Feiseanna

What's a Feis?

Pronounced FESH, it is an an Irish festival. Irish dancing competitions are held in solo and group dancing at all ages and levels. At many feiseanna, there are also competitions in music, song, art, and even baking! Feiseanna (pronounced FESH-uh-nuh) can be held almost anywhere, from hotels to schools to fair grounds or arenas. Generally, they are hosted by a dance school from the area.

Dancers participating for the first time may find some first feis tips helpful. Check out: http://angelfire.com/ri/irishdance/1stfeis.html.

Hair

Dancers are to curl their hair or have a wig (see rules below). Curl hair at least 24 hours before the first dance. Curl the entire head; do not put their hair in elastic first. Start with clean, dry hair. Wet hair will not curl. Take strands of hair, spray with spray gel, place a curl paper at the end and wind up the curler. Do this until the entire head has as many curlers as you can fit. Give the hair one quick spray and let the curlers do their magic. The following morning, depending what time your dancer dances and how long it takes to take out the curlers, you can either take them out at home or at the feis. Do not wait until the last minute, however, it takes almost as long to take them out as it does to get them in. Once all the curlers are out, wind straggly ones around your finger to fix them and spray with hair spray. Do not spray with the gel as its too heavy when the hair is out and down from the curlers. I hope this helps. The best curlers are spikes, which you can get from Rosemary O'Brien — 591-3764; the next best are the sponge curlers. Whatever you do, DO NOT USE VELCRO CURLERS. Good luck!

If you are ready to purchase a wig, please speak to the teacher(s) for recommendations on the style, colour, and size that would best suit you as well as the names/contact information for various retailers.

Costumes

Dress Rules

The style of dress you wear depends on what level you are in for your solo dances. There are new rules in place that Trillium must adhere to. Any dancer in beginner or advanced beginner must wear a school dress. Hair may be curled but no wigs or makeup are allowed. Dancers in novice through to championship levels are allowed to wear their solo costume and wig, if you have them, and makeup for solo dances. For split level dancers please talk to your teacher.

Costumes

Dancers competing in any feis require a proper Irish Dance costume whether it's a Trillium Academy costume or a solo costume, provided we follow the above mentioned rules. If you need a new costume or if your costume no longer fits please let your teacher know as soon as possible so we may arrange to have another made for you. Dancers who rented costumes should return those the week following the feis. All rentals were based on the dance year, Sept to May. Please note that Trillium Academy will no longer be renting costumes after May 2005. Dancers who wish to buy out their costume can talk to their teacher to find out the remaining owing in order to keep the costume for future shows and competitions.

Dancers in levels above Novice should have a solo costume with all its additions such as hair stuff, socks, etc.

Figure dresses for girls

Beginner/Advanced beginner: green princess line or fully embroidered costumes with bubble socks.
Novice: green velvet dress with tights.

Boys

All male dancers need a pair of black trousers, black socks and a white dress shirt with a dark tie.

Be Prepared!

Make sure to also bring a tank top to wear under your dance costume and shorts to slip in and out of. You can bet it will get hot in those costumes. Be careful not to eat in costumes, they are an expensive item to soil. Also make sure to have your dancers name on their shoes for the same reason.

Here's a checklist so you'll be totally prepared on feis day...

In your dance bag:

• A pen
• Safety pins
• Hair Spray
• A Bag For Your Curlers
• A Hairnet
• Scrunchies/Headband
• Bobby Pins
• Water Bottle
• School Dress — make sure your shawl is ironed
• Solo Dress (if you have one)
• Bloomers
• Poodle Socks/Tights
• Hard and Softshoes (clean and polished)
• Snacks
• Something to do in between dances
• if the feis you are attending has a web site, download the stage assignments before the day, find and circle your dances — the only thing left to do after picking up your number, will be to find your stage(s)

Upcoming Feiseanna

For a complete list of all North American Feiseanna being held this year, click here.

Please ensure that if you are going to a feis that Patty or Kathleen checks your entry form before mailing it.

Oireachtas

An Oireachtas (say 'u-ruk-tas') is a major Irish dancing Championship. There are competitions in Solo dancing as well as Ceilis, Figures and sometimes Dance Drama (where a story is told through the dance). 'The Oireachtas' is usually used to refer to the regional championship, although any major championship at regional level or above is an Oireachtas.

You can not enter an oireachtas without teacher's permission, and unlike a regular feis, your teacher sends in the entry form, not the dancer. Dancers must be medal winners in Open competition to compete.

The competitions in an Oireachtas are divided, as at a feis, into age-groups, and they are judged by a panel of three or more adjudicators. In some regions there is a separate panel of judges for each dance, so someone who recalls will end up dancing in front of nine adjudicators (someone who doesn't will dance for six).

Dancers perform two dances, combinations can be Slip Jig & Heavy Jig, or Reel & Hornpipe. Both dances are performed then the scores are then combined. The top dancers are asked back to perform again, doing a 'recall'. This must be a Set Dance, except in the youngest age-groups, which will perform the opposite of their first heavy dance.

Once the Set dances have been performed all the scores are added for each dancer, and are then converted to places and 'Irish Points' using a traditional but complex scoring system which has been in use since the early 20th century.

Regional Oireachtas are the event where dancers can qualify to dance at the next years World Championships. The number of dancers that qualify depends on the total number of dancers in the age-group. Only dancers from that region may compete in the Oireachtas.

National Championships are the next step up, and are on a much larger scale. Although they are termed 'National', they are more international, as many dancers travel overseas to compete in another country's Nationals. The only exceptions are Australia and New Zealand, who closed their Nationals to overseas competitors.

The All Ireland Championships, or Oireachtas Rince na hEireann, are Ireland's National Championship, however they have become so large, with so many dancers from other countries, that they are now considered a 'mini-worlds'.

The World Championships, or Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, are the highest level championships. They are held annually at Easter and you must qualify at your regional Oireachtas to be able to enter. It is the most prestigious competition in An Coimisiun.