FEIS

A dance competition, feis, pronounced “fesh,” can provide an excellent way for our dancers to gauge their knowledge and improvement in Irish dance, boost their confidence, shine on stage, and meet Irish dancers from around the globe, oh… and TRAVEL! Participation in competitions, or feiseanna, pronounced “fesh-anna,” is NEVER, EVER required of your dancer.

Whether you need a refresher or are completely new to this world, here’s how the feis works. 
Be sure to join our Team KSID Feis FAQ facebook group to connect with other Kelly Irish Dance feis families.

FEIS LEVELS

PRE-BEGINNER

Pre-beginner is an optional feis level offered at select feiseanna for dancers ages 7 and under who are participating in their very first feis.
This level may be referenced as Pre-Beginner, First Feis, or Tír Na Nóg level.

PRE-BEGINNER DANCES
One Reel step, to music speed 122
One Light Jig step, to music speed 115

PRE-BEGINNER KSID FEIS COSTUME
White Blouse: French Toast brand with Peter Pan collar
or Leotard: Capezio black cap sleeve
KSID embroidered skirt or pink circle skirt
White poodle socks
Properly fitted soft shoes with black laces or Black ballet slippers

No makeup.
Natural hair, curled, with KSID pink bow
No wigs

LEVEL ADVANCEMENT 
Dancers may only compete in this level once. Please register your dancer in the Beginner level for their next feis.

BEGINNER

Beginner is for dancers just starting to compete. Any previous competitive experience may consist of the Pre-Beginner level.

BEGINNER DANCES
Reel, speed 122
Light Jig, speed 115
Slip Jig, speed 122

BEGINNER KSID FEIS COSTUME
White Blouse: French Toast brand with Peter Pan collar
or Leotard: Capezio black cap sleeve
KSID embroidered skirt or pink circle skirt
White poodle socks
Properly fitted, KSID approved brand soft shoes with black laces

No black tights
No makeup.
Natural hair, curled, with KSID green bow
No wigs

LEVEL ADVANCEMENT 
To move from Beginner to Advanced Beginner, a dancer must have completed one calendar year in Beginner or have placed first 3x in a particular dance.

ADVANCED BEGINNER

ADVANCED BEGINNER DANCES
Reel, speed 122
Light Jig, speed 115
Slip Jig, speed 122
Treble Jig, speed 92
Hornpipe, speed 138

ADVANCED BEGINNER KSID FEIS COSTUME
White Blouse: French Toast brand with Peter Pan collar
or Leotard: Capezio black cap sleeve or Weissman Mock Neck long sleeve
KSID embroidered skirt or KSID School Dress
White poodle socks
Properly fitted, KSID approved brand soft shoes with black laces

No black tights
No makeup.
Natural hair or curled, with KSID pink bow
No wigs

LEVEL ADVANCEMENT
To move from Advanced Beginner to Novice, a dancer must have placed 1st in each dance prior to advancing to Novice.

NOVICE

DANCES
Reel, speed 113
Light Jig, speed 115
Slip Jig, speed 113
Treble Jig, speed 73 or 92
Hornpipe, speed 138
Traditional Set: St. Patrick’s Day, speed 92

NOVICE KSID FEIS COSTUME
KSID School Dress
or Weissman Mock Neck long sleeve w/ Team skirt
Properly fitted, KSID approved brand soft + hard shoes with black laces
White poodle socks
No black tights

Natural performance make up recommended for dancers ages 11 & up
NOTE: Dancers approaching full Prizewinner, may begin to look for a solo dress with approval from KSID. KSID SOLO DRESS POLICY

LEVEL ADVANCEMENT 
To move from Novice to Prizewinner, a dancer must have won a minimum of one 1st place in that particular dance in Novice and have teacher permission. KSID requires dancers to achieve 1st place placements in Traditional and Slow Treble Jig and Traditional Hornpipe before advancing. Dancers may take up to six months after achieving a first in Novice to begin competing at the next level. Prizewinner dancers must attend a minimum of 4 hours of classes per week, September–June. A weekly Feis Prep Class is strongly encouraged at this level.

PRIZEWINNER

DANCES
Reel, speed 113
Slip Jig, speed 113
Treble Jig, speed 73
Hornpipe, speed 113
Traditional Set: Three Sea Captains, speed 96

KSID PRIZWINNER FEIS COSTUME
CLRG COSTUME RULES
KSID SOLO DRESS POLICY
KSID-Approved Solo Dress or Weissman Mock Neck long sleeve w/ Team skirt
Properly fitted, KSID approved brand soft + hard shoes
White poodle socks
No black tights

Natural Curled or Straightened Hair or KSID-Approved Wig
KSID-Approved Headpieces
Black + White tape shoe tape encouraged


LEVEL ADVANCEMENT
At minimum, a dancer must have placed 1st in all prizewinner level dances to advance to Prelim. Preliminary champions must attend a minimum of 4 hours of classes per week, September–June. A weekly Feis Prep Class is strongly encouraged.
*see chart at bottom of page for additional reference

PRELIMINARY CHAMPION

DANCES
Reel, speed 113
Slip Jig, speed 113
Treble Jig, speed 73
Hornpipe, speed 113
Traditional Set

OIREACHTAS TRADITIONAL SETS
King of the Fairies, speed 130
Three Sea Captains, speed 96
St. Patrick’s Day, speed 92

KSID PRELIM CHAMPION FEIS COSTUME
CLRG COSTUME RULES
KSID SOLO DRESS POLICY
KSID Approved Solo Dress or Weissman Mock Neck long sleeve w/ Team skirt
Properly fitted, KSID approved brand soft + hard shoes
White poodle socks
No black tights

Natural Curled or Straightened Hair or KSID-Approved Wig
KSID-Approved Headpieces
Black + White tape shoe tape required

LEVEL ADVANCEMENT
To move from Preliminary to Open Champion,  a dancer must have a minimum of two overall 1st place placements.

OPEN CHAMPION

Open Champion is the highest level to be attained in competing. Actively competitive dancers at this level are expected to attend a minimum of 6 hours of classes per week. Dancers dance 3 rounds for an overall score placement.

  1. Choice of Reel or Slip Jig

  2. Choice of Jig or Hornpipe

  3. Modern (Non-Trad) Jig or Hornpipe Set

KSID OPEN CHAMPION FEIS COSTUME
No changes from Prelim costume requirements. The more sparkle & shine the better. Custom dresses are recommended at this level.

FEIS REGISTRATION

Your dancer’s feis age is their age as of January 1st of the feis year. i.e. dancers born in 2010 are feis age U14 in 2024 and U15 in 2025.
Interested in your first feis? Contact KSID for feis registration account access and feis recommendations.

NOTEs on FEIS LEVEL ADVANCEMENT

In regards to level advancement, teacher discretion is used sparingly and supersedes all rules.

A dancer may not compete in more than two grade/levels at one time (e.g., a dancer cannot compete in AB Reel, N Light Jig, and PW Slip Jig, regardless of winning placements. They would need to wait for all AB dances to bump to N before competing in any PW dances). It is normal for a dancer to be in two levels at one time as they work to master all of their dances, both soft and hard shoe. 

If a dancer continuously places in a certain dance (e.g., reel), it may be recommended that after the third first place in that dance, they wait to bump the single dance and instead focus exclusively on the other dances at future competitions until they are improved. For example, if a dancer receives three first places in AB Reel but has not placed consistently in AB Light Jig or AB Slip Jig, we would recommend they sign up for just their jigs (and wait to start N Reel) until they begin to see consistent placements.

NeRO QUALIFICATIONS

The New England Oireachtas, pronounced “O-ROCK-TUS,” is an annual regional championship competition held the weekend before Thanksgiving. The Oireachtas serves as a qualifying event for the National and World Championship Competitions. KSID is part of the New England Region, one of the seven regions in North America. 

The Oireachtas consists of three types of competitions: 

  1. Traditional Set Competition. This competition is open to Novice, Prizewinner and Preliminary Champion dancers.

  2. Solo Competition. Solo competition is reserved for Open Champion dancers and select Prelim dancers. *

  3. Ceili Teams. This competition is open to all Kelly Irish Dancers.

    * Preliminary champ dancers who have previously recalled in NERO Traditional Set but have not placed overall in Prelim may choose to compete in Oireachtas solos or traditional set. Continuing to participate in Traditional set is encouraged.

Nationals

The North American Championships is a five day annual competition held early July, usually encompassing Independence Day, open to qualified Open Champion level dancers. Upcoming locations: 2025— Washington, DC; 2026— Orlando, FL; 2027— Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

WORLDS

The CLRG World Irish Dancing Championships, the Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, is an eight day annual competition typically held the week before and including Easter Sunday, open to qualified Open Champion dancers. Upcoming locations: 2025—Dublin, Ireland.

ADD’L FEIS FAQS


AWARDS—LOCAL FEISEANNA
BEGINNER–PRIZEWINNER scores are posted on a scoreboard, and awards are claimed at a designated award table. 
CHAMPION awards are announced shortly after your competition has finished. Announcements take place in a designated champion award area.
Champion dancers must be in full costume, including hard or soft shoes for awards.

AWARDS—MAJORS / OIREACHTAS / NATIONALS / WORLDS
An award ceremony is held at the end of each competition day.
For award ceremonies all dancers who recall must attend the award ceremony dressed in full costume, including soft shoes.