Irish Dance Parents

Ripple of Hope "Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation ... It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to  improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

 Robert F. Kennedy,   Day of Affirmation Address, University of Capetown, South Africa, June 6, 1966

Official rules associated with the various Feiseanna, Oireachtasa, Nationals and World dance competitions.
Please forward  bylaws, minutes or constitutions for public reference.

North American Feis Commission

2001 Australian Irish Dancing National Championships

IDTANA - Southern Region

Southern England Regional Council Feis rules

More English Feis rules

Comments from Adjudicator's Q&A forum

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My reason in writing is in wondering how it came to be that Britain was permitted to have non teachers on their Regional Councils? Here in America that is not possible. What criteria are used to establish their eligibility? Do you think that this is a positive difference as it relates to international competition? Why should there be different fundamental rules for different geographic regions?
Thank You for your response  Click for response

Some Background information on the Irish Dancing Commission

  Irish Dance Canon of Ethics ?

Here in the States our system of democracy has three branches that hold each other in check; the executive, the judicial and the legislative. The system keeps things in balance and, for the most part, moving forward. Within Irish Dance is An Coimisiun, the teachers/adjudicators, and the parents. Each has their own power base with their own set of priorities. As it should be. I sense that because the parents have very little or no practical power that problems are now surfacing within Irish Dance. I could go on and on about this but suffice it to say that things could, and should, be better.

One Scenario Permit 3 local delegates appointed from the "parents group" to sit on the various regional boards. Many of the stalemates will cease as new coalitions are forced to be created. Gone also would be the ugly  veil of secrecy. The parents would now be a part of the process. What next?

 I would hope many new ideas would spring forward, such as; The Irish Dance Canon of Ethics. 

• All associated with Irish Dance would subscribe to a formal code of ethics.
•  Teachers would not be permitted to discuss students with any adjudicator EVER.
•  Adjudicators would not be permitted to discuss ANY dancer with ANYONE. Obviously polite conversation would be accepted.
•  Dancers would have to handle success and failure with dignity, they would not be able to slander a competitor, etc.
•  Parents would also not be permitted to slander, would be expected to teach the grace of competition, etc. 
• This list of does and don'ts would reflect the morality that exists within the Irish communities of the world. If the teacher accepts this and gets the students and parents to accept it, the school is recognized with the designation "An ethical Irish Dance school since 2001". It would be reevaluated each year and reaccredited. It would be a huge selling point for the teacher within her community and within Irish Dance. Those that can not be accredited would first be disciplined and ,if warranted, eventually their TCRG would be revoked. This would help the terrible bickering, name calling, slander, etc., etc., that the success of Irish Dance has brought with it.

Check out how new ideas are greeted.   Links do not work.

Think the 2003 Worlds was greeted as a model of ethics?  Not hardly!

This site is how Irish Sports handles Ethics

Please help. I am a father of an Irish Dancer, no skater. In our competitions the crossover between teacher to adjudicator to salesman is a constant.  I am very torn over this moral question.  How do other events determine objectively something that is inherently subjective? How do you control politics and influence peddling? I am in the center of a huge whirlwind concerning this.  Please lend some advice.