FEIS RULES

Adopted By The North American Feis Commission 1993
(amended October , 2001)

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2002

1. In the case of all solo and team competitions in all grades, the age of a competitor on 1st January of the year in which the competition is held will determine the right of entry. For the purposes of this Rule a competitor whose birthday occurs on 1^st January shall be deemed to be under the age attained on that date.
2. Competitions are open only to amateurs. Teachers or other professional cannot compete in the category in which they major.
3. A competitor may be disqualified for any of the following reasons:

1. Conduct unbecoming a lady or gentleman.
2. Failure to report on time to compete. (Penalty; disqualification from said event).
3. Falsification of age or other important facts – i.e., teaching, award winning, competing under another competitor’s name or number, etc.

Penalty for (A) or (C): Competitor will be disqualified from the Feis at which the occurrence happened and from all NAFC – registered Feiseanna for a period of one year beginning at the date of the occurrence.

4. Competitions will be closed if there are no competitors at the assigned stage ready to compete when the competition is scheduled or announced.
5. Solo competitors in Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Novice or Open (Prizewinner) competitions:

1. Must compete in their own age group.
2. Must be prepared to perform two steps in each event.
3. Cannot change competition on the day of the Feis.
4. Dance two competitors at a time.

The Standard Age Groups for Beginners are:
Under 5, Under 6, Under 7, Under 8, Under 9, Under 10, Under 11, Under 12, Under 13, Under 14, Under 15, 15 and over.

The Standard Age Groups for Advanced Beginners are:
Under 6, Under 7, Under 8, Under 9, Under 10, Under 11, Under 12, Under 13, Under 14, Under 15, 15 and over.

The Standard Age Groups for Novice are:
Under 7, Under 8, Under 9, Under 10, Under 11, Under 12, Under 13, Under 14, Under 15, 15 and over.

The Standard Age Groups for Open (Prize Winner) are:
Under 8, Under 9, Under 10, Under 11, Under 12, Under 13, Under 14, Under 15, 15 and over.

6. Figure Dancing: Teachers or team captains are responsible that their teams are complete and in position when the competition is announced. Competitors may compete in the next higher age group, however a competitor may compete in only one age group.
7. Steel taps or "bubble" heels on dancing shoes; display of awards, wearing of shorts or other unconventional dress is prohibited. Authentic Gaelic dress is desired.
8. Competitor’s number must be worn and visible to adjudicators when performing in all competitions, except in championships.
9. Awards will be determined in proportion to the number of competitors entered in each competition and to the degree of proficiency shown.
10. Musicians and adjudicators cannot be approached during a competition by anyone except the Feis Committee. No one can approach them while a competitor is performing. Good sportsmanship, as well as ladylike and gentlemanly conduct by all is desired throughout the Feis.
11. Complaints must be in writing, stating names and other factual information, and signed by the complainant. A Ten-Dollar fee must be enclosed and presented to the Feis Chairman within one hour of the occurrence. The fee will be returned if the complaint is upheld.
12. The Feis Committee and any organization affiliated with same will not be held responsible for personal injury, property loss or damage. Destruction of Feis property or rental property will be punishable by law.
13. The Feis reserves the right to reject any entry for cause, to cancel or postpone all or part of the Feis and to limit competitor’s performing time. The decision of the Feis committee is final in all matters connected with the Feis.
14. Competitors must answer all questions as required by the Feis Entry committee, including teacher’s name, and enclose the entry fee when mailing or else the entry will be rejected. Entries must be postmarked on or before the closing date or they will be subject to a late fee of $__ (DETERMINED BY FEIS) .
15. Entrants in any Championship event may not enter in any other solo events, but may enter in Figure Dances. Entrants in Championships should specify, on the entry form, their choice of set dance. Entrants cannot change competition or category on the day of the competition.

Standard age groups for Open Championships

Under 9 (optional), Under 11, Under 13, Under 15,
Under 17 (can be 15 and over if there is no 17 and over), 17 and over.
** In the case of back – to – back Feiseanna, the second Feis shall use an alternate set of age groups.
Under 8 (optional), Under 10, Under 12, Under 14,
Under 16 (can be 14 and over if there is no 16 and over), 16 and over.

16. Preliminary Championships are open to those who, at any NAFC recognized Feis:

1. Have placed 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd in each of the open (prizewinner) solo categories, and
2. Have never won 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd in open Championship.

A dancer who wins two first place awards in one calendar year will move on to championship the following year or as soon as the second win is achieved in any age category in the following years. Only in the case of back-to-back Feiseanna (successive days), in which case the first win in the following years in the first Feis will not change the dancer’s status for the second Feis.

A dancer is required to perform a minimum of two dances, a light shoe dance (reel or slip jig for females and reel only for males), and a hard shoe dance (treble jig or hornpipe at the discretion of the dancer, or a set dance at the discretion of the Feis).

Standard age groups for Preliminary Championships

Under 8, Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, 16 and over.
** In the case of back – to – back Feiseanna, the second Feis shall use an alternate set of age groups.
Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15,
Under 17 (can be 15 and over if there is no 17 and over), 17 and over.

17. Championships and Preliminary Championships require at least three adjudicators.
18. First Place winners in the Open Championship category cannot return to a Preliminary or Open (Prizewinner) competition. Placing in a Regional or National Oireachtas does not change the status of a competitor.
19. The status of the dancer does not change unless there are five or more dancers in a competition.
20. Solo Categories: Competitors have the option to remain in the same category for the remainder of the Feis year.

Beginner : A beginner is a competitor who has not has taken Irish dancing lessons from a registered teacher prior to September 1 of the previous year. A Beginner must move into the Advanced Beginner category the next year.

Advanced Beginner : An advanced beginner who wins 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd place will advance to the Novice category in that particular dance. Competition dances are limited to reel, light jig, slip jig, treble jig and traditional hornpipe.

Novice: A novice who wins a 1^st place will advance to the Open (Prizewinner) category in that particular dance.

Open: (Prizewinner): A competitor who does not qualify as a Beginner, Advanced Beginner or as a Novice

Adult Beginner : An adult beginner is a competitor who never took Irish dancing lessons as a juvenile and is over 18 years of age.

21. Musicians employed by the Feis Committee will be solely under the direction and management of the Feis Committee on Feis day.
22. In matters pertaining to adjudication, the decision of the adjudicators is final.
23. Adjudicators are to monitor the quality of music at the stage(s) to which they are assigned.
24. The use of video or motion picture cameras is prohibited during a dance competition except for press use or Feis Committee documentation.
25. Standard Figure Dancing Competitions are as follows:
    
    "The provision of Figure Dance Competitions is optional and at the discretion of the Feis committee."

A Feis Committee has the option of adding (not substituting) other solo and figure dances in any of the age categories.
A Feis Committee has the option of combining competitions as deemed necessary.