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- When and where are these feiseanna held?
- How do I register?
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- What are the fees?
- What level do I belong in?
- What dances are offered?
- General Rules
- 100 Point System
- For Parents: Getting the balance right
- Competitive dance requirements
What class should my child be in?
Always ask your child's teacher. The teacher would know the best class to
place your child in. Your child's best interest is always our intent.
A child or parent should never worry about who is in or isn't in class.
Class is for you.
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Can my child attend Irish Dance Camps run by someone other than their dancing school?
Dancers should first attend the dance camp that is offered by our dancing
school. No one is allowed to attend any other Irish Dance Camp without
first getting approval from the teachers. A dance camp must be approved
with An Coimisiún and not pose a judging conflict with the adjudicators in
our own school. The associations rules are very strict.
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What should my child wear to class?
GIRLS: Please pick from the following options:
- Leotard, dance skirt or "skort", socks or tights and black ballet slippers
- T-shirt (only solid color or Gray-Gillan-Owens apparel*), dance skirt or "skort" white socks or black tights and in the colder weather leggings and dance shoes.
- A "skort" might be more comfortable for some rather than a skirt. If you choose a skirt, proper trunks should be worn under it or the short lycra shorts NOT the box style loose fitting sports shorts.
- It is required that Hair must be pulled back away from the face into a single pony tail or bun. No bits of hair hanging around the face.
- **It is strongly recommended that all girls over the age of 12 wear a proper fitting and supportive sports bra to class. Please keep in mind that all classes are co-ed and modesty is required.**
BOYS: T-shirt, (solid color or authorized Gray-Gillan-Owens apparel) shorts and dancing shoes
The following is prohibited:
. Cami (Camisole shirt ) with straps showing (even layered) or low cut shirts
. T-shirts that have any brand labels, team logos or other corporate logos other than or authorized Gray Gillan-Owens apparel
. Shorts that contain graphic messages, such as "Kick Butt" or any other offensive sayings
. Loose zipper hoodies or loose fitting sweatshirts. For those that need a sweater, a black wrap style dance sweater may be worn (by Capezio or Danskin) which is very neat and won't fall off.
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Is my child allowed to bring a cell phone or electronics into class?
No cell phones, iPods and electronic games of any kind will be allowed in class. Any dancer that needs a cell phone to be with them must have them turned off and in their dance bag while class is on. The teacher will take any of these away should they be out.
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How long should my child practice?
The famous statement "Practice makes perfect" is so true. A little bit of practice each day makes a huge difference. Practice helps a child to remember what they have been taught. The average child attends one dance class a week so they are bound to forget something. They go to school five days a week for six hours and forget things. We have posted practice guides to help. Remember a beginner should do 10 or 15 minutes and the more advanced you get the longer you practice.
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How do I break in my hard shoes?
Wear your hard shoes around the house every day for about an hour.
Dance in them every day for ten minutes, then they soften up. Bend them with your hands to create an arch. There are more extreme methods, but this should work.
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When do I need a Traditional Dancing Costume?*
Many children take dance class just for the pure enjoyment of dance and for the exercise. Your child should get a school dress/costume when they are going to go to dance competitions regularly, is in a ceili team or would like to dance out in area shows. Beginner and Advanced Beginner level dancers who enter a feis are allowed to wear a school dress or a skirt and blouse (not a dance skirt with the school logo)
We recommend the following skirt and blouse from Olive Juice Kids:
www.olivejuicekids.com.
Under shop girls - under skirts - the Pleated Skirt (FG88189) on sale for $31.95
under tops - the Adelaide Blouse (FG84371) on sale for $22.95
*All school dresses must be approved before they are purchased. This will ensure that you are purchasing an up-to-date costume.
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When is a dancer allowed to get a solo costume?*
A solo costume/dress is not allowed before the Novice level of dance. We do not recommend it until the dancer is in the Prize Winner level in at least one of the dances.
*All solo costumes must be approved before they are purchased. This will ensure that you are purchasing an up to date costume.
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Speeds for Heavy shoe dances (Treble or hard shoe Jig and Hornpipe)
When the dancers start their hard shoe dances they first dance at a traditional speed, which is slower than the light jig, and later move onto to the slower speed or Oireachtas speed.
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What is a feis?
Check with your teacher before entering any feis.
The word feis(pronounced fesh) comes from a Gaelic word meaning "festival". In the context of Irish dance today, it means "competition".
When and where are these feiseanna held?
Dance schools and other interested Irish organizations hold dance competitions throughout the year, all over the country and all over the world. The North American Feis Commission is responsible for registering the competitions in North America. There web site is www.northamericanfeiscommission.org where a complete list of feisanna can be found.
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How do I register?
Check with your teacher before registering for any feis.
Only students of registered teachers may compete.
Each feis will offer a syllabus that lists the pertinent info for that event. Forms are available at the studio or on our website. Pick the ones that you might like to attend, ask your teacher how to fill them out, and mail them in. Some allow on-line registration through e-feis but when you are beginning you should talk to your teacher first.
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What are the fees?
Each dancer is charged a fee per dance, typically $4 - $8 or $9, depending on the hosts. If your dancer dances a reel, light jig and slip jig for instance, the fee could be $12 - $27. There is usually a family cap. There is always a fee at the door for non-dancers (kids too most of the time). These amounts are usually listed on the syllabus.
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What level do I belong in?
The solo levels are:
- Beginner Grade: A beginner is a competitor who is in their first year of dance. This period goes from September of a given year to the end of the following December, thus giving a beginner 15 months at this level.
A Beginner must move into the Advanced Beginner category the next year.
- Advanced Beginner Grade: This is a competitor who is no longer a beginner. It is the next level and a dancer remains in this category until they win a 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a given dance. Wins in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place will advance the dancer to the Novice category in that particular dance in the new year.
- Novice Grade: This is a competitor who has completed the requirements of the Advanced Beginner level. A novice dancer stays in this level until he or she wins a 1st place in a dance and then will advance to the Open (Prizewinner) category in that particular dance.
- Open Grade (Prizewinner): A competitor who has completed the requirements of the Novice level.
- After Prizewinner there are two more levels: Preliminary and Open Championships. At this point a dancer is well seasoned to competition. The rule for Preliminary is to have won a first in a light and heavy dance not including the light jig. We require that the dancer has won in all four dances (Reel, Slip Jig, Treble Jig and Hornpipe.) A dancer moves onto Open Championship after two first places in one calendar year or after the second win in the next calendar year.
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What dances are offered?
- In the Beginner level, Reel, Light Jig and Slip Jig are offered. Most dancers learn the Reel and Light Jig in the first year.
- In the Advanced Beginner level, Reel, Light Jig, Slip Jig, Treble Jig and Hornpipe are offered. The Treble Jig and Hornpipe is the traditional speed only.
- In the Novice level, Reel, Light Jig, Slip Jig, Treble Jig and Hornpipe are offered. The Treble Jig and Hornpipe are offered in both the traditional speed and slow or Oireachtas speed.
- In the Prize Winner level, Reel, Light Jig, Slip Jig, Treble Jig and Hornpipe are offered. The Treble Jig and Hornpipe are offered in both the traditional speed and slow or Oireachtas speed. (This is a New England rule. The Mid Atlantic [NY, NJ, PA] competitions ony allow the slow speed.)
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General Rules:
- Check with your teacher before entering any feis. This will avoid judging conflicts and entering the wrong dances.
- A dancer changes age and category on January first of every year.
- Your Feis Age is your age as of January 1 of that year. It does not change on your birthday. If your birthday is 2/2/98 your dance age for the whole calendar year of 2007 is age 8 or under 9.
- In addition to the "grade level" the competitions are separated by boys and girls and by age.
- With the exception of the Beginner level, you only move in the dance that you have won the necessary award.
- Each category is a little harder than the previous level.
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What is the 100 point system?
This is an explanation of the computer print out that you receive after a
prelim and/or open championship at a feis. It shows the first, second and third place ranking (sometimes up to fifth place) and your ranking after each round (reel/slip jig, jig/hornpipe and set).
Your raw score is changed into the 100 point system therefore making a placement (1st, 2nd, 3rd and right down the line) equal in value as opposed to a raw score, which varies from judge to judge. For example my first place raw score may be an "85" and the next judge may have "80" as their first place score and the third judge may have "88" as their first place raw score. The 100 point system equalizes out these differences. When there is a tie the points are then divided between those competitors. Below is the 100 point system:
100 Point System |
| Pl |
Pnts |
Pl |
Pnts |
Pl |
Pnts |
Pl |
Pnts |
Pl |
Pnts |
Pl |
Pnts |
Pl |
Pnts |
Pl |
Pnts |
Pl |
Pnts |
Pl |
Pnts |
| 1 |
100 |
2 |
75 |
3 |
65 |
4 |
60 |
5 |
56 |
6 |
53 |
7 |
50 |
8 |
47 |
9 |
45 |
10 |
43 |
| 11 |
41 |
12 |
39 |
13 |
38 |
14 |
37 |
15 |
36 |
16 |
35 |
17 |
34 |
18 |
33 |
19 |
32 |
20 |
31 |
| 21 |
30 |
22 |
29 |
23 |
28 |
24 |
27 |
25 |
26 |
26 |
25 |
27 |
24 |
28 |
23 |
29 |
22 |
30 |
21 |
| 31 |
20 |
32 |
19 |
33 |
18 |
34 |
17 |
35 |
16 |
36 |
15 |
37 |
14 |
38 |
13 |
39 |
12 |
40 |
11 |
| 41 |
10 |
42 |
9 |
43 |
8 |
44 |
7 |
45 |
6 |
46 |
5 |
47 |
4 |
48 |
3 |
49 |
2 |
50 |
1 |
Your marks are personal and not public. They should be brought to your teacher.
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For Parents: Getting the balance right
Please remember that all dancers progress differently. Some dancers are very focused and practice diligently; others may practice but not enough to be competitive. Parents must remember that your child needs to want to compete and understands that not everyone wins. Your child may dance really well, but some other children may just be better. Just like you might achieve a 95 on a math test, this is excellent, however, others may receive higher grades.
In order that your dancer(s) get the most enjoyment from their time dedicated to dancing it is imperative that you get the balance correct. These tips for parents are taken from the Child Protection Guidelines of Tennis but they can be applied to any activity. We hope you find them useful.
- Offer encouragement, especially when your children face hard times. Do not use punishment and withdrawal of love, affection and warmth to get your children to try harder or perform better.
- Ask questions such as, "How was the match (or feis)? How did you play (or dance)? Did you enjoy it?" which shows you care about your child rather than the result. Avoid asking, "Did you win?" after your child comes back from a match (or feis).
- Make your child feel valuable and reinforce his/her self-esteem, especially when he/she loses. Avoid criticizing your child's results. Emphasize that, "Win or lose, I love you just the same." Do not get upset or treat your child differently when she/he loses.
- Stick to your parental role. Avoid trying to be your child's coach (i.e. becoming too involved in strategy, technique, etc).
- Recognize and be generous in applauding the performance and effort of your child's opponents. Do not ignore or criticize your child's opponents.
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Competitive dance requirements
- All competitive dancers at the Preliminary and Open level must attend a minimum of two solo classes weekly in addition to listed mandatory classes before any major competition.
- For All competitions, at any level of dance, the dancer must be present at class the week before the competition. If sick or away the week before a feis, you must forfeit the feis.
- Always check with your teacher before registering for a feis to make sure there are no conflicts.
- Before and after dancing at a feis always check in with all or any teacher present.
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