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First Feis Tips
What is a Feis?
A feis is an Irish
Dance Competition. It is loud, crowded, very crowded, exciting,
exasperating, exhilarating, fun, and tiring. A feis rarely runs on time.
Filling Out
the Feis Entry Form
There are four things you must know when completing a feis registration
form for your child.
1) Send in your forms
early. Irish dancing is very popular and competitions reach their caps
quickly.
2) Know the level at which your child is dancing. An Coimisiun le Rinci
Gaelacha (the governing body for Irish Dancing) has set guidelines for
levels and level advancement. The T.C.R.G. (Certified Irish Dance
Teacher) of your individual school can require stricter guidelines.
Beginner A dancer
who is in their first year. They have not taken Irish Dance classes with
a certified teacher prior to September 1st of the current year. Summer
beginner workshops do NOT affect beginner status.
Advanced Beginner
Dancers move to Advanced Beginner the 2nd year of their classes (or
earlier at the discretion of the teacher).
Novice A dancer who
has placed 1st or 2nd as an Advanced Beginner in reel, light jig, and
slip jig in a feis sanctioned by the North American Feis Commission (N.A.F.C.)
of five competitors or more.
Prizewinner A
dancer who has placed 1st in all four required dances as a Novice dancer
in a feis sanctioned by the N.A.F.C. of five competitors or more.
Preliminary Champion
A dancer who has placed 1st in all four required dances as a Prizewinner
dancer in a feis sanctioned by the N.A.F.C. of five competitors or more.
Open Champion: A
dancer who has placed 1st in two competitions sanctioned by the N.A.F.C.
of five competitors or more.
With a few higher level exceptions, level advancement is not mandatory
after the requirements are met.
3) Know your child’s “feis age.” The feis age is the age of your child
as of January 1st of the current year (not necessarily the age that your
child is at the time the form is completed). This can be confusing at
first but ask a more seasoned parent or your teacher.
4) Know the names of the dances in which your child is ready to compete
(Check with your teacher to confirm readiness of your child).
As a rule, the dances are as follows-
Beginner: reel,
light jig, slip jig
Advanced Beginner:
reel, light jig, slip jig, and, if over 8 years old, treble jig and
hornpipe
Novice, Prizewinner, Preliminary
Champion, Open Champion: reel, slip jig, hornpipe, treble
jig, traditional set, treble reel, and/or contemporary set
What to
expect at a Feis.
At Beginner,
Advanced Beginner, Novice, and Prizewinner levels, dancers will compete
on a stage two-at-a-time and dance two full steps (right and left foot).
Your dancer will NOT dance with someone from their own school, and the
other dancers will be doing different steps. While it is important to be
aware of the other dancers, they must learn to focus on their own steps
without getting distracted by other dancers.
What are the Judges Looking for?
The main thing that
the judges look for are body carriage, step execution (not difficulty of
steps), timing, foot turnout, and rhythm. These are the basics of Irish
Dance and will be covered in classes.
Remember, Irish Dance is a subjective sport. What is important to one
judge may not be the focus of another. Stay positive, work hard, and
keep the awards and placements in perspective.
Getting Ready-Curling Hair for Competition
Dancers are permitted to wear wigs.
It is traditional and required in Irish Dance to curl hair for
competitions. Old fashioned foam curlers or Irish Spikes work best. If
you need help or recommendations with hair please refer to your teacher.
The Night Before
In your dance bag you will want to make sure you
have:
-
An extra pair of poodle socks
-
Your softshoes and hardshoes
-
Some black electrical tape (for your hardshoes)
-
A Water Bottle and Some healthy snacks (Powerbars for energy,
some fruit in little baggies)
-
An Ace bandage - you never know what will happen!
-
Poodle sock glue (works wonders!)
-
A tape of Irish dance music to listen to in the car to make sure
you've got the music just right in your head
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A pen to write down all your stages and competition numbers
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A safety pin to pin your number on.
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Some money for the vendors
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Bobby Pins for the Wig.
What you want to make sure you do:
-
Have your dress/kilt hanging somewhere where you'll find it
first thing when you wake up
-
Put your dance bag by the front door so you don't forget it
-
Practice each of your dances 3-4 times to music. It's the
display of your steps that matters now (are your feet crossed? Are
your toes pointed?) and your timing.
-
Girls take a shower early so your mom can get the wig on.
Do not wash your hair, wear a shower cap. The wig will hold
better.
-
Go to sleep a little earlier than usual in case you're really
worked up (as most dancers get!)
Feis Day!
Take things slow. Get up early enough so that you don't have to rush.
Eat something for breakfast and try to keep yourself as calm as
possible. Don't worry about what will happen that day!
Some things you want to do are:
Pack your car: Dress and Dance Bag
-
Fill up your water bottle with ice and water, then stick it by
the door so you don't forget it (because if you don't you WILL
forget it! I always do.)
-
If you want to save time, put your poodle socks and softshoes on
before you leave for the feis and then wear sandals over them when
you go out. (Boys can do this too if they want with their shoes.)
-
Leave your house early, giving yourself enough time to reach the
feis at least 30 minutes before the solo dances begin
At the feis:
-
Go to the registration desk and get your number
-
Get your competition #'s and stages off of your number card and
write them down
-
Pin or string the number to your costume
-
Go check out the locations of your stages so you have a mental
picture of where you need to travel between dances
-
Go to your first stage and listen to the music (if solos have
begun already.) It's imperative that you get used to the music
they're playing for your competition because it will probably differ
from the music you danced to at class
-
Practice your dance to the music that's being played once or
twice
-
Get dressed and ready for your competition.
When it's your turn to
compete:
-
Check in at your stage when your competition number is up on the
board. Make sure you get there early and check in early so they
don't mark you as not there!
-
Try to look as secure as possible walking onto the stage; don't
look like you're about to pee your pants even if you feel like you
are! ;)
-
Walk onto the stage with your feet crossed, one in front of the
other. This makes you look more confident and makes the judge think
you know what you're doing
-
Stand in line with your feet crossed, your back straight, and
your shoulders back. Look like the champion you are!
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DON'T TALK IN LINE!!!
-
When it's your turn to compete, step forward and to your left
with your feet crossed one in front of the other. Try to smile.
Remember to point your toe on the 5-7th beat and get up onto your
tippy toes on the 8th beat. Then dance your heart out!
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Don't look at the girls dancing next to you, it might make you
out of step.
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Eye contact with the judge is important. This shows confidence
on your part
-
RELAX! Smile and have a good time! Put some serious spirit into
your dancing! You're doing something you love so show it!
-
When you're done, make sure you're facing the judge. Give a
nice, deep bow with a great big SMILE and walk back into line with
your feet crossed, one in front of the other.
-
Walk off the stage with your feet crossed also and rigid arms.
Never let yourself look sloppy until you're off the stage.
Things to always
remember:
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Be prepared to lose. We all like
to win, but sometimes you just don't. Don't go in thinking to
yourself that you will just die if you don't place. Just being there
at the feis is an accomplishment!
-
Dance for the fun of it. Always tell yourself "Even if I
don't place, I'll still have fun." You don't have to get first place
to be the best dancer. If you have your heart in it, you're a
champion in my book!
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Try to relax and have a good time while you're competing.
No one is watching you to laugh at you. All the other dancers
watching you are mentally cheering you on! They know what it feels
like to be in your shoes.
-
And if you're a beginner, don't be intimidated by the older,
more advanced dancers. You'll be as good or better than them
someday! If you feel like you really want to do those pretty steps,
try not to. Just be good at your own steps. I have that problem all
the time. It's not fancy steps that make the good dancer, it's the
dancer that does the simple steps good. I've seen dancers doing
really advanced steps who execute them pitifully. Be good along the
way and don't wish yourself into another level to be like them!
To view and print the above info in a word document click
here FeisTips
Classes are held in
Rockland County, New York.
The School is located at the:
Dance Central Performing Arts Studio
46 East Central Avenue
Pearl River, NY 10965
Information on classes may be obtained
by calling
Ellen Riordan TCRG
at
Studio (845) 620-9092 or Cell (201) 376-7645
Or
click on the Irish
Dancer to Email us
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