Competition Info

Major Competitions

How do I qualify for major competitions?
Your dancer has worked hard moving through the grade levels. You are now beginning to see exactly what the competitive side of Irish dance has to offer. Below are the following major competitions that your dancer may want to compete in.

Mid Atlantic Regional Oireachtas (Thanksgiving Weekend)
The Oireachtas (or-OCK-tus) is a regional competition that can qualify you for the North American Championships and the World Championships. You can compete in solo or ceili (group) dancing.

It is open to dancers in prizewinner that earn a 1st in each of the required dances by the entry date of October 1st. Even year age groups need firsts in reel and hornpipe while odd year age groups need firsts in slip jig and treble jig. All prelim and open dancers are qualified to enter but will need to commit to certain requirements in order to compete.
 

OGQ Requirements:
You must be able to perform the correct steps, attend class 3 times a week from Sept - Nov and attend all mandatory workshops on the weekends. If a dancer signs up and does not follow through with the requirements, they risk being taken out of the competition with no fees reimbursed. Please know that competing at the Oireachtas is an honor and must be treated as such.

North American Championships (July 4th week)
The North American Championships is also called Nationals or NAN’s. The different regions along with IDTANA take turns hosting this prestigious competition. The location rotates every year around the USA and Canada.

You qualify to go if:

  1. You are an open championship dancer
  2. You are U8 and U9 and have been selected by the teacher to attend (teachers discretion)
  3. You medalled at the previous year’s North America Championships
  4. You qualified at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Oireachtas and placed in the top 10 plus 25%
     

OGQ Requirements:
You must attend all mandatory workshops and also attend class 3 times a week from April – June. If you are not prepared the teachers will pull you from the competition regardless of travel arrangements and fees will not be reimbursed.
 

Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne: World Championships (Easter Week)
This competition is like the Olympics of Irish Dance! The location changes every year. In the past it has been held in locations such as Belfast, Dublin, Ennis, Galway, Glasgow, and Philadelphia.

You can qualify at 3 different ways.

  1. Place high enough in your local oireachtas (We attend the Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas)
  2. Place high enough at your National Championships (We attend the North American’s
  3.  Attain a World Medal at the previous World Championships and you are qualified for the next year.
     

PLEASE NOTE: If you qualify under our school and decide to switch schools, your qualification does not go with you! You must re-qualify with your new school.

OGQ Requirements:
Be very proud of yourself to make it this far!! Make sure you are prepared or you will be pulled from the competition by the teachers and with no fees reimbursed.

Oireachtas Rince na hEireann: All Ireland Championships (February)
This is similar to the North American Championships – it is the “Nationals” for Ireland. The level of competition here is extremely high and is very close to being as prestigious as the World Championships.

Each school has different requirements in order to enter the championships. Teachers will generally send out invites in September as the entries are due at the end of October. If you are interested in attending and are not sure if your dancer is qualified, please email Colleen.

The British Nationals (July) and The Great Britains (October)
These competitions alternate as the qualifier for the World Championships. In order to attend you will need to check with your teacher. Please email us if you are interested. Dancers must be in Open to be considered.