In a word, yes.

When I started researching Irish dance as a kid, one of the first aspects I ever came across was the repeated appearance of the word feis. Feis here, feis there, feis on every webpage.

First of all, I had no idea how to say it.

Second of all, I had no idea what it could possibly mean.

It's pronounced fesh, and it's an Irish dancing competition.

Irish dance and the feis (pl. feiseanna FESH-aw-nah) go hand-in-hand (you can read more in the History section). One rose up with and around the other, and you could make the case that in order to have the full, cultural Irish dance experience, you need to have at least watched one feis in your lifetime.

Historically, a true feis needed to also have other types of competition. Art, music, livestock, etc. Some still have art and music competitions, but most only have dancing.

A competition that only had dancing was historically called a féile (fay-luh), and some competitions still use this term.

Why Compete?

You're going to meet dancers from across your region, your country, and the whole of the world. You'll see steps and choreography that you might not have known before. A feis shows you the full breadth of Irish dance.

Plus, later in life, if ever you meet another Irish dancer, you get to reflect on the insanity of the whole thing, and discuss costumes and trends and memories that will haunt you for the rest of your life.

Okay, the real reason people compete is because it moves you up the leveling system quickly, and can (if you work at it) pave the way to a world championship. The Olympics of Irish dance. The first Worlds was held by An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) in 1970, and theirs is still the largest. Today, many governing bodies have world championships, including open platform. (For more information on governing bodies and platforms, check out Before You Begin.)

You can choose to start competing at any time, not just as a beginner. Your teacher will make the call as to what levels to place you in.

You can also choose not to compete at all. You will learn just as much as your peers while saving money and stress. Most Irish dancers don't commit to the full, non-stop competitive career. It's only the few of the few who go all the way to the top of the pile.

How Competition Works

Feis season is generally considered late spring/summer through autumn (in the Northern Hemisphere), though there are feiseanna all year long. Regional competitions, or the oireachtas (oh-ROCK-tus) are held in autumn, in the run-up to the World Championships. Many world championships are held around Easter.

The majority of feiseanna are hosted by one or more local schools. Some feiseanna are held out-of-doors on covered stages. Some are held indoors, such as in hotel ballrooms, gymnasiums, rec centers, and auditoriums. All usually have live musicians. Some are blackout feiseanna, meaning they have costume restrictions.

Every feis I went to, with a couple exceptions, were multi-day affairs. Figures one day, solos the next day, specials on the last day. There were no blackout feiseanna. It's more likely that you'll attend a single day feis, or two single day feiseanna hosted by the same school.

Different than other sporting competitions, an Irish dancer can be in many levels at the same time until they reach championship levels. This is because each dance is entered individually, divided by age group.

At the championship level, however, you are competing for an overall win in your age group.

To make things a little more confusing, every governing body and even countries within different governing bodies have their own leveling systems. The average is about four or five.

I competed under CLRG in North America, and my levels were as follows: Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Novice, Prizewinner, Preliminary Championships, and Open Championships. There are also adult levels, which used to be capped at Prizewinner, but now extend into Championships.

Using those levels, here is an example of how things work:

It's your first feis and you're dancing the reel, slip jig, light jig, and single jig. They're all in Beginner. You place top three in everything but light jig, so light jig stays in Beginner while the rest of the dances move to Advanced Beginner. This continues until you reach Prizewinner, at which point the qualification process is a little more rigorous, requiring multiple firsts in multiple dances before you can advance to Preliminary Championships.

In the championship levels, the scores from your dances are combined to determine the overall winners, though you can also get awards for your placement in the individual rounds. You dance one softshoe, one hardshoe, and one non-traditional set dance. Your set dance and hardshoe rounds usually have to be different rhythms (ie, treble jig for one, hornpipe for the other). You no longer dance the light jig or single jig.

Most feiseanna also include team dancing competitions (typically 2-hands through to 8-hands), or may even have a very fun and relaxed céilí before or after the festivities.

There are also, of course, vendors. I can't stress enough how wonderful it is to try on shoes before buying them, so if you need a new pair, take advantage!

Once you've reached the top levels, your teacher may decide to send you to the oireachtas in your region, either as a solo dancer or with a figure dance team (or both). At the oireachtas, a high enough placement can either qualify you for your world championships, or nationals (or both).

If you fail to qualify for a worlds at the oireachtas, a national competition serves as a second chance to do so. Nationals can be open to multiple countries (such as the North American Nationals), but only locals can qualify to a worlds there.

Your First Feis

The one thing I wanted more than any advice was what to expect at my first feis. What to do and how to do it. The things that, really, you can only learn through experience. So what I am about to offer is not universal feis advice of a universal feis experience. Every competition is different and every school has a different policy for practice and arrival. Follow the advice of your teacher. Remember that my first feis was over twenty years ago—times have changed, and so have feiseanna.

When you check in at the hall or the ballroom or wherever the feis is being held, you will be given a syllabus of competitions and corresponding stages and the competitors in each dance. The back of your number card may also have your dances and stages printed on it, in order. Always double check the stages to see if your dances are still there and haven’t been moved. Listen to any announcements. Make sure you know where your teacher is, or that they know how to find you. …

Regardless of your start time, wake up early. It sucks, but you need to do it. Feiseanna, in my day, were notorious for running behind, and I doubt that aspect has changed much. Sometimes they even ran early. Regardless, this means they were never on time. Always go down an hour earlier than your first dance to see how things are moving along to and to check the progress of the dances before yours (if there are any). Most of this will make sense when you are actually there, but on the wall behind the stage is usually a row or two or three or four or five of numbers. Those numbers are competitions at that stage. Your competition numbers will be at their assigned stages.

Not many dancers curl their hair anymore, and if they do, they probably use a curling iron the day of. We were required to have natural hair for our team dances, and I didn't wear a wig until I was in Novice, so I often had curlers in at least one night. Test how your hair holds curls before you do the official curling for the feis. At my first feis, I removed my spike curlers on the evening of figure dances (before practice began) and they were way tighter than I expected. They also lasted the entire weekend (I slept in a hair net; I recommend a silk bonnet instead).

If possible, wear a tank top or sport top underneath your dress so you can unzip the bodice between dances if you need to keep cool. I also recommend armpit protectors to keep sweat stains away. Before you go down to dance, put your number on and fix your hair and make up (don't wear too much—you won't be under stage lights). You can put your shoes on right before you dance. Bring your dance bag.

With any time to kill, stretch. Do a small warm up and run-through of the dances, browse the vendors, and wait. Keep your muscles warm by continuing to move. If you sit, make sure to avoid crumpling your dress.

Here's a tip: watch the competitions before yours, if there are any. You’'ll see exactly what is expected of you in a way far better than a few paragraphs on a website.

Before lining up, double or triple-knot your shoes and tuck the laces in. Have a parent, teacher, or friend look you over for anything out-of-place and go line up along the side of the stage with the other dancers (really, line up where you see your fellow competitors mingling before the dance; trust me, they'll be mingling).

Something that worried me was knowing when my competition was up. You will know! They will most likely announce it and even call for absent dancers once everyone is lined up. There's always someone running the individual competitions, usually holding a clipboard or similar. Go to them. Get your name checked off. They will also make sure you're not standing next to someone from your school (to prevent the adjudicator from judging the same steps at the same time). Wait until you are cleared to walk onto the stage in a line. (I say stage, but it's usually just temporary flooring.)

You will line up at the back of the stage, single file, facing the adjudicator's table in front. This is when they note down the competitors. Once you are in line and standing in fifth or first position, do not talk, fidget, or fix your hair or your shoes or your dress. The competition has begun! You can double-check that your number is okay, but otherwise, make sure your primping is already finished. This is why I recommend checking your laces before you line up.

The dancing will start from the adjudicator's left, two at a time. Once the adjudicator is ready, the first two dancers will step out and wait for the music to begin. While the first two dancers finish, the helper will typically indicate when the next pair should step out. Stepping out was the part that made me nervous—knowing when to start if I wasn't first or second in line was hard to remember. It requires that you to listen closely to the music and pay attention. If both you and the person next to you aren'’t listening, you'll both be late. It's happened many times. Do not rely on the other person. If you think you're right, go.

On the last bar of the second step, walk out. Stand near the back, in front of the line, with your right foot pointed and ready for action. When the bar ends and begins again, start dancing! Once your two steps are finished, bow to the adjudicator and walk back to the spot in line that you were in before. Avoid any dancers starting behind you. This is where there have been some awkward crashes. Make sure your number is still visible by discretely looking down at it (in the old days, when most numbers were worn by a ribbon around the waist, it would sometimes flip up), and stand in fifth or first position again.

Sometimes adjudicators aren't clear about how they want you to walk out, and some may make you wait—but they will indicate this and you will not be marked down for attempting to start or any other mistake as a result of confusion. Beginner dancers will sometimes receive two claps before they start, and if you aren't prepared for it, it can be a bit distracting.

When everyone has danced, the adjudicator will finish scoring and then indicate when they want you to leave. When they do, bow to the adjudicator then to the musician and walk off in single file. Breathe. Stretch. Drink some water.

Remember, messing up is totally natural and happens to everyone. It happened to me, in fact. A lot. And not just at my first feis. Slipping is probably the most common error I've seen and even experienced. Not all of the flooring brought in for a feis is easy to dance on, and gymnasium floors can be really slippery. Keep tape and rosin handy and ask other dancers how the stage feels before you take to it.

Obviously, lining up differs for figure dancing and trophy dances, but your teacher will instruct you how the former works, and the latter typically requires everyone to line up in a U-shape, with each person dancing solo from the adjudicator’s left. One full step is all you usually dance.

Once every dance is over, it's a good idea to check the awards room or the area they have designated for receiving your awards. Bring your number! There will be scoreboards up or some form of notification, and each competition will be listed with the top dancers' numbers below it. If you see yours, go to the tables where they are handing out the awards and find the appropriate area (some competitions divide things up by odd numbers and even numbers). They will likely have you sign for your award, so give them the competition number and your number and they will give you the medal.

Some feiseanna might do more dramatic announcements for certain categories, even for beginners. We never had podiums for beginners back in my day, so I can't speak to any of that.

Trophy dances are usually announced and handed out on stage after most of the competitions have ended. As indicated by the name, you're rewarded with trophies instead of medals.

Once you have your awards (or maybe you didn't luck out this time—also very normal for competing), congratulate yourself for surviving your first feis! Here's to many more.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING

In short: a lot. Of course, depending on how far you have to travel, where the feis is being held, and how many dances you'll be in, this list may lengthen or shorten. Always listen to your teachers first. They will have specific requirements.

FEIS TIPS

For those feiseanna that extend overnight:

First, take into consideration just how you'’re getting to your destination!

Flying: Absolutely not, under any circumstance, check your costume or your shoes! While you can buy new poodle socks at the feis, it'’s difficult to dance in new shoes and heartbreaking (not to mention wallet-breaking) to lose a costume. Check with the airline on their policy for clothes. Some have places you can hang items, especially for businessmen traveling with suits. When I flew, my solo dress stayed with me.

Driving: A long drive to a feis means a long, irritating wait. All of my feiseanna (save for one where, yes, we flew) required a five hour or more drive. A long car ride cramps up the body, so it'’s a good idea to stretch after arriving. Make sure your garment bag is hung up or laid flat. Keep your dance things in their own bag, away from usual overnight necessities—this keeps confusion at a minimum.

Nap if you can and snack on light foods if you have nerves. If you have curlers in, leave them in! The extra time in the car will make the curls extra bouncy. But if you'’re running late or have to compete soon after arriving, take them out before you get to the hotel. As hair varies, you be the judge of how long your curls will hold.

The hotel: Many hotels offer feis rates—discounted rooms for those attending the competition. Most teachers will inform their students if they are aware of this, so it’'s up to you to find out! The feis is usually held in the ballrooms with vendors in their own area or along the halls.

When it comes right down to it, girls who compete over different days have it a bit rough. If you are curling your hair, touching up said curls becomes a chore you don't want to pursue, which is why most dancers break down and buy a wig. I'd recommend that. But if you are curling, sleep in a silk bonnet! Maybe even re-set the curls on the curlers or using pincurls. It may feel disgusting to have layers of gel and spray in your hair for up to three or more days, but unless you can wash and re-set, that is the nature of the beast.

Eating healthy is another important, yet overlooked aspect for pre-competition preparation. Ditch candy bars and, especially, carbonated drinks. Drink milk or water or juice instead and pack in the carbs the day before! Muffins, pasta, bread, don't be afraid! You’'ll work it all off in competition.

If you get a blister or a cut on your feet due to the extra practicing or ill-fitting shoes, don't panic! Air it out for a night to help it heal, then cover it with a thick bandage or two and medical tape on the day of competition. Then, once the first day is over, air out the cut again, put a healing lotion on it, and the next day repeat the bandage process.

To prevent blisters altogether, wear thick socks and comfortable shoes. Extra practice will obviously cause irritation, so place moleskin over areas of high contact (likely areas for blisters to form).

Clip your nails! There is nothing more brutal than having your palm impaled on long nails during team dances or cracking a toenail during a hit or toestand.

Look over your costumes; make sure they are all in one piece and well-pressed. As I said before, adjudicators look at the entire package, not just the dancing, so you want to look put-together.

Put your costume in a garment bag or a large trash bag with a hole at the top for a hanger to go through. If it’s long enough, tie the end. If not, make sure it covers the entire skirt or trouser legs. No sense getting any part of the costume dirty.

If you have a dress bag with pockets, put your crown/tiara/headband and bloomers in those pockets. Keep your costume together. Make sure slacks and shirts aren't wrinkled. Bring an iron or steamer.

Polish your shoes. Scuffed and rough-looking shoes will not get you any high marks at a competition. Visible duct tape looks sloppy and is frowned upon. Black electrical tape is the best for the tips, and black polish will take care of the scuff marks. Even softshoes can take a bit of polish, so don’t hesitate. Remember to tuck all laces in. —If you have hardshoes, wearing black elastics helps keep them looking neat and also secures them to your feet. (I am, of course, ignoring the present-day fad of putting white tape all over your shoes. I hate it too much to endorse it.) If your shoes will barely make it past the feis, or you need a new sizes, buy them there! I don’'t recommend competing in brand new shoes, but if it'’s a desperate situation, new shoes are better than no shoes at all.

The night before, take a warm bath and pamper your feet! Massage the arches and apply lotion to your legs. They deserve a reward, after all! Go over the steps in your head. Review trouble spots until you have it down (it'’s best for your nerves to know you can handle the difficult steps before the day of the feis). Curl your hair if you don’t use a wig, and attempt to sleep. (My old website advice: Soft Spike Curlers are the best for this!)

This may seem like a lot, and for beginners it is, but remember, the most important thing is to have fun. As you progress and attend more and more competitions, you will fall naturally into the routines that work for you, and the only work will be executing the steps properly and keeping a smile on your face as you do it.

Story to share? Information to add? Correction to make? Webfeis trauma to rehash?

• sarahdvojack@gmail.com
• sarahdvojack
• dvojack