Irish dancers progress through the levels or 'grades' by competing in Irish Dancing competitions
A Guide to Irish Dancing Grades
The names of the grades and requirements to progress vary slightly from country to country and between organisations.
UK and Ireland
Grades are all for a specific dance. It is possible to have all dances at different levels and it is common to span two levels. If there are less than 5 dancers in a competition the results do not effect a dancers grade. In the UK and Ireland you must move up to the next grade in your next feis.
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Beginner Bun Grad |
Dancers start in this grade To move up to Primary you must come 1st, 2nd or 3rd in that dance | |
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Primary Tus Grad |
To move up to Intermediate you must come 1st or 2nd in that dance | |
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Intermediate Mean Grad |
To move up to Open you must come 1st in that dance | |
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Open Ard Grad |
The highest level. Dancers have the option of returning to the Intermediate grade at the start of a new year (1st January)
Age Groups Dancers are also split into different age groups. The dancers age is taken as of 1st January of that year and most groups are 'under' a certain age. For example the U9 age group would be for all dancers who were 8 on the first of January that year, even if they are now 9. The youngest age group is usually U6 although some feiseanna have an U5 age group. The oldest age specific group tends to be between 17 and 20 for Championships with a Senior category for older dancers. In large feiseanna competitions may be split between boys and girls (or men and ladies), others will be mixed. |
