Mini-Feis Age Groups and Other Info

In answering a reply today, I thought it'd be best to post some points from my reply online to avoid possible further queries.

The age groups for this year will be U9 U11 U13 and 13+.

U9 may seem a bit steep for our U6 and U7 dancers but going we tried to arrange the age groups as evenly as possible. Going with U8 U10 U12 12+ meant nearly 60 dancers in one group and 28 in another.

Forecasted entries in mid-September totalled about 90 dancers when the decision to run four age groups was made but they actually totalled over 150 when entries closed Oct 1.

It was decided to allow dancers to perform in twos rather than threes as originally pitched, since most traditional sets don't allow for much moving. Going in threes could mean someone could be stuck in a corner. We weighed the options and did what we felt was best. Try to remember this our first year with the type of competition so we will have more information available to make decisions for next year.

The dance teachers are meeting on the Thursday of the Oireachtas so if you have concerns/suggestions about this or other aspects of the O, talk to them so your views can be presented at the meeting.

There will be 50% placing with really nice trophies for top five, medals for the remaining places.

Six dancers will stand in a line at the back of the stage and dance in twos as mentioned above.

Each group will pick up, meaning the music will be played three times. Judges will take a moment to look over all six dancers and then ring the dancers off stage. Dancers are sorted in the official program by dance (remember, there is a choice of seven traditional sets) and it may occur that dancers from the same school will dance together. Please don't worry. Since all dancers will be doing the same steps, it's not a problem.

Documents In Demand

You can find the final schedule here, the list of competitions here and the web-version of the syllabus here.

The list of competitors will not be posted prior to the event.

There will not be assigned practice rooms this year. The three rooms available will be the same as previous years. Ask around in your dance school if you are unsure of where they are.

Teachers' Meeting and Reception

The start time has just been changed to 5:30 due to lack of meeting space for a 4pm start.

Please RSVP to Rose Johnson if you haven't already done so.

The Teachers' Reception will begin around 8pm.

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Added October 22

Meeting - Strategy Room 5 and 6.

Reception - Upper Fallsview B

Practice Rooms

The practice rooms will be the same as previous years (on the fifth floor, ask someone in your school if you haven't been before). They will be opened at 5pm on Thursday until a reasonable time in the evening.

The rooms will not be assigned to specific schools this year.

We ask that everyone cooperate and be respectful to others by sharing the space. This is good advice for on-stage as well as off-stage. Please be careful to avoid injury.

Good luck.

Volunteers Needed To Help With Stage Set-Up

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS

***Volunteers are still needed to help with the set up of the staging and flooring on Thursday night. Please advise Rose Johnson by email below if you can volunteer to help out. ***

Without volunteers for this job - we can’t get it done – so please ask around to see who you can get to help you help us.

johnsonacad@sympatico.ca

Dinner Dance Update

Tickets for the Oireachtas Dinner Dance will be available for sale at the Roseland Feis. Also anyone with photos or memories of Rose Fearon that they wish to share will be collected at the Roseland Feis. Look for the “Oireachtas Dinner Dance table” near the vendors. Additional items can be emailed to us at: Siobhan@woodgateshamrock.com or snail mailed to us at 2007 Mount Forest Dr. Burlington, ON L7P 1H4

Further note to teachers from Ryan - please direcet all enquiries to Siobhan about the Dance. Anything sent to me will be forwarded. Thank you!

Still need a hotel for the O???

This a message from Yvonne Kelly, our Regional Director.

As you know, the Sheraton released all our $139.00 rooms without our knowledge and kept the $179.00 rooms.

(i) If you have not made your reservations, please call the Sheraton and tell them you wish to stay at the Crowne Plaza hotel - right beside the Sheraton. OR call the Crowne Plaza direct or use their website to make bookings. Our Association will get credit for bookings at the Crowne Plaza, due the Sheraton releasing all the $139.00 room without our knowledge. AS LONG AS WE ARE AWARE OF THE RESERVATION.

SO-

(ii) VERY IMPORTANT: Teachers, can you please put up a list at your studios for your parents to provide the following information:

- the name used for the reservation;
- the dates of your reservation;
- hotel name (Sheraton, Crowne Plaza....)

We will need this information from all schools in order to do the room audit at the end of the event. This has been made necessary because the Sheraton is not crediting us with all the bookings that should be included in our block.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Yvonne