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Competition Rules

1. General

1. Feiseanna are open to ALL dancers from ALL organisations in the world.
2. In matters pertaining to dance the adjudicators decision is final.
3. If someone wants to object to an adjudicator's decision the objection has to be presented in writing on the day of the feis together with a fee of 15 €. If the objection is upheld, the fee will be returned; if not, the fee goes to W.I.D.A.
4. Musicians employed by the Feis Committee will be solely under the direction and management of the Feis Committee on the day of the feis.

2. Conduct at feis

1. No smoking, drinking of alcohol or use of hairspray in the dancing hall.
2. The use of flash, videos, digital or motion picture cameras is prohibited except during award presentations, introduction and breaks. This is in accordance with child protection laws and prevents misuse
3. Musicians and adjudicators may not be approached except by the Feis Committee.
4. Teachers, parents, instructors are not allowed to give instruction or direction to dancers while they are competing.
5. Only competitors in the current event and the Feis Committee are allowed at side stage during a competition.

3. Competitions

1. Age group is determined by age as of January 1^st of the current year. I.e. if a dancer is 14 years of age on Januariy 1st they dance under 15 for the year.
2. Beginner, Primary and Intermediate Competitions are open to those dancers who have not moved up from that respective grade in that dance for any organisation.
3. Dancers may  participate in two grade per dance at a feis in the samce age group. E. G. Beginner and Rimary for the Reel under 25 (except Oireachtasi - one grade per dance).    
   Dancers may only participate in one premiership at a feis (escept Oireachtasi - Participation in Intermediate Premiership and Open Championship is allowed at Oireachtasi)
4. In grade competitions where there are 20 or more dancers competing in any dance, the competition will be split into an "A" and a "B" competition. The split will be determined by date of birth.
5. In Beginners competitions where there are 15 or more participants dancers who place 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd will move up, where there are 10-14 participants dancers who place 1^st or 2^nd will move up and where there are 5-9 participants dancers who place 1^st will move up.
6. In Primary competitions where there are 10 or more participants dancers who place 1^st or 2^nd will move up, where there are 5-9 participants dancers who place 1^st will move up.
7. In Intermediate competitions where there are 5 or more participants dancers who place 1^st will move up.
8. The Feis Committee reserve the right to merge, cancel or add age groups and competitions on the day of the feis.
9. Amended / merged competitions and age groups will count for grade promotion purposes.
10. Awards will be determined in proportion to the number of competitors.
11. Dancers must be in FULL costume including shoes when receiving awards.
12. Dancers and teams must dance in numerical order.
13. Céilí teams may only have 50% of the team from a younger age group.
14. Dancers can not dance two of the same figure dance in the same age group. For example, if a dancer dances an U25 2hand, she can not exit the stage and dance another 2hand in the U25 age group.
15. Figures can either be traditional book dances or individually choreographed dances.
16. Figures can be danced to any soft shoe music
17. Figures must be done in soft shoes. Dancing a fingure dance in hard shoes will result in immediate disqualification.

Premiership / Championship Rules

Beginner: Beginner Premiership is for all dancers who are in beginner grade for their reel. A dancer who moves out of the Beginner Reel must dance the Primary Premiership at the next feis.

Primary: A dancer may only dance Primary Premiership if they are in Primary for 4 Dances or have moved out of the Beginner Reel.

Intermediate: A dancer may only dance Intermediate Premiership if they are in Intermediate for 4 dances.

Championship: A dancer may only dance a Championship if they are in Open for 4 dances.

4. Steps

1. Dancers in all levels have to dance 32 bars in the respective dance, excepting the Traditional Set.
2. Participants in the Open Championships have to dance 40 bars in the Slip Jig and Hornpipe and 48 bars in the Reel and Treble Jig.
3. All Traditional and Modern Sets are danced Step on right and left and Set on right only.
4. Movements on the points (toe stands, toe walks etc.) are not allowed for dancers for dancers under 11 as of January 1stof the current year.
5. In beginners competitions the following movements are allowed:
   Skips, threes, sevens, hops, jump over / leap, cuts, points, single heels, jump, stamp, toes (at the back, no weight), kick the heel (as in St. Patrick's Day).
   Rocks are only allowed in St. Patrick's Day.
6. In primary competitions the following movements in addition to the beginners material are allowed:
   Front clicks, through clicks (passing clicks), rocks, quarter turns.
7. Not adhering to the guidelines given in 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6 will result in deduction of points and the respective dancer cannot place 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd.
8. In intermediate and open competitions all movements are allowed.
9. Single jigs and light jig steps may only be comprised of basic moves regardless of the level. The allowed moves are: Skips, threes, sevens, hops, jump over / leap, cuts points, single heels, jump, stamp, toes (at the back, no weight), kick the heel (as in St. Patrick's Day).
10. In Céili dances teams must dance either basic jump over 2,3s for the dance or a combination of promenade step and jump back 2,3s. Teams must not combine Jump over 2,3s wirh promenade step or jump back 2,3s. Teams that fail to follow this rule will be placed at the bottom of a result.

5. Speed

1. Dancers in beginners competitions have to dance to beginners speed.
2. The Reel and Slip Jig in primary and intermediate competitions are danced to open speed.
3. Participants in primary competitions can choose either beginners or open speed for the Treble Jig and the Hornpipe.
4. Adults in any age group over 35 can choose either beginners or open speed for the Treble Jig and the Hornpipe. 
5. Speed should be as follows:
   • Beginners Reel, Light Jig, Slip Jig, Single Jig: 121
   • Beginners Treble Jig: 85
   • Beginners Hornpipe: 128
   • Open Reel, Slip Jig, Hornpipe: 113
   • Open Treble Jig: 73
   Variations may occur on day of Feis. Neither musicians nor the Feis Committee can be held liable for variations in speed.

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