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.