Competition -- Irish Dance, Irish Dance, Irish Dance.

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Date Posted: 05:49:50 04/30/04 Fri
Author: mpm
Subject: Competition

How seriously do you all take a feis? Is it just for fun or are you there for your dd or ds to win. I am beginning to feel burned out going around all the comps and also from watching what goes on as far as the judging is concerned. I feel we are all being taken for a ride and our wishes and desires are very much second place to those of the teachers. Am I right?

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[> Our wishes and desires should take second place to the teachers; -- m0m, 23:50:31 05/05/04 Wed [1]

they are being paid to teach our children, and (this one only took me 5 years to figure out!) they know much more about this sport than most parents do! If you can cut out a few feis per year, perhaps you would feel less burned out; just don't let your dancer cut out practicing. We do go to feis to compete, so if they win, it is a bonus - if they don't, there's always another feis in a week or two. As for the judging - your guess about that is as good as anyone's; even when our teacher compliments my children on doing a great job, sometimes the judge just doesn't see it like she - and we - do. Frustrating.

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[> Being involved in irish dancing is not a leisure pastime. The teacher is the one with all the experience (more) -- Liz, 00:15:08 05/06/04 Thu [1]

and has been doing it a lot longer than nearly all of the armchair experts. Not everything goes according to plan but if my child is happy I am happy. It is tough going to all the competitions and sometimes coming away with nothing when you in your own eyes know your dd has done a good job but as in life it doesnt always go the way we want it. I respect my dd teacher as she works hard with her and encourages her to do her best at all times. So what if we dont always win. To watch my child with her friends having a good time where I can keep an eye on things without being obvious is one of the bonuses of ID. I am able to watch my child grow in life and enjoy her friends as much as my own. Ocassional burnout is a small price to pay.

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[> Our 1st ever feis 2 World dancer parents took us aside & welcomed us to the joys of Irish Dancing advising that in ID everything, including marking, is subjective not objective, best advise we have ever been given. -- Enjoy the experience, 04:51:56 05/07/04 Fri [1]

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[> I so agree with Mum...I feel I have been taken for a ride...but I have woke up...many dollars later -- burntouttoo, 22:39:39 07/29/04 Thu [1]

you are absolutely right...and what a ride it was. Got off the train...too much politics...power to the people...the ones paying out the bucks...well the buck stops here.

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[> I meant I agree with mpm...think many are looking into CRN...check them out...it may be the answer... -- gonnasavemymoney, 22:44:00 07/29/04 Thu [1]

a teacher is a teacher...not a 'guardian', not a 'role model...but an instructor...plain as day.

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[> feis -- marybeth, 18:40:54 04/10/05 Sun [1]

>How seriously do you all take a feis? Is it just for
>fun or are you there for your dd or ds to win. I am
>beginning to feel burned out going around all the
>comps and also from watching what goes on as far as
>the judging is concerned. I feel we are all being
>taken for a ride and our wishes and desires are very
>much second place to those of the teachers. Am I right?

Kinda. depends on where u wanna go w/ dance. I mean if u want to be a champion, u have to take feiseanna very seriously, no matter how much u hate them or think they're stupid (i do). im only in novice and im already sick of feiseanna. i hate the guady costumes, i hate the fake hair, i hate the fake smiles, i hate the girls who kick u or trip u or cut u off to win. but i wanna be a champion, even if its like impossible. i didnt start irish dance until i was thirteen (but before hand i danced ballet for nine years) and im sixteen now. ive caught up for the most part, but im starting to wonder if my dream is impossible to accomplish. the only thing thats keeping me sane is i love to dance, i really do.

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[> Feis or no feis? -- Marilyn (This is a hard decision to make), 08:07:52 01/15/10 Fri [1]

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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