Solo & Group

Dance Rules

Solo & Group Dance Rules

Solo Dancing Rules
Choreography must be appropriate for the competitive dance level.

No point or block movements - stationary or moving - are allowed to be performed until a dancer reaches the competitive age of 12 (as of January 1st) and the Prizewinner level or age 14 (as of January 1st) and the Novice level.

Dancers who stop dancing & don't complete their dance will receive a "0" in that dance/round.

Team Dancing Rules
Age groups for team dancing:

  • Minor (Under 8)

  • Junior (Ages 8 – 12) 

  • Senior (Ages 13-17)

  • Adult (Ages 18 & Over). 

  • These age groups may be split up or combined to create competitions with a minimum of five teams.          

  • A team’s competitive age is the average age of its members, with a minimum of 50% of the dancers being in the             actual age category. 

  1. Teams may pick rotation numbers to determine their competitive order.

  2. Teams may dance two at a time provided the stage is at least 20’ x 20’ in size.

  3. Dancers may only enter one group dance per category (ex. a dancer may not enter two 4 Hand Ceilis at one event        but they may enter one 4 Hand Ceili and one 8 Hand Ceili.)

  4. In the event of a team member being unable to compete due to illness, injury or an emergency, a replacement               dancer may fill in, provided the feis organizer is notified well in advance of the scheduled dance time. 

  5. Dancers are not allowed to be stationary in team dancing unless standing still is specified in the Ceili rulebook or           the dancers are posed and their stillness enhances the choreography.


Figure Dances
1. The length of 2 hand and 3 hand dances in competition are to be 48 bars of music plus an 8 bar introduction.

2. Figure dances are to be comprised of the basic movements Of Irish Dance (i.e., threes, hop back 2-3s, 7s, rise and grind, sink and grind and over 2-3s).

3. Threes (or skips) cannot be used interchangeably with over 2-3s; teams must use one or the other in a dance. 

4. Costumes must match or coordinate (based on gents & ladies positions) throughout the team. (See costume rules.)  
         
Ceilis
1. Ceili dances will be done in accordance with Ar Rinci Foirne.
2. Lining up:

  • 4 Hand Ceilis - the top couple must be on the judge’s left.

  • 8 Hand Ceilis - the top couple must have their backs to the adjudicators.

3. For most 4, 6 and 8 hands, the team must only include the lead round, the body (the first time through) and the figure of choice performed by the top couple unless specified otherwise by the syllabus of the feis or championship event.
Specific examples:

  • All progressive dances (e.g. Fairy Reel): once through.

  • Cross Reel, Duke Reel, 8-hand Jig, 8-Hand Reel, 4-hand Reel, High Cauled Cap, Humours of Bandon, Morris Reel, 16-Hand Reel, St. Patrick’s Day, Trip to the Cottage, up to and including 1st Tops doing 1st figure

  • Gates of Derry: through the first Swing Around

  • Glencar Reel: once through

  • Lannigan’s Ball: once through

  • Sweets of May: up to and including See Saw

  • Three Tunes: up to and including Hook and Chain

Freestyle Routines
Small Group Freestyle: 3-6 dancers
Large Group Freestyle 7-16 dancers

1. Dancers may enter a maximum of one Freestyle dance in each category.

2. Group freestyle dances must be a minimum length of one and a half minutes (1:30) and a maximum length of two and a half minutes (2:30).

3. Teams must provide their own music for Freestyle dances. If the music is not on a standard mp3 player, the team must bring a system to play their music with them.

4. Music and movements must be appropriate for all ages. Offensive language and movements will result in disqualification.

5. Costumes must be in keeping with the theme of the routine. They do not have to be traditional or Irish and they do not need to match if that suits the theme of the dance.

6. Costumes cannot be too revealing and must conform to the age-appropriate rule.

7. Excessive use of scenery is not allowed. Props must be necessary to the choreography and performers must be in control of their props at all times. Weapons –if used – must be fake. Pyrotechnics are not allowed.

8. Toe stands are allowed in Freestyle Team Dancing but teachers must ensure their dancers are capable of performing the         movements safely. Points will be deducted for bad technique.

Adjudication Rubric For Team Dancing
Team dances are judged based on the following four criteria:

  1. Timing

  2. Technique

  3. Synchronization

  4. Execution


Complaint Procedure
a. Major complaints must be accompanied by a fee (determined by the RTN Feis Committee) and submitted within one hour after the occurrence to the Feis Chairperson. Money will be returned if the complaint is justified.

b. Major complaints must be concise, stating names and other factual information, and signed by the complainant.

c. Minor complaints at a Feis should be brought to the attention of the Feis Chairperson, who in turn should solve them immediately.

d. In the event a complaint cannot be resolved by the Feis Chairperson, it should be forwarded to the RTN Feis                            Committee to be presented to a Board of Review at the first meeting held after it is received.