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.

New York's O'Rourke adult Irish dancers feel like family - PHOTOS

LuAnn O'Rourke and her adult Irish dancer Ladies 8-hand team
Photo: courtesy O'Rourke Irish Dancers

The O'Rourke Irish Dancers have a healthy adult Irish dancer program.  LuAnne O'Rourke, TCRG, ADCRG began the school in 1995 and it is located in White Plains, New York. 

Feis America:  How did your adult Irish dancer program begin?  

LuAnn:  After I opened my school in 1995, I was approached by an adult to give her private lessons.

She wanted to learn to Irish dance desperately, but no one in the area offered adult classes. I started teaching her after my kids' classes, and actually enjoyed teaching her. Adults have great attention spans, pick up quick, and make corrections easily. I found it refreshing after spending a few hours with young children. Word got out and it snowballed from there. 

Feis America:  What is the culture like for adult Irish dancers at your school?  

LuAnn:  We are like a family. Some of the adults in the school are parents of the kids dancing. Some of the adult dancers are siblings, and we even have an engaged couple. We have danced at many of their weddings and have seen their families grow. The adults are friendly with each other outside of class as well.  Lifelong friendships have been formed, and they support each other in dance and other aspects of their lives.  

LuAnn O'Rourke and her adult Irish dancer mixed 4-hand team
Photo: courtesy O'Rourke Irish Dancers

Feis America:  Where do the adult Irish dancers perform/compete?  

LuAnn:  They dance at St. Patrick's Day functions, parades, weddings, festivals, and our annual recital.    They are also very competitive! Our Ladies 8-Hand team has won the Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas 7 times and the North American Championship 3 times; their 4-hand has won the Oireachtas [Regional Championships] 5 times, our Mixed 8-Hand has won the Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas [Regional Championships] 3 times, and Nationals once; their 4-Hand has won Nationals 4 times. In addition, the Ladies' team are the first North American team to take home a First Place All-Ireland [Irish Dancing Championships] medal in the 4-Hand Ceili Club category. They are setting their sights on the Great Britain Championships some time in the future.   

LuAnn O'Rourke and her adult Irish dancer National Champion ceili team
Photo: courtesy O'Rourke Irish Dancers

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Read more:

Spotlight on adult Irish dancer Sara Gutis from Connecticut

2012 North American Irish Dance Championships - Dance Drama Review Part 1

New England claims four North American Irish Dancing Championship team trophies

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Feis America:  What advice can you give to others who want to form a strong adult

Irish dancer program?  

LuAnn:  Treat adult dancers with respect, and as an integral part of your school and business. Adults have children that can become a part of your school, if they are not already. They are great volunteers for your feis, and can also become life-long friends. Make time for them, even if it's after all of your kid's classes. Give them opportunities to be an important part of your school by getting them involved in performances, competition, and your feis if you run one.

Feis America:  How do you envision the future for adult Irish dancers?  

LuAnn:  I hope that some day in the near future the CLRG will consider adding an adult ceili

competition to the World Championships. Adult dancers are here, and thriving, and want to be a part of the greater Irish dance community. The more opportunities we give them, the more they will get involved.  

O'Rourke adult Irish dancers
Photo: courtesy O'Rourke Irish Dancers

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Readers: Are you an adult Irish dancer, competitive or not, with a story to share? Would you like to inspire others to feel your passion for Irish dancing and culture? Do you have a question about Irish dancing? Please comment in the box below for replies and contact information!

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.

Adult Irish dancers The Blackbirds at The College of Wooster in Ohio

The Blackbirds Irish Dance Group at Wooster College
Photo courtesy The Blackbirds

Blackbirds come to roost at The College of Wooster in Wooster; Ohio - Irish dancing Blackbirds, that is!  Haley Close from The Blackbird Irish dance group agreed to tell Christy Dorrity from Feis America a little about the collegiate group that is created and run by students.

Feis America: Tell me about your collegiate Irish dance program--how many people are involved, what types of classes are offered, what types of certifications/endorsements are available as part of the program?

The Blackbirds: A student, Jesse Hoselton, who named the group The Blackbirds after the joint Scottish-Irish forces who fought the British, created the group in 2004. Since our college still emphasizes the Scottish arts, it was perfect! We explore all types of Irish dance including hardshoe and soft shoe dances, traditional Ceili dances, and a variety of dances choreographed by us students. Most of the dancers learned Irish dance at Wooster and have not had formal training, but the experienced dancers teach and lead the others. The Blackbirds' sister group, the Baby Birds, is a beginner group for incoming dancers. We usually average about 10 members, but we’ve had close to 20 members in past years. None of us are certified TCRGs so our focus is on performing and enjoying Irish dance. Basically, we do it for fun!

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Little Champion Dancer Shares An Irish Dancer's Oath

Rince Diahbla Dukes College Irish Dancers
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Feis America: Where and for who to you perform?

The Blackbirds: We perform at different events on campus throughout the academic year, primarily for other students, though we have also performed at wedding receptions in the local area. We typically put on a recital each semester. Our college hosts a Diversity Fair and various Scottish arts festivals that we dance at. This year we organized a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the campus bar/club and performed then as well. It was great to have the student body participating in some of the ceilis!

Feis America: Can beginners take classes at the collegiate level? The Blackbirds: Any student is welcome to join our group, regardless of whether they have past experience. In fact, we’ve had many talented dancers who never Irish danced until they came to Wooster. We encourage everybody who is interested to try it!

The Blackbirds pose before a performance.
Photo courtesy The Blackbirds..

Feis America: What reception do you receive when you perform at college functions?

The Blackbirds: We are always very well received when we perform on campus. I think Irish dance in general makes for fantastic performances and here it’s no different. We have a lot of freedom in our shows, so we can get pretty creative. Any choreography that we do to music from the Boondock Saints movie always draws a crowd! We just had a performance in our student center where we caused a traffic jam of sorts because students stopped on the stairs trying to catch a glimpse of our treble reel. After the show, I heard one student ask her friend, “Did you see how high they can kick?”

Feis America: Do you have contact with Irish dance programs at other colleges or universities?

The Blackbirds: Unfortunately, we aren’t in contact with any similar groups. I’d love to look into it though.

Feis America: Do your dancers go on to perform professionally, compete or teach in Irish dancing?

The Blackbirds: Our founder is currently studying for her TCRG exam and she started competing again in her home region after she graduated from Wooster. Another one of our former members just returned from competing at the All-Irelands in Dublin. She is teaching dance as well. From what I’ve heard, a lot of our former dancers are still dancing for fun. I just saw pictures of Blackbird alumni performing at a friend’s wedding!

Feis America: What do you envision for adult Irish dancers in the future?

The Blackbirds: I think our group is proof that Irish dance is open to anyone! We have members dancing treble reels who didn’t know what a hard shoe was a few years ago. When we’re together—practicing or even watching “Lord of the Dance” or “Jig” — we aren’t really worried about making careers out of Irish dance or competing at the international level, even though some of our members have. We mostly concern ourselves with having fun and sharing the company of others who love Irish dance. An Irish dancing career definitely doesn’t have to end once you reach a certain age. To me, that’s what makes Irish dance so special. On stage, at a St. Patrick’s Day parade, or even at a pub, when the music starts, I’m always amazed at who can roll up their jeans and pick up a step right where they left off.

Feis America: Thank you very much Haley. Good luck to The Blackbirds!

Readers: Are you involved in Irish dance on the collegiate level? Will your choice of college be influenced by the availability of an Irish dance program?  Please share!

World Irish Dance Association Championships adult Irish dancers prepare for World Championships

Erica Graham at the WIDA British Open Championships 2011
Photo: courtesy Erica Graham

While thousands of people rallied in Belfast for An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha's World Irish Dancing Championships this week, adult Irish dancers are preparing for the upcoming World Championships for the World Irish Dance Association (WIDA).  

Erica Graham from the Farrell School of Irish dance in Fairford, Gloucestershire, England will be competing on Easter weekend at the World Irish Dance Association World Irish Dancing Championships in the Over 35 category.  Graham began dancing after watching her own daughter dance. "My teacher had an adult class," Graham says. "Once I'd tried it I was hooked." Bella, one of Erica's two daughters who also Irish dance, will also be competing at WIDA Worlds. 

Adult Irish dancer Erica Graham and daughter Bella.
Photo: courtesy Erica Graham

Graham qualified for World Irish Dance Association World Irish Dancing Championships at the British Open Irish Dancing Championships in October 2011. She says, "I never dreamed I would be competing at the Worlds, but [World Irish Dancing Association] is adult-friendly so I am able to compete with my own age group in O35, which is still very competitive." 

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Read more:

Irish and American share World Irish Dancing Championship title

Irish dance competitions for adults this April

World Irish Dancing Championships Sunday "Jig's" John Whitehurst from Carey reclaims title

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The World Irish Dance Association is a relatively young organization.  According to the official WIDA website, the organization is based in mainland Europe and organizes workshops, competitions and examinations to aid in the promotion of and interest in the development of a standard in Irish dancing.  

The adult Irish dance competitions will be held on Monday, April 9, 2012.  Adult categories are and over 35 and include adult teams and a show championship. 

Erica Graham at WIDA Celtic Irish Dance Nationals 2011
Photo: courtesy Erica Graham

Graham attends class three times a week in preparation for the World Championships for World Irish Dance Association. After healing from a broken ankle a year ago, she says mental preparation is as important as physical, "As an adult I do find my nerves can get the better of me, so I've been really working on that."

Like other adult Irish dancers, Erica works at a full time job and has daughters who also spend long hours in practice and competition. "It can be hard," Graham says, "but it's worth it!"

Erica encourages any adult to reach for their goals. She says, "Go for it. You don't have to compete, but there is definitely a place for you, if you want to!"

Good luck to Erica and all of the adults competing this weekend!

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