by Trinity email. Every Trinity teacher's email is their first-
Michaela Donohue is the Academy Manager
Deirdre Vrbancic is the Associate Director, covering the IL Core Program and all of the Accelerated Programs. [email protected]
Anne Blume is the Associate Director, covering the WI Core Program and the Team Program. [email protected]