Feis Information
A feis (pronounced fesh) is an Irish word meaning festival that is used to describe Irish dancing competitions. The plural of feis is feiseanna (pronounced fesh-ana).
Categories, Age Groups, & Levels
At these competitions, a variety of dances are performed in light and heavy shoes across these categories.
Light/Soft Shoe: Reel, Light Jig, Single (Hop) Jig, Slip Jig
Heavy/Hard Shoe: Treble Jig, Hornpipe, Treble Reel, Traditional Set, Contemporary Set
These performances are separated by age groups and levels. A dancer's age group is determined by their age on January 1st of the current year (ex. 10 on January 1st, 2026 = under 11 age group). A dancer's level is determined by their ability and experience, and is advanced by winning awards at feiseanna. Placement at feiseanna is evaluated by independent, certified judges who grade the dancer's timing, carraige, construction of steps, and execution. Below are the levels of competition and requirements for advancement:
Beginner: for new dancers who have not taken Irish dance lessons from a registered teacher prior to September 1st of the previous year, who must move up to Advanced Beginner the next year regardless of placements.
Advanced Beginner: for dancers who have taken Irish dance lessons from a registered teacher for more than 1 year, who will advance to Novice by each particular dance with a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place.
Novice: for dancers with a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in a certain dance from Advanced Beginner, who will advance to Prizewinner by each particular dance with a 1st place.
Prizewinner: for dancers with a 1st in a certain dance from Novice, who will advance completely to preliminary championships with a 1st in a light shoe dance and a 1st in a heavy shoe dance.
Preliminary Championships: for dancers with a 1st in both light and heavy shoe dances from Prizewinner, who will advance to Open with three 1st places (Mid-Atlantic Region)
Open Championships: for dancers with three 1st places from Prelim
Please reach out with any questions regarding which age group or level to register your dancer in! More information regarding where and how to sign up for feiseanna can be found at the bottom of the page.
Costumes, Presentation, & Performance
As dancers advance through competition levels, there are different guidelines for dress. Beginners and Advanced Beginners are not permitted to wear solo costumes, and should instead wear their black Early McLoughlin team skirts with a black leotard (or another costume from the school). Novice dancers may continue to wear these uniforms but are permitted solo costumes, and Prizewinner dancers are encouraged to wear solo costumes. Prelim and Open Champions wear solo costumes. Wigs, makeup, and self-tan become more popular in championships, but are never required.
Please reach out if your dancer needs a school costume for competition. If your dancer is looking for a solo costume, there are many opportunities to purchase one at feiseanna dress rooms, internally from other Early McLoughlin dancers, or through a dressmaker directly, and we can help you in your search.
Dancers should also ensure they have both light shoes and heavy shoes for feiseanna, depending on which dances they are registered for, along with poodle socks. More information on where to purchase these goods, including shoes, socks, laces, and buckles, can be found at the bottom of the page.
We encourage dancers to tightly secure the laces on your shoes to prevent accidents or injuries from occuring while on stage at competitions. In the case of a mistake on stage, whether it is a shoe coming untied or a dancer bumping into another, remember to always continue dancing. Only if a judge rings their bell should you stop mid-competition performance.
When on stage, remember to smile, do your best, and have fun!
A feis (pronounced fesh) is an Irish word meaning festival that is used to describe Irish dancing competitions. The plural of feis is feiseanna (pronounced fesh-ana).
Categories, Age Groups, & Levels
At these competitions, a variety of dances are performed in light and heavy shoes across these categories.
Light/Soft Shoe: Reel, Light Jig, Single (Hop) Jig, Slip Jig
Heavy/Hard Shoe: Treble Jig, Hornpipe, Treble Reel, Traditional Set, Contemporary Set
These performances are separated by age groups and levels. A dancer's age group is determined by their age on January 1st of the current year (ex. 10 on January 1st, 2026 = under 11 age group). A dancer's level is determined by their ability and experience, and is advanced by winning awards at feiseanna. Placement at feiseanna is evaluated by independent, certified judges who grade the dancer's timing, carraige, construction of steps, and execution. Below are the levels of competition and requirements for advancement:
Beginner: for new dancers who have not taken Irish dance lessons from a registered teacher prior to September 1st of the previous year, who must move up to Advanced Beginner the next year regardless of placements.
Advanced Beginner: for dancers who have taken Irish dance lessons from a registered teacher for more than 1 year, who will advance to Novice by each particular dance with a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place.
Novice: for dancers with a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in a certain dance from Advanced Beginner, who will advance to Prizewinner by each particular dance with a 1st place.
Prizewinner: for dancers with a 1st in a certain dance from Novice, who will advance completely to preliminary championships with a 1st in a light shoe dance and a 1st in a heavy shoe dance.
Preliminary Championships: for dancers with a 1st in both light and heavy shoe dances from Prizewinner, who will advance to Open with three 1st places (Mid-Atlantic Region)
Open Championships: for dancers with three 1st places from Prelim
Please reach out with any questions regarding which age group or level to register your dancer in! More information regarding where and how to sign up for feiseanna can be found at the bottom of the page.
Costumes, Presentation, & Performance
As dancers advance through competition levels, there are different guidelines for dress. Beginners and Advanced Beginners are not permitted to wear solo costumes, and should instead wear their black Early McLoughlin team skirts with a black leotard (or another costume from the school). Novice dancers may continue to wear these uniforms but are permitted solo costumes, and Prizewinner dancers are encouraged to wear solo costumes. Prelim and Open Champions wear solo costumes. Wigs, makeup, and self-tan become more popular in championships, but are never required.
Please reach out if your dancer needs a school costume for competition. If your dancer is looking for a solo costume, there are many opportunities to purchase one at feiseanna dress rooms, internally from other Early McLoughlin dancers, or through a dressmaker directly, and we can help you in your search.
Dancers should also ensure they have both light shoes and heavy shoes for feiseanna, depending on which dances they are registered for, along with poodle socks. More information on where to purchase these goods, including shoes, socks, laces, and buckles, can be found at the bottom of the page.
We encourage dancers to tightly secure the laces on your shoes to prevent accidents or injuries from occuring while on stage at competitions. In the case of a mistake on stage, whether it is a shoe coming untied or a dancer bumping into another, remember to always continue dancing. Only if a judge rings their bell should you stop mid-competition performance.
When on stage, remember to smile, do your best, and have fun!
