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What
is a “Feis”?
What is a Feis?
The word
"Feis" (pronounced “fesh”) comes from a Gaelic word
meaning "festival".
Over the years, the
FEIS has become just a dance competition, however, many feises, such as the
Great Lakes Feis, are trying to return to their roots and include more of
the festival activities. The
Heinzman Feis is considered a “closed” feis, because unlike all
other feises, it will only accept entries from its students, and also,
winning at the Heinzman feis does not count (you cannot move up in level,
or qualify for championship feises such as the Oireachtas)
Admission and
registration
The Heinzman Feis is
free for all non-dancers - so there is NO admission fee. Competitors (dancers) are encouraged to register
ahead of the feis (all teachers have registration cards) and will include a
small fee to be completed properly.
If you did not register ahead of time, you will still be able to
register the day of the feis - however, a late charge will be applied to
your normal fee.
As soon as you get
to the Livonia Center, you will need to visit the registration table. This will be set up at the entrance of
the dance arena. The tables are set
up by last name - make sure you are in the right line. Competitors will receive a dancer card,
and a stage assignment list. Then
move away from the registration area to allow others pick up their
material.
At this point you
want to read the dancer card (index card).
The front is the competitor’s number (or dancer number), and
the back lists all dance competitions and corresponding stage assignments.
If everything is correct, proceed to the dance hall.
Camping
At nearly all
feises, you are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and comfortable lawn
chairs so you can spend the day in more relaxed way. The Heinzman feis is not so long, and we
do not have room for “camping” - so do not bring blankets and
chairs to the event. There will be
bleachers and most people end up just standing around.
Get your bearings
After settling in,
you will want to read the stage assignment list and figure out when your
competitor is actually competing.
During the day competitions may be moved to different stages to move
things along. So it is very
important to listen carefully to the announcements during the day. Also, some of these competitions have
only a few competitors and will finish quickly - so it is also important to
keep track of what competition is running on each stage. To help you keep track each stage will
have two signs: “Now” and “Next”. This shows you what competitions is on
stage now, and which will come up next.
Get ready!
Before getting
started, make sure you are ready to compete. Check your shoes - are they tied neatly
and tightly (you don’t want your laces to come undone!), check your
costume. Finally, make sure your
index card is attached to your costume.
At the registration tables, they will have string and pins for you
to attach the cards if you forgot yours.
Make sure the card is at your waist, in front, and is clearly
visible. Keep your card in good
shape the entire day - your card is needed to claim your medals and
ribbons!
Get set!
As soon as your
competition is marked in the “Next” sign, the competitor needs
to go up to the stage monitor and check in.
Get in line (don’t push or crowd the stage monitor), present
your card, and once the monitor has check-marked your number, they will ask
you to sit with all the other competitors for that dance in a row of chairs
next to the stage.
Please do not try to
check in before your competition is marked with the “Next”
sign. Also, don’t wait to the
last minute to check in, because once the competition has started, you will
no longer be allowed to participate.
The stage monitors will not wait for stragglers - so get to your
stage on time!
Go!
Then the competition
begins: all the dancers line up at
the back of the stage, and face the judge.
Either the judge or the stage monitor will let you know whether you
are dancing two or three dancers at a time.
Once the music starts, the first group of dancers will move forward
and begin dancing (in groups of 2 or 3 depending on the monitor’s
instructions). You are required to
dance two steps - each on the right and left foot. At times competitors will be dancing
different steps (different choreography) - but you will all be doing the
same type of dance.
Parents: If something happens and you think the
judge or musician should be notified, please DO NOT TALK TO THE JUDGE OR
MUSICIAN. Just go up to the stage
monitor - only the stage monitor is allowed to talk to the judge and
musician.
After completing
your two steps, it is polite to bow to the judge and then to the musician,
and then quickly get back in line at the back of the stage. You then just stand there until all the
dancers in your competition have performed.
After the last dancer is done, everyone should remain in line, until
the judge dismisses you. When the
judge nods, everyone bows one last time to the judge, and then the stage
monitor will tell you which way to walk off the stage and you can return to
your parents.
Checking results
Now the exciting
part begins. In the dance hall,
there is an area marked as “Results”. There will be a lot of posters on the
wall, and on the left side of each poster will be listed all the
competitions of the day. About 30
minutes after your competition is done, someone will write the dance
numbers of the winners on the poster.
They can mark up to 5 places, and often there are many ties. Only the dancer number will be marked (no
names). If you see your number
marked on the poster, you have won!
Picking up awards
You then want to go
to the “Awards” area and pick up your medal. Stand in line. The person will ask what competition you
medaled in. Give them the dance competition number (i.e. 5R), present your
dancer number, and they will find the results sheet and ask you to sign
it. Then they give you your medal!
Individual scores
and judges comments
If you want to know
more about how you did, you can also purchase your individual results. Near the same area, there will be someone
with a computer and printer, and they can printout your personal results
for $1. These will include the score
the judge gave you, any comments the judge made about your performance, and
the top five scores and winners in your competition. Since you have to pay each time you get a
printout, it is best to do this at the end of the day. That way you will get all your results
for all your competitions, on one sheet for the same one fee of $1. The person will also be able to tell you
before you buy your results whether all your results have come in.
End of the day
As soon as you are
done with all your competitions you can go home. Don’t forget to get all your
stuff! And if you can, wait to see
your last results - you just may have won one more medal!
Above all, remember:
have fun!
Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë
Feises are a lot of fun
because the kids get to see all their dance friends and have a fun day
competing with each other. The
Heinzman feis is a great way to introduce your kids to the feising
environment.
If you are
interested in attending more feises, the North American Feis Commission (NAFC) lists
all the feises that occur in North America.
You can attend all of these if you like! Listed below are some of the more popular
feises the Heinzman dancers attend:
v Detroit Feis (June
6 Wixom, MI)
v
Great Lakes Feis (Aug 19 Lansing, MI)
v Muskegon Feis (Sept 15 Muskegon, MI)
What is my Feis Level?
Please read the
following carefully before registering.
First Feis – This is only for those beginner dancers who have
NEVER attended an accredited Feis before.
The Heinzman feis does not count because it is neither accredited
nor is it open to any other dancer from other dance schools (which is why
it is called a “closed” feis).
But all the other feises listed in the NAFC
schedule are accredited and do count!
Beginner 1 – (Formerly “Beginner”)
Dancers that began taking instruction in September of last year or later.
Usually that means you have been dancing for less than one year
Beginner 2 – (Formerly “Advanced Beginner”)
Dancers that began before September of last year -- You have usually been
dancing for at least one full year.
Or, if you medaled in any dance in Beginner 1 or First Feis, you can
then enter in THAT dance at this level.
Novice - Dancers that placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd (with 5 or more
competitors) in Advanced Beginner in that particular dance.
Prize Winner – (Formerly “Open”) Dancers that placed 1st (with 5 or more
competitors) in Novice in that particular dance.
Preliminary Championship - Dancers that places 1st (with 5 or more
competitors) in Open in all of the following; Reel, Slip Jig, Hornpipe and
Treble Jig and have medaled consistently in Open.
Open Championship - Dancers that placed 1st twice in Preliminary
Championships with 5 or more competitors.
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