The school works within the grading structure determined by “An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelach”, that is Beginner, Primary, Intermediate and Open grades. The school does not specify at which age a dancer starts within the Beginners grades although as with most sports a higher achievement can be gained by starting when young.

Students may progress through the grades only by attendance at Irish Dance competitions called Feis (pronounced "Fesh") our Feis pages provide further Information about these events

The students will start their dances in the Beginners group according to their age. When the student achieves a FIRST, SECOND or THIRD place in a particular dance  they will be allowed to dance in Primary. 

You may find students will be dancing some dances in Beginners and some dances in Primary for a short time until they achieve a place in all of their Beginner dances.

When a student has attained Primary grade in a particular dance, the student will then be required to secure a FIRST place in Primary before proceeding to Intermediate.
 

Intermediate dancing works in the same way as Primary dancing. The student must achieve a FIRST place in any particular dance in order to qualify for Open.

Open Is the highest category of dancing. Once your student reaches this stage you will be used to the format!

When your student starts Irish Dancing they will be taught six dances, which are taught in the order below.

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There are four types of music associated with the dance: reels, hornpipes, jigs, and set dances.   

The Reel, which originated in Scotland in the mid-18th century, is a fairly fast dance  (@ 113 beats per minutes)  in 4/4 time; it may be done in either soft or hard shoes.

The Jig, is a fairly fast dance (@ 113-115 beats per minute) is generally in 6/8 time, has several variations, including the light, hop, and slip jigs  which are performed in soft shoes. The Heavy Jig is a slower dance @ 73 beats per minute is performed in Hard Shoes. Slip jigs, which use a 9/8 tempo, are danced only by women.

The Hornpipe is  in 4/4 time, but usually at a slower tempo with a different emphasis on the beats. Originally a men’s hard-shoe dance is now performed by both men and women.

The school also has two Ceili Teams at Junior (10-15 age group) and Senior level (Over 16), both of whom have achieved World Championship Qualifying Standard. A Ceili team consists of 8 individuals who work together to perform Group dances. Currently our teams both consist of Girls, however we are also trying to develop a mixed Ceili team of Boys and Girls

McInerney School Senior Ceili Team

To be specific on all aspects of good Irish dancing techniques would take far longer than the space here alows however there are general principles which apply.

Present yourself Confidently. Remember even the difficult competitions are supposed to be fun so keep smiling. 

Always keep your feet turned out , arched and pointing down. This is one of the key areas that teachers will focus on and one of the key areas which Adjudicators look for at Feis.

Be sure to know your steps and be sure keep time with the music. From Beginner to World Champion practice will achieve the ability to get them right all the time. You can then focus on other aspects which take more concentration.

Keep arms and body position correct. Arms should be straight and by your sides upper body should be vertical. Be careful not to bend or loose the position in jumps . 

As with most art forms, dancing style is subjective and you will find differences in the overall material content and approach between teachers and schools. Some may be very accurate and others very expressive, however the basic tenants listed above will always apply.

When a student is a beginner, their dress is optional, black skirt and top or Irish Dancing Costume can be purchased either new or second hand. Mike would always like to see the student in a costume before it is purchased.

However its worthwhile to note that A dancers presentation is a very important part of the activity and should always be viewed in context to the performers ability and grade. Consequently it is probably not worthwhile spending many hundreds of pounds buying a brand new beginners costume when they first start dancing. There are plenty of high quality second hand costumes available at Feis and via the web.

However depending on a dancers ability and ambition  it may be very worthwhile spending many hundreds of pounds, or even more, on a costume if the dancers aims  for success at a major Championship. Always ask your teacher in any instance.

There are many views on Irish Dancing costume and preparation and I've included some links to other sites which give hints and tips about such things as Dance shoes, Wigs and costumes.

It is important to be aware that in order for students to be able to practice and consistently repeat steps, any music that you may wish to buy should be approved by the teacher as the structure and tempo are to be rigidly adhered to. 

There are many sources of practice music such as the Bradley Brothers, shown below, which can be obtained at Feis, through your school contacts or via the Internet. 

For detailed Information on tempo, meter and construction of the forms listed above  please  visit www.irishtune.info which represents probably the most comprehensive music index on the web. Although it does not incorporate sample audio files it has a huge index of titles and accompanying information.

First of all remember that Irish Dancing, although fun is also a sport which places unusual stresses on young bodies, their muscles, ligaments and tendons. As such should be undertaken with similar degrees of care as mainstream sporting activity.

This section does not aim to give specific techniques but to raise awareness of the basics in keeping the child safe from avoidable injury. The Information comes via formal coaching qualification at the English Rugby Football Union for Minis and Juniors ; ages 6-17... actually very similar ages to dancers and in some general fitness and maturity elements very appropriate.

Some key tips then.. 

Prepare the dancer properly for both competition and class practice. Remember suitable levels of clothing , food and fluids for both the dance time and the resting periods. 

Feis are often in large enclosed halls and can become very HOT. make sure dancers are re-hydrated regularly with suitable amounts of fluids. In Winter its usual for the Dancers to go outside to " Cool Down" This can cause rapid body heat loss ,so make sure they have suitable covering.... Keep the muscles warm.

ALWAYS remember to warm up prior to physical exercise. Warm ups can take many forms but in general consist of a series of activities over 10 -20 minutes performed  at a lower intensity level aimed to raise heart rate and muscle warmth.  Static stretches are recommended although current R.F.U views are that they should only be attempted AFTER some initial warming or  very light aerobic exercise. 

Practice at a SUITABLE  rate for the individual. Be aware of physical growth cycles. Listen to the student when they mention aches and pains. If the complaints are reported regularly get them checked out early by qualified personnel. Early action goes a long way.

If a dance injury occurs,  aim to engage a qualified First Aider as soon a possible. Injuries are likely to be associated to sprains or strains in which case  apply RICE treatment , that is REST , ICE, COMPRESSION, ELEVATION. The early application of ICE is key to treatment.

If interested become a Sports Coach and First Aider Yourself. Its a valued activity socially but can also give you an insight into what makes athletes work and can improve the schools capability overall.

Here are some links to some Injury prevention and First Aid sites