2003-07-07
What is your name, how old are you and where do you live?
Michel Andries, I'm 42 now and I live in Brussels, Belgium.
Why did you start to dance Irish dance?
After seeing Riverdance and Lord Of The Dance, I wanted to know if I could learn to dance that way. I also could use the exercise. It was not easy to find a teacher tough...
What kind of Irish dance do you dance: Set dance, Solo, Céilí?
Solo (soft and heavy) and Ceili.
Do you dance any other type of dance?
No, I USED to do some flemish folk dancing a very long time ago.
Where have you learnt to dance Irish dance?
Above an Irish pub in Brussels, on a tiled floor on concrete I was lured into it by Ian Creaner. Afterwards, we met Tony Nolan from Limerick and did workshops with some other teachers.
What do you do when you are not dancing?
I work in television.
Do you only dance yourself or do you also teach? If so, where do you teach and what characterizes your teaching?
I also teach at www.tapshowcompany.com
I mainly emphasize that Irish Dancing should be FUN to do. I look closely at rhythm, technique and posture, but we find time to laugh a lot!
You were one of the few first associate teachers in Europe. How did that happen?
It's the story of a hobby that got out of hand... Once we were familiar with Irish Dancing, our teacher pushed us into teaching, and since there was a demand for it in Brussels, we did it. From there on, we found ourselves getting registered with An Coimisiun in a category that was installed to get Irish Dancing launched in South Africa. With our efforts, An Coimisiun noticed there was great demand in Mainland Europe for Irish Dancing. And with Europe in mind, another category of teachers has been installed by An Coimisiun: "conditionally registered teachers". So that's what we now are.
How come you have joined the Nordic Society of Irish Dancers, when you live in Belgium?
My wife is Danish and we are often in København.
What do you think about the Nordic feis?
I really like it, although it's very expensive, we might come to Oslo this year with some other Belgian teachers...
Are you part of a dance group, if so could you tell us about it?
Sometimes, we perform with some of our pupils, but it takes much energy and practising of steps, while we really should work on technique first!
Is your family a real "Irish dance" family?
Both my parents are very musical and did perform in their time on stage... And of course my wife is also an Irish Dance Teacher, that helps a lot! When both partners do the same kind of hobbies, it's easier to move up to a good level of dancing...
What is your goal with the dancing?
Enjoying it. Pass on my experience to others that are looking for it. Since I discovered Irish Dancing rather late in life, I can help other adults with first-hand-experience. And we founded our non-profit-organisation "Dubh Gall" to promote Irish Dancing and Culture.
What is your favorite dance?
Must be Hornpipe, I really love Hornpipes, I think because that was the first dance I ever got my hand on.
Being a male dancer, what is your opinion about kilts in competition?
I have no problem with them, altough I never would wear one. Then, I don't do competition anymore... But I know my wife likes to see a dancer in a kilt ;-) .
In what way has the Irish dance changed your life?
I've gotten to know a lot of nice people allover the world (and off course some not-so-nice-ones). That has mainly to do through what was known as the "VB" on the site of LOTD (Visitor's Book). Without Internet, It would've took us much longer to get the hang of it... And we do spend our holidays much more at places that have to do with Irish Dancing LOL!
Do you have any advice or tips you would like to share?
I have lots of tips, but they are difficult to write down, I mainly have to show them LOL! Firstly: practise, practise, practise. It's the only way to move forward. Secondly: Learn your technique, it's VERY important! Thirdly: Always have in the back of your head that you should be doing it for the fun. And to finish: learn how to write down steps. I know it's not easy since there is no fixed terminology in Irish Dance but it's something you need to be able to do when you do workshops. Get together and see how other people write it down, and practise the steps in group as not to forget them....
Do you have any other information you would like to share with us?
If you want to learn Irish Dance properly, the Grade Exams give you a good idea in which order to learn which dances, and don't despear: you have to give it time and practise! You maybe noticed I often use the word "we". I think it's impossible to learn correct Irish Dancing if you don't have a good teacher and some good friends that you can practise with. I have both and I am very glad that I do. You can contact me by email if you want to ask me other info...
(Yvonne has the e-address)
What do you think is the best with the Nordic Society of Irish Dancers?
Keep together as the well organised group you are. Don't let the competition ruin the fine atmosphere between dancers. Help each other, there are not many possibilities and if you are divided, that would be a bit stupid. I think later on, NSID might evolve into being the "Nordic"-section of the newly-to-be-formed "Region Mainland Europe" within CLRG.