2003-03-05
What is your name, how old are you and where do you live?
My name is Terri Heckmann, I am 36 years old and I live in Vancouver, Canada.
Do you have a website?
www.oconnoririshdancers.com
Why did you start to dance Irish dance and how old where you?
My Mom put me in dancing because of a turn in rather than a turn out! ;-) My Mother is from Athlone, Co. West Meath. Many of her relatives and friends danced for the Cunnife school there when she was young. I was going on 11 years old when I started Irish Dancing.
What kind of Irish dance do you dance: Set dance, Solo, Céilí?I teach for The Comerford School of Irish Dance in Vancouver, Canada. We teach beginner to World Championship material to students that range in age from about four and a half years to adult. We have a fairly big adult class, so teaching adults is something I'm used to.
Our Championship dancers dance locally, and we have regional qualifiers go to the World Championships every year. We have placements in the top 10 at the North American Championships on a yearly basis.
This year we have 4 young ones that placed first at the Western Canadian Oireachtas (qualifications for the World Championships).
Do you dance any other type of dance?
Not lately. When I was young I took some Tap and Ballet, but Irish is my #1 endeavor at this point in time.
Where have you learnt to dance Irish dance?
I started with a teacher in Vancouver named Magdaline Stewart. I danced with Magdaline for many years, then switched to Tony in my late teens.
What do you do when you are not dancing?
I'm a a married mother of 3 children. That in itself is a full time job.
The other thing I do is host foreign students that come to Vancouver for English Language. When my husband and I decided to visit Europe after I wrote my T.C.R.G. exam at the Toronto North American Championships 2 years ago, I decided to email a few Irish Dance organizations in Europe to see if they'd be interested in a workshop. I had a few responses.
I enjoyed it so much that I decided to go back a few times. One of the contacts I made through my European workshops, was Marika Karjalainen, the Finish Representative for the NSID. She has visited my home in Vancouver for private lessons, and brings me in to do workshops about twice a year.
You are the first member of NSID who is a TCRG (qualified Irish dance teacher), why did you join the Nordic Society of Irish Dancers?
I felt that the Nordic Society had a good network in place through out the Nordic Countries as far as Irish Dancing is Concerned. It really brings everyone together and lets them know what is going on. I felt I could help with my knowledge of how Irish Dancing operates in other countries other than the British Isles.
You have held workshops in Finland and Sweden (and Europe) and will hold workshops in Norway too, why, when you live in Canada?
I came back to dancing after being out of it for 10 years. I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to teach with a very well known and respected Irish Dance Teacher (Tony Comerford). I learned more teaching with Tony in 2 years than I could have starting out by myself and teaching for 10. I consider myself very lucky that I have the opportunity. Tony's been very supportive of my teaching goals by letting me go regularly to teach in Europe.
In what way are you different compared to other Irish dance teachers holding workshops?
That is a hard question.... We all teach the same technique, but teaching styles differ from teacher to teacher. I keep everything fairly light and upbeat during my workshops. I feel that everyone should take their dancing seriously, but you must have a bit of fun with it. Otherwise, what's the point?
I teach like that in Canada too. I'll do the typical North American high five with a student that gets something right or masters a move they've been drilling. The young ones love it! I think a few, You ROCK's were heard in my last Finnish workshop. One level was predominantly younger, and they enjoyed a little North American flavour to the class. Don't get me wrong.... I can be a bit of a sergeant major with drills. You just have to know when you have to make people work, and when to give some positive re-inforcement.
What are your plans for the future?
I'd love to get my A.D.C.R.G. I'm eligible to write in July, but I may hold off for a few months. I've committed to making another good few trips to Europe this year, and time is short.
Is your family a real "Irish dance" family?
Well, I'd have to say yes to this question. I think many people from Ireland or from Irish background have had some sort of history with Irish Dancing. It's very popular in North America and Australia. I've observed that many in North America try to keep their roots. For Irish people, Irish Dancing is obviously a great way to do this. The other thing North American's do is use the traditional names of their country when naming their children. My eldest's name is Siobhan! :-)
My Mother and her sisters danced, and I have two cousins in Australia that are/where involved in Irish Dancing. My cousin, Terry O'Connor, is a T.C.R.G./A.D.C.R.G., and her sister Caroline came in third in the Worlds in '79. She is now a well known musical theatre star in Australia and England. Various other (of my 45) first cousins took dancing over the years. I guess you could say it runs in the family.
What is your goal with the dancing?
Well, I'd like to build the class in Vienna (O'Connor Irish Dancers). My daughter is 11 and has been saying she wants to teach ever since she started, so you may see another Heckmann down the road teaching in Europe.
What is your favorite dance?
That's easy. I'd have to say the hornpipe. It was my favourite dance when I was competing.
In what way has the Irish dance changed your life?
Irish Dancing has changed my life in many ways. As a child it gave me a great sense of accomplishment, and confidence. I think Irish Dancing teaches children many things that cross over into other areas of life. The discipline to practice for long periods of time before big competitions, the routine of practicing every day.... It all crosses over into other things, such as studying, or getting into a daily routine for anything.
As an adult it has opened doors to meeting people that I wouldn't normally get the chance to meet. Traveling to Europe wouldn't be something I'd do as say a stay at home mom or a secretary.
Do you have any advice or tips you would like to share?
Hmmmm... I do have one message for the Nordic Society Dancers... Technique is EVERYTHING. Without technique, the step means nothing. In other words, stick with the basics until you have absolutely mastered them and don't rush your progress by doing steps that are too difficult.
What do you think is the best with the Nordic Society of Irish Dancers?
The #1 thing that is best about the NSID in my opinion, is that they only bring in T.C.R.G.'s (Registered An Coimisiun Teachers). I think the second best thing about the NSID is that it informs and connects all Nordic Country Irish Dancers via the website. The website is somewhere people can go to find out what is going on in their country as far as Irish Dancing is concerned. In the end, some of these dancers will become registered teachers and form their own teachers association, but until then the NSID (via the committee members) really does a good job.
Interview made by Yvonne Rosenlund Swerke