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Summer dance
This summer, Rachal Barnes and fellow dancers will be performing at their dance school booster club's second annual Two Rivers Feile.
WHEN: 2:30 and 7 p.m. Aug. 26.
WHERE: Polk County Convention Complex.
WHEN: 2:30 and 7 p.m. Aug. 26.
WHERE: Polk County Convention Complex.
With an Irish heritage, it's no wonder Rachal Barnes took top honors among dancers in her school at the 2010 Oireachtas Irish Dance regional championship.
A freshman at Saydel High School, Barnes, who lives north of Des Moines in Saylor Township, started in ballet lessons. But after taking her first Irish dance lesson, she was hooked.
"It is like what you would see in 'Riverdance,' with mostly footwork," she said. "We do have choreographed pieces where we will use our arms to make it more effective and awesome, but most of the time our arms are by our sides," Barnes said.
A freshman at Saydel High School, Barnes, who lives north of Des Moines in Saylor Township, started in ballet lessons. But after taking her first Irish dance lesson, she was hooked.
"It is like what you would see in 'Riverdance,' with mostly footwork," she said. "We do have choreographed pieces where we will use our arms to make it more effective and awesome, but most of the time our arms are by our sides," Barnes said.
Girls as young as second grade learn Irish dance and Barnes takes lessons at Foy School of Traditional Irish Dance. The Des Moines location is a satellite of the main school in Chicago.
"We go by levels, so the younger girls are typically on the first level," Barnes said. "When learning a dance, you start out with a soft shoe, like ballet, then you learn the music with the steps and once you've got that, you move into a hard shoe. You start out with the easier steps and catch on. Everybody goes at their own rate, but most girls catch on really quick."
"We go by levels, so the younger girls are typically on the first level," Barnes said. "When learning a dance, you start out with a soft shoe, like ballet, then you learn the music with the steps and once you've got that, you move into a hard shoe. You start out with the easier steps and catch on. Everybody goes at their own rate, but most girls catch on really quick."
For the past three years, Barnes has qualified to compete in the regional contest. She placed 16th, then 22nd on the first two trips. During Thanksgiving weekend, Barnes and four other area dancers participated in the latest regional in Chicago. She landed in fifth place. It was the top place among dancers who study at Foy and she received a Galway Irish crystal clock.
"I was very excited. I honestly kept thinking I'd read the recall sheet wrong and had just imagined my name was on there," she said. "People kept being called and they go from the bottom up on the sheet. ... I kept wondering if my name was really on that sheet."
"I was very excited. I honestly kept thinking I'd read the recall sheet wrong and had just imagined my name was on there," she said. "People kept being called and they go from the bottom up on the sheet. ... I kept wondering if my name was really on that sheet."
Foy School of Traditional Irish Dance instructor Kelly Schulte commended the five dancers who "recalled," or placed in the top half of their age group. Each school qualifies their top dancers to compete, meaning they are among the overall best dancers in their age group category in the region, Schulte said.
As with many extra-curricular choices, Irish dance isn't an inexpensive activity, but it's been worth every penny, Barnes' mom said.
"This is something that she picked up and we talked about it before she started," said Angie Barnes. "This can get as big as anything else, like soccer or basketball, with different competitions and levels. But she fell in love with it and we have supported her all the way.
As with many extra-curricular choices, Irish dance isn't an inexpensive activity, but it's been worth every penny, Barnes' mom said.
"This is something that she picked up and we talked about it before she started," said Angie Barnes. "This can get as big as anything else, like soccer or basketball, with different competitions and levels. But she fell in love with it and we have supported her all the way.
"It's been very, very good for her and what's neat is that we're Irish - we've been to Ireland a couple of times, too."
