Choosing the right college can feel overwhelming, especially when paired with the decision of choosing a major. During my senior year of high school, the questions, "Where are you going to school?" and "What's your major?" seemed to be on repeat from everyone around me. My journey was no different, but I chose to see it as an opportunity.
I decided on Ohio State, just a couple of hours from home, making it easy to visit family and keep up with my Irish dance training. Yet, like many others, I wasn't sure what I wanted to study.
What I did know was my deep love for Irish dance, and a growing curiosity about how different training methods affect performance, how to prevent injuries, the mental side of being a dancer, and how understanding the history of Irish dance can shape its future. Kinesiology, business, performance art—these topics intrigued me, but I couldn't figure out how to weave them together into a clear path.
I started undecided and declared a Communications major, only to realize it wasn’t the right fit. After searching through countless programs, I discovered Ohio State’s Personalized Study Program (PSP).
From Ohio State’s website: The Personalized Study Program (College of Arts and Sciences) gives students flexibility to design and complete a major that falls outside established academic departments or programs. This program is interdisciplinary, meaning you can take courses within multiple departments and even across colleges. If you’re highly motivated, independent and passionate about a non-traditional discipline, this may be the right path for you.
That was the light bulb moment! I could create my own major centered around Irish Dance Education. But first, I needed an advisor who believed in the vision, and it wasn’t easy. Irish Dance Education wasn’t something advisors saw as having much potential 20 years ago, but I was determined.
Finally, I connected with an advisor in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. With her personal connection to Irish dance, she understood the physical demands, the high risk of injury, and the unique mentality of Irish dancers. She was all in.
Together, we designed a program built on five pillars:
Kinesiology: Understanding the mechanics of the human body, essential for optimizing performance and preventing injuries in Irish dance.
Education: Learning effective teaching methods, because I wanted to pass my knowledge on to future generations.
Business: Gaining skills to manage the logistics of running a business, from finance to marketing, all of which would be crucial in my future endeavors.
Irish History: Appreciating how the past influences the present and can guide the future of Irish dance.
Dance Performance: Studying various dance techniques and performance strategies across genres to broaden my perspective and elevate Irish dance training.
We crafted a course load that fulfilled all the credit requirements while aligning with my vision, and the rest, as they say, is history!
My parents were always supportive, though I’m sure they had their doubts when I told them I was creating my own degree in Irish Dance Education. Years later, when I founded Target Training, my dad said something I’ll never forget: “I never thought you’d use that degree so well!”
Sometimes the path to your passion doesn’t exist—so you have to create it.
Happy Training!
Looking for Irish dance-specific training videos?
Get 14 DAYS FREE at the Target Training Online Institute! Access Irish dance strength & conditioning programs anytime, anywhere. Join today and enjoy a FREE 14-day trial of the Trainer subscription—no code required!
Start now at institute.targettrainingdance.com.
Comments