FEIS 101 How to Navigate, Survive & Succeed at Feiseanna

FEIS 101 How to navigate, survive & succeed at Feiseanna

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Last Updated 1/1/2017 Questions to Answer

• What is a feis? • Why compete? • How are feis organized? • How do I register for a feis? • What to expect at a feis? • How do I get involved in a feis? • What are some tips/tricks?

2 What is a feis?

• Feis (pronounced fesh) is a Gaelic word meaning festival. • A Feis is an Irish dance, music and cultural competition. • “Feiseanna” is plural for “feis”

friends social

fun dance competition

3 Why compete? “Children learn from both the positive results and the disappointments. It's nice to win and it is ok to lose as long as we always keep it in perspective.

We hope that you will embrace these competitions and find them to be a useful tool in the development of your dancing” –Trinity Academy Managing Director

4 How are feis organized?

• Dances at a Feis are organized by 4 categories – Level of dancing (first feis, beginner 1, beginner 2, etc.) – Age – Type of dance (jig, reel, slip jig, treble jig, etc.) – Gender (typically boys and girls dance separately but on occasion will be combined) • Each feis publishes a syllabus. It contains the rules for the feis.

5 Feis Organization – Level of Dancing • The first three levels of dancing are based on a competitor’s years of dance class • First Feis – for dancers competing in their very first feis. Once a dancer competes in the first feis category for any dance, they must move to beginner 1 in all dances.

• Beginner 1 – during your first year of dancing, students will compete in Beginner 1. This category is designed specifically for newer dancers (dancers that started the year in our Beginner class). • Beginner 2 – during your second year of dancing, students will compete in Beginner 2. • Dancers will remain at each level for an entire year, unless your teacher lets you know otherwise. Example Competition Groups at Feis 206LJ – Beginner 1, under 6, light jig, girls 256LJ – Beginner 1, under 6, light jig, boys

6 Feis Organization – Age & Gender

• Feising age is determined by the dancer’s age on January 1 • Categories are U(under)# – U7 – is for dancers that were 6 (under 7) on January 1 – U8 – is for dancers that were 7 (under 8) on January 1, etc. • Your feising age does not change during the year.

Example Competition Groups at Feis 206LJ – Beginner 1, under 6, light jig, girls 256LJ – Beginner 1, under 6, light jig, boys

7 Feis Organization – Type of Dance

• Dancers will compete in specific dances at a feis. • Not every dancer will compete in all dances, based on their level and teacher’s recommendation. – Light Jig – soft shoe dance – Reel – soft shoe dance – Slip Jig – soft shoe dance (girls only) – Treble Jig – hard shoe dance – Hornpipe- hard shoe dance

Example Competition Groups at Feis 206LJ – Beginner 1, under 6, light jig, girls 256LJ – Beginner 1, under 6, light jig, boys

8 How do I register for a Feis?

• Each dancer’s family is responsible for registering • Registration is done via Feisworx (www.feisworx.com) or QuickFeis(www.quickfeis.comg) or eFeis (www.efeis.com) – Create an account and dancers – Allows you to register for individual feis – Appendix A has screen shots/notes for Feisworx – Each site has an OPT IN to receive emails when feiseanna open for registration • The Trinity Times will have reminders for upcoming feiseanna • Some feis will cap (sell out). If you want to reserve a place, register early and pay.

9 Feis Organization- Notes

• Dancers do not move into the next feis level until the next calendar year. Record your placements so you can keep track, but levels do not change again until 2018.

• If you are adding a new dance to your feis going experience, you enter as BEGINNER 2 unless otherwise noted by your teacher. Some dances require a certain speed of music and therefore have to be entered in the correct level to match the tempo. Otherwise, all new dances start at the BEGINNER 2 level.

10 Feis Schedule

The official list of feiseanna (competitions) for 2017 can be found online at http://northamericanfeiscommission.org/. Select SCHEDULES and 2017 SCHEDULE from the drop down menu. http://northamericanfeiscommission.org/2017_NAFC_FEIS _SCHEDULE.html

11 Registration for Spring Feis

If Trinity’s Wisconsin Spring Feis (May 6th in Milwaukee) is your dancer’s first feis, you should: 1. Check with your teacher to make sure your dancer is ready to feis. 2. Log onto Feisworx to create an account and dancer. 3. Register for the Wisconsin Spring Feis and select the First Feis Light Jig and/or First Feis Reel. 4. Practice!!

12 What to expect at a Feis?

• Upon arrival, find the registration table and get your dancers number. Dancers must wear their number visible for a judge when they are on stage. The back of the number will have the dancer’s stage assignments and groups for each dance. • Pick up a stage schedule. Most are available online several days before the feis.

13 Expect at a Feis – Check In

• Find dancer’s stage and a place to “camp” • Check what competition the stage is on • When your dancer’s competition is next, the dancer should approach the stage monitor and show them their number (which must be attached to their costume). • Stage monitor will check in your dancer and tell them where to sit in the chairs side stage.

14 Expect at a Feis – On Stage

• Dancers will dance 2-3 at a time. Up through Beginner 2 level, dancers will have a starter at the stage helping them count the music. • The starter will gently push them out onto the stage when it is their turn to dance. • When done dancing, they will need to return to the line in the order they stood at the beginning. • The judge/stage monitor will dismiss them and they can leave the stage. • Dancers should be in “feis mode” the whole time they are on stage.

15 Expect at a Feis - Other

• “Camping” • Live Music • Lunch Breaks • Bring snacks / water • Food lines • FUN! FUN! FUN!

16 Expect at a Feis - Results

• Each feis has a results board where they will post who places in each competition. • If you do not see your dancer’s name/number that means they did not place. • You may check Feisworx/QuickFeis/eFeis after a feis for all of your dancer’s results. • In the First Feis level, dancers generally get some type of participation award either at registration or side stage.

17 Expect at a Feis - Results

• May be the most emotional part of day for your dancer • Prepare dancer for all results – placing and not placing.

• Example of what personal results would look like on Feisworx after the feis:

18 How do I get involved in a Feis?

• Watch Trinity Times for Volunteer Information before the Feis • There are many jobs that require volunteers at a feis and make the day run smoother

May October 19 Feis Volunteer Opportunities

Friday before Feis (1) Setup volunteers to put the stages together and prepare the venue (2) Pre Registration volunteers

Day of Feis (1) Registration Table - check in dancers (2) Stage Monitor - Check in dancers and help the competition run smoothly. (3) Starter - Help the younger dancers get started on their stages by counting them in to start their dances. (4) Awards - Help hand out awards. (5) PC/OC Awards - Helps hand out awards when results are announced.

After Feis (1) Take down - assist taking down stages and loading onto trailer for storage

Watch the Trinity Times for volunteer sign-up.

20 Tips and Tricks

✓Set goals that are not result related (i.e. remembering all the steps, finishing strong) ✓Plan to meet friends at feis to make it more of a social event

21 Overall Reminders

• In general photography • Trinity teachers (if a not allowed, refer to Trinity feis) – Are there to watch dancers on stage feis syllabus. not to run through dances • Take as little as possible beforehand or to re-teach steps. – Other Trinity parents or feis while still having what volunteers are the best to go to for stage questions or how the feis you need. works questions.

22 Ready for Competition?

We are constantly polishing material and upgrading material. It is an ongoing process. Please check with your teacher before registering for a feis to see what dances will be stage ready by that time.

For the early season feiseanna, some dancers may not be ready to compete all material. Some dancers may dance a combination of new and current material. Please do not enter your child in a dance that they are not ready for. It is important that the dancers be properly prepared for each dance.