Nordic Feis of Irish Dancing

The Grade Exams is for you, to help you improve! You dance in front of an examiner (for up to 40 bars) with no-one else in the room or in the company of 2-3 others. The examiner is not there to make you feel bad but to give you encouragement to dance the best you can - to pass the Grade. He will also give you suggestions on the things you need to work with and how to improve your dancing. The following are some of the things that the examiner looks at: timing, carriage, execution of steps, steps.

Grade Examinations
Grade Examinations were first introduced by A Coimisiún in 1943 and have since been conducted in Ireland, the U.S.A., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Classes and schools that have been involved in the examination are very pleased with them and happy to recommend them to their colleagues. The very attractive and colourful certificates are very popular with dancers and their parents. The comments in writing given to each candidate by the examiners are very constructive and helpful.

How does the scheme operate?

There are 12 grades plus a preliminary grade. Each must be passed before a dancer can then attempt the next grade. A certificate is awarded for each grade passed. A dancer who passes all the 12 grades receives 'Diplóma An Choimisiúin le Rincí Gaelacha' (The Diplóma of the Irish Dancing Commission). Grade examinations are not like competitions in that each dancer is individually examined and also receives the written assessment sheet already mentioned.

The examinations are intended and equally suitable for both dancers who compete regularly and for the very many who are not competition orientated.

Rules and regulation
1. Only basic steps may be danced in Grades 1, 2 & 3 and in the Preliminary Grade. 
2. The number of bars of music to be danced for all reels, jigs and hornpipes is 40.
3. Set-dances in Grades 4, 5 & 6 must be performed in the traditional style and manner.
4. From grade 7 upward only non-traditional sets may be danced. 
5. The same set-dance must not be performed in more than one of the Grades from 7 to 12 inclusive. 
6. A dancer must take all of the grades in order, beginning with Grade 1, the Preliminary Grade being optional. However, any number of consecutive grades may be taken on the same occasion. 
7. Candidates must know (orally and practically) all céilí dances required from the book 'Ár Rinncidhe Foirne' specified för Grades 5 to 12 inclusive. (Ceili dances initalic). 
8. Dance costumes should not be worn at what is an examination and not a competition. 
9. Grade 9 may not be taken under 16 years of age; Grade 10 under 17 years or Grades 11 or 12 under 18 years.

Dress
Dance costumes should not be worn at what is an examination and not a competition. The examinations are intended and equally suitable for both dancers who compete regularly and for the very many who are not competition orientated.

Music and How it is organised in Helsinki
Three candidates enter the room at the same time and follow any instructions given by the examiner. The candidates will take turns dancing, each person dancing one dance at a time. You don't have to bring your own music, the Feis committee will provide some basic irish dance cd's. 

Dancers must be well prepared for the grades. You can re-start your dance max. 2 times, after that the next dancer will start his/her dance. Make sure that you are well prepared for grade exams - it's nearly same as entering solo competitions. You have to know your dances really well.

Prices for grades this year (2011):
• Grade 1-3: 155 SEK
• Grade 4-6: 230 SEK
• Grade 7-10: 300 SEK

  
  Grade exams tempos and music:
  

  Grade 1
  - Easy reel - 124bpm 
  - Light jig - 116 bpm

  Grade 2
  - Single jig - 129 bpm 
  - Basic slip jig - 130 bpm 
  Grade 3

  - Primary reel - 120 bpm 
  - Basic Treble jig - 88 bpm

  Grade 4
  - Primary slip jig - 120 bpm 
  - St Patricks Day - 92 bpm

  Grade 5
  - Advanced reel - 113 bpm 
  - Basic hornpipe - 137 bpm

  Grade 6
  - Advanced slip jig - 113 bpm 
  - Blackbird 73

  Grade 7
  - Advanced treble jig - 73 bpm 
  - Garden of Daisies - 138 bpm

  Grade 8
  - Advanced hornpipe - 113 bpm 
  - Job of Journeywork - 138 bpm

  For Grades 9-10 we have Kevin Joyce The Final Round with all the modern set dances at different speeds.