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Dancing Grades in the North American and Canada Region

We are indebted to one of our pen-pals Bre-Anne for this info.

Thanks Bre-Anne!

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BEGINNER

A beginner is a competitor who has not taken Irish Dancing lessons from a registered teacher prior to September 1 of the previous year.  A beginner must move into Advanced Beginner the next year.

There is no UK equivalent to this grade as Teachers will not allow dancers to take part in Feisanna - except for their own class feis - until they have reached the minimum standard for UK Beginner/Novice. This is usually judged by their performance at class feisanna.

ADVANCED BEGINNER (equivalent to UK Beginner/Novice)

An advanced beginner who wins 1st, 2nd, or 3rd will advance to the Novice category in that particular dance.  Competition dances are limited to reel, light jig, slip jig, treble jig, and traditional hornpipe (fast hornpipe).

NOVICE (equivalent to UK Primary)

A novice who wins a 1st place will advance to the Open (Prizewinner) category in that particular dance.

OPEN (PRIZEWINNER) (equivalent to UK Intermediate)

A competitor who does not qualify as a beginner, advanced beginner,  or novice. (i.e. have won a first place in Novice but have yet to achieve in their current group)

PRELIMINARY CHAMPIONSHIPS (equivalent to UK Open)

Preliminary Championships are open to those who , at any NAFC  recognised feis, have :

A.) placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in each of the Open(Prizewinner) solo categories.

B.)  Have never won first, second, or third in Open Championship.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Open Championship (or just Championship) is the highest level.   

1.  A dancer who wins two first place awards in one calendar year in Preliminary will move on to championship the following year or as soon as the second win is achieved in any age category the following years.  Only in the case of back-to-back Feiseanna (successive days), in which case the first win in the following years in the first Feis will not change the dancer's status for the second feis.

2.A dancer is required to perform a minimum of two dances: a light shoe ( reel or slip jig for females and only reel for males), and a hard shoe (treble jig or hornpipe at the discretion of the dancer, or a set dance at the discretion of the Feis.)    

At some Feisanna  in order to be in an Open Set Dance competitiors must be registered in at least 2 other Open dances (not including the Treble reel)