JAMES: What kind of reception have you received in the UK, and how does that compare with what you’ve had in other countries?

CLARE: Well, it was kinda scary coming to the UK, because the UK has seen a lot of other Irish Dance shows, so I have been very surprised at the outcome, because I thought they would be more laid back and, ‘Yes, we’ve seen it all before´ but after every show we keep hearing 'More More!!' And they’re very vocal! Our crowds in Poland and Germany have been very good, so we are used to having people go crazy at the end of the show, and Poland, I think that was the best place we have been to, because no other dance show has really gone to Poland, we were back there in April and the first ones to hit Poland, and they were like, ‘Ohhh what is this Irish dancing thing?’ and they LOVED IT! But the reception here has been fantastic! We didn’t get everyone standing at the end, but some would shout "MORE MORE!"
JAMES: I stood up!
CLARE: I saw you! It was a great reception!

JAMES: How long does it take to warm up before a show - do you have your set routine?

CLARE: I have my own set routine because my character involves a lot of other types of dancing so I have to do other stretches besides the chorus dancers. So I usually get ready about an hour before the show, and start doing my makeup and my hair and then leave half hour before the show to start warming up. Sometimes less - I do the ballet bar and stuff like that. Some girls like to take a good 30 minutes before to do their makeup but I like to do my makeup at least an hour before so I can do my hair, because I don’t wear a wig so I have to wet my hair and dry it and get it all done! I put a whole can of hairspray on my hair every night!

JAMES: On the St Patrick’s Day webcast - did you feel under pressure because it was
being beamed to all these people?

CLARE: *laughs* I felt a LOT of pressure that day! Not only were we in Belfast which is a huge city that we have never hit before, and had a large Irish dancing community.... we were also doing a video for the show that weekend, so there were video cameras everywhere... AND it was gonna be broadcast on the net! So I was very nervous that whole weekend, actually! I was excited as well because my mother and my relatives could watch it as well.

JAMES: Do you ever see any of the other Irish dance shows? And what’s your favourite?

FRANK: Careful there!
CLARE: When I first saw Riverdance I loved it, but it was the best when I first saw it... now I’ve seen it a few times... I’ve seen Lord of the Dance a few times and its great, and a few times we’ve crossed over, and our troupe has gone to see their show, and their troupe has come to see ours! It’s been a lot of fun!
JAMES: Any others, apart from Irish dance?
CLARE: I wanted to see Burn the Floor, and I’ve seen Fosse. But I will try and catch up with BTF next.

JAMES: Which dancer do you admire the most?
CLARE: I think probably Michel Baryshnikov is someone I truly admire. He danced for a long time as well, it gives you hope you can dance into your thirties. And he was the best I’ve ever seen.
JAMES: And Irish dancer?
CLARE: Oh jeez...that’s a tough one! I do respect Michael Flatley, because without him starting up LOTD I wouldn’t be working now. Kelly Hendry I also think is a great dancer, and a great person to meet.

JAMES: What do you do when not at the venue?
CLARE: We like to look around town, if we have time. Do a little shopping, laundry, picking up things you need. If we have time we go for a drink after the show, to unwind.
JAMES: I heard from one of the dancers you do a little Paintball?
CLARE: Sometimes they like to go Go-Karting or bowling.
FRANK: I tell you, they go hell for leather these guys, it’s VERY competitive. Anton is the winner, champion twice.
CLARE: Anton likes to go snowboarding if there’s snow! Which is a bit scary... my dance partner!!!

JAMES: Do you ever play practical jokes on the other troupe members?
ANTON: There’s one being played at the moment! There was flowers bought for one of the fellas, and a message saying it was from someone… but it wasn’t from that person! He’s trying to work out who it is.

JAMES: Do you ever play any on others?
CLARE: Me? Not really… there’s a lot of backstage fooling around and getting revved up for the encore and stuff like that.
JAMES: Any played on you?
CLARE: No, sometimes a few people have forgotten their cues and not shown up onstage! *Laughs* But I don’t know whether that was a practical joke on me or not!

JAMES: What do you think of the city of Birmingham?
CLARE: Actually we just arrived at 4:00 today, so we haven’t had time! But this is a gorgeous venue anyway, it’s beautiful to play at.
JAMES: What’s the best venue you ever danced in?
CLARE: For me, the most prestigious has been the Royal Albert Hall in London, and in Belfast.

JAMES: Do you have to keep to any special kind of diet?
CLARE: Well… not really. I tend to eat a lot on tour because you exert so much energy. I have a light meal before the show… I try to eat before 5:00. Then have a meal after the show.

JAMES: Do you get much free time?

CLARE: Sometimes we do – it depends if we have to travel. It all depends on the venue.

JAMES: What’s a typical day?

CLARE: It depends on what country you’re in. In America we travel a lot cos its such a huge country, but the UK has been great. We get up – have breakfast before 10:00 and leave before 11:30, get on the bus… look around… do a few errands… relax…

JAMES: Do you get much sleep?

CLARE: It is hard to wind down…I’m never in bed before 12:30 or 1:00…even if I’m just in my room there’s stuff to do. Most people catch up on our sleep in the tour bus!

JAMES: How often do you get new costumes?

CLARE:I have a lot of costume changes, and they have changed extensively throughout the tour! But I think we have settled on them now.
JAMES: Do you get any say in the costume design?
CLARE: Well, to some extent… we have to be able to dance in them. It depends on the wardrobe mistress.
ANTON: Mine don’t change.
CLARE: If you really don’t like them your not forced to wear it. A lot of the girls dance in costumes they feel comfortable in. I asked someone in "Lord" if they have their own dresser and they say "I only have one costume for the whole show!" And I’m, like… "WHAT?" I have my own personal assistant, Angela. And changing tights is very awkward, because I do a barefoot number and I have to take my tights off, so I sweat a lot too, its really hard to put them on quickly! And then there’s the mic changes… I do softshoe for most of the show so I need to change for the encores.

JAMES: Do you choreograph your own solos?

CLARE: Richard’s really great – If I work on something and he likes it, he says "Great!" And if I want to add something, he’s very open to it.

JAMES: Have you always been an Irish Dancer? It looks to that you have ballet training…?
CLARE: Yeah. I started doing Irish, when I was 4. I quit Irish at 14 and did ballet for another 10 years.
JAMES: What got you back interested in it?
CLARE: It was Riverdance! I always wanted to be a dancer, and its difficult to get a job in contemporary dance… unless you can sing. But when RD came out I knew this is what I wanted to do!

JAMES: Would you consider leaving Gaelforce and going onto other shows, or back to ballet?

FRANK: Careful!
JIMMY: You’ll never let her go!
CLARE: No! I’m stuck here! * laughs * No, this show is perfect for me because Riverdance and Lord is very Irish dancey, but here I get to do my modern and ballet, I get to use all my training. So I’ll be here for a while!

JAMES: When Timmy holds you above his head… have you ever been dropped?
FRANK: Only on her head!
CLARE: I’ve had a few back injuries… because we do the same lift every day so I switch the lift to the other side… but I’ve never been dropped before. Have I?
ANTON: Don’t think so!
CLARE: I would have remembered that!

JAMES: Do you have anything you always wear? A lucky piece of clothing?

CLARE: I have my 2 rings… your not supposed to wear them onstage, but I’m married! This ring is very special to me, and its something I will never take off.

JAMES: Do you have any advice for the dancers out there who might want to do this professionally?
CLARE: You have to train a lot, if you want to do it full time you cant just go a few times a week. You have to practise all the time. Start early! It’s a lot of hard work and perseverance.

JAMES: How often would you practise?

CLARE: I’m not very good at practising on my own. I need someone to make me. I force myself to go to classes a lot. I would take 5 classes a week, and that was my training. I never wanted to practise Irish at home and my Mom would always get mad at me!

JAMES: What’s easier? Irish or Ballet? What do you prefer?

CLARE: I prefer contemporary, because I’ve been trained to use my arms. I love hardshoe dance, especially in Gaelforce because its live, I love to hear my rhythm patterns instead of using pre recorded. We’ve changed something in the show where me and Anton do an acapella piece and its really cool because you can actually hear your own rhythms! I love that!

JAMES: Do you get to see your family much? Do you get homesick?

CLARE: I do miss them. I talk to them on the phone and internet lots! When were in town for a few days we always find the Internet cafes and catch up with family and friends. And a lot of us have mobiles as well, we’re very easily accessible. But we’re kept so busy we don’t mind.

JAMES: Do you get tired of doing the same thing over and over?

CLARE: Sometimes you get tired, especially if you do a double show. I always take a moment to think "This is my life. I could be working in an office. Look at what I’m doing - I shouldn’t be feeling like this." So that gives me my extra energy.

JAMES: Do you do anything to psyche yourself up before a show?

CLARE: I like it when I have my own dressing room… sometimes I just sit there… I have a dressing room! How can this be! This is crazy! This is my DREAM when I was little! And especially when I take my bow at the end… its like, "Their cheering for ME!" Its such an amazing feeling… that’s what gets me through every show. Seeing my name on the dressing room, and every day I think about it and go "WOW! This is crazy!"

JAMES: What about this video? Have you seen any yet?

CLARE: I haven’t seen it! I’m very nervous because I have difficulty watching myself. I’m my worst critic! And I haven’t had a lot of time to practise in front of a mirror so I don’t know what I do with my face… I just try to feel the emotion through my face… so when I see myself I don’t know if I’m gonna like it! I’m scared, but I’m excited!

JAMES: One last question! Now your finished with us, what will you do now?