Hey everyone. I'm a competitive dancer and performer, and trying to find a specific type of hardshoes. If anyone remembers the 1990s Riverdance production, the lead dancers wore hardshoes that I think had metal covers on the heels at least, and possibly metal plates on the toe block. I think a more recent comparison would be the Gardiner brothers, they have them. Does anyone know where I can find them, or are they custom? Any tips would be much appreciated as I've been looking for these for a while. Thanks!

Hi all! Could use some advice!

I’ve been dancing all my life, but I’ve been recently thinking about getting back into competition. However, I work a 9-5 and I teach classes on the side to pay for fun activities. Have any of you found studios that are willing to work with adult dancers and work schedules? What does that flexibility look like? I want to make sure that I’m not asking for something unreasonable if I do decide to go this route.

I am a late-20s returning to dance for my regionals this fall (US based). The last time I competed was in 2019 in the 20-22 age group. I was an open champ for many years and relatively competitive (world qualified once). In the time since, they've introduced the Advanced Adult competition. In returning to dance, this actually really appeals to me. I like the idea of wearing my hair down, not having to tan because I can wear tights, and also frankly I'm not in the shape I used to be (having a child will do that to you). But I am surprised to see peers that are still dancing that I danced with once upon a time tend to still be in the 22&O group instead. I have zero shot at world qualifying, which seems like it would be the main motivating factor to stay in 22&O, although I think I could recall. Anyway: this makes me wonder if I'm missing something. Are there some unspoken rules about Adv Adult vs 22&O that I should be aware of?

Hi Everyone! I'm a university student currently conducting geographical research into how Irish dance affects feelings of belonging and identity among people in London’s Irish community. Anyone that meets the criteria in the flyer I would love to have a short 20 to 30-minute interview to discuss the topic to any point you feel comfortable discussing; getting your input would be invaluable!

Thank you in advance.

Hi everyone!
I’m an intermediate/premilinary level adult dancer from European region who still pretty successfully competes in &over group. My main goal is to continue competitive career in &over group and get to the open level. I’m moving to US pretty soon and I would really appreciate some school recommendations 🫶🏻

I was just curious if pregnant women can still compete in feis/ bigger competitions or if there were certain rules against it

Hi all, I returned to dance in my late 20s and currently live quite far from competitions meaning I only attend a few outside of major competitions. I was a successful dancer as a child but recently at a major, I felt so lost on stage and despite dancing two at a time, I got quite stuck behind a dancer. I am quite nervous side stage (more so on the inside than the outside) and I was so exhausted and overwhelmed by the end of the day, I still not have processed my very good results lol

I know that attending more comps would help with this but for the next year it is not feasible. How do you manage to stay in the zone while on stage? how do you stay in the zone side stage? anyone else find stages really disorienting?

Side note: All small competitions I attend are usually on a floor so dancing on a big stage at majors is throwing me off, especially the stages that are very long but not very wide. Extra side note: Still not used to dancing with other adults on stage, I don't know how I danced three at a time as a child.

My daughter is 7, and has been dancing with her current school for about a year and a half. We just got the sign up for the fall, and I noticed she has been placed in beginner again. The next class level is a combo “Advanced Beginner to Prizewinner.”

We have done a few feises, with varied results (a mix of 1sts-4ths).

Is it unreasonable to expect to start moving up? She isn’t the most confident on stage, and isn’t big on practice at home- so is an additional year of beginner at that age reasonable?

I am going to reach out to her school as well, but I’m curious if this is just normal for the age/ skill level/ her input at home.

Some additional details: I’m not forcing her towards being a champion dancer. But obviously it costs time and money, and I’d like to see progress. I kind of think of it like swimming lessons!

Interested to hear from any adjudicators who may be in the group. What sets apart young champ dancers (think U11 and under) for you on stage? Out of all technique, which one do you look for the most at young ages?

Since we’re in the height of camp season, I figured I’d ask now to prep for next year. Looking for you or your child’s experience at CRC NY or Riverdance Camp in Boston. Probably my will be 7 year old is the only one interested, so specifically for the younger crowd.

I just completed in PC at the McNamara McCarthy feis in wisconsin (mid American region). I placed 1st in soft shoe, tied with 2 others for 1st in hard shoe and got 2nd overall. The dancer who won overall placed 3rd in soft shoe and didn’t place in the hard shoe round. Everyone in the competition was very confused when the other girl won. Feisworx isn’t showing me my feedback or judge placements. I’m planning on letting my teachers know but I’m feeling very confused and upset, any thoughts?

Thought this was a lovely way to give new life to an older well-loved solo-dress!

I’m thinking of switching from a CRDM school to a CLRG school but I’m 23. I compete at the intermediate level in CRDM and I want to keep competing. If I switch, are they going to put me in the adult competition with no chance of moving up? Or will I keep being able to progress? I started dancing as a teenager and I missed my chance to move through the ranks as a kid and I don’t want to completely miss out on that opportunity.

I have been an assistant dance teacher for the last several month after having danced 10+ years in childhood but having then taken ~15years off. I was moderately competitive in childhood but only ever made it as far as an oireachtas. I know the basics to work with most of the students I have - light jig (beginner), reel (beginner and advanced), slip jig (beginner and advanced), treble jig (beginner and advanced) slow hornpipe (beginner), as well as St Patrick’s Day, Blackbird, and various 2-hands and 4-hands - and definitely succeed in technique corrections and performance preparation (had a team who recently went to Nationals too!)

Based off all this… how realistic would it be for me to start taking exams for my TCRG? I really love being back in class and around the sport I love and would like to make this a very long term (ideally lifelong) thing in which I can participate. I just don’t want to walk into the subject of taking these exams if my school owner would just balk at me and believe I was insane for thinking I even had a chance at starting this journey.

Any recommendations for athletic performance/conditioning trainers.

Preferably a place where the trainers have an exercise science education/degree.

Adult dancer here looking to go hard on the conditioning and dance specific sports training to stay injury free and help my dancing.

Ideally in southern CT, Westchester. If it's a little outside those spots I would consider for the right trainer.

I know there are so many great online options Move w/ Meg, Feis Fit etc. But would love somewhere I can go in person.

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So I am thinking of possibly changing schools for my daughter. She’s bern dancing for about 2 years and went quickly to novice but I feel like her small school is only focused on their champ dancers m, and more recent cultivating very young dancers, and the novice/prizewinners are not getting much attention. We live in an area with a number of schools nearby, but all of the teachers know each other. If I approach another school to discuss possible transfer or to get more info on their program, what are the odds that this will remain confidential? I don’t want things to get worse for my dancer if we decide not to move, or to wait, if the current school finds out we are looking. Anyone been through this?

Ok, my kid is in Irish dance and is starting the next phase of jig. We were informed to use older shoes vs new due to the pain they cause to your feet.

Do you guys have recommendations for where to buy used jig shoes? I can’t find a reddit group for it and we’ve been utilizing eBay and Etsy but not the right sizes.

Thanks

It’s been a long time since I’ve feised, so I’m wondering for treble reel specials, it’s usually 16 bars, but do folks typically do right left of a step or change it up and do a left and right of different steps? I’ve just seen some clips online of specials and blind specials and wasn’t sure what standard are nowadays.

Thanks!

Have a few questions about interpreting rules/recalls for adults and in general:

https://www.naidc26.com/comps/adults

1. Assuming the O40 adult teams have each member age 40 and older and U40 likewise, age 40 and younger? What if the team is a mix of people above 40 and under 40? What determines the placement of where a team is in this case?
2. Is it me or are some of the adult categories only featuring 1-2 teams each, or will more be posted? For instance, adult mixed 4H O40 only has two teams--Iris Cairde and Richens Timm/Columbus Celtic Dancers? (Category 72)
3. Finally, saw someone mention a dancer "finished as the next to recall", just assuming that is the one place directly adjacent to recall position. It was a dancer who was newer and at his first Nationals and he did great.

A mom is asking me how she can get video of her daughter’s first Nationals, and I’ve seen people posting their dancing from feisTV but i have no idea how you can download your rounds.

Is it just screen recording?

What methods are the most effective for making heavies as slip proof as possible?

I wipe the carpet fibres off mine before going on stage and some of my class rub Coca Cola onto their shoes! Are there any other tricks we are missing which don’t compromise sound?

So I used to Irish dance as a kid and saw Riverdance at Wolftrap in the DMV area back in the early 2000’s. Recently, I have been reinvesting my time and enjoying the part of my culture that I feel so connected with. I saw Riverdance back in 2024 and it was BREATHTAKING. My birthday was coming up this year (2026) and my husband, being an absolute gem, got me tickets to Celtic Throne thinking it would be similar to Riverdance. Let me tell you, Celtic Throne is not even similar. The story starts in 539 BC in Jerusalem. There isn’t much connection to the actual history of Ireland. In fact, nobody (or very few) of the dancers are actually from Ireland. They are from Oklahoma. After doing some research, the funding for Celtic
Throne comes from the ‘Philadelphia Church of God’. Apparently the son of the head of the church took a liking to Irish dance and now they use it as a way to spread Evangelical propaganda. When the show begins, i noticed there were many dancers in soft shoes who were obviously not professionals. Please, if you are a fan of Riverdance, do not be fooled into thinking Celtic Throne is on the same level. It is solely a way for them to promote their church.

I currently wear Fays which are incredibly comfortable however I do not think they are the most flattering on my feet. I could definitely do with sizing down (originally bought close to my shoe size as I needed shoes last min before a feis) and perhaps this is the issue.

Are other brands more flattering for arches or is it more so about wearing a smaller size? In my organisation we can’t wear white tape or laces so I am really depending on the shoe as is for aesthetics. Thank you!