Welcome to the world of Irish dance! As a parent, you will probably have lots of questions
about Irish dance and our school. We hope to answer the majority your questions
here on our website. So browse our pages and find out more about us. Feel free
to contact us with any questions that you have.
What ages do you enroll?
We start pre-beginner classes for ages 3 and 4. And beginner classes for ages 5 and up.
Dancers may start at any age.
Can I watch my child in the dance class?
Parents and siblings are not permitted to sit in the actual dance rooms during classes.
This is a distraction to the dancers and teachers who are trying to concentrate. Parents
are welcome to wait in the waiting areas or drop-off and pickup.
What should my child wear to class?
Dancers will wear shorts and a t-shirt to dance class.
Dancers must wear the appropriate Irish Dance Shoes and poodle socks to all dance classes.
Soft shoes, hard shoes and poodle socks are available to purchase at our Open Houses or from local
stores.
What is a Feis?
A Feis is an Irish dance competition.
Visit our Beginner Zone page
for more details and answers to Feis questions.
What kind of dance costume would my child wear?
Students will wear different costumes based upon their experience and level of dancing. Visit our
Costume Information page
for more details on what dress your child would wear.
How do I know what level my child should dance at?
Students will dance at different levels based upon their skills. The following chart
offers an outline of how dancers are grouped for feis competitions.
Your teacher will help you determine which group your child should be in.
Beginner 1 (Beginner)
A beginner 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
Advanced Beginner category the next year.
Beginner 2 (Advanced Beginner)
An advanced beginner has been taking dance lessons for at least 1 year.
An advanced beginner 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.
Novice Grade
A novice who wins a 1st place will advance to the Open (Prizewinner) category in that particular dance.
Open Grade (Prizewinner)
A competitor who does not qualify as a beginner, advanced beginner or as a novice.
