Advancement stats for competitions
Dancers shall advance in each individual solo dance as follows:
- top five move up a level if there are 30 or more competitors
- top four move up if there are 20-29 competitors
- top three move up if there are 10-19 competitors
- only first place moves up if there are 5-9 competitors
- no placings must advance if there are 1-4competitors
Dancers shall advance in trophy competitions and Championships as follows:
- a dancer who wins two first place trophies in the Beginner/Advanced Beginner Trophy advances to the Novice/Prizewinner Trophy, or:
- a dancer who advances to Novice or Prizewinner for the majority of their solo levels (hard shoes in particular)
- a dancer who wins two first place Novice/Prizewinner Trophy competitions advances to Preliminary Championships.
- A dancer who wins two first place Preliminary Championship competitions advances to Open Championships.
“Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.”
Irish Lingo
Feis (fesh) A Feis is a festival of competition. They usually feature Irish dancing of all the dance levels, music, and art competitions or exhibits. The plural of Feis is "Feisanna," which is pronounced "fesh-AH-nuh." You can say "I'm going to a Feis" (singular) or "I'm going to many Feisanna" (plural).
Feile (fay-luh) A "feile" is a strictly all-dance competition with no music or art competitions.
Oireachtas (o-rock-tus) Regional Irish dancing championships. (Dancers in the Midwest compete in the Midwest Region Oireachtas, dancers in the West dance in the Western Oireachtas, etc) This is a like a huge feile, with many more dancers in the higher level, and an extra dose of stress.
Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne (o-rock-tus rin-kooh nuh krin.) World Championships in Irish Dancing. The ultimate Irish dance!!
Nationals Like an Oireachtas with Champion-and-above level dancers, only unlike an Oireachtas, people from many regions/countries can compete.
The big "O" A term for the regional Oireachtas.
Recall When someone says they got a "recall" it means that they competed (at a Feis or Oireachtas) and were ranked one of the best dancers in their group, and were called back by the judges along with the other best dancers in their group to dance again. This is to narrow down the choice of best dancers.
Solo dance Only one person dances. (Solo vs. a figure dance with the standard 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 dancers)
School costume The dress girls get at about Novice level. All the girls wear matching dresses, you are required to wear them in figure dances at Feisanna and sometimes at performances, if your teacher specifies so. Same for the boys, the most common boy's costume is black shirt with black pants, but colored shirts are popular too.
Solo dress The dresses more advanced dancers wear, usually two or more colors with lots of fancy, shiny appliqué and embroidery. The dancers who wear them have generally achieved a high level of dance and are therefore looked upon as such. Every dress is different and can be designed especially to the dancer's taste.
T.C.R.G Certified dancing teacher/instructor. Stands for "Teasgicoir Choimisiuin Le Rinci Gaelacha": translation is Gaelic Commission Dancing Teacher. Only dancers from a school that has a certified teacher are allowed to compete at Feisanna. T.M.R.F Certified Ceilidh dance teacher.
Non-certified/registered/accredited teacher The term used to refer to a school/teacher that is not registered with any large Irish dance organization such as An Coimisiun (in Dublin). Dancers who take lessons from a non-certified teacher are not permitted to compete at feiseanna.
Ghillies (gill-eez) Also known as soft shoes. These are the soft leather shoes that lace up the front and are very quiet. A girl's type of ghillie laces up the front and shows the sock underneath, a boys laces up but shows no sock (looks like a regular shoe made of soft flexible black leather) and boys shoes have hard heels which make a loud noise when clicked.
Lead-around Most commonly done in the soft shoe dance, the Reel, but also done in the other dances. A lead-around is a dance step done in a circle, starting at one point, making a circle and ending in place.
Hard shoes/Treble Shoes These shoes are like regular shoes only are constructed firmly and have wedge-shaped toe-pieces made of fiberglass and fiberglass heels. These shoes produce a very loud noise, girls may dress them up a bit by wearing silver buckles. Decorative buckles with rhinestones, colored centers and glitter are becoming very popular.
Ceilidh/Ceilidh dance (kay-lee) A Ceilidh is like a gathering of people, with dancing, music and loads of fun!! Set dancing is done at a Ceilidh, usually danced with a partner and in a specific pattern. Ceilidh dancing is sometimes called figure dancing as well. Some popular Ceilidh dances are the Walls of Limerick, Seige of Ennis, etc.
Adjudicator (ad-joodicate-or) A certified judge at a competition. A.D.C.R.G Certified adjudicator...or, judge. Stands for: "Ard Diploma Choimisiuin Le Rinci Gaelacha", and translated it means "Highest Diploma in Gaelic Dancing."
CURRENT STANDING FEIS RULES-WESTERN CANADAIRISH DANCING TEACHERS ASSOCIATION-WCIDTA
1. Competitions are open to amateurs only. Only students of teachers registered in good standing with the WCIDTA, IDTANA, and An Coimisiun may compete.
2. Competitor age will be determined as of January 1st of the current year.
3. Entry forms are to checked and signed by the registered teacher.
4. Entry fees are as follows:
·Solo Competitions: $4.00 or $5.00 per dance, per competitor
·Figure Dancing: $3.00 per competitor, per team
·Trophy $10.00 per competitor
·Championships: $15.00 or $25.00 per competitor
·Choreography $10.00 per team
5. Music shall be in accordance with regulation metronome speeds.
6. CATEGORIES:
First Feis: A dancer who has never previously competed in a registered competition.
Beginner: A dancer who has not qualified for Advanced Beginner in that particular dance.
Advanced Beginner: A dancer who has received a qualifying place in that particular dance in the Beginner level, but has not yet qualified to move on to Novice in that dance.
Novice: A dancer who has received a qualifying place in that particular dance in the Advanced Beginner level, but has not yet qualified to move on to Prizewinner for that particular dance.
Prizewinner: A dancer who has received a qualifying place in that particular dance in the Novice level, but has not yet qualified to advance to Preliminary Championships.
Beginner/Advanced Beginner Trophy: (Reel 32bars)
Open to dancers who dance the majority of their dances in the Beginner of Advanced Beginner level in solos. A dancer must advance to Novice/Prizewinner Trophy if the receive two first place Trophies in this level, or if the advance in their solo levels.
Novice/Prizewinner Trophy: (Treble Jig, 32 bars, choice of speed)
Open to dancers who dance the majority of their dances in the Novice or Prizewinner levels in solos. Also open to dances that have previously won two first place trophies in the Beginner/Advanced Beginner Trophy Competitions.
Preliminary Championships:
Open to dancers who have won two first place trophies in the Novice/Prizewinner Trophy competition, and who have not previously won two first place Preliminary Championships.
Option A (48 bars of Reel, or 40 bars of Slip Jig, and one Non-Traditional Set Dance)
Option B (one soft shoe/one hard shoe/and one Non-Traditional Set Dance may be danced, in which case, the Feis committee would offer this trophy dance instead of Preliminary solos.
Preliminary Solos: Open to dancers who compete in Preliminary Championships.
Feis Rules Continued –
Open Championships: Open to dancers who have won two first place Preliminary Championships.
Option A (48 bars of Reel, or 40 bars of Slip Jig, 48 bars in Treble Jig or 40 bars in Hornpipe, and one Non-Traditional Set Dance)
Option B (one soft shoe/one hard shoe/and one Non-Traditional Set Dance may be danced, in which case, the Feis committee would offer this trophy dance instead of Open solos.
Open Solos: Open to dancers who compete in Open Championships.
7. Dancers may only dance each dance once, the exception being dancers who are entered in First Feis competitions, who may also dance in Beginner for those dances.
8. In Figure dancing, 50% of a team may be moved to a higher age group to complete a figure- unless special permission has been granted by the Feis Committee. All Ceilidh dances must be performed in accordance with the Official book “An Rince Foirne”
9. A competition may be canceled or combined with a higher age group if there are less than three entries. If there is a large entry, the competition will be split.
10. Dancers should be in the hall 60minutes before scheduled time of the competition.
11. All dancers must be in costume, complete with shoes and number to receive any award on stage.
12. Under no circumstances are the adjudicators or the musicians to be approached during the Feis. The decision of the adjudicator is final.
13. No steel taps or bubble heels allowed. Shoes may be subject to inspection by adjudicators. Costumes must be in accordance with the IDTANA and An Coimisiun guidelines.
14. The Feis committee, the WCIDTA and its parent bodies, and the venue, are not responsible for personal injury, property loss or damage during an event.
15. Protest against breach of rules will be considered if made in writing and signed by the objector. The objection must also be accompanied with a $25.00 fee and reach the committee before prizes are presented. If the complaint is justified, the $25.00 fee will be refunded.
16. Competitors may only compete in a Trophy competition OR a Championship, but not both. Treble Reel Trophies and Specials do not apply in this case.
17. No video equipment shall be allowed in the hall, including digital recording devices. This is a Commission rule.
18. The Feis Committee reserves the right to refuse any entry.
Performance Tips
YOU MUST ALWAYS ARRIVE READY TO A SHOW:
SOCKS ON & GLUED---BLOOMERS ON---PROPER BRA/SPORT BRA---WIG & HEADBAND ON---NO JEWELERY---NO COLORED NAIL POLISH---MAKE-UP DONE (NATURAL OR THEATRE) ---T-SHIRT WITH SLEEVES (MANDATORY TO WEAR UNDER TRADITIONAL COSTUMES)---WEARING SCHOOL GEAR (IF YOU DO NOT OWN SIDA SCHOOL GEAR, YOU MUST BE WEARING A NAVY BLUE HOODIE AND NAVY BLUE SWEAT/TRACK PANTS- we want to look proffessional when we arrive and like we are a team). ARRIVING TOTALLY READY GIVES YOU MORE TIME TO REHEARSE, PLEASE DON’T LET DOWN THE TEAM.
WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING:
COSTUME(S) & ALL ACCESSORIES---BOTH PAIRS OF SHOES (SOFT & HARD)---MASKING TAPE---LIPSTICK & BLUSH---WATER (NO POP)---GLUE---SAFETY PINS---BOBBY PINS---(EXTRAS IF ANY)---ELASTIC LACES FOR SOFT & HARD, IF BEEN INSTRUCTED TO BY MICHELLE---EXTRA LACES (TO TIE BRA---TO TIE WAIST OF TRADITIONAL COSTUME---TO TIE UP T-SHIRT UNDERNEATH THE COSTUME. NO MORE TUCKING YOUR SHIRT INTO YOUR BLOOMERS. NO T-SHIRTS HANGING UNDER WAIST)---HAIRSPRAY.
DANCERS SHOULD PERFORM TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY AND ACT PROFESSIONALLY AT EVENTS SO AS TO REFLECT POSITIVELY ON THE SCHOOL.
HOW TO GET- IRISH DANCING CURLY HAIR
-No conditioner in hair (this weighs it down). Use gel/hairspray to hold curl- recommend ‘Got 2 B’- Curled up.
-Hair does not have to be wet. Dampen it a little as you curl with gel/spray. Curl the whole head (no elastics/clips).
-Less hair per curler the better! Use as many curlers as possible.
-Make sure ends of hair are curled up nicely/smooth or you’ll end up with fuzz. (Perm papers)
-Best to curl hair the night before performance/competition.
-Once you take out curlers, separate each curl into 4 or 5 curls. Adds volume.
-Put sides of hair (above ears) into ½ponytail. Hairspray and you’re ready to dance.
MAKE-UP & HAIR:
Make-up for pictures, performances, or Irish competitions, is very natural: little blush and lipstick. When performing on a theatre stage with bright stage lighting (i.e. year-end show) make-up should be tripled. Black eyeliner, mascara/fake lashes, and lots of blush and lipstick. No jewelry! No watches! No color nail polish!
Irish dancing hair is curly- curlier the better. Sponge curlers work. Spike curlers can be purchased through Michelle/Paula or at competitions. Curling Irons do not work well.
FEIS TIPS from FVIDA
Please note that parents are not permitted to accompany their children to the backstage area. Parents should remind their children that proper behavior during a Feis is encouraged. Prior to competing, even in the line-up backstage, each dancer is visible to the adjudicators and should behave accordingly. Also, please note that make-up should be very light or none at all. Please no “theatre show” make-up.
Wishing you a rainbow; for sunlight after showers—Miles and miles of Irish smiles, for golden happy hours—Shamrocks at your doorway, for luck and laughter too, and a host of friends that never ends - Each day your whole life through! | 
