Pitt’s (AND one day World’s?!) Best Irish Dancer: Catie Horseman

You may have seen the beautiful freshman, Catie Horseman, walking around campus in a relaxed and casual outfit to complement her outgoing and laidback personality.  But this Irish step dancer is fierce in competition and is currently the 51^st best Irish step dancer—in the world! She was also just named Greek Goddess at a fraternity and sorority talent show.  I talked with my good friend, Catie, about her history and future in dancing.
 
Q: When did you start Irish step dancing?
A: I started Irish dancing when I was four years old. I saw the movie Riverdance and my mom said that I could not stop imitating the dancers so she put me into classes. My mom and all of her sisters also did Irish dancing when they were younger.
 
Q: Tell me about the worlds competition when you became the 51^st best Irish step dancer in the world!
A: The world championship is one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. It is such a great feeling to know that my hard work has allowed me to go as far as possible when it comes to Irish dancing competitions. It’s always really nerve racking but when I’m dancing on stage, in front of the 7 world judges, I am the happiest I have ever been in my life!
 
Q: That seems amazing! Where do you travel for competitions?
A: I have traveled to Killarney for the world championships and all Ireland championships. I traveled to Glasgow, Scotland for the worlds last year, and in 2008 the worlds was in America for the first time ever—right in Philadelphia! I also travel around America for small competitions called “feises”. Finally, I’ve also been to Toronto, Canada for the North American nationals
 
Q: When and where do you compete next?
A: I have a “feis” (small competition) in Pittsburgh this Sunday, and after that, my next competition will be the 2011 world championships in Dublin, Ireland. I dance on April 22!
 
Q: That’s so exciting! What goes along with preparing for competition?
A: Constant hours of just practicing your three routines for the competition. When I’m at home, I dance over 20 hours a week. I also run and do core exercises to keep my stamina and posture looking good. It’s also good to do lots of quad and calve strengthening exercises to help strengthen your steps and technique. And LOTS OF STRETCHING!!! I try to stretch extensively at least twice a day. You should eat healthy but I’m not very good at that. I try to cut out sweets and I stopped drinking soda.
 
Q: I never realized how much work goes into training.  Also, congrats on being named the Greek Goddess at the university this year! What was that experience like?
A: It was really fun because I got to choreograph my own dance and I also incorporated hard shoe and soft shoe dancing, the two different shoes of Irish dancing, into one routine. I danced hard shoe to the Black Eyed Peas song, “Dirty Bit.” That was really fun! And I did my soft shoe dancing to a traditional Irish reel. It was also really fun to have all of my Alpha Delta Pi sisters there supporting and cheering me on!
 
Q: What are your future dancing plans?
A: I hope to improve my World placement this coming April at worlds. I have made my audition tape for Riverdance and Lord of the Dance (two famous Irish dancing traveling productions); I’m planning on sending that in this summer and hopefully being on one of the tours as soon as possible! I’m also planning on getting my TCRG, an Irish dancing teaching degree to become a certified teacher, after I graduate from school. I hope to teach for the Clark academy of Irish dance in St. Louis, Missouri. Basically, I plan on sticking to Irish dancing my whole life–until my legs can’t take it anymore.
 
Catie, we wish you the best of luck—especially at Worlds this year!  Keep up the amazing work.