(Updated July 2011)

COMPETING

Entry to dancing competitions held in New Zealand under An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha members are open to pupils registered with a certified TC.R.G. /A.D.R.C.G.

Any competitor found to be using artificial carriage aids will be prohibited from competition and for go any awards presented. Medically prescribed apparatus (proof of which may be required) will be exempt from this ruling. (Rule effective from October 2003)

The age of a competitor shall be taken as on 1 January.

All competitors throughout New Zealand should submit a copy of their birth certificate to their teacher who will forward to the Secretary of T.I.D.A.N.Z. along with the T.I.D.A.N.Z. registration of $15.00 NZD. (If you submitted a birth certificate prior to this year, you will not be required to provide a copy every year).

These registrations are due by April 30th every year.

COSTUMES (effective from December 2003)

• Costumes must consist of a full front and back section i.e. cut away styles are not acceptable
• Materials must be on an equivalent weight to that used in the more traditional costumes, e.g. dress velvet, trevira, gabardine, wool mix etc
• Skirt lengths - the minimum skirt length is not more that four inches above knee level.
• Neck lines must be of collar-bone level or above. This does not prelude the use of alternative fabrics, e.g. lace as an inset
• Where chiffon or lace material is used as sleeves, the sleeves must start at the shoulder line and end at the cuff
• Appropriate underwear must be worn. Where tights are worn they must be of a denier of not less than 70.NEW RULINGS AS OF JULY 2011: Competitors in all age groups, up to but excluding Meangrad, may only wear traditional class costumes or long/short sleeved blouses/polo tops and skirts/tunics, which conform to the regular costume length, rules as above.  Low cut tops; short tight skirts or bodysuits/leotards are not permitted. Effective January lst 2011. All forms of personal and/or dance school identification, be it by sign, shape colour-piece or symbol be banned from all solo costumes worn by competitor in any competition.  Effective Sept 2011. (effective Jan 2012 in New Zealand)
CONDUCT

Competitors must obey instructions of competition officials and back stage stewards.

Should a dancer lose a heel or a complete shoe he/she may stand back - allowing the other dancer, where application, to continue dancing uninhibited. In such a case the dancer concerned will be permitted to redance as soon as it is deemed practicable by the stage steward.

T.I.D.A.N.Z. will, as far as is practicable provide a stage surface suitable for dancing. However, T.I.D.A.N.Z and An Commission le Rinci Gaelacha cannot accept any liability for injuries sustained while on stage. Should a dancer fall on stage, the adjudicator must ring the bell to stop the performance of the dancer(s). If able, the dancer affected will be permitted to redance.

If any stage during a performance on stage an adjudicator feels that due to the health and safety of a performer on stage that the performance should be stopped the adjudicator must ring the bell.

MAKE UP AND FAKE TAN (effective from January 2005)

With immediate effect, makeup will not be permitted for any dancer in the first two grades (Novice and Primary in NZ) up to, and including the under 12 age group Worldwide. This ruling replaces the entire previous ruling on this matter in relation to makeup and fake tan.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR AUCKLAND COMPETITORS: The international ruling as listed above will apply to all competitors in Novice and Primary sections for ALL age groups.

EN-POINTE/BLOCK MOVEMENTS (effective from September 2004)

Dancers who are eligible to dance Under 13 from Jan 1st 2007 are permitted to do block/en-point work from September 1st 2006. This will carry on each September, i.e. four months before the dancer move into the Under 13 category.

PHOTOGRAPHY AT COMPETITIONS (effective from January 2005)

Any Form of unauthorized photography which has the capability to capture a dancer’s image whilst in motion, using electronic or manual means, e.g. mobile phone, standard camera, video camcorder, cine recorder, commercial film, with or without flash enhancement, is expressly forbidden in competition. This is a worldwide ruling and we ask that you respect the time, efforts and money that has been invested in steps.

DANCE SECTIONS THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND

RULES REGARDING NOVICE SECTIONS (BUN GRÁD)

NOVICE SECTION RULES FOR AUCKLAND:

All competitors in the Novice Sections in Auckland are only permitted to wear a school costume or a black skirt/coloured top/leotard (girls) or black trousers/coloured shirt/waistcoat (boys).
Solo costumes are prohibited in this section.
Make-up and fake tan for this section is prohibited.
Wigs are optional.

Steps and Speeds:

First Single Reel (128-130)
First Light Jig (116)          
First Hard Jig (96)
Traditional set dance St Patrick's Day (96)
(N.B. Jigs are 2 steps for Under 9 and 3 steps for Over 9)

Dancers can spend a maximum of 2 years in this section.

NOVICE SECTION RULES FOR WELLINGTON AND CHRISTCHURCH:

Any dancer who has not recalled at the New Zealand Championships.

RULES REGARDING PRIMARY SECTIONS (TÚS GRÁD)

The section exists in Auckland only.
Make-up and fake tan for this section is prohibited. Wigs are optional.

Steps and Speeds:

First Double Reel (116-118)
or First Slip Jig (120)
First hornpipe (144)
or First Double Jig (88)
(N.B. Jig and Hornpipes are 2 steps for Under 9 and 2.5/3 steps for Over 9)

And any traditional set dance from the following list:

Blackbird (144)
St Patrick's Day (96)
Job of Journeywork (138)
Garden of Daises (138)
King of the Fairies (130)
Three Sea Captians (96)
Jockey to the Fair (90)

Dancers can spend a maximum of 2 years in this section.

RULES REGARDING INTERMEDIATE SECTIONS (MEÁN GRÁD)

This section exists in Auckland only, and is open to any dancer who has not recalled at the New Zealand Championships.
Solo costumes, fake tan and wigs permitted.
Steps must be of an Open Level.

Music Speeds:
Reel 113
Slip Jig 113
Hornpipe 113
Heavy Jig 73

Traditional and non-traditional Set Dances are permitted.
Once a dancer has recalled at the NZ Champs they must move up to Open.

NEW IN AUCKLAND - PRELIMINARY SECTION effective Jan 2008:
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SECTIONS HAVE BEEN COMBINED FOR AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS IN 2008. EXISTING RULES FOR COSTUMES, DANCES AND DANCE SPEED ARE AS ABOVE FOR PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE.

FURTHER TO THIS PRELIMINARY DANCERS MAY ALSO DANCE IN THE OPEN GRADE FOR ONE OR MORE DANCES. (ADDITIONAL ENTRY FEE APPLIES). DANCERS WILL NOT HAVE TO MOVE INTO THE OPEN SECTION IF PLACED.

RULES REGARDING OPEN SECTIONS (ÁRD GRÁD)

Solo costumes, fake tan and wigs permitted.

Music Speeds:
Reel 113
Slip Jig 113
Hornpipe 113
Heavy Jig 73

Length of dances for New Zealand Championships:

Hard Jig Under 8 years 32 bars
Hornpipe 40 bars
Slip Jig 40 bars
Hard Jig 48 bars
Reel 48 bars

Lead Rounds in Heavy Dancing (Rule to take effect 1st Jan 2008):

In all competitions Meán and Árd (Intermediate and Open) that in all heavy dancing, i.e. Jig and Hornpipe, the lead round must be danced on both right and left feet.

Competing in Auckland:

All Auckland Fesianna are open to dancers from around New Zealand and the World.
However, the Auckland Regional Feis is only open to dancers from Auckland and Waikato.
Dancers MUST compete in at least one Auckland Feis to be elligable to dance in the Auckland Regional Feis. Details will be checked by the AIDA Committee.