Competition Basics

Before I get into Irish dance competitions, I just want to give you a few definitions of common words heard throughout the Irish dance world.

• A.D.C.R.G.: Ard Diploma Coimisiuin le Rinci Gaelacha (Commission Certified Irish dance Adjudicator)
• An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha: the Irish dancing commission
• Feis (fesh): an Irish step-dancing competition
• Fesianna (fesh-eena): more than one feis
• Oireachtas (uh-rock-tas): major regional, national, and international Irish dance competitions
• T.C.R.G.: Teagascóir Choimisiúin le Rinci Gaelacha (Commission Certified Irish dance Teacher)

Fesianna are held throughout the country all the time. You could go to two fesianna a weekend if you didn’t mind traveling a little. In order to qualify to compete, a dancer must be enrolled in classes taught by a certified TCRG or ADCRG.

At a competition, there are various levels of competition.

• Beginner: dancers that have been dancing for less than a year
• Advanced Beginner: dancers that have been dancing more than a year
• Novice: dancers that have won 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in an advanced beginner competition
• Prizewinner: has won 1st place in all novice-level dances
• Preliminary Championship: has won 1st place in all prizewinner dances
• Open Championship: has won 3 1st places in the preliminary championship level

At a feis, dancers under the age of 14 will dance with two other competitors on the stage at the same time. Most American competitions use live musicians that play from the side of the stage.

These smaller fesianna are a great opportunity for young dancers to make friends with dancers from other schools. They also give dancers a chance to learn what to improve in their weekly classes, as well as gives them confidence in their dancing abilities.

Sources:

An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha. (2008). An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha – The Irish Dancing Commission. Retrieved March 23, 2008 from http://www.clrg.ie/english/home.php

Free Dictionary. (2008). ADCRG. Retrieved March 23, 2008 from http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/ADCRG

Free Dictionary. (2008). TCRG. Retrieved March 23, 2008 from http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/TCRG

Friend, Pat. (2001). An Irish Feis – Competition in Dance. Retrieved March 23, 2008 from http://allaboutirish.com/library/dance/feis.shtm