Training for the team started in November 2012 in the Dance Ireland Studios, Dublin and we had 9 members of the team...one member was from another team based in Galway, Ace High. This was Aoife. She was a very a talented athlete and dancer but because of a sudden illness which required a good bit of recovery time, she had to leave the team in January 2013. Aoife is fit and well now!
We were very lucky to be able to get a replacement for Aoife in the form of Lauryn Hoey.
Our team had many training sessions with a few external teachers, Clare Connolly, Yasmina Aniss and Yvonne Grey flew in from Scotland to provide a very intense technical workshop.
The routine was put together by team member and Strike Force coach, Shannon O'Reilly.
Head coach of Strike Force became head coach of the Team Ireland Dance team. (Which is me)
The team was named Strike Force Euphoria/Team Ireland and we trained at our usual home location of the WFTRA Centre in Finglas West, Dublin 11. The WFTRA has been the biggest supporter of our whole program since we started which was in November 2008.
The choreography was covered in 4 sessions with Shannon and then I (Hayden) took over to work on the mastery of the routine.
Most international dance teams who compete in these events have athletes who have been dancing from an early age and are very experienced with all elements of such a technical dance style. Strike Force members can be on 2 teams, one which is a cheer team and the other a dance team. This rarely happens outside the UK & Ireland. When you are in one discipline, that is the one you stay in, but we believe a little bit of versatility never hurt anyone. However, our athletes weren't dancing from a young age and cheerleading is all most of them have ever known. So we knew we were really had to work hard when it came to all technical elements, working on good placement, technique, posture, style etc.... This was definitely the biggest battle we had and will continue to have.
A lot of background work had to go on by myself and Anne Newby (secretary of the program). We had to collect monies, book flights, file all necessary paperwork, liaise with parents, ensure all visas/passports/insurance were collected and up to date, book studio/training times, order costumes, poms, music, tracksuits, tee-shirts, bags. Mass fundraising went on by Anne and the members of the team, private tumbling sessions were set up, a fly the flag initiative in which people donated €20 for their name on the flag, a huge craft sale, emailing hundreds of potential donors and sponsors...that is just to name a little of what went on.
Team Ireland is a voluntary initiative, no one gets paid or their trip paid for.
We left Ireland on the 22nd April and returned on the 3rd May. It wasn't just all competition, we had lots of fun too...we went to Universal Studios, all the Disney Parks, the girls enjoyed shopping (I left after 2 hours - my feet were sore)
The competition was definitely the highlight, we walked out in the opening ceremony proudly flying the flag of our country and had all our mad entourage cheering us on (which can be seen in the event promo video) We competed in the ICU Championships placing 16th out of 21 countries. We were delighted for this placing and not embarrassed at all, we were at the World Championships with the best dancers/athletes from around the world and we didn't come last!!
There was a huge cultural exchange evening with a live DJ outside the HP Fieldhouse where the competition took place...All the athletes involved in the event get together and party while exchanging pins, t-shirts and cultural items for their countries. Our girls loved it.
We then competed in the semi finals of the USASF Dance Worlds, this was the hardest competition we have ever been in ...EVER! This was club teams and not national teams like the ICU Worlds. We were up against the like of PACE All Stars, Energizers and Golden Hawks from Japan. Club teams are not like national teams....most national teams are put together for a short period of time to train. Club teams are together like....forever! So they are bound to be more together and stronger....We made finals though and placed...21st out of 22 in the finals....NOT LAST!
Yes there were mistakes in every performance, stuff that didn't need to go wrong did...but what's done is done and we can't change, but we can learn from it.
The score sheets were in so much detail, that I know as the coach of this team how to fix our issues and to become a better dance team in the future. I loved the comment "so much potential" from one judge.
This was definitely the hardest event I have ever been to and had a team competing at in my coaching career. You don't actually realise how hard pom dance is until you try it and compete it against world class teams. There was tantrums, tears, injuries, and teenage girls :P - but we all took something away from this. We had an experience of a life time and I hope in several years, the girls can look back at think "that was awesome".
They have already told me they are so motivated to become better athletes. I think meeting many of their idols from TopGun, Cheer Extreme, Maryland Twisters, California Allstars, Gymtyme etc... really helped with this.
What was obvious was the love of cheerleading division, and at more than point in the trip I am sure we all felt, we wish we were competing the cheer division here and with the rest of our Strike Force team. Like I said...they are motivated...so one day, this may happen....and we still love pom!
Thanks to: Shannon/Amy/Lauryn/Aoife/Shannen/Kirsty/Erica/Lea/Orla/Rebecca. -
....The journey has just begun!
