Irish Dance! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Novice

Solo dresses come in every color of the rainbow and in every size. There are skirt patterns and styles such as a three panel, five panel, bubble skirts, tutu, plus others.

Answer: Feis

A feis (pronounced: fesh) is an Irish Dance competition or festival. Feiseanna are held on the weekends and most dancers will travel from three to six hours to get to these competitions in different parts of the region. Feis categories for dancers are First Feis, Beginner 1, Beginner 2, Novice, Prizewinner, Pre-Championships and Open Championships.

Answer: Irish Dance Regional Championships

Oireachtas (pronounced: oh rock tus) is the name for the Irish Dance Regional Championships. The Oireachtas is usually held on Thanksgiving weekend and is a five day competition.

Answer: Ghillies or Softshoes

The ghillie (pronounced gilly) is the shoe Irish Dancers wear for dances like the jig, reel, or Slipjig and do not make sound. The hardshoe is fit for dances like Treble Reel, Treble Jig, Hornpipe, and Traditional and Non-Traditional Sets.

Answer: Fast and sharp

The reel is a very quick and sharp dance, although (as is the case for many set dances) the speed is decreased for higher levels of competition. Usually danced in softshoes (ghillies), it is a very fast dance. It is usually a dancers' favorite as there can be several dance "tricks" in the steps.

Answer: An Irish party or a figure dance usually consisting of 8-16 dancers

A Ceili (pronouced: kaylee) is a party or a figure dance consisting of 8-16 dancers (although sometimes it can be performed with as few as four) moving across the floor in different patterns and figures. This is danced in softshoes. There are about 32 traditional Ceili dances with popular ones being "Trip to the Cottage" and "The Cross Reel".

Answer: Someone who has passed through First Feis, Beginner levels, Novice, and Prizewinner

A pre-championship dancer is a dancer who had won at first in four main dances in Prizewinner. The qualifying dances in the Midwest competitions are Reel, Slipjig, Treble Jig, and Hornpipe for the girls and Jig, Reel, Treble Jig, and Hornpipe for the boys.

Answer: One first in any Novice Competition Dance

The dancer who is in Novice Competition level in the Midwest who wins a first in one Novice dance can move up to Prizewinner in that dance plus qualify for a solo dress.

Answer: Poodle Socks

Irish Dancers wear white poodle socks for all dances. Some dancers wear black tights for a more proper look and for better showing of the dances moves but most wear poodle socks and tan their legs instead. These socks have been popular in Irish dance culture for about 15 years now.

Answer: No, dancers can still curl hair

Irish Dancers are welcome to still curl their hair. The history of the curly hair says dancers used to dance on Sundays after Church and had curled their hair for Church. This is how it became a tradition.