Grade Exams
What are Grade Exams & Why Should I Take Them?
Grade exams are a non-competitive way for all dancers to get objective feedback about their dancing and show progress as they advance in their Irish dance career. At grade exams, dancers perform for a certified examiner and each student is graded individually based on their technique alone and not ranked in comparison with other dancers. Dancers receive a grade for each level, as well as individualized feedback from the examiner.
There are 12 grades, each of which has specific material that must be performed. The requirements get harder as you move up in grade levels. See section below for Grade Exam Rules and Regulations.
For any dancer considering becoming a TCRG in the future, passing all 12 grade exams is required before you can take the TCRG exam. It can take a couple of years to get through all of the grades, so it's essential to start early.
Where can I find Grade Exams
IDTANA posts grade exams on their website here: https://www.idtana.org/events/clrg-grade-exams-2/
Reminder: 3 months is required to pass between each grade exam attempt, so plan accordingly!
In addition, several local feiseanna typically host grade exams. When we hear of dates, we will post on the Facebook parent page. Typical grade exams offerings are listed below:
Burke Connolly Feis and Feis na Tara (Atlanta, June)
Feis ATL (Atlanta, November)
Peach State Feis (Atlanta, May)
What Do I Wear to Grade Exams
No costumes, wigs, or makeup is allowed. Dancer's clothes must not have logos, especially BC logos. Dancers should wear comfortable, but nice practice clothing:
Girls: Black shorts, black plain t-shirt, hair in ponytail or bun, poodle socks or black tights, dance shoes
Boys: Black shorts, black plain t-shirt, black socks, dance shoes
Grade Exam Process
Each feis will have specific directions for how to apply. Once you register, you will be given a specific time slot for your exam.
If this is NOT the first time you are taking grade exams, be sure to bring your log of prior grade exams and certificates with you to the exam!
During grade exams, family, friends, and teachers are not permitted in the room. Dancers will go in groups of 5-6 and dance individually in front of the examiner. The examiner or a representative from the host school will tell dancers which dance to do and in what order. Music will be recorded, not live like a feis.
Certificates will either be handed out at the conclusion of the exam or will be mailed to teachers for distribution. Be sure to keep track of those certificates as they are required for future exams!
Grade Exam Rules and Regulations
All rules and regulations are included in the links here: https://www.clrg.ie/index.php/en/feiseanna-exams/graded-exam.html A summary is below:
3 months must elapse between grade exams.
For Grades 1-10, dancers are permitted to take 3 exams at one time. Grade 11 & 12 must be taken individually. Minimum age is 16 for Grade 11 and 17 for Grade 12.
Dancers must keep a log of all grade exams, the grade they received, who the examiner was, and the certificate. This must be brought to each grade exam.
Different examiners are required for different levels:
For Grades 1-10, a dancer must be examined by 4 different examiners.
For Grade 11 & 12, dancers must have different examiners, and the examiner must not be an examiner who did Grades 7-10.
Minimum grade required to pass for BC dancers is B-.
Required Dances
For each solo dance, dancers must dance 40 bars of music (2.5 steps).
Non-Traditional Sets in Grade 9 and 10 must be different.
For ceili dances, dancers must be prepared to describe and/or dance the entire ceili dance, but will not be asked to teach it. You can buy the ceili book here: https://www.clrg.ie/index.php/en/all-products/ar-rince-c%C3%A9il%C3%AD-booklet.html
Required Dances
Grade 1:
Easy Reel (122-124)
Light Jig (116)
Grade 2:
Basic Slip Jig (124)
Basic Single Jig (124)
Grade 3:
Primary (Novice) Reel (116-118)
Basic (Fast) Treble Jig (96)
Grade 4:
Primary (Novice) Slip Jig (120)
St. Patrick’s Day Trad Set (96)
Grade 5:
Advanced (PW+) Reel (113)
Basic (Fast) Hornpipe (144)
Walls of Limerick
Grade 6:
Advanced (PW+) Slip Jig (113)
Blackbird Trad Set (144)
Siege of Ennis
Grade 7:
Advanced (PW+) Treble Jig (73)
Garden of Daisies Trad Set (138)
Four Hand Reel
Grade 8:
Advanced (PW+) Hornpipe (113)
Job of Journeywork Trad Set (138)
Humours of Bandon
Grade 9:
One Jig Non-Trad Set
One Hornpipe Non-Trad Set
High Cauled Cap
Grade 10:
One Jig Non-Trad Set
One Hornpipe Non-Trad Set
Eight Hand Jig
Grade 11:
Advanced (PW+) Reel (113)
Advanced (PW+) Slip Jig (113)
Advanced (PW+) Treble Jig (73)
King of the Fairies Trad Set (130)
Eight Hand Reel
Harvest Time Jig
Grade 12:
Light Jig (116)
Single Jig (124)
Advanced (PW+) Hornpipe (113)
Three Sea Captains Trad Set (96)
Jockey to the Fair Trad Set (90)
Morris Reel
Sixteen Hand Reel
