| Subject: A little bit o' advice (BEWARE! It's long)... |
Author:
Sarah
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Date Posted: 19:18:12 05/28/02 Tue
In reply to:
Melody
's message, "I think I'm going to be starting feisanna soon and would be very thankful if anyone with a bit of experience could give me some pointers, and suggest things I should really work on that the judges really seem to look for! Thanx!" on 13:05:14 05/20/02 Mon
I can tell you that I searched for hours and hours looking for good feis advice and tips from a 'first feis' point of view when I went to my first feis.
First of all, it's okay to be baffled! I know I was a tad overwhelmed, but nothing unusual. Feiseanna are NOTHING like performances, because the nerves can be much higher, because the level of excellence is really, really high! At my first feis, the Advanced Beginners were amazing.
You'll be plopped into Beginner, because you've never been to a feis before.
The procedure can be a bit strange at times. My first feis was well-run and completely on time - early on the last day, actually. Your dances will most likely be on the same stage all in a row with little breaks to let those dancers leave who aren't in that competition. You dance two steps starting with the person on the judge's far left. If you aren't first or second (you dance two at a time - but no one from your school is permitted to dance "against" you) in line, you'll go out when the two dancers before you are on their left foot of the last step. Just do your steps in your head, and as you near the last left foot, you and the person beside you will step out. Point your foot right away if you want to, but it doesn't matter when. Make sure you do it, though. Once the last 8 bars end, start to dance! You'll do two steps, right and left foot, then bow to the adjudicator, and sometimes bow to the musician (it is more curteous to bow to the musician, as well, but most of the time you'll be too worried about getting in the next dancer's way to think about standing still any longer. I know from experience that you can loose a bodypart if you turn around late ;)
Depending on how well the feis is run, awards can come ten minutes to five hours after your dances. There will be a sheet of paper with your competition and level, and then numbers of the winners. Go to the table in the awards area as directed (sometimes the competitions are divided into odd and even, you'll understand once you're there) and collect any awards received.
For trophies, you'll dance one step (sometimes two), but you'll be solo. The lines for the trophy dances are U-shaped most of the time. These dances do not count for moving up most of the time. If you place, then you'll go up and get a trophy or ribbon, depending on the placement. 4th and up are rewarded with trophies of appropriate sizes, and below that get either ribbons or medals of some kind. You don't get to stand on a podium, though :(
When your competitions are ready, you'll know it. There are feis announcers and helpers who call out competitions a lot before they start. You'll probably be too nervous to leave the staging area when your competition is coming up. But trust me, you'll know when your competition is up. They usually call it out many, many times until ready.
Now, poodle socks (though many judges prefer them, as your feet are more visible) are not mandatory. You can wear tights as well. But only black tights and poodle socks are allowed. Tights should be of a denier of no less than (roughly) 69, but no judges really ever check.
Next thing - hair. Hair can be worn any way the dancer wishes. Most common are the curls/wigs, and up in a bun or ponytail. Don't wear pigtails, though. That may (or may not) get you in trouble.
If ghillies or hardshoes come undone, you're out, so double knot ghillies (or triple knot them, like I do), and use hardshoe elastics (you can buy these at feiseanna).
Pinning your number on is best done with a plastic number card holder that ties nicely around your waist. You can always pin it on, but that be be damaging to the costume. No points are deducted for this.
Smiling is nice, but it won't get points marked off - trust me. We all looked like angry devils at our first feis - pictures prove it - and we still placed well.
When you're a Beginner, judges are generally less picky about ettitique, as a majority of dancers are new to the feis arena, so don't worry if you don't smile, don't point, or don't bow. Just don't forget your steps!
Don't look the judges in the eye. Some feel uneasy. When I did, she smiled, but I got second, so who knows ;) Just don't, it's safer that way.
Keep your eyes still and DO NOT look down. Make sure that you do easy enough steps, but for trophies I recommend more difficult ones, because they get the best results in placement.
Some judges are evil and wear pink suits (that was really scary, actually).
Some judges are evil, wear pink suits and yell at you to go back. If this happens, be ready. She'll clap twice and you'll be dancing again really quickly. We got caught offguard and messed up. Still placed, though. If you mess up, do something nice to fill in the gaps. The judge doesn't know your steps. S/he just wants to judge you difficulty level and talent.
Have fun, and bring money! Feiseanna have awesome stuff to buy, but it's expensive.
To see more, visit my site (which is currently being redesigned, do check back ASAP, because it'll be up again ASAP): Irish Feet.
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