Feisanna (pronounced: fesh-anna)

    A Feis is an event where the dancer competes against other dancers of the same age and class in order to progress, and strive toward reaching their potential.    There must also be at least 5 dancers competing in each of the competitions.

Progression for Dancer

    There are six categories for dancers: Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Novice, Open/Prizewinner, Preliminary Championships, and Open Championships. In order to advance from one level to the next the following requirements must be achieved. 

Beginner: All dancers enter at this level and remain for one full year.  Most Beginners dance the reel and jig.

Advanced Beginner: Upon completion of one full year the dancer automatically progresses to this class.  This is typically the stage where the dancer becomes more involved and interested in competition.  An advanced beginner who wins 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd place in any given dance will advance to the Novice category in that particular dance.  Competition dances include reel, jig, slip jig, single jig, treble jig and hornpipe. 

Novice: A novice who wins a 1^st place will advance to the Open/Prizewinner category in that particular dance.  In addition to the above named dances, a traditional set dance is usually available.

Open/Prizewinner: A competitor who does not qualify as a Beginner, Advanced Beginner or as a Novice.  A dancer must take 1^st in both a light shoe (Reel / Slip Jig) and 1^st in a hard shoe (Treble Jig / Hornpipe) to move to the next level. 

Preliminary Championships: You must receive two 1^st place wins in Preliminary Championships to advance to the highest level, Open Championships.  

Open Championships: Once the dancer reaches this level he/she is at the top. 

Information for Parents

    There are over 190 Feisanna in North America every year that offer competitions in Irish dance, music and other Irish art forms.  They are organized by local committees, usually made up of the dancers’ parents.  It is also very common to have a case of “my first Feis nerves.”  When you go to a Feis for the first time there are many, many seasoned veterans of the Feis circuit who are more than willing to help.  Not to mention the other parents that you have come to know from Inis Acla. Some websites that may offer tips are: O'Connor School of Irish Dance and Indianapolis Feis.

Once you have your first Feis under you belt, you too will be a veteran.  The website that will steer you to the next and/or the closest Feis is the North American Feis Commission . Also in the year 2002 a web site was created to register your child for the various Feis’ online.  This has been a wonderful tool for administrators of the Feis and parents alike.  The site is: efeis.com.  Although a lot of hard work goes into Irish Dancing, the one thing to remember is to have fun.

Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live every day as if it were your last.

From Memphis, the most convenient Feiseanna are:

They are addictive as well as fun. Parents and dancers from other dance schools, cities and states meet and develop friendship and camaraderie over the years.