COMPETITIVE IRISH DANCE
McConnell Irish Dance offers all dancers the option to take part in Irish dance competitions called feile or feis. Competitions are offered for all ages from preschool to adult. Competition is optional for all students and available for dancers of all ages and abilities from Beginner to Championship levels.
McConnell School of Irish Dance is a registered member of Cumann Rince Náisiúnta(CRN), based in Dublin, Ireland.
Our students compete in CRN's Open Platform Feis (competitions), which take place at the Regional, National, and World Open levels. Our instructors are trained and certified through CRN and our students reach the highest levels of competitive Irish dance.
Dancers compete in 5 Solo Levels of CRN - Bunghrád, Ullmhúchán, Meanghrád, Ardghrád, and Craobhghrád
- Competitions are offered for all ages and abilities, including adult students.
- Team competitions include all traditional figure dances and modern choreography.
- All dancers are welcome to compete in our Open Platform Irish dance competition, regardless of school, organisation or affiliation.
WHAT IS OPEN PLATFORM IRISH DANCE?
CRN prides itself on being an Open Platform Irish Dance organisation which means dancers from any teacher or organisation are welcome to compete in their competitions. Dancers and teachers don't need to be registered with CRN or any particular organisation.
DIGITAL COMPETITIONS
Digital competitions allow dancers the opportunity to compete without the burden of travel. CRN offers both Digital and In-Person competitions where dancers send video taped entries and compete with students from all over the world.
CUMANN RINCE NÁISIÚNTA
CRN was established in 1982 in Dublin, Ireland by the late Ita Cadwell. CRN is the only organisation whose competitions successfully operate with the Open Platform, where any dancer from any teacher, from any part of the world or any organisation can compete.
CRN believes in honesty, justice and fairness in competitions. CRN’s motto is: “Do not do to others what you would not like done to you”. CRN’s founder Ita Cadwell used the following phrase: “The honest road is the right and just road to take, but it is also a very hard and difficult road to take.
CRN is widely known as a traditional dance organisation and it has successfully maintained the integrity of traditional dances, while actively encouraging the development of new and innovative work. Great thought was put into considering the developmental levels of students and their capacity to execute work in solo dances.
Five (5) grades/levels of dance were established. In an ongoing effort to honour tradition and continually protect the developmental process of dancers a grading system is in operation in all 5 levels and grades. This system ensures that appropriate technique is being taught at each level.
CRN is committed to protecting the integrity and purity of the Irish Dance tradition.
CRN is very proud of the standard of dance education among its members. This standard was achieved through establishing a compulsory and rigorous teacher-training course and requires two to three years of supervised training in Ireland CRN Adjudicators must complete an additional two years of supervised study, taught by recognised trainers with Cumann Rince Náisiúnta. Additionally, the Instructor Examining Panel are also required to pursue continuing education.
For more information on CRN, please visit their website
CRN http://www.crn.ie
Find them on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CRNCumannRinceNaisiunta
BENEFITS OF COMPETITION
- Competitions help motivate students to set individual goals as they advance through the 5 Levels.
- Improving technical skills in Irish dance develops, confidence, self-discipline, patience, focus, hard work and commitment.
- Competitive Irish dancers have the opportunity to travel and meet other Irish dancers from around the world. Competition helps build team spirit and leaves dancers with great memories and valuable life lessons.
MCCONNELL IRISH DANCE - COMPETITIONS
McConnell Irish Dance is proud to host two of the ONLY Irish dance competitions in Winnipeg. There's no need to travel in order for dancers to compete and advance in CRN & Open Platform Irish Dance, dancers can now have these opportunities right at home.
- Canada Feile - A one adjudicator competition held at the end of May.
- Canadian Open Championship - A three adjudicator championship held in November.
For more information on our competitions, syllabus, and results, please visit the links below.
