What is a Feis?

The Gaelic word "feis" (pronounced fesh) translates in English to "an assembly". Traditionally a feis was a festival involving a culmination of cultural arts. Today at a feis we focus primarily on the dancing, but there are still categories for baking, music, needlepoint, art, Irish language, and song. Dancers from many different schools come together and dance to live music. They receive comments from a certified adjudicator on how to improve their dancing, and perhaps even win a medal! It's a great way to promote the culture, showcase talent, and reward the children for their hard work. 

Amy Coppola, age 7

I remember gazing out the car window on the lookout for other "feisheads" on the highway as we drove to the feis with my sisters when I was a little girl. Feisheads were quick to spot of course, because the curlers at the time only came in bright neon colors. At the feis we would see dancers from other schools performing different steps incorporating moves we had never seen before. The feis was our cultural epicenter, it's where we would see old friends and familiar faces. It always felt more like a participatory festival than a competition to me.

​My mom was always so proud of us for engaging with the community in a positive way and showcasing our art. She made sure we knew that she was proud of us whether or not we won a medal, because keeping the tradition alive was enough to be proud of. Stepping out onto a stage took courage and my mom's unconditional support gave us the reassurance we needed. After my first feis I remember it feeling easier to raise my hand at school. As I got older and the Irish dance performances and competitions became second nature, my self-confidence was strong and laid a solid foundation for the rest of my life. Even to this day, I still attribute my confidence to Irish dance. 

In Irish dancing it is easy to get caught up into your own bubble because the majority of our time is spent at the studio. One of the biggest reasons I enjoy attending a feis is because I get to witness and appreciate other schools and the fruits of their labor. It reminds me that Irish dancing is a powerful, flowing river that we have the honor of stepping into. It has been flowing long before we were born, and will continue on long after we are gone. Witnessing the tradition come alive is incredibly moving. 

Feis FAQ

Are dancers required to compete?
We have many Dunleavy school activities that extend beyond the classroom that dancers of all levels are encouraged to participate in. We perform in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, as well as numerous other performances and competitions around the Rochester area. We invite all of our dancers to participate, however there is no requirement. 

We understand that a family's level of involvement may change at different times of the year. Dancer involvement in all of our activities outside of the classroom is on a signup basis. You have the power to choose how much or how little you want to be involved in our community events, we want our program to work for you! 

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How does a feis work?
Dancers organized into groups both by age and skill level. On the stage dancers from different schools will perform for the judge two or three at a time. Although they dancing to the same music, the footwork is different. Each school has their own unique choreography. It's thrilling to watch young competitors these different steps simultaneously!


Is my child ready to compete?
It is important to us that a child is confident in their dances before performing in front of strangers. We want competition to be a positive experience that boosts their self-esteem. We have a system at Dunleavy of "clearing" dancers to compete each dance. This is our way of approving each dance for competition. A dancer is cleared when they can perform it to music independently without any mistakes.  Look beside your child's name on the class list to see what dances they are cleared for. If there are dances written beside your child's name they are ready to compete!

When are Feis held?
Take a look at the Dunleavy calendar, we have all the nearby  competitions listed (Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, etc). Amy attends all of the competitions listed on the Calendar. There are many more competitions than what is listed on our calendar, take a look at the iFeis website for a full listing of the competitions. 

​Where are Feis held?
Traditionally competitions were held outside, but today it is more common for them to take place indoors in convention centers. There is no fee to attend a feis as a spectator. We encourage families to attend a feis to watch before their child is ready to compete. Watching is a great way to bond as a team and cheer on the other Dunleavy dancers! It's also a great opportunity for you and your child to familiarize yourself with a feis before participating in one.
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Feis Schedule

Take a look at the competitions in the MidAtlantic Region

MAR Feis Schedule

Dunleavy Requirements to Compete:

• Cleared to compete- dances they are cleared for will be listed beside their name in their Class List
• Participate in at least one performance to have gained the exposure of dancing in front of a crowd (there are many opportunities around St. Patrick's Day for beginner dancers to participate in!)
• Have attended a competition as a spectator to take in the experience before participating (recommended)
• Have attended a Mock Feis at the studio to simulate what participating in a competition will feel like 

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