(a) Teams must consist of not fewer than eight (8) and not more than 20 dancers.
(b) Each dance must portray, in a manner suitable for a general audience, a specifically Irish historical or traditional story or event.
(c) A short account of the dance must accompany the entry. Entries not accompanied by the story will not be accepted, returned and given a further seven days to comply with this ruling. If the story is still not received after the seven days the entry will be refused. If what accompanies the entry is to be considered as a draft copy, the replacement copy of this draft, not exceeding 200 words must accompany the music not later than Monday 21st March, 2011, otherwise this is the only version of the story that will be accepted for reading on the day of the performance.
(d) Where stage-props are required these must be provided by teams themselves. Props must be portable and of a kind that can be placed and removed easily and quickly. This rule will be strictly enforced.
(e) A dance-drama should be capable of being performed on stage 28' x 28'. Entrance can be from either side. Lighting can be dimmed or raised but excessive or complicated changes of lighting must be avoided. The ordinary stage-lighting provided at the venue must be used, i.e. additional lighting strobes etc. will not be permitted. Teams will be allowed up to five minutes to place props and otherwise prepare the stage. This rule will also be strictly enforced.
(f)
- (i) Only Irish music or music of related ethnic origin, which must consist of reels, jigs, slip-jigs, single-jigs, hornpipes, Irish marches or Irish slow airs or a combination of any of those dance tunes, marches or slow airs, will be permitted. Where drumming is used this must also be in the stipulated tempos.
- (ii) Spoken words or songs are not permitted as part of a dance-drama. This includes miming to spoken words or songs on tape or other recorded medium. Video or image projection before, during or on completion of a performance is not permitted.
(g) Where a team opts to use pre-recorded accompaniment, copies of CDs or mini discs must be forwarded to the feis committee. Elements to be considered in a team’s performance will include:
• Choice of theme, event or story
• Portrayal of theme including dance content and music
• Dancing
• Impact (on adjudicator)
• Costume
(h) A dance-drama performance should not exceed 6 minutes duration from beginning to end. Each dance will be timed electronically on receipt of music and the timing will commence from the start of music playing and finish when the music stops. Each team member must remain on stage or side stage wings for the duration of dance.
(i) The names of all team members must be submitted with the entry and any later alterations notified before the competition. No dancer may take part in more than one dance-drama in the same age group.
(j) Awards will be given for at least 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in the Dance Drama championships.
(k) If any rule of this competition is not adhered to by a team during its performance on stage, that team cannot place in a medal winning position.
(l) Where a school has only one team entered in the Dance Drama, then there are no age restrictions, but dancers Over 16 cannot compete in the Under 16 Dance Drama. However, where a school has teams entered in both the Under 16 and Over 16 sections, or two or more teams in the Over 16 section, then only 50% underage dancers can compete in the older section.