| Subject: Hey! Thanks! Great info! That's a load off, now that I know a bit about feisanna, maybe I won't be quite as overwhelmed (yeah right)! But I simply intend to do my best. When i dance I stare above all the heads, into nowhere really, so I can really think about the steps I'm doing! |
Author:
Melody
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Date Posted: 11:48:31 05/29/02 Wed
In reply to:
Sarah
's message, "A little bit o' advice (BEWARE! It's long)..." on 19:18:12 05/28/02 Tue
>I can tell you that I searched for hours and hours
>looking for good feis advice and tips from a 'first
>feis' point of view when I went to my first feis.
>First of all, it's okay to be baffled! I know I was a
>tad overwhelmed, but nothing unusual. Feiseanna are
>NOTHING like performances, because the nerves can be
>much higher, because the level of excellence is
>really, really high! At my first feis, the Advanced
>Beginners were amazing.
>You'll be plopped into Beginner, because you've never
>been to a feis before.
>The procedure can be a bit strange at times. My first
>feis was well-run and completely on time - early on
>the last day, actually. Your dances will most likely
>be on the same stage all in a row with little breaks
>to let those dancers leave who aren't in that
>competition. You dance two steps starting with the
>person on the judge's far left. If you aren't first or
>second (you dance two at a time - but no one from your
>school is permitted to dance "against" you) in line,
>you'll go out when the two dancers before you are on
>their left foot of the last step. Just do your steps
>in your head, and as you near the last left foot, you
>and the person beside you will step out. Point your
>foot right away if you want to, but it doesn't matter
>when. Make sure you do it, though. Once the last 8
>bars end, start to dance! You'll do two steps, right
>and left foot, then bow to the adjudicator, and
>sometimes bow to the musician (it is more curteous to
>bow to the musician, as well, but most of the time
>you'll be too worried about getting in the next
>dancer's way to think about standing still any longer.
>I know from experience that you can loose a bodypart
>if you turn around late ;)
>Depending on how well the feis is run, awards can come
>ten minutes to five hours after your dances. There
>will be a sheet of paper with your competition and
>level, and then numbers of the winners. Go to the
>table in the awards area as directed (sometimes the
>competitions are divided into odd and even, you'll
>understand once you're there) and collect any awards
>received.
>For trophies, you'll dance one step (sometimes two),
>but you'll be solo. The lines for the trophy dances
>are U-shaped most of the time. These dances do not
>count for moving up most of the time. If you place,
>then you'll go up and get a trophy or ribbon,
>depending on the placement. 4th and up are rewarded
>with trophies of appropriate sizes, and below that get
>either ribbons or medals of some kind. You don't get
>to stand on a podium, though :(
>When your competitions are ready, you'll know it.
>There are feis announcers and helpers who call out
>competitions a lot before they start. You'll probably
>be too nervous to leave the staging area when your
>competition is coming up. But trust me, you'll know
>when your competition is up. They usually call it out
>many, many times until ready.
>Now, poodle socks (though many judges prefer them, as
>your feet are more visible) are not mandatory. You can
>wear tights as well. But only black tights and poodle
>socks are allowed. Tights should be of a denier of no
>less than (roughly) 69, but no judges really ever
>check.
>Next thing - hair. Hair can be worn any way the dancer
>wishes. Most common are the curls/wigs, and up in a
>bun or ponytail. Don't wear pigtails, though. That may
>(or may not) get you in trouble.
>If ghillies or hardshoes come undone, you're out, so
>double knot ghillies (or triple knot them, like I do),
>and use hardshoe elastics (you can buy these at
>feiseanna).
>Pinning your number on is best done with a plastic
>number card holder that ties nicely around your waist.
>You can always pin it on, but that be be damaging to
>the costume. No points are deducted for this.
>Smiling is nice, but it won't get points marked off -
>trust me. We all looked like angry devils at our first
>feis - pictures prove it - and we still placed
>well.
>When you're a Beginner, judges are generally less
>picky about ettitique, as a majority of dancers are
>new to the feis arena, so don't worry if you don't
>smile, don't point, or don't bow. Just don't forget
>your steps!
>Don't look the judges in the eye. Some feel uneasy.
>When I did, she smiled, but I got second, so who knows
>;) Just don't, it's safer that way.
>Keep your eyes still and DO NOT look down. Make sure
>that you do easy enough steps, but for trophies I
>recommend more difficult ones, because they get the
>best results in placement.
>Some judges are evil and wear pink suits (that was
>really scary, actually).
>Some judges are evil, wear pink suits and yell at you
>to go back. If this happens, be ready. She'll clap
>twice and you'll be dancing again really quickly. We
>got caught offguard and messed up. Still placed,
>though. If you mess up, do something nice to fill in
>the gaps. The judge doesn't know your steps. S/he just
>wants to judge you difficulty level and talent.
>Have fun, and bring money! Feiseanna have awesome
>stuff to buy, but it's expensive.
>To see more, visit my site (which is currently being
>redesigned, do check back ASAP, because it'll be up
>again ASAP): Irish
>Feet.
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