FEIS App Dancer of the Month: Garet Zagorski
Some seem destined to do Irish dance from the moment they are born. For a select few, Irish dancing has no discernible beginning, no moment where there was a decision to start; it was always just a part of normal life, it was life. For these few, the rhythms of heavy shoes are a constant heartbeat throughout infancy and Irish dance music the soundtrack of early childhood. Being involved in Irish dancing is a blessing for us all — I think we all collectively realize that now more than ever.
A young dancer out of the Southern Academy of Irish dance in the Southern Region USA is one such example. Occasionally a young talent emerges and instantly grabs the attention of those watching. Exceptional talent in one so young is certainly a joy to behold.
Our latest FEIS App Dancer of the Month is just 10 years of age but has made already made a huge impression on the Irish dancing world. FEIS App is excited to announce Garet Zagorski as our Dancer of the Month, and we hope you enjoy learning about this young star as much as we did.
It’s not always easy being taught by your mum, and it’s also not always easy teaching your child. It takes a special relationship; a relationship where the truth is always right at the fore, where the hardest words have to be said sometimes, but also where love is always the undercurrent. It’s a difficult dynamic to get right. However, if you’re ever in the company of Garet and his mother Kristin, you’ll see that they make it look easy. Theirs is a special relationship — it’s the foundation that Garet’s achievements have been built on.
Garet’s first memory of Irish dancing is of a stuffed animal and a medal. He was dancing at a competition in a vest that his grandmother had made for him, and as many little ones do, he remembers his first prizes. Garet didn’t have a first class in the way that most Irish dancers do, he was always at class anyway, but his mother knew it was time for him to get involved when she noticed that he would constantly stand in the line-up of older dancers with his feet turned out.
Garet comes from ‘dancing stock’ — as well as his mother, his uncle and aunt danced before him. His uncle, Jim Butke, is a feis musician on the circuit too. His mother, an ADCRG, would have been adjudicating at this year’s CLRG World Championships in Dublin. Garet’s environment has always been full of people who lived and breathed Irish dance and they have always been behind him, supporting him constantly. Garet has a special relationship with his other teacher too, Miss Katie, who has also been with Garet since the very beginning. This young prodigy also has very supportive grandparents, so his foundations are solid. He has a team of people behind him and they are all doing everything they can to ensure his success.
As you’d expect, Garet experienced success early in his Irish dancing career. He moved quickly through the grades and was soon an open dancer. In 2017, when seven years of age, he travelled to Glasgow to compete at the All Scotland Championships. Garet wanted to make an impression overseas, and impress he did, winning the title and grabbing the attention of the Irish dancing world. But this was only the beginning of a fabulous season. A few weeks later he travelled to the Great Britain Championships and won that event as well — two huge achievements for anyone, but for a seven year old dancing overseas, nothing short of incredible. Less than two months later, Garet was also crowned Oireachtas champion at the southern Regional Oireachtas.
2018 was another fantastic year. In May of 2018 Garet travelled to Spain to compete at the European Championships, and won. A few months later the North American National title was his too. After summer came and went Garet became a two time Great Britain and Southern Regional Oireachtas Champion.
The accolades kept coming throughout 2019 as well. Garet collected the British Nationals title, the North American National title, the Great Britain Championships title, and became Oireachtas champion once again.
All of this was preparing Garet for the two things that he really wanted to achieve: the All Ireland title and the World title. In February 2020 Garet travelled to Killarney in Kerry, Ireland and competed in the youngest age group allowed. This competition had more competitors than Garet had ever competed against, and Garet relished his chance to dance in the oldest (and some would argue the most prestigious) Irish dancing competition there is. Rising to the challenge Garet held his nerve and won the All Ireland title.
Although Garet was old enough to compete at the All Ireland championships, he was still a year too young to compete in the worlds; an event that was scheduled to be held a few months later.
Garet aims to compete at the World Championships in 2021.
This incredible young dancer has achieved an impressive list of major titles and his Irish dancing journey is just beginning. One thing is for sure, his journey will not go unnoticed. When dancers collect honors this quickly, the world watches and takes note at every local, national and international competition. One of the fabulous advantages of ‘breaking through’ so early is that it allows such prodigies to become accustomed to the high stakes; it allows them to get used to the pressure at a very early age — so Garet is perfectly positioned for what the next few years have to throw at him.
We asked Garet the following:
Q - How would you describe your Irish Dance journey so far?
A - My dance journey has been great fun, but also hard work. My teachers and my mom push me to do my best. Sometimes I don’t want to work on something or I am frustrated, but I always love to dance and appreciate the times I can travel and meet new friends.
Q - Do you have a strategy for preparing for a big competition?
A - I have a big strategy for training: I cut back on desserts. I practice my corrections more. My mom takes more videos of my dancing for me to watch. I drill certain moves more. I always tell myself 3 things: “I can do it, I’m the greatest, I’m the best.” I learned that from my tae kwon do coach when I was 3 and it has always helped me train and stay focused. The night before a feis or major, I always listen to my music and visualize my dances in my head. My mom and I always say a prayer before I fall asleep.
Q - Who is your favorite Irish dancer currently?
A - My favorite Irish dancer right now is David Geaney. He trebles so fast, and I love the rhythms he makes. He’s also a 5-time world champion and I look up to him. I also performed with him a couple times with Cherish the Ladies. It was fun to be on stage with him. We also went to his pub in Dingle after the all Irelands this year and I danced with him there.
Q - Favorite place you have ever visited because of Irish Dance?
A - My favorite place I have visited because of Irish dance is Ireland. I loved Torq Waterfall in Killarney, and I made new friends. I also loved Dingle and loved hearing a session in one of the pubs.
Q - Give us an insight into your practice regime in the build up to a big event?
A - Before a big event I practice 6 days a week. 3 days of classes, 2 days on my own and once a week with my mom. I do a lot of stretching. I also started private lessons with a ballet teacher to work on my technique, posture, and new moves.
Q - Do you just do Irish Dancing or do you incorporate gym and stretching and other styles of dance?
A - I incorporate lots of stretching and ballet exercises. My dad also helps me with my upper body strength. I love to do pull ups, push ups, and rope climbs. We have 2 ropes in our garage.
Q – What are your future Irish dance goals?
A - I want to win the world Championships! I also want to dance with Cherish the Ladies. I might want to dance in Lord of the Dance like my mom did too. I would also like to go to Australia some day and dance in the Australian nationals.
Q - What characteristics do you think a dancer needs in order to become the best?
A - In order to become the best dancer I think you need a positive attitude, a good work ethic, to practice, to play an instrument to help with timing, focus, and have the ability to take correction and then go away and work on those corrections.
Q - What do you feel when you are on stage?
A - When I am on stage I sometimes feel nervous, particularly at majors. At feises, I don’t feel as nervous and I am more relaxed. I am always focused.
Q - What would you say is your biggest strength as an Irish Dancer?
A - My biggest strength is my turnout and understanding of music. My comments from judges often say nice style.
Q - What would you say is your biggest weakness as an Irish Dancer?
A - My biggest weakness used to be my posture. I have been working with a ballet teacher and doing upper body workouts and everyone says it has improved.
Q - How often would you practice outside of class?
A - I practice all the time and everywhere! Luckily, we have a huge 40 foot garage that my parents turned into a dance studio for my mom to teach in and for me to practice. I do like practicing in my basement too.
Q - What top tips (say 4 or 5) would you give an aspiring young Irish Dancer?
A - My top tips are:
1. Always have a good attitude.
2. Listen to your teachers.
3. Practice at home more.
4. Never give up.
5. Dance with your heart.
6. Always listen to Irish music.
Q - Are there any crossover skills/attributes that you have taken from Irish dancing into other aspects of your life?
A - Irish dance has helped me to be more disciplined, to focus in other activities, and to pay attention to details. I take sewing lessons and my teacher told my mom that I’m a good listener, very precise and want to do everything correctly. I have learned that from Irish dance.
Q - Do you have any other hobbies or passions outside of the world of Irish dance?
A - Outside of Irish dance I enjoy Ninja gym, bike riding, rope climbing, sewing lessons and piano. I love learning to play reels.
Q - How would you describe yourself in three words?
A - I would describe myself as: FRIENDLY, ATHLETIC, and HUMBLE.
Q - What brand of costume do you have?
A - I have trousers and a jacket made by John Carey. I needed new trousers and my mom said John makes them so we ordered a jacket too.
Q - What brand of shoes do you wear?
A - I wear Fays hard shoes and for soft shoes I have 2 pairs: Fay’s Bailey’s and Capezio. I have two pairs because I go through soft shoes so fast!
Q –Years down the line, do you think you’ll try and forge a career in Irish dance?
A - I want to be an Irish dance teacher and make Irish dance costumes. I do like biology and I love learning about animals, so maybe a job in those areas.
Q - Do you have any words or poem or quote that lifts you up?
A - A quote that lifts me up from my tae kwon do coach is, “I can do it, I’m the greatest, I’m the best.”
Garet Zagorski: a ten year old boy who is achieving incredible things in Irish dancing, but also a ten year old boy who could inspire and act as a role model for many. His attitude to learning is admirable. He practices and stretches everyday, and he trains to develop his entire body. He listens intently to Irish dance music and evens learns how to play it; yes, because he enjoys learning and playing music, but also because he knows that it will benefit his dancing. He applies a careful, disciplined approach to everything in life and all the while maintains a kind, friendly demeanour. It could be argued that the recipe for success so far for Garet comes from a solid foundation of people who share a common love, Irish dance. He’s young, he’s motivated, and he’s not afraid to travel to come up against the very best competition he can find. FEIS App is very proud to call Garet Zagorski our Dancer of the Month, and looks forward to following this young dancer’s path in Irish dancing over the years to come. Best of luck Garet!