RvndellMK Posted January 7, 2019 Report Share Posted January 7, 2019 Hello fellow nerds! I am very involved in a competitive dance sport and I am ready to up my game! My main quest this year is to improve my competitive performance. While this quest will have many components ranging from physical to mental, I am going to start slow and try three quantifiable goals during this challenge. 1) I will do my stretching routine at least once every day. (Bonus level: research new and interesting stretches to improve the routine.) 2) Twice per week, I will drill a particularly challenging bit of choreography, focusing on clear rhythmic sounds or toe height (depending on the dance). (Bonus level: I will throw in a few exercises for improving leg strength and power.) 3) Twice per week, I will spend 10 minutes visualizing competitive scenarios, focusing on controlling anxiety and promoting positive thinking. (Bonus level: when I totally fail in dance class I will think positive!) If this challenge goes well, I will see about joining the Assassins Guild to look for tips on building strength and dexterity (and also because I secretly love shows like American Ninja Warrior). Engage! 6 Quote Link to comment
WhiteGhost Posted January 7, 2019 Report Share Posted January 7, 2019 6 hours ago, RvndellMK said: If this challenge goes well, I will see about joining the Assassins Guild to look for tips on building strength and dexterity (and also because I secretly love shows like American Ninja Warrior). Woohoo, another Assassin in the works What kind of dance do you do? 1 Quote HUNTER OF ALL THINGS SHINY Intro Thread Challenge Log Bodyweight Exercise Library Recipe Book Shuffle Club Level 2 Ninja Strength: 13 Intelligence: 14 Wisdom: 6 Dexterity:14 Constitution: 12 Charisma: 11 Link to comment
RvndellMK Posted January 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2019 @WhiteGhost Irish. 2 Quote Link to comment
JessFit Posted January 8, 2019 Report Share Posted January 8, 2019 Ahhh, thats amazing! I Irish danced way back in the day. I think you've got great and clear goals and I'm excited to follow along with you and watch you crush them beneath your dancing shoes. Quote Warrior, Ravenclaw, book lover, history nerd, Red Sonja wannabe Current Challenge Battle Log Link to comment
WhiteGhost Posted January 9, 2019 Report Share Posted January 9, 2019 On 1/7/2019 at 9:07 PM, RvndellMK said: @WhiteGhost Irish. That's pretty cool. My sister dabbled in Irish dance for a but, but then decided she liked jazz dance better Quote HUNTER OF ALL THINGS SHINY Intro Thread Challenge Log Bodyweight Exercise Library Recipe Book Shuffle Club Level 2 Ninja Strength: 13 Intelligence: 14 Wisdom: 6 Dexterity:14 Constitution: 12 Charisma: 11 Link to comment
RES Posted January 9, 2019 Report Share Posted January 9, 2019 Welcome to the rebellion. I admire anyone who can dance, speaking as one with two left feet...Good luck with your challenge! Quote RES...and I want to live days worth dying for Current: RES: Holiday Struggle Spoiler Really Eclectic Scorpio, Level 80 |1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26|27|28|29|30|31|32|33|34|35|36|37|38|39|40|41|42|43|44|45|46|47|48|49|50|51|52|53|54|55|56|57|58|59|60|61|62|63|64|65|66|67|68|69|70|71|72|73|74|75|76|77|78|79|80|81|82|83|84|85|86| | My Character Page | Tracking Spreadsheet | My Blog | Growth happens when you care more about the well being of your future self than the comfort of your present self! "Pass on what you have learned. Strength, mastery. But weakness, folly, failure also. Yes, failure most of all. The greatest teacher, failure is." -Yoda Link to comment
Doe Posted January 9, 2019 Report Share Posted January 9, 2019 Welcome! Super cool to see a dancer on here. I'm an incredibly amateur dancer in a very noncompetive dance group. Quote Battle Log | Current Challenge | Instagram "...You must always keep the star in your heart shining strong to defeat the dark and evil souls." - Queen Serenity Link to comment
RvndellMK Posted January 9, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2019 Thanks everyone! Challenge is going fine thus far. Learning some new choreography in classes this week, and luckily it really suits my style thus far, loving it. @JessFit Hahaha crushing my goals beneath my dance shoes...awesome! @WhiteGhost I dabbled in several forms of dance; Irish is the only one that really called to me. I think I just really like the music. Oh and pounding the crap outta the floor, that too. @RES I admire people with upper body strength. I have zero. Maybe that's why I like Irish dance...you don't move from the waist up. @Doe Truthfully I'm not fond of competing. It feels too rigid and stressful. I only compete because it pushes me to improve technically. I wish Irish dance schools were more focused on performance, that's what I really live for. So I'm secretly jealous of your noncompetitive dance group. 3 Quote Link to comment
RES Posted January 10, 2019 Report Share Posted January 10, 2019 18 hours ago, RvndellMK said: Oh and pounding the crap outta the floor, that too. I can see where this would be a cool thing to be able to do 18 hours ago, RvndellMK said: I admire people with upper body strength. I have zero. Maybe that's why I like Irish dance...you don't move from the waist up I don't have much thanks to a neck injury, but the coordination and speed needed to do Irish dance...is not something I have either Quote RES...and I want to live days worth dying for Current: RES: Holiday Struggle Spoiler Really Eclectic Scorpio, Level 80 |1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26|27|28|29|30|31|32|33|34|35|36|37|38|39|40|41|42|43|44|45|46|47|48|49|50|51|52|53|54|55|56|57|58|59|60|61|62|63|64|65|66|67|68|69|70|71|72|73|74|75|76|77|78|79|80|81|82|83|84|85|86| | My Character Page | Tracking Spreadsheet | My Blog | Growth happens when you care more about the well being of your future self than the comfort of your present self! "Pass on what you have learned. Strength, mastery. But weakness, folly, failure also. Yes, failure most of all. The greatest teacher, failure is." -Yoda Link to comment
RvndellMK Posted January 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2019 Well I've screwed up my challenge already. I got a cold over the weekend, at the same time that our predicted snow flurries became more of a snow avalanche, so I was trapped indoors with a toddler who decided he is terrified of snow. Seriously kid?!? Finally managed to dig out this morning and my head has stopped feeling like it's full of sawdust, but there has been no exercise at all for the past few days. I have been doing my visualization exercises, so that's something at least. Going to try to get back on the horse starting tonight. 3 Quote Link to comment
Little Miss Camouflage Posted January 15, 2019 Report Share Posted January 15, 2019 Well done on keeping the visualisations going. That's a great start despite some life coming at you! 1 Quote Link to comment
WhiteGhost Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 12 hours ago, RvndellMK said: Well I've screwed up my challenge already. The great thing about these challenges is that the only way to really screw them up is to quit. Recognizing the failures and then picking yourself up, dusting off and moving forward from there is what these challenges are all about. If we never struggled, we would have to call it something other than a challenge 3 Quote HUNTER OF ALL THINGS SHINY Intro Thread Challenge Log Bodyweight Exercise Library Recipe Book Shuffle Club Level 2 Ninja Strength: 13 Intelligence: 14 Wisdom: 6 Dexterity:14 Constitution: 12 Charisma: 11 Link to comment
JessFit Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 Life happens, but sticking with it is what makes the difference! I'm glad you kept up with the visualization exercises and I hope that the snow goes away soon! 2 Quote Warrior, Ravenclaw, book lover, history nerd, Red Sonja wannabe Current Challenge Battle Log Link to comment
Doe Posted January 17, 2019 Report Share Posted January 17, 2019 It happens, don't let it get you down. What's that phrase they attribute to Confucius, it does not matter how slow you as long as you do not stop. 2 Quote Battle Log | Current Challenge | Instagram "...You must always keep the star in your heart shining strong to defeat the dark and evil souls." - Queen Serenity Link to comment
RvndellMK Posted January 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2019 Thanks for all the words of encouragement! I am doing better again, stretching, practicing. Looks like I'll get snowed in again tonight but I'll do some technique practice in the basement, I need to work on some of the trickier jumps... Anyone other than me think that January is truly the butthole of the year? Cold...dark...ice & snow... Need more exercise and endorphins just thinking about it! 2 Quote Link to comment
Little Miss Camouflage Posted January 17, 2019 Report Share Posted January 17, 2019 1 hour ago, RvndellMK said: Anyone other than me think that January is truly the butthole of the year? Cold...dark...ice & snow... Need more exercise and endorphins just thinking about it! Look on the bright side, January is more than halfway over now :-) Well done for keeping going. Persistence is the thing. 1 Quote Link to comment
RES Posted January 18, 2019 Report Share Posted January 18, 2019 I'm in FL so no ice or snow here...but more endorphins are always good! 1 Quote RES...and I want to live days worth dying for Current: RES: Holiday Struggle Spoiler Really Eclectic Scorpio, Level 80 |1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26|27|28|29|30|31|32|33|34|35|36|37|38|39|40|41|42|43|44|45|46|47|48|49|50|51|52|53|54|55|56|57|58|59|60|61|62|63|64|65|66|67|68|69|70|71|72|73|74|75|76|77|78|79|80|81|82|83|84|85|86| | My Character Page | Tracking Spreadsheet | My Blog | Growth happens when you care more about the well being of your future self than the comfort of your present self! "Pass on what you have learned. Strength, mastery. But weakness, folly, failure also. Yes, failure most of all. The greatest teacher, failure is." -Yoda Link to comment
WhiteGhost Posted January 19, 2019 Report Share Posted January 19, 2019 On 1/18/2019 at 3:29 AM, RvndellMK said: Anyone other than me think that January is truly the butthole of the year? Cold...dark...ice & snow.. ugh, I am sooooo ready for winter to just be over already. ANY DAY NOW, OKAY??? 2 Quote HUNTER OF ALL THINGS SHINY Intro Thread Challenge Log Bodyweight Exercise Library Recipe Book Shuffle Club Level 2 Ninja Strength: 13 Intelligence: 14 Wisdom: 6 Dexterity:14 Constitution: 12 Charisma: 11 Link to comment
RvndellMK Posted January 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2019 @WhiteGhost I agree fully. But right now I feel FANTASTIC. Just did some good technical soft shoe practice, followed by three dance exercise vids (cardio, core & extension, and stretching). Feeling happy and healthy, which is wonderful because it was a poopy week at work and the weather's been awful, making me a real grouch. Nice to feel strong and capable for a little while! 3 Quote Link to comment
RvndellMK Posted January 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2019 Got some good hard shoe practice in today, but my practice pad is in bad shape...warped and cracked. Spent some time on the Home Depot website looking at the cost of materials to build a small practice floor. I'm no handyman (woman?), so maybe that's a bad idea. I'll think about it. 3 Quote Link to comment
JessFit Posted January 22, 2019 Report Share Posted January 22, 2019 I've never built my own practice floor but I've had friends that have done it and it has turned out well. Good luck with that. 2 Quote Warrior, Ravenclaw, book lover, history nerd, Red Sonja wannabe Current Challenge Battle Log Link to comment
The budgie smuggler Posted January 24, 2019 Report Share Posted January 24, 2019 This is a really cool challenge you’ve set yourself. I’ve never been able to dance so this is really interesting. Good luck. 1 Quote Link to comment
RvndellMK Posted January 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2019 I've decided I'm going to buy a plywood sheet and lay it on my son's EVA foam letter pads that he never uses and see if that works for a practice space. I got in some good softshoe practice last night, hooray, but tonight is D&D night so nothing will get done tonight. Tomorrow is hardshoe practice day though, and we just learned the last piece of choreo this week and it has toestands. Meep. So I know what I'll be drilling. I'll let you know if the plywood sheet thing works... 4 Quote Link to comment
JessFit Posted January 28, 2019 Report Share Posted January 28, 2019 On 1/26/2019 at 3:30 PM, RvndellMK said: we just learned the last piece of choreo this week and it has toestands. Meep. So I know what I'll be drilling. I haven't danced in a few years, but toe stands were my FAVORITE! I still do them occasionally, particularly if I'm wearing converse. My coworkers think I'm an odd duck for it. Hope practice went well. How was the practice pad? 1 Quote Warrior, Ravenclaw, book lover, history nerd, Red Sonja wannabe Current Challenge Battle Log Link to comment
Doe Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 On 1/26/2019 at 1:30 PM, RvndellMK said: we just learned the last piece of choreo this week and it has toestands Have to deal with those in tap sometimes. I hate them, I'm not built for them. May fortune go with you! 1 Quote Battle Log | Current Challenge | Instagram "...You must always keep the star in your heart shining strong to defeat the dark and evil souls." - Queen Serenity Link to comment
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