McBride School Championship Dancers

An Open Champion Is Just A Beginner Who Never Quit!!

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General Information:

Congratulations!  You have reached Championship!   And now you are asking yourself, what is championship level competition at a Feis?

Championship competitors will perform a minimum of two (2) rounds of comptition:  one soft shoe and one hard shoe round.  However, most Feisanna in the Western Region provide for three rounds: light shoe, hard shoe and set dance.   Dancers will perform 3 reel steps or 2.5 slip jig steps for the soft shoe round (boys will only perform reel), and either 3 hard jig steps or 2.5 hornpipe steps, and a set dance of their choice.

Championships competitions are judged by a minimum of three (3) adjudicators.  Scoring for the championships are based on the Irish Points System.  Places in championships are awarded in proportion to the number of entries, and usually up to one half of the competition (ie. Competitions with 10 competitors will have 5 places).

Championship level competition consists of two levels: Preliminary Championships and Open Champions.

Preliminary Championships:  According to the NAFC, this level of dancing is open to a competitor who has placed 1st in both a hard shoe and light school at the Prizewinner level.  At the McBride School, a student is expected, and required, to place 1st in all five of the championship level dances:  reel, slip jig, hard jig, horn pipe and set dance before moving into championships.  And, even though you have achieved these firsts, it is up to a McBride Instructor to determine when, and if, a dancer is ready to enter their first preliminary championship competition. Communication between the dancer, dancer's parent and the instructor is imperative at this level.  

In the Western Region, a dancer who wins three (3) 1st place Preliminary Championship awards in one calendar year will move to Open Championship the following year, as of January 1.  According to the NAFC, if the third 1st place win does not occur in the same Feis year as the first win, then the dancer may move into Open Championships as soon as the third win is achieved.  In the western region,  it is the TC's prerogative to move the preliminary dancer to Open if the third win is in the same Feis year as the first win.

Open Championships:  Open Championship is the highest level of competition, and is only open to those dancers who have achieved their two 1st place wins in Preliminary Championships. 

Competitors who win 1st place in the Open Championship category  cannot return to a preliminary or prizewinner grade competition.  However, if, after competing for two full feis years at the Open Championship level, a dancer has not placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd, the dancer, at their TC's discretion, may opt to return to the Preliminary status.

Championship Corner

Required Shoes, Wigs and Dress Information

DoireLight Shoes - Antonio Pacelli "Graces" is the preferred choice and the only black soled bottom shoe we recommend.  It has a split that shows of the arching (on the side near the ankle, not the sole) and looks like an Irish Dancing Shoe on top.  (other styles more resemble Scottish Shoes, or don't have proper soles). 

Cardboard Bottoms - Antonio Pacelli Looped or Gazelles.

Heavy Shoes:  Rutherford Black Sole Bottom for dancers going on point, that can't do so easily in a tighter leather bottom.  Prefer the Diamond Tip Shoe.  Any Rutherford Hard Shoe is acceptable. 

Fayes are a good choice, but some dancers who are light footed, don't project sound as well as they do in Rutherford. 

Wigs:  Camilia Rose, Kathleen, Robyn, Anna 

Buns:  Camila Rose Lucy (single for U12) Lucy Double for 13 & Over

Dress Makers:  Doire Designs, Elevations, Taylor and Realta Rince are wonderful choices.  Gavin Doherty is a great dress maker, but tends to make all dresses in a season similar and have more "fad" type styles that go in and out quickly.  Doire Designs, Taylor and Elevations tends to be "classic, elegant, and wide ranging" in new styles. 

For Teams, dancers need to have the Robyn or Robyn Luxe from Camilla Rose.  If we go to buns for the Oireachtas we will shift to the Camillla Rose Lucy or Double Lucy.  There is a west coast vendor for the Lucy Bun Wig.

School Dresses:  Championship School Dresses made by Doire Dress Designs

All Champion Dancers need to consult with Annie and Eileen on their dresses prior to purchasing or ordering.  They will guide you on Comission Rules regarding proper dresses.  Adjudicators have been instructed to identify all dancers out of costume compliance by checking a box on the judges sheets.  The teachers will not be notified of Dress "out of compliance" until well after the competitions are over.

If in doubt regarding any of the Championship attire, please check with Eileen or Annie.

Please contact Eileen McBride Parker, TCRG directly at [email protected].

THINK LIKE A CHAMPION! ACT LIKE A CHAMPION!  
​ PRACTICE LIKE A CHAMPION!
BE A CHAMPION!

Even at the Championship levels, our goals are still the same for you; (1) to Have Fun; (2) Work Hard; (3) Build Confidence; (4) Make Friends; (5) Learn Teamwork; and (6) Enjoy Dancing!  Even though, for the most part, Irish Step Dancing can be seen as a "solo" sport, the comraderie and friendships within the School only makes the dancing better!  And, when you Think like a Champion, Practice like a Champion, and Act like a Champion, You are a Champion! 

This is our new motto for our Championships Dancers and to some extent, all the dancers in our school.  Our championship dancers represent the McBride School at a very high level. We are so very proud at how far you all have all come and of your achievements in this highly competitive dance form.  But at this level of competition, dedication, drive, focus and sacrifice is sometimes necessary.  To that end, for those dancers who aspire to compete at the Oireachtas, Nationals and other Major Competitions, we require attendance at a minimum of 2 championship classes per week and recommend at least 3, especially in the few months preceeding any Major competition.  Healthy food choices, pilates and cross-training are also recommended.  A successful dancer will take home their TC's comments, critiques and instruction and practice there as well.  Practice like a Champion! 

And dont forget, ALL our older championship dancers are seen as great role models for those up and coming younger dancers, who look up to you.  We ask that you encourage and support all our younger champions and grade dancers within the school.  Be the Champion they can look up to!  Act like a Champion!
 
At competitions, we expect our Dancers to be courteous to all Competitors and supportive of ALL McBride Dancers, even when competing against each other.  Be a Champion on and off the Stage!

Feisanna are opportunities for dancers and parents to enjoy Irish Dancing.  But there is so much more to be gained from competition besides trophies and medals:  self confidence, self esteem, and a sense of achievement, as well as the friendships that are made, built and strenghened within the McBride Family and the Irish Dance Community.  All the memories, and life lessons, and more importantly, the friendships will last long after the dance shoes are put away for the very last time!
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What are the Majors?

The Majors are the events that offer only Championship competitions.  The three most common Majors for North American dancers are the Regional Championships (Oireachtas), the North American Irish Dance Championships (NAIDC), more commonly known as the North American Nationals (NANs), and the World Championships.  Some of the other Majors that are open to foreign competitors are the All Irelands, the All Scotlands, the Great Britains and the British Nationals.

Registration for Majors are restricted to eligibility and only a TCRG may register a student for these competitions.  Each competitor represents their dance school, and the McBride School will only enter students of appropriate dancing experience and caliber, regardless of their competition level. 

Open Champion dancers are eligible to compete at the regional Oireachtas.  TC discretion may allow a Preliminary Champion and/or a prizewinner dancer to compete at the Oireachtas if they believe the dancer has a high likihood of achieving a recall. 

In order to enter and compete at the North American Nationals, dancers must be Open Champion level or must have qualified at their regional Oireachtas.  Per NAFC rules, recalling and placing at the Oireachtas or Nationals does not change the status of a competitor at feisanna.  In other words, a prizewinner or preliminary dancer who achieves a recall at the Oireachtas must return to their pre-Oireacthas dancing level and does not automatically move them into prelim or open championship.

To be eligiblee to compete at the World Championships, dancers must compete at their Oireachtas and must qualify either at the Oireachtas or Nationals (NANs).