Irish dance competitions for adult Irish dancers in August

Adult Irish dancers from Beaton School of Irish Dance in Maryland, USA
Photo: Courtesy Rachel Joy

Many feiseanna (Irish dance competitions) offer competitions for adult Irish dancers. Here's a quick glance at feiseanna that welcome adult Irish dancers in August.

Plan on supporting a feis in your area that includes adult Irish dancers, and keep an eye out for those feiseanna who are offering slow speed dances for adults. 

Source: www.feisworx.com 

Key: FF-first feis B-beginner, N-novice, PW-prize winner, O-open championship

Two Rivers Feile 2012
Des Moines, IA - Aug 3, 2012 to Aug 4, 2012
Iowa Irish, Inc.

B1/B2, N/PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional speed only

traditional set 

8 hand

no specials

Arizona State Championships & Feis 2012
Phoenix, AZ - Aug 4, 2012 to Aug 5, 2012
McTeggart, AZ

B, N/PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe

traditional set 

2,3 hand

parent/child special

Milwaukee Feis 2012
Milwaukee, WI - Aug 11, 2012
Milwaukee Feis Society

B1/B2, N/PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional speed and slow speed

traditional set 

any figure

parent/child specials

McMenamin Academy Feis 2012
Milwaukee, WI - Aug 12, 2012
McMenamin Academy of Irish Dance

B1/B2, N/PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional speed only

traditional set 

8 hand

no specials

Southern Tier Feis 2012
Binghamton, NY - Aug 18, 2012
Carle Irish Dance Co.

B1/B2, N/PW

3 soft shoe

1 hard shoe

no traditional set 

no figures

parent/child special

Great Lakes Feis 2012
Lansing, MI - Aug 19, 2012
Ardan Academy

FF/B1, B2, N, PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional speed or slow speed

traditional set 

2,3,4,8 hand

no specials

Cowboy State Feis 2012
Casper, WY - Aug 25, 2012
Irish Dance Association of Central WY

B, N/PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe

traditional set 

2,3 hand

parent/child special

St. Louis Gateway Feis 2012
St. Louis, MO - Aug 25, 2012
St. Louis Gateway Feis Society

B1/B2, N/PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe

traditional set 

no figures

no specials

Kansas City Feis 2012
Kansas City, MO - Aug 31, 2012 to Sep 1, 2012
O'Riada-McCarty-Manning Academy

B1/B2, N/PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe

traditional set 

8 hand

no specials

If you have a photo of your adult class practicing or performing that you would like to see featured, please email me.

Irish dance competitions for adult Irish dancers in July

Adult Irish dancers from the Bennett School of Irish Dance in Denver, Colorado.
Photo: courtesy Bennet School of Irish Dance

Many feiseanna (Irish dance competitions) offer competitions for adult Irish dancers. Here's a quick glance at feiseanna that welcome adult Irish dancers in July.

Plan on supporting a feis in your area that includes adult Irish dancers, and keep an eye out for those feiseanna who are offering slow speed dances for adults. 

Source: www.feisworx.com 

Key: FF-first feis B-beginner, N-novice, PW-prize winner, O-open championship

Clan na nGael Summer Feis 2012
Columbus, OH - Jul 14, 2012
Shamrock Club of Columbus

B1/B2, N/PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe

no traditional set 

no figures

no specials

Colorado Irish Festival Feis 2012
Littleton, CO - Jul 14, 2012 to Jul 15, 2012
Colorado United Irish Societies

B, N, PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe

traditional set 

2,3,4,6,8 hand

no specials

Badger State Feis 2012
Milwaukee, WI - Jul 21, 2012
Badger State Feis

B1/B2, N/PW

3 soft shoe

2 hard shoe

no traditional set 

2,3,4 hand

parent/child special

Dance For Life 2012
Seattle, WA - Jul 21, 2012 to Jul 22, 2012
Scoil Rince Slieveloughane

B, N, PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional and slow speeds

traditional set 

2,3,4,6,8 hand

reel special for B, N, and PW; parent/child figure

Nation's Capital Feis and All-American C 2012
Washington, D.C. - Jul 21, 2012 to Jul 22, 2012

B, B2, N, Open

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe

traditional set 
non-traditional set and treble reel
2,3,4,6,8 hand, choreography
Hard shoe Exhibition Extravaganza, Showcase Style Competition
Parent/child special

Cream City Feis 2012
Milwaukee, WI - Jul 22, 2012
Kinsella Acadmy Family Association

B1/B2, N/PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe, traditional speeds

traditional set and single jig pending

8 hand pending

no specials

Maitiu O'Maoileidigh Summer Feis 2012
Irvine, CA - Jul 28, 2012 to Jul 29, 2012
Celtic Gold Academy

B1, N, PW

4 soft shoe

2 hard shoe

traditional set 

2,3,4,6,8 hand

treble reel special, challenge cup: slip or reel and set dance

If you have a photo of your adult class practicing or performing that you would like to see featured, please email me.

Irish dance compeitions for adults this April

Hard Shoes
Photo: Christy Dorrity

Many feiseanna (Irish dance competitions) offer competitions for adult Irish dancers.  Here's a quick glance at feiseanna that are friendly to adult Irish dancers in April.


Plan on supporting a feis in your area that includes adult Irish dancers and keep an eye out for those feiseanna who are offering slow speed dances for adults. 


If you have a photo of your adult class practicing or performing that you would like to see featured, please email me.


Source: www.feisworx.com 

Key: FF-first feis B-beginner, N-novice, PW-prize winner, O-open championship

Feile Denver 2012
Loveland, CO - Apr 15, 2012 
McTeggart, CO 


B, N, PW
4 soft shoe
2 hard shoe, traditional speed
traditional set 
2,3,4,6,8 hand reel, 2 hand jig
specials: light shoe reel


Buckeye State Feis 2012 
Columbus, OH - Apr 21, 2012 
Millennium Academy of Irish Dance 


B/B2, N/PW
3 soft shoe
2 hard shoe, traditional speed
8 hand


Mattierin Spring Feis In The Park 2012 
Sherwood Park, AB - Apr 27, 2012 to Apr 29, 2012 
Emerald Isle Dancers Association 


B, N, PW
4 soft shoe
2 hard shoe, traditional speed
traditional set
2,3,4,6,8,progressive
specials: treble reel


The Little Rock Feis 2012 
Little Rock, AR - Apr 27, 2012 to Apr 28, 2012 
McCafferty School of Irish Dance


B, B2/N, O
4 soft shoe
2 hard shoe, traditional speed
traditional set
2,3,4,8, family 
specials: treble reel 

Emerald City Feis 2012 
Seattle, WA - Apr 28, 2012 to Apr 29, 2012 
Baile Glas and Tara Academy 


B, N, PW
4 soft shoe
2 hard shoe, traditional speed
traditional set
2,3,4,6,8 hand
specials: reel, treble reel


Feis SLC 2012 
Salt Lake City, UT - Apr 28, 2012 
Acadamh Rince 


B, N/PW
4 soft shoe
2 hard shoe, traditional speed
traditional set
2, 3 hand
specials: mens reel, ladies slip jig, double reel, "Prom Night"couples

Rince Diabhal, Duke's "Dancing Devils" show there's no reason to give up Irish dancing in college - VIDEO

Collegiate adult Irish dancers Rince Diabhal at Duke University
in North Carolina
Photo: Flickr/RinceDiabhal

In 2009 a group of Irish dancers began Rince Diabhal, an Irish dance and culture club at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. "There's no reason Irish dancing has to end in college even though many

people have to leave their respective dance schools," says Hannah Gold, one of the founders and Rince Diabhal's president, "Rince Diabhal's founders did not want to give up Irish dance, so they brought it with

them."

Megan Tisdale serves as the collegiate club's coach. Tisdale, who often performs with the group, began her own dancing career in 1981 with the late Ann Richens, ADCRG (certified Irish dance teacher and adjudicator) and competed for the Richens-Timm Academy of Irish Dance.

Rince Diahbal means "dancing devil" in Gaelic and as the name implies, these dancers are a whirlwind on campus. They are in high demand for dance showcases at the university and are fast taking on performances off campus. Gold says, "Our performances are received extremely well, and
interest in our dance team has grown exponentially." The group enjoys working with a talented musician group for their practices and performances and collaborating with other dance clubs for varied choreography. See for yourself in the unique Irish/Indian fusion dancing video below.


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Read more:

Adult Irish dancers dream big at the Niall O'Leary School of Irish Dance in New York - PHOTOS

Teelin Irish Dance St. Patrick's Day Flash Mob Goes Viral
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Dancers in Rince Diabhal range from never-danced-before newbies to competitive open champions. A few of the dancers attend a certified school and participated in Oireachtas (a regional Irish dance competition) in 2011. All of the dances are choreographed by the members of the club. Currently, Rince Diabhal are only extracurricular, but may expand to offer for-credit classes in the future.

Rince Diabhal adult Irish dancers
Photo: courtesy Kyla Casey

"Full inclusion, but no requirements," is the dance club's motto, meaning that all members are invited to perform if they feel comfortable but are never required.

Coach Tisdale encourages all adults to try Irish dancing: "We invite anyone with an interest in Irish Dance and Culture to check out a school or a club in your area. You will find amazing people and unlock talents you didn't even know you had!"

Irish/Indian fusion by Rince Diahbal
Photo: Flickr/RinceDiahbal

For more information about the Rince Diabhal dancers, please visit them on the Rince Diabhal website.

Readers: Do you attend a collegiate Irish dance club? Does the option of having an Irish dance program influence your decision when choosing a college?