Competitive Irish Dance Program

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What are the levels?  

Beginner 1, Beginner 2, Novice, Prizewinner, Preliminary Championships, and Open Championships.  

How do I move up to the next level?  

The only way to move up to the next level is to compete at a Feis (pronounced “Fesh”, meaning festival in Irish) and place according to the advancement guidelines set forth by the CLRG Irish dance governing body.  

Below are the rules for advancement in Irish dance competitions through the Western Region governing body within the CLRG.  

First feis:  

First Feis is not per dance; it is the first Feis ever for the dancer. They are allowed only one First Feis regardless of how many dances they are participating in. Dancers may only enter First Feis once, even in the case of back-to-back Feiseanna.  

In Beginner 1, Beginner 2, and Novice, the following will apply:  

• 5 - 9 dancers: 1st place will advance to the next grade.  

• 10 or more dancers: 1st and 2nd places will advance to the next grade.  

• Dancers may not stay in the level at the teacher's discretion, except for back-to-back feiseanna.  

Prizewinner:  

• Advancement from Prizewinner to Preliminary Championship is at the teacher's discretion.  

Preliminary to Open Championship:  

• Must have 3 overall wins with 5 or more dancers, not at teacher discretion.  

• Upon winning the 3rd overall win in the Preliminary Championships, a dancer must move immediately to the Open Championships, even in the case of back-to-back Feiseanna. This includes 2-round and 3-round Preliminary Championships.  

Adults:  

• Dancers who started after the age of 18, or who have been out of competitions for 5 years, are eligible to compete in the adult category.  

Advanced Adults:  

• An Advanced Adult dancer is defined as anyone age 18 or older who has previously placed in the top 3 of a Prelim Championship or competed in Open Champ levels in the youth/&over categories, regardless of when the competitor was active.  

How do I register for a feis?  

Visit www.feisworx.com to register for all feisianna. You will register your dancer and pay the fees for regular competitions. If participating in major competitions, your dance teacher will sign you up, and you will pay the fees as a team.  

What do I wear to compete?  

Beginner levels will wear our school beginner costume, which consists of a red skirt and a black leotard, with poodle socks and a red bow for girls OR a black dress shirt and black pants with a red tie for boys.  

Teams will wear the team skirt, black leotard, black tights, and team wig (for girls), OR a team vest, black shirt, red tie, and black pants (for boys).  

Novice/Prizewinner levels can either wear their team attire or a solo dress/vest with teacher approval.  

Prelim and Open Championship dancers wear solo dresses or blackout attire.  

When can I get a solo dress/vest?  

You may acquire a solo dress/vest when you have at least half of your dances in Novice. Solo costumes are optional, but they are highly encouraged if you attend majors.  

What is the teams class?  

The teams class is a competitive dance training course for teams at local, regional, national, and world competitions. We will learn traditional Ceili dances for competition in this class, usually competing with 4-hand or 8-hand teams. We conduct tryouts in early spring for the upcoming year’s teams.  

When can I start teams?  

You are invited to teams by one of our teachers, typically when you have your light shoe dances in Beginner 2/Novice.  

What are the major competitions?  

The major competitions for teams and solos are the Oireachtas (regionals), Nationals, and World Championship. Regionals will be located in the Western US. Different areas host this competition each year, so the location varies. Nationals take place in the United States or Canada, with regions taking turns hosting the event.  

What are the requirements to go to the Oireachtas?  

The Oireachtas is by invitation only. Dancers who participate on a team also have the option to compete in a solo championship or traditional set. If you attend the Oireachtas, you are required to be on a team; solo competition is only permitted if you are on a team.  

How do I qualify for Nationals or World Championships?  

To qualify for Nationals, you need to be an open champion dancer or qualify at the Oireachtas. You are welcome to compete at Nationals without being on a team. To compete at the World Championships, you must qualify at either the Oireachtas or Nationals and are not required to be on a team.  

Why do competitive Irish Dance?  

Participation in competitive Irish dance provides many benefits. It teaches students to set goals and work towards achieving them, promotes teamwork through supporting one another, and fosters a sense of community and shared memories among those who love dance. At Rise Academy, we strive to cultivate an environment where dancers can not only reach their goals in competitions but also grow personally. This experience instills the values of gracious winning and losing, encourages dancers to explore new challenges, and emphasizes enjoying the journey regardless of the outcome.