Is Irish Dance for anyone?

Yes, anyone age 5 and above can learn Irish Dance! All you need is the desire to dance.

At what age can I enroll my child?

Each child is unique. Your child is ready to start dancing when they can take instructions and participate in a focused setting. The child will need to be 5 years of age to begin taking classes.

Does my dancer need a uniform for class?

Not exactly, be sure to wear your academy t-shirt, shorts, dance shoes and pull your hair back. Your instructor needs to see your face and legs while in class.

What type of shoes do I need?

Beginners only require one pair of shoes, soft shoes. Everyone else is required to wear two pairs of dance shoes, ghillie's or reel shoes and hard shoes.

Irish dancing shoes are unique in many ways. There are two types of shoes worn by an Irish dancer. Beginners start in soft shoes or ghillie's. They are made of soft leather with long laces that tie around the arch of the foot.  Boys wear jazz shoes with a heel with a fiberglass tip. Soft shoes do not have any kind of toe support. Dancers must rely on the strength of their foot muscles to keep them high on their toes.

Irish dance shoes are form fitting and should not be purchased with too much room to grow because the dancer will not be able to execute the dances and additional room could allow for injury. Hard shoes are leather shoes with fiberglass tips and heels that produce tapping sounds.

There are a number of brands of soft and hard shoes all with their own pros and cons. It comes down to personal preference and comfort. Shoes may be ordered directly from the manufacturers online. Please show the shoes to the teacher for approval BEFORE wearing them. You may also purchase or sell used shoes on our Apparel Page.

I'm waiting to see my child perform, how much longer?

Many dancers are ready to compete in their first feis after attending class for approximately 6 - 9 months. You need to have learned at least two steps of the reel and/or light jig, Jeanne or Patrick will let you know when you are ready to compete.

Often throughout the year there are opportunities to perform, especially around the St. Patrick's Day season. Please refer to our News Page for upcoming events and required attire.

What is a Feis?
A Feis (pronounced ‘fesh’) is an Irish word and by definition, it means “festival” with activities including dancing, language, singing, story telling, essay writing, arts and crafts and other aspects of Irish culture. The plural form is ”Feiseanna.”  If the event only includes dancing it is called a “feile” (‘fay-lee’).

Feis History 101:  In a Nutshell The history of the feis is an ancient one, dating back to the time of the Viking raids of Ireland in the 10th century A.D.  History does not record that dancing competitions were included in the Feiseanna of the 10th century.  Then, the feis was primarily a blend of political, cultural, and trade events, featuring music, sports, storytelling, and crafts.1  Everything, except the politics, is included in Feiseanna today, although some might say that politics is still very much a part of the feis experience!

References to the “jig” have been found in ancient Ireland so we know that the Celts were dancing the jig early in their Irish history.  The first reference to Irish dancing in literature is from the 1500’s, and history also records that Elizabeth I enjoyed Irish dancing in her court.  

It was not until the 1750’s that Irish dancing began to flourish with the dawn of the Dance Masters.  In those days, villages would hold competitions in which the winner was chosen based upon the number of steps he knew, not based on how well the steps were executed.  That is definitely a major contrast with today’s Feiseanna, where technique dominates all judging! 

During the 1800’s, dancers would compete in a “cake dance” with the best dancer “taking the cake.”  The “cake walk” of today is a variation of this theme.

The advent of modern Irish step dancing began in 1893 when the Gaelic League was formed to promote the renewal of Irish language, music, dancing, and culture in general. The Irish Dancing Commission was founded thereafter to establish rules for teaching, judging, and competitions.  Beginning in the 1920’s and 1930’s, each dance school had its own costume, which was followed by solo costumes for champion dancers in the 1950’s. As the adage goes, the rest is history!

1John P. Cullinane, Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing, 1987.

 

 

What can a parent expect at the first Feis?
The first step is to sign up, and for most Feiseanna you can sign-up and pay online. You'll need to check the following sites for the particular competition you are registering for. Find your school name "McGrath - Pearson Academy" and register at your appropriate age and level.

eFeis

Feisworx

All the hard work in Irish dance is done at the studio before you go to a feis. Along with the dances, Jeanne and Patrick will have instructed the students on how to stand, how to listen for cues, and how to carry themselves on stage. The feis is a celebration of all that hard work in the form of friendly competition with other students from other schools at the same level and ability.

An important note: The Instructors in the school do their job at the studio. Tuition payments cover the studio teaching time and access to the materials and skills that the instructor can pass on. At a competition, the instructors are on their own, volunteer time. While every effort will be made to be at competitions, it is not guaranteed.  Please be respectful of the fact that the instructors are not there solely to see the students dance. It is an opportunity for them to network with colleagues from different schools and to watch dancers from other schools to see where the school stands in the world of competitive Irish dance. The instructors are not “coaches” like in a soccer match. They will be supportive to the dancers, but all the work will have been done before the student gets to the feis. Enjoy the day and allow the instructors to enjoy it. Remember – they are “off-the-clock”.

Your first Feis can be a bit overwhelming, what with all the music, dancers, and parents running around. It can seem like a madhouse. For the most part, it is an ‘organized madhouse’.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Most local Feiseanna will not allow you to bring in coolers, but most people bring in snacks. Most Feiseanna have food venders.

• No one may speak to, give signs, or prompt a competitor. Violation may lead to disqualification of the competitor.

• You should never approach the adjudicators, only feis committee members.

• One last thing, there is no video taping or flash photography allowed at Feiseanna.

Remember – a feis is to Irish dance classes what a soccer game is to practice. A feis allows each dancer to perform with other students from other cities and try for his/her personal best.

Get to your stage earlier than you think you need to be there. Each competition will have a varied numbers of dancers, so it is difficult to determine how long each will take. If you miss your competition, there is no chance to make it up! Check in with the stage manager just before your competition. When your competition begins, the stage manager will direct you to line up across the back of the stage. Typically, dancers from the same school will be separated. If there are a large number of competitors, you will be divided into smaller groups. Expect a LIVE musician to be playing for each stage. Competitors will dance two to three at a time. At the beginner level, there is usually a stage helper to que each pair of dancers. When you have finished your two steps, it is customary to bow to the judge and musician and then return to the line. When all dancers are finished, the judge will indicate that you may leave the stage, and all dancers leave together. Important: Never approach a judge with questions, problems or complaints! All communication should be directed to the stage manager, feis staff person, or your dance teacher. Results for each competition are usually posted at a central location. The results will list the competitor number(s) for each place awarded. If your number or name is listed on the results chart, you should go the awards table to claim your medal. At most Feiseanna you can request your actual scores. Usually this is done at a separate table and costs a few dollars. Sometimes they are available immediately; otherwise they are mailed to you in a week or two. Typically they list your score and the scores for the first three places. They will also have any comments that the judges may have written. REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN! Competing in a feis is a learning experience! For many dancers, it takes a few competitions before they feel comfortable. It is also important to realize that each judge has his/her own opinion, and that each competition is really a “snapshot” of your dancing at that particular moment on that particular day. Only by entering several Feiseanna can you see if there are any consistencies (good or bad) in your dancing by checking the similarities in the scores/ comments you receive at each feis. FINALLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU SHOULD HAVE FUN!  You have worked hard, and a feis is a great chance to share your skills and talent. You get to meet a lot of dancers from around the country and develop lasting friendships. It is also nice to support the other dancers from your school. It is expected that whenever a student performs that they are feis ready. That means that regardless of whether it is a small performance or a large competition, the dancers must wear full costume, including having hair either curled or wearing a curly wig, and apply appropriate make-up. When you purchase a beginner costume or school dress, you will be instructed on the appropriate way to wear your hair and do your make-up.

What is an Oireachtas?

An Oireachtas (pronounced (Or-rock-tus) is a regional world-qualifying championship event held each year the 1st weekend of December. It can be compared to the Olympic trials for the Olympic games. Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Nashville and Washington D.C. are all in the Southern US Region and participate in the Southern US Regional Oireachtas. Participation in the Oireachtas is by invitation only. Generally, a dancer must be in preliminary championship in order to compete in solos. However, you may however be asked to participate in team dancing before you reach preliminary championship level.

Is there a specific etiquette for performances?

It is importance that the school presents itself in an extremely professional manner.  Listed below are guidelines for doing a performance with the school.

• If you commit to a show, you are expected to perform. In case of an emergency, please contact the dancer/parent/instructor in charge. 
• Find out ahead of time how to get to the location of the performance. Google Maps are great! Allow adequate travel time for traffic jams, accidents and rush hour.
• Arrive at the location 30 - 45 minutes ahead of time to allow for practice and any last minute changes that may need to be made.
• Arrive for the show “Feis-ready”. Socks, wigs, make-up, and boy’s ties should be on before arrival.
• Dress and un-dress in a private room, preferably a restroom. Never dress or undress in front of others, even if you are wearing shorts, tee shirt or sports bra.
• Remember to be inconspicuous before and after the show. This means we should try to keep our voices down and pickup after ourselves.
• Follow the show schedule exactly as outlined by Jeanne or Patrick. No changes are allowed without prior permission.
• Don’t expect to be treated as a guest since we are there to do a job.
• Have fun and Smile!!! 
• Remember, everything we do and say reflects on the school, so lets make it positive and professional.

How do I know which stage costume to buy?

There are three types of costume for female dancers – a beginner costume, a school jumper dress and the full dress:

Beginner Costume: 1st year students only
A black pleated skirt with black bloomers, white blouse, shawl and headband, poodle socks and shoes complete the beginner costume.   The shawl and headband are custom made and there may be a waiting list. Please contact our seamstress.  

Jumper Dress: Available to all dancers who have not yet reached the Novice level, up to 12 years of age and less than 4' 6" tall.
Every Irish dance school, wherever it is located, has a unique costume. Our jumper dress is black, white and teal with a shawl Head band and embroidery. These dresses are handmade and are available by contacting our seamstress.

Full Dress: Please be advised that there is a waiting list. It is expected that you will sell the dress back to the school once your dancer is finished with it. The full dresses are worn up to and including Prizewinner level and for all team dancing.

Solo Costumes
As dancers advance in competitive dancing, many wish to have their own solo costume in addition to their team dress. The solo costume is a sign that a dancer has achieved a high level of skill. A solo costume can only be considered once a dancer has a number of their dances in the prizewinner category and has moved all of their dances out of the novice category. Solo costumes can be very expensive ranging from $500 up to $3,000 but are extremely unique and handmade. Second hand dresses are usually available at Feiseanna (competition). Consult with the Director before purchasing any solo dress.

How do I take care of the dresses?

Regarding the Jumper and Full Dresses: These dresses are made from 100% polyester fabrics (including the satin).  Spot cleaning is recommended – a few drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid in some water and rubbing the spot with a clean, soft-bristle toothbrush. Underarm and larger areas can be immersed if necessary.  Be sure to rinse thoroughly to remove all soap and hang up to dry.

DO NOT immerse the entire dress or wash it in a washer.  This is due to the fabrics, interfacing and stiffeners used on these dresses. Washing will cause the the fabrics to bleed, wrinkle or shrink.  If it becomes necessary to clean the entire dress, check with dry cleaners and make sure they have capability of taking care of such “specialty” items. And DO NOT iron these dresses.  Since these fabrics are all 100% polyester, hanging the dresses will allow for most wrinkles to fall out.  SOLO (CHAMPION) DRESSES: Extra care should be taken with these dresses.  Since the fabrics used to make these dresses can vary, the care of these dresses will differ.  If the dresses are made with the same type of fabrics as previously described (polyester), then spot cleaning is recommended in the affected area(s).  However, dresses made from acetate satin are a bit more problematic.  Water can leave stains (water marks) on this type of satin. Dry cleaning would be more readily recommended for these dresses, again, with care being taken to use a dry cleaner capable of handling Specialty items.  Try to avoid dry cleaning wherever and whenever possible and for as long as possible.  The chemicals used to dry clean can deteriorate the fabrics quicker.

I used to Irish Dance with another school, how do I enroll with your school, and does the waiting period still apply before I can compete?

We welcome all new students and look forward to enjoying your knowledge of Irish Dance. Please call us at 540-322-2123 or send us an enrollment request. If you currently dance with another school and are contemplating a change to our school, please give Jeanne or Patrick a call before you leave your current school. Be advised that if you choose to transfer from another local school, you must wait for a 6 month period before you can compete.

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