|
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PAGE
IN PROGRESS
Is Irish Dance for everyone?
What age should my child be to start Irish
Dance?
Does my dancer need a uniform for class?
What type of shoes do I need?
I'm waiting to see my child perform, how much
longer?
What is a Feis?
What can a parent expect at the first Feis?
What is an
Oireachtas?
How do I know which stage costume to buy?
How do I take care of the dresses?
I used to Irish Dance with another school...
How can I become involved?
Is Irish Dance for everyone?
YES! Everyone
ages 3 to 93 can learn to Irish Dance! You don't
need to be Irish either, we welcome diversity.
You just need to have a desire to dance.
What age should my child be to start Irish
Dance? Each
child is unique. Your child is ready to start
dancing when they can take instructions and
participate in a focused setting. It's best not
to force a child to dance, they should express
an interest. Martin has taught toddlers as young
as 3 years of age but the average starting age
is 5.
Does my dancer need a uniform for class?
No, we do not
require a uniform to practice and learn in. Just
wear comfortable clothes and be sure your knees
are showing so that the instructor can watch
your leg work and form. We do require two pairs
of dance shoes,
ghillies
and hard shoes.
What type of shoes do I need?
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 ghillies. 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 are available from Kereen
O’Connor’s Celtic shop at 303.794.6388. Shoes also may be ordered directly from
the manufacturers online. Please show the shoes to the teacher for approval
BEFORE wearing them.
I'm waiting to see my child perform, how much
longer?
We
have an open door policy and you may always come
to watch your child perform in class. Many dancers are ready to
compete in their first feis after attending class for 4-6 months. You need to
have learned at least two steps of the reel
and/or light jig, Martin 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.
Martin will let you know when your child is
ready to be on stage.
What is a Feis?
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
”feisianna.” 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 feisianna 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 feisianna 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
feisianna, 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 feisianna you can sign-up and pay online.
All the hard
work in Irish dance is done at the studio before you go to a feis. The feis is a
celebration of that hard work in the form of friendly competition with other
students from other schools at the same level and ability.
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 feisianna will
not allow you to bring in coolers but most people bring in snacks. Most
feisianna have food venders.
-
no one may speak to, give
signs, or prompt a competitor. Violation may lead to disqualification of the
competitor.
-
you should not approach
the adjudicators. Only feis committee members.
-
One last thing, there is
no video taping or flash photography
Remember – a
feis is to Irish dancing 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 has varying
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. Usually,
dancers from the same school will be separated. If there are a large number of
competitors, you will be divided into smaller groups. There is usually a
musician playing live music for the stage. Competitors dance two at a time. At
the beginner level, there is usually a person to help start 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 feisianna 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 feisianna 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 team 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 weekend before thanksgiving. It can be compared to the Olympic
trials for the Olympic games. Denver is in the Western US Region and
participates in the Western Us Region 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 in charge.
-
Find out ahead of time how to get to the location of the performance. Mapquest is great! Allow adequate travel time for traffic jams, accidents and
rush hour.
-
Bring the show schedule and contact numbers with you.
-
Arrive at the location 45 –60 minutes ahead of the performance 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 Martin Percival. No changes
are allowed without prior permission.
-
Don’t expect to be treated as a guest since we have been hired 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 team dress and a
solo dress:
Beginner Costume
A green circle skirt with
gold lining, white blouse and a shawl (cape) along with a headband, poodle socks
and shoes complete the beginner costume.
Beginner
costumes (excluding blouse, poodle socks and shoes) are available by contacting
Linda Grosse 720.987.6318 or
Linda@learnrishdance.com. Please wait until you have been instructed by the
teacher to obtain a beginner costume. The cost is $50 plus tax.
Team Dress
Every Irish
dance school, wherever it is located, has a unique costume. Our team dress is
dark green with white appliqué and green and gold embroidery. These dresses are
handmade and are available by contacting Linda Grosse 720.987.6318 or
Linda@learnirishdance.com. The cost for the dress is $400 plus tax. Please
note that the school subsidizes the cost of the dress in order to keep costs
down. The school contributes $100 per dress and it is expected that you would
then sell the dress back to the school. Team 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 beginner category. Solo costumes can be very
expensive ranging from $500- $3,000 but are extremely unique and handmade.
Second hand dresses are usually available at feisanna (competition). Please
consult with the Director before purchasing a solo dress.
How do I take care of the dresses?
Regarding the Kids Team
Dresses: These dresses are
made from 100% polyester fabrics (including the satin). For the most part, the
same care can be applied to these dresses as the adult team dresses. Spot cleaning is recommended with the same solution as the adults – 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 “mini-dot”
fabric and the stiffening used on these dresses. The dots will fall off that
much quicker. After a time, the dots will begin to fall off on their own;
washing will only speed this up. Washing also causes the stiffening to loosen
up after time. It can also cause the fabric to look wrinkled as if the
stiffening underneath has shrunk. 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. Again, the heat from the iron will cause the dots to fall
off more quickly. Since these fabrics (including the mini-dot) are all 100%
polyester, hanging the dresses will allow for most wrinkles to fall out. Areas
of the dresses that are not mini-dot can be pressed if they look wrinkled over
the stiffening. Pressing will usually smooth the fabric back into place.
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.
Adult Team
Dresses:
These dresses are
made from 100% polyester Gabardine. This fabric and the embroidery are fully
washable; however, this is not recommended because it might compromise the
quality of the fabric and embroidery. If the dresses are washed, after time,
the embroidery can fade and the fabric will “pill”.
It is recommended
that these dresses be spot-washed only using a few drops of Dawn dishwashing
liquid in 1 to 1 ½ oz of water, dipping a clean, soft-bristle, toothbrush into
the solution and rubbing the stain out. Then rinse the area to remove all of
the soap and hang up to dry. Care should be taken when pressing the fabric as
some irons can melt polyester. Pressing with a cotton cloth (small towel) can
alleviate this problem.
Larger areas of
the dress (such as underarm areas) can be soaked using the same solution as
above or perhaps Woolite if desired. Care should be taken when soaking around
the embroidery. The backing for the embroidery could come off, however, in most
cases, it can be ironed back on. To prevent this, the backing can be stitched
to hold it in place and prevent it from coming off during cleaning.
The small lining
around the hem can simply be wiped clean with a damp cloth. This lining is also
made from 100% polyester fabric.
Only clean the
entire dress fully if absolutely necessary. If dry cleaning, check around with
different dry cleaners to find one that can care for specialty items, such as
wedding dresses, heirloom items, etc.
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 our main office at 303-894-0286 or
send us an
enrollment
request. If you currently dance with another
school and are contemplating a change to our
school, please check with Martin before you
leave your current school. Be
advised that if you choose to transfer you
must wait for a 6 month period before you can
compete.
How can I become involved?
MARTIN PERCIVAL DANCER’S FUND (MPDF) – COLORADO ONLY.
The MPDF is a
not-for-profit parent and student organization solely dedicated to the raising
of funds to support Martin Percival TCRG and his students in their pursuit of
Irish Step Dancing excellence which will involve participation at local,
regional, national, and international competitions.
A once yearly
membership fee of $20 is charged to all students over the age of eighteen and to
a minimum of one parent / guardian of students under the age of 18. This fee is
due August 2007. All dancers must have representation on the fund from at least
one parent or themselves.
The fund runs a
number of fundraisers throughout the year and your support is vital. Please feel
free to contact any of the board members with questions, offers of help,
monetary contributions etc.
|
