Costume Rules

 

1.        Dancers under 15 years entered in beginner grade competitions must wear an approved costume.  Dancers please speak with your dance teachers on what to wear.

2.       Dancers under 15 years entered in primary and intermediate competitions may wear an approved costume or their school dance costume or solo dresses
3.       Dancers under 15 years in beginners, primary and intermediate competitions are  allowed to wear wigs or other hairpieces.

4.       Dancers under 11 years are not allowed to wear make up or fake tan.

5.        Dress and skirt length have to be appropriate so as not to cause offense or embarrassment. Necklines must also not be too low. The final decision as to what is appropriate will be determined by the adjudicator who is judging the feis.

6.       A dancer will be allowed to re-dance if a Costume malfunction occurs as long as the dancer waits for the adjudicator to ring the bell. If a dancer stops dancing due to a costume malfunction without the adjudicator's permission, the dancer will be disqualified from the competition.

Recommendations

1.        Stud earrings only.

2.       No rings or necklaces while dancing. 

3.        Diamonties on socks may now be worn if approriate


Competition Rules   All competitors & members of the public who attend any  event are hereby agreeing that their image may be used for printing, internet & public broadcasting at the discretion of the Academy and these images may only be used with the written approval of the Academy.

1. General
1.     O'Dwyer Academy Feiseanna are open to ALL dancers from ALL organisation in the world.
2.     In matters pertaining to dance 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 the Academy Association
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 1st of the current 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 only participate in one grade per dance at a feis unless otherwise noted in the syllabus. (Except premierships at Europeans where dancers can compete in the premiership of their grade and the grade above.)  
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 1st, 2nd or 3rd will move up, where there are 10-14 participants dancers who place 1st or 2nd will move up and where there are 5-9 participants dancers who place 1st will move up.
6.     In Primary competitions where there are 10 or more participants dancers who place 1st or 2nd will move up, where there are 5-9 participants dancers who place 1st will move up.
7.     In Intermediate competitions where there are 5 or more participants dancers who place 1st 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.   Participation in Premierships is determined by the grade for REEL competitions.
14.   Céilí teams may only have 50% of the team from a younger age group.
15.   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.
16.   Figures can either be traditional book dances or individually choreographed dances.
17.   Figures can be danced to any soft shoe music
18.   Figures must be done in soft shoes. Dancing a figure dance in hard shoes will result in immediate disqualification.

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 1st, 2nd or 3rd.
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).

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:
o    Beginners Reel, Light Jig, Slip Jig, Single Jig: 121
o    Beginners Treble Jig: 85
o    Beginners Hornpipe: 128
o    Open Reel, Slip Jig, Hornpipe: 113
o    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.