FAQ

(Frequently Asked Questions)

Practicing at Home  It is very important that all beginner dancers practice at least 1/2 an hour a day at home. Otherwise the kids will fall behind the other kids in class. Practicing will reinforce what they have learned and make it easier for them to progress in class.  (More practice time is needed for advanced dancers). 

Practice Music It is very important that all dancers practice using the proper dance music. Some CD suggestions would be:  Kevin Joyce "Back to the Start", Bradley Brothers "Irish Dancer", Dean Crouch "Top Box" and Pat King "Four Score and Ten".  These are just a few Artist/Titles.  If you have any questions please ask Rosemary for which CD is best for your dancer.

Music and apparel  CD's, poodle socks, new soft shoes and new hardshoes can be purchased through Rosemary's husband Matt at Fayshoes.com. Used items--soft shoes, hardshoes, school jumpers and school costumes--are posted on the school website in the Items For Sale section.

Costumes for beginners At the Campbell School of Irish Dance beginner dancers wear a green jumper with orange and white Celtic weaving.  Underneath the jumper a dancer wears a white short sleeved blouse with a Peter Pan collar, and a pair of green bloomers.  When you purchase your school jumper it includes the bloomers as well as a school headband.  The blouse can be purchased at a local store.  Our web site also lists used jumpers for sale.

School Costumes School costumes are like a uniform.  The costume's style, colors, fabrics & design depend entirely on the school.  Each dancer from my school wears the same color dress or jumper.  The girl's school dress is a paneled costume with embroidered and appliquéd designs. 

School costumes are the first Irish dance costume that a dancer will buy.  They are worn until a dancer reaches Prizewinner.  They are also worn by the dancers in ceili or figure teams.  I feel that a dancer should earn her solo dress. 

Dance Camp Each year I am happy to be able to bring a great opportunity to your children by offering a day camp for Irish Dance.  The instructors are Helena McCarron, A.D.C.R.G and Leona McCarron, T.C.R.G from Birmingham, England.  This week long camp will take place during the last week in July or early August at the Clifton Park Studio.  The classes offered are stretching, exercise, solo and ceili dancing.  These classes are open to all levels of dancers in the school.  During the week long day camp, the children will gain stamina and sharpen their dancing skills by working on perfecting the exercises’ and steps that they already know as well as learn new exercises’ and steps.  The younger children will be interacting and doing the stretching and exercise classes with the older children.  This will help the younger dancers to realize their hidden potential.  The children should bring a change of clothing, a towel, exercise mat, lunch, several water bottles and a few snacks (some healthy ones please:  oranges, apples, etc.)  On Friday after camp one of the parents will usually host a pool party/BBQ For those families that live by each other you might consider carpooling.  One parent could drive the kids to class in the morning and another could pick them up in the afternoon.  If you are interested in carpooling, please let me know.  I will put you in touch with someone from your area.  Camp information is sent out in April.

What is a FEIS???  A Feis (pronounced “fesh”) is an Irish dancing competition. Feiseanna (plural, "fesh-an-uh") were traditionally cultural gatherings with events and competitions in music, dancing, singing and other aspects of Irish culture.  The word feis is generally used when there are competitions in other areas, such as art and music. However, a dance only competition is called a Feile.  Most feiseanna are held indoors at schools or convention centers.  However, some feiseanna are held outdoors.

Dancers compete against children their own age. They are then split into levels based on their ability and success at previous feiseanna.  Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Novice, Prizewinner, Preliminary Championship and Championship are the level of competition.  Dancer's advance through the levels by fulfilling certain criteria, such as winning two first place awards in a dance against at least 5 other dancers.

In solo competitions each dance is judged and awarded separately. The dancers perform two or three at a time depending of the age of the competitor.  When the dancer is done performing they bow to the judge and return to the back of the stage then wait for the other dancers to complete their dance.  When the competition is completed the judge will say “Thank You” and the dancer walks off the stage.  Judges identify dancers by the number pinned to their costume. Results are either announced or posted, and those placed receive medals or trophies.

A Preliminary Championship and Championship competition requires three judges.  Dancers perform a full reel or slip jig and a full treble jig or hornpipe. The awards for these competitions are usually trophies.  The winner often receives a perpetual cup which is engraved with their name.  Perpetual cups must be returned to the feis for the next years' competition.

Some feiseanna also have team competitions, including two, three, four, and eight-hand dances.  These dances are called ceilis ('cay-lee) and figures.

In addition to the dancing there are also other aspects of a feis. There are almost always vendors of shoes, socks, wigs, music and everything else a dancer needs.  A feis is the ideal place to stock up and get anything you need.  In other words “Excellent Shopping”.  Many people take their old and outgrown solo costumes to a feis and hang them up for sale. Feiseanna are also great for getting together with old friends and meeting new people.

There are three local feiseanna:  Albany (July),  East Durham (August) and Troy (October).  There are feiseanna every weekend all over the country.  For a complete list go to  www.northamericanfeiscommission.org.  Competitions are not required but are encouraged.  If you have any questions about entering your son/daughter, please let me know.

For more information call 518-753-4181 or E-mail:  rosemary@campbellschool.com