Meanwhile I got on the Internet via home computer and got hooked on the `Visitors Book' of the Lord of the Dance site, and everything that had to do with Michael Flatley. While surfing and exploring the net, I found addresses for Irish Stepdancing Schools in Dallas. I called couple of them and they told me the best one was the Emerald School of Irish Stepdancing in Dallas. Emily Touzin is the Director and Teacher of Irish Stepdancing, she is from Dublin, Ireland and she doesn't like Lord of the Dance to much! Funny!

On MAY 17 Janet and I visited the School and the teacher showed us what the kids were learning. She then asked Janet to join in, and Janet stood up and did! She took her very first class on May 24 while I waited outside. After an hour had passed the teacher came out with a big smile on her face. "Why don't you come in and see what your daughter is doing?" I walked back in with her and to my delight and surprise, she had already learned a few basic steps and was dancing part of the Reel with the rest of the class.

From that Saturday on, the teacher, instead of giving Janet one hour, as she does with everyone else, started to keep Janet longer and longer... two to three hours at times. Early on, one Saturday, some of the kids were leaving after the first hour, and as I was looking for Janet, but didn't see her, I asked one of the girls where Janet was and she said, "The teacher is keeping her... she is good!"

During the summer the teacher combines the kids and the adults class because there are less people around. She asked Janet to try some of the more advanced steps and she did just fine. :) Janet now dances in the front line with the assistant so we can follow them! Janet also convinced me to also take Irish Stepdancing. We practice every day for one hour or two and I've discovered that Janet is a very good teacher! It's funny, when I don't get a new step right away, the teacher smiles at me and says: "Don't worry, Janet will show you how!"

On July 12th, the instructor told me that she had had an invitation from Barnes and Nobles (Big Chain of Bookstores) to take some dancers to them during The International Week of Celebration. Ireland would be represented on July 30, 1997. That's when I asked her if she thought Janet could do it and her answer was, "Honey, I have done this for 30 years and I know a good one when I see it... if she keeps going like this... she is going to be one of the top dancers of this school."

Two weeks later the instructor asked Janet to try on one of the dresses and after she did, she asked her to dance by herself. While we were watching Janet dance, the teacher turned to the assistant and me, and said, "It gives me goosebumps to watch her dance!"

July 30, 1997 - 2:15 pm - First Public Performance at Barnes & Nobles. Janet wasn't nervous and did great! The teacher told me that starting September she is going to give Janet one additional hour of dance because she needs challenge! (Yes, I'm one happy and proud mother.)

I don't know where all this is going to take me or us, but for now, I sure know I have a lot to be thankful for to Michael and his dream of The Lord of the Dance!

Future events: Janet will be performing at the State Fair of Texas where the Starplex is located, on Oct. 19, 1997. (Same week Lord of the Dance and Michael Flatley will be there!

Hugs, Mirian and Janet (Little Dreamdancer - that's how I have been calling her).