Feis or no feis? -- Irish Dance, Irish Dance, Irish Dance.

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Date Posted: 08:07:52 01/15/10 Fri
Author: Marilyn (This is a hard decision to make)
Subject: Feis or no feis?
In reply to: mpm 's message, "Competition" on 05:49:50 04/30/04 Fri

You are asking some very hard questions . . .
Unfortunately a number of the organizations encourage feis to the point that IF you do not place 1st in a feis (or 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the lower levels), you can not move up to the next dance level! Unfortunately this means that some students then get "caught" in a particular level because they are competing against 30 other dancers and until they get their first they can not move on. At that point, saddly, you begin to see dancers drop out in frustration.
Do check out the various Irish dance organizations as there are dance organizations out there that encourage dancers as they reach that stage where they get frustrated other opportunities to progress . . . some offer Grading exams where you can prepare for exams, do the exam and so long as you get above a certain grade you then proceed to the next dance level and learn new material and proceed that way. This enables dancers to advance without feis pressure or discouragements. Also, there are some organizations that once you have completed the grading levels you can then proceed to work towards your Irish dance teacher qualifications (TCRG/TMRF) > and even in some . . . the completetion of the Grades count for some parts of the Dance Teacher exams!
If you are frustrated with Feis . . . there are other options.

(PS > don't get me wrong > I think that participating in feis is a good thing in that I have often seen dancers push themselves further when they see other dancers' sequences, and try moves that they would not have before! So, feis is good in that it raises the standard.
Having said that I have seen WAY too many dancers frustrated with "stagnating at a level" because they can't seem to place that required first place to move on! Yet they are fantastic dancers who would make terrific teachers!)

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feis or not to feis -- Monica Hoban, 10:08:35 04/01/10 Thu [1]

ID is my daughter's only sport. We go to the feis' for her to get to the next level. We used to be with a school who did not support her, we are now with a school who cares about her as a person and as a dancer. We have the love and support of her teachers and with the help of her teacher she is seeing results and getting ahead. My boys are in Lacrosse and it is very expensive too. There is expense in every sport. ID is a SPORT, at my daughter's level she has to work everyday and very hard! Stepping down from my soap box now, hope that you can rekindle the joy in ID.

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