Erin McPolin: Dancer of the Month

Every dancer’s story is unique. We see dancers in their costumes, looking completely removed from their ‘normal’ selves — almost transformed into a different being altogether — they each become unique identities in the Irish dancing world. It can be easy to forget the person behind the image.

Erin McPolin competes in one of the most difficult age groups in Irish dancing. Even so, Erin is still achieving things that most dancers dream of: in 2018 she won the GBs and American Nationals. How would having a seemingly impossible climb in an age group make a competitor feel? What effect would regularly coming 2^nd at majors have on a dancer? Erin is not someone who will wilt and fade away into the background. Erin is a fighter.

FEIS App is incredibly proud to call Erin McPolin our first Dancer of the Month of the new decade, and we’re delighted to be able to share something about the person beneath the Erin we all recognize on stage.

Erin started dancing from a very early age and her earliest memory of Irish dancing is winning. She was dancing in her first championship (U6) and she remembers wearing a blue dress (that she now claims was “hideous”) and loving every second of the experience on stage. She recalls the buzz of being at the top of the podium. From around this time Erin also remembers transferring to the Carey School of Irish Dance and feeling very excited to dance in a new, amazing facility — fond early memories in Irish dance.

Coming from an Irish heritage, (her grandfather was Irish), Erin had siblings who were also dancing and an extended family of dancers over in Ireland. Dancing came naturally to Erin, but she has always demonstrated a fantastic work ethic and worked exceptionally hard to improve the areas that needed improvement.

The new school, Erin’s positive attitude, and being surrounded by Irish dance at home helped Erin progress at an amazing rate, and before long she was standing on top of the podium again at the Birmingham Qualifying in 2011. Her ban had been lifted the night before the competition, so to dance and win the title was a sign that everything was moving in the right direction.

The next few years were the tough climbing years, the years that every elite dancer has to go through — break into open, win a qualifying place for the worlds and then work hard to climb the rankings and get closer to that podium place. But it really wasn’t a long road for Erin. With the Carey teaching staff behind her she was on the podium at the most significant events in the Irish dancing calendar in no time at all. In 2014, Erin placed 4^th at the World Championships. In 2015 she could not compete because her teacher was adjudicating, but she was back in 2016 and placed 3^rd at the All Ireland Championships and 4^th at the worlds. 2017 was much of the same with a 4^th place position at the World Championships. However, the real turning point in the age group came in 2018. In an incredible age group Erin came 2^nd at the All Ireland Championships and 2^nd at the World Championships. In 2019 it was déjà vu: 2^nd again at the All Irelands and 2^nd again at the World Championships.

And this is why Erin needs to be recognised. She is a special dancer, true; but she is also a marvellous ambassador for Irish dancing. Her mindset and determination is unwavering which is one thing, but she recognizes the outstanding competition she faces as a good thing.

We asked Erin whether she ever felt frustrated at being in an age group with some of the world’s toughest competitors. “I truly love being in an age group full of incredible dancers. I definitely wouldn’t be the dancer I am without them, as they inspire and push me to work harder. At every single competition, whether it is a local feis or a major, the competition is of a very high standard — that just makes me dance as well as I possibly can!”

Rivals, but more importantly friends.

And when we asked Erin what her goal was for 2020, did she say that she wanted to come second, no. Did she hope for a podium place because the competition was so phenomenal? No. “To win the worlds would be incredible as it has been a dream of mine since I can remember! I’m working each day to become a better dancer and improve all the time!” Erin is still hunting for the top spot.

Irish dancing is so much the better for super talented age groups like Erin’s; but Irish dancing is also all the better for young people like Erin. With her unwavering determination and her appreciation for the competition, it’s easy to see why she’s right up there with the best.

We asked Erin the following.

Q - Who would you say is your biggest supporter? How do they show their support?

A - I have a great support network around me including many friends and family who I appreciate so much! But one of my biggest supporters is one of my teachers, Kathleen. I wouldn’t be the person or dancer I am without her and I can’t be thankful enough. I can literally talk to her about anything and know she will give me an honest answer and be there for me. In dancing she pushes me to my absolute limits and sometimes I feel like I’m going to die, but deep down I know she is only doing it to help me. 

Q - How would you describe your Irish Dance journey? What hurdles would you say you have had to overcome?

A - I am very lucky to have had such a dance journey so far! To be taught by some of the most talented teachers in the world is something I don’t take for granted! There have been hurdles such as competitions where I don’t dance my best and the results have reflected that, but these results have shown me that to achieve what I want I have to work for it, and there’s no shortcut to success! I am so grateful and feel very fortunate; so any hurdles I’ve had to overcome have only made the successes greater!

Q - Do you have a strategy for preparing for a big competition? Do you have a special routine? Superstitions? Mental prep?

A - For a big competition, normally the night before I imagine my dance day in my head going the best it possibly could and how happy I would be! Usually our age group is on at 8am so I like to wake up early and go to Danielle Fegan for my makeup and then my teacher Kathleen does my wig. I’m usually in the venue at least an hour before I dance so I can get something to eat and to make sure I’m fully warmed up and ready to dance my best. I normally just stay with my dance teachers and focus on what I need to do to dance my best.

Q - Who is your favorite Irish dancer currently? Why have you chosen this person?

A - Currently I love Sheenagh McMorrow. She’s an incredible dancer with such power! To see such a young dancer with such talent is amazing. 

Q - Who would you say has had the biggest impact on your Irish Dancing and why? If you could put your success down to one person, who would it be?

A - Obviously my parents support me constantly in dancing, allowing me to travel to class and competitions, but the one person who made me the dancer I am today and who I owe much of my success to is my teacher John Carey! When the film ‘Jig’ was in cinemas I said to my mum: “I want John to be my teacher!”. He has believed in me when I haven’t believed in myself and constantly pushes me to my full potential. His talent is endless and I am so lucky to be taught by him!

Q - What are you doing currently outside of the world of Irish dance? Study? Job?

A - I’m currently at sixth form studying psychology, business and PE. At Christmas I had a temporary job in the Post Office parcel sorting! I actually loved it because lots of my friends from school worked there so we always had a laugh. But I probably won’t be working now until next Christmas as I want to fully focus on dancing and school.

Q - Give us an insight into your practise regime in the build-up to a big event?

A - In the months leading up to a big event, in the studio we would be constantly improving every aspect of our performance. The week of a big competition we usually don’t do as many fulls but make sure we are at the best we can be and sustain this! We make sure each part of our performance is perfected so when we go on stage we will be performing just like we do in class.

Q - How do you change your diet in the run up to a big event?

A - I watched ‘game changers’ on Netflix and it was really interesting about how diet affects your performance. I’ve taken all red meat out of my diet and am going to reduce the amount of other meat I eat and try and eat a more plant-based diet! Before this, I always tried to eat as healthy as I could anyway.

Q - Do you just do Irish Dancing or do you incorporate gym and stretching and other styles of dance? Anything extra to give yourself that edge?

A - The only type of dancing I do is Irish dancing, but at Carey we are very lucky to have our own PT as well as a teacher — Caroline Fahy. She pushes us to our limits, always improving our fitness and strength. I also do workouts at home every day to continue to improve my fitness and strength too! I have recently joined a gym really close to my school, so I’ll be going every day during my free lessons!

Q - What characteristics do you think a dancer needs in order to become the best?

A - To become the best you definitely have to be focused on what you want to achieve and what it’ll take to get there! You need a strong team around you who will push you to your limits and make you a better dancer each day, but you have to want it yourself to actually make it happen! You need to be organised and willing to put in the extra work.

Q - What would you say is your biggest ever achievement In Irish dancing? Why does this achievement stand out to you?

A - I’d say obviously achieving 2nd in the world is incredible! But staying in the top 2 for the past two years in every competition — I’m very proud of that! Our age group is full of amazing dancers so every competition is like a major and to consistently stay in the top 2 feels amazing!

Q - What do you feel when you are on stage?

A - I used to feel really nervous on stage and it would affect my performance, but over the past year or so I’ve been really working on the mental side of my performance! If I put the work in before the competition, once I’m on stage I just tell myself to show everyone what I have been practicing and dance just like I’m in the studio! It definitely isn’t as easy as just saying don’t be nervous, but I focus on what I have to do in each part of the dance and just enjoy the performance!

Q - What would you say is your biggest weakness as an Irish dancer?

A - My biggest weakness I think is not always being able to bring to the stage exactly how I dance in class. It can be frustrating for both me and my teachers, but I am working on this!

Q - How often would you practice outside of class? Do you practice at home?

A - In my garage at home I have mirrors and a floor, which I’m very lucky to have. I’m normally in the studio 4-5 days a week for solos and usually a couple of hours early for class, so I’m always in the earlier class practicing and drilling parts of my dances. I’ve realized over the years how important practice outside of class is and the difference it makes.

Q - What top tips would you give an aspiring young Irish Dancer?

1.         Listen to everything your teacher tells you and fix it the first time.

2.         Set goals and focus on what you want to achieve and what it’ll take to get there.

3.         Don’t quit if you get disappointed once, use it to make you work harder.

4.         Make each time you practice effective and beneficial.

5.         Don’t compare yourself or your goals or achievements to others.

Many dancers will be able to relate to competing in a particularly difficult age group where the top dancers dominate the podium. Many dancers will be able to understand the feeling of dancing their best and still not hitting the top spot. Erin recently won first at a high level local competition and it was a huge accomplishment. Granted, it wasn’t a major, but the fact of the matter is, Erin didn’t quit, she kept working hard and on that particular day, stood at the top of the podium. What Erin can offer dancers around the world is the inspiration to not only aim at the top spot, but to enjoy the process, embrace the people that are close by on the journey, to appreciate the competition for how they motivate and drive you on and to welcome that drive in the hope that one day you will get there.

It’s also an important to recognise here that Erin and a lot of the other incredible dancers in this age group are close friends. They are rivals on stage, but no matter who wins and who comes second, they are always dignified on stage and treat each other with love and respect. Erin not only appreciates the benefits of having formidable rivals to push her, she also appreciates the friendships she has forged with her feis mates. Erin is an incredible young lady and we cannot wait to see how her journey continues. We will all have to wait and watch her dance career unfold while cheering on all the fabulous dancers in her age group, whether on the podium or not. FEIS App wishes Erin the very best of luck.