1. In the case of all solo and team competitions in all grades, the age of a competitor on 1st January of the year in which the competition is held will determine the right of entry. For the purposes of this Rule a competitor whose birthday occurs on 1st January shall be deemed to be under the age attained on that date.
2. Competitions are open to all but those holding a TMRF, TCRG, or ADCRG designation. A feis can only accept entries from pupils of teachers registered with An Coimisiun and registered with both the IDTANA and the North American region in which they reside.
3. A competitor may be disqualified for any of the following reasons:

   a. Conduct unbecoming a lady or gentleman.

   b. Failure to report on time to compete. (Penalty: disqualification from said event)

   c. Falsification of age or other important facts – i.e., teaching, award winning, competing under another competitor’s name or number, etc.

   Penalty for (a) or (c): Competitor will be disqualified from the Feis at which the occurrence happened and from all NAFC – registered Feiseanna for a period of one year beginning at the date of the occurrence.

4. Competitions may be closed if there are no competitors at the assigned stage ready to compete when the competition is scheduled or announced. This does not pertain to a situation where competitors are involved in stage conflicts, and such conflicts will be handled by the stage monitor
5. Steel taps or “bubble” heels on dancing shoes and any display of awards is prohibited. Authentic Gaelic dress is desired.
6. First Feis (if offered), Beginner I and II, must wear a class costume, or a skirt/pants and top. All other categories are excluded from this rule. Modest attire is encouraged when a competitor is not dancing.
7. Competitor’s number must be worn and visible to adjudicators when performing in all competitions. Use of reflective plastic number covers is discouraged.
8. The number of awards given is determined by the Feis Committee and is based on the scores and ranks given by the adjudicator(s).
9. Complaints must be in writing stating names and other factual information and signed by the complainant. A $25.00 fee must be enclosed and presented to the Feis Chairman within one hour of the occurrence. The fee will be returned if the complaint is upheld.
10. The Feis Committee and any organization affiliated with same, will not be held responsible for personal injury, property loss or damage. Destruction of Feis property or rental property will be punishable by law.
11. The Feis reserves the right to reject any entry for cause, to cancel all or part of the Feis and to limit competitor’s performing time. The decision of the Feis Committee is final in all matters connected with the Feis.
12. All Feiseanna must have a process to allow parents to request that their child or children’s name(s) not be listed on the posted competitor list prior to the day of the Feis.
13. Competitors must answer all questions as required by the Feis Entry committee, including teacher’s name, and include the entry fee for entry to be accepted. Failure to do so may result in a rejected entry.
14. With the exception of First Feis and Beginner 1 the status of the dancer does not change unless there are five or more dancers in a competition.
15. Photography a. With the exception of First Feis, Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 (or their equivalent), photography of any kind which has the capability of capturing a dancer’s image while in motion is strictly forbidden. b. A Feis may elect to allow in motion photography for publicity purposes, but the pictures are considered the sole property of the Feis and solely for Feis use only; these are not to be used for personal gain through commercial use or sale, and under no circumstances can they be published on any website or other areas, without the express written permission of the persons involved. c. Additionally, a professional photographer may be formally contracted by a Feis to capture non-motion photographs, such as portrait photography, awards ceremonies, etc. and/or in motion photography provided it is taken at a vendor station or suitable location: (a) away from the dancing stages (b) requested by a consenting parent, guardian, or dancer (over the age of 18).
16. No block, en Pointe, toe walking movements, stationary or moving is allowed to be performed for all ages up to and including the under 12 age group. However, after September 1 of each year an exception is made for those dancers who are 11 dancing in the under 12 age group.
17. No substance that can become airborne should be used on any dance floor in an attempt to improve traction.
18. A dancer may not compete in two different levels in the same dance at the same feis.

1. Solo competitors in First Feis (if offered), Beginner 1, Beginner 2, Novice or Open (Prizewinner) competitions:

   (a) Must compete in their own age group.

   (b) Must be prepared to perform two steps in each event.

2. With the exception of First Feis and Beginner 1, a dancer’s level is determined in each dance (Reel, Light Jig, Single Jig, Slip-Jig, Hornpipe, Treble Jig, and Traditional Set). Traditional Set Dances are limited to those dances determined by An Coimisiun Le Rince Gaelacha as traditional set dances.
3. A Feis Committee may combine competitions if there are less than 5 competitors entered as follows:

   a. Two consecutive age groups, combined into the higher of the two groups, within that grade.

   b. Three consecutive age groups, combined into the highest age group, within that grade.

   c. All Boys’ grades competitions shall be initially entered in single year age groups within that grade.

   d. If there are less than 5 Boys entered in any one age group within that grade, competitions may be combined in the following order:

   a. Double, All Boys, age group into the higher of the two groups within that grade

   b. If a double, All Boys age group does not create 5 or more entries, the Boys shall be combined into the corresponding single year Girls’ age group.

   c. If the combined Boys and Girls age group still does not create 5 or more entries, that competition may be combined as stated in rule #2 above.

   e. 100 and 200 level competitions may be combined as follows:

   a. Ages under 8 and below, CANNOT be combined with other age groups within that grade, but Boys and Girls may be combined in the corresponding single year Girls’ age group within that grade.

   b. Ages under 9 and above may first be combined into 2 consecutive age groups within that grade. If the combined competition still does not create 5 or more entries, that competition may be combined using rules 2, 3 and 4 above.

4. Each region may determine the system for moving dancers from one grade to another, as they see appropriate for their region.
5. The syllabus is to contain all grade categories.
6. Competitors have the option to remain in the same category for the remainder of the Feis year.
7. A dancer, at the discretion of the teacher, may move into the next Grade (not Open Championships) without satisfying the requirements. However, once a dancer competes in the higher level, they can never move back to the lower category (except as outlined in Rule 1 above).
8. Grade Levels

   a. First Feis: A dancer who has never competed in a Feis. A dancer can only be in this category for a single day and cannot compete at any other level in the Feis. Dancers must compete with Basic Steps that coincide with the Grade Exam Syllabus.

   b. Beginner I Grade: A Beginner 1 is a competitor who has not yet taken a full year of Irish Dance lessons, thereby giving beginners a full year with such status. A Beginner must move into the Beginner 2 category the next year. Dancers must compete with Basic Steps that coincide with the Grade Exam Syllabus.

   c. Beginner 2 Grade: A Beginner 2 who wins 1st, 2nd or 3rd place will advance to the Novice category in that particular dance. Competition dances are reel, light jig, slip jig, traditional treble jig and traditional hornpipe, as a minimum requirement. Dancers must compete with Basic Steps that coincide with the Grade Exam Syllabus.

   d. Novice Grade: A novice who wins a 1st place will advance to the Open (Prizewinner) category in that particular dance.

   e. Open Prizewinner Grade: A competitor who does not qualify as a Beginner 1, Beginner 2 or as a novice.

   f. Adult: An Adult dancer is defined as any dancer who started Irish dancing at the age of 18 or older OR any dancer 18 or older who has not competed in at least five years in a youth competition AND has never placed in the top three in a youth Preliminary championship competition of more than five competitors.

9. First Feis (if offered), Beginner I, and Beginner 2 are required to dance at traditional speeds. Novice and Open/Prizewinner dancers may choose between traditional and Oireachtas speeds.
10. All regions in North America will follow this common set of speeds for all grade competitions at feiseanna in North America.

11. First Feis, Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 perform only basic steps to coincide with the Grade Exam Syllabus.(IDTAMA, 1/1/17)
12. Dancers competing in the First Feis category are limited to participating in the First Feis Category only. (IDTAMA, 1/1/17)

1. First place winners in the Open Championship category cannot return to a Preliminary or Open (Prizewinner) competition. Placing in a Regional or National Oireachtas does not change the status of a competitor. A dancer who moves into open championship must stay a minimum of 2 years. If after 2 years they have not placed they are allowed to return to preliminary. An open championship dancer who places is not allowed to return to preliminary until 2 years after their last placement.
2. Entrants in any Championship event may not enter in any other Grade events, but may enter in Figure Dances and Specials, i.e. treble reel.

   a. Dancers must qualify for open championship via the method now in place for preliminary championship, i.e. three 1st place wins.

   b. Dancers must compete in the preliminary championship competition in order to qualify for open championship.

3. Preliminary Championships are open to those who, at any NAFC recognized Feis:

   a. A dancer who wins 1st place in each of the Open Prizewinner dances (reel, slip-jig, treble jig, and hornpipe) can move into Preliminary Championships with teacher’s permission (IDTAMA).

   b. Have never won 1st, 2nd or 3rd in Open Championship. A dancer who wins three first place awards will move on to Open Championship at the next Feis they enter, or as soon as the third win is achieved, in any age category, in the following years. Only in the case of back-to-back feiseanna (successive days), in which case the first win in the first Feis will not change the dancer’s status for the second Feis.

   c. A dancer is required to perform a light shoe dance (reel or slip jig for ladies and reel only for men), and a hard shoe dance. A Feis can opt to offer either a) a set dance or b) a jig/hornpipe.

4. A Mid-America region feis may choose to combine boys and girls in Open Championship competitions when there are less than 5 dancers registered in a particular age category.
5. When there are less than five dancers registered in a particular Open Championship age category, the boys and girls will NOT be combined.
6. The boys’ open championship age categories will match the girls’ open championship age categories.
7. Any competitor in Preliminary or Open Championship must have a minimum of 8 rotations or 10 minutes between their rounds.

1. Teachers or team captains are responsible that their teams are complete and in position when the competition is announced.

   a. There are no restrictions on figure age groups.

   b. Figure age groups will be determined by the oldest dancer.

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

1. Musicians and adjudicators cannot be approached during a competition by anyone except the Feis Committee. No one can approach them while a competitor is performing.
2. Musicians employed by the Feis Committee will be solely under the direction and management of the Feis Committee on Feis day.
3. In matters pertaining to adjudication, the decision of the adjudicators is final.
4. Adjudicators are to monitor the quality of music at the stage(s) to which they are assigned.
5. Championships and Preliminary Championships require at least three adjudicators.
6. Each Feis is required to list their adjudicators on their syllabus and/or website at least three weeks before the close on entries, one-third of which are to be from outside the region where the Feis is being held.

1. Make up is prohibited on a dancer in the first three grades (First Feis (if offered), Beginner I and Beginner 2 or their equivalent) up to and including the under 12 age group. Make up (including false eyelashes and tanner on the face) is not permitted for dancers, in either solo or team competitions, up to and including the Under 10 age group.

   Clarification: Both make up rules refer to the age group of the competition, not the actual age of the dancer. For example, 9 year old dancers, competing in a team that is entered Under 12, may wear make-up or at a feis where the youngest Open Championship age group is Under11, then all dancers in that competition may wear make-up. These rules must also be announced from side stage at the event. Participants should be reminded that should they be in breach of these rules and be required to remove their make-up, that they risk missing their rotation in the competition.

2. Any competitor found to be using artificial carriage aids and subsequently refuses to remove same, will be subject to disqualification from that particular competition. Medically prescribed aids (proof of which may be required) will be exempt from this rule.
3. Competitors in girls’ competitions at the First Feis (if offered), Beginner I and Beginner 2 Grade will wear only the competitor’s dancing school costume or a skirt/pant and top.
4. Length of costume must adhere to principles of modesty and enable dancers to safely execute their movements and steps. Adjudicators who determine a costume to be too short or to lack modesty may ask a competitor to wear black tights (of a denier not less than 70 percent) in order to continue in the competition. For competitions adjudicated by a panel of more than one adjudicator, all adjudicators on the panel must agree to ask the dancer to wear tights. Effective March 1, 2022.
5. Appropriate undergarments covering the midriff must be worn. Undergarments must provide full coverage. Dancers wearing undergarments that do not cover the areas of the body as in the illustrated example will be asked to put on black tights of a denier of not less than 70%. This is monitored by the adjudicator. For competitions adjudicated by a panel of more than one adjudicator all adjudicators on the panel must agree to ask the dancer to put on tights. Effective March 1, 2022

Changing costumes, dressing and undressing of dancers will not be acceptable in the halls or public areas. For the sake of modesty and in the interests of safety of young people, dancers will not be permitted to walk around the feis scantily dressed.

Respect for fellow competitors on stage is a requirement at all times.

Lack of respect or courtesy for fellow competitors by aggressive dancing on stage will be subject to penalty at the discretion of each individual adjudicator.

The feis WILL NOT give any refunds for any reason including consequences for violations of these rules.

1. Grade competitions will be split at 24 competitors. Championship competitions may be split.
2. Competitors must be at their stage ready to compete when their competitions are ready or announced. A competitor may be eliminated from a competition for reporting late. Competitions will be closed when no more competitors are at the stage ready to compete. Please notify the stage monitor of any schedule conflicts PRIOR to the start of the dance. No competition shall be reopened except on the sole direction of the Feis Coordinator.
3. At the discretion of the Feis Committee, stage assignments may change. Announcements may be made on the public address system and/or at the stage written on the stage signs. It is the competitor’s responsibility to report to the proper stage.
4. Parents not accompanying dancers under age 18 are advised to provide their child(ren)’s chaperone with a signed medical authorization.
5. Awards must be picked up on the day of the feis. Only awards omitted in error by the feis committee will be mailed if you request them by email. Dancers must have their number card in order to claim their awards. NO EXCEPTIONS!
6. Any outstanding payment problems will prevent the dancer(s) from dancing in this year’s Feis and entering 2024. Invalid credit cards and NSF are charged a $25 fee.
7. Championships will dance oldest to youngest. Preliminary championships will dance hard shoe first. Open Championship will dance soft shoe first.