Beginner

Ordering Costumes

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Our Beginner Skirts, Embroidered Leotards, Capes & Headbands!

NEW COSTUME ORDERS


New Costumes can only be Ordered Twice a Year: In January & September

NOTE: Costumes are not mandatory for beginners. **If you are not ready to purchases a costume, please read about our PRE-Costume HERE.

Our Costumes are HAND MADE & Tailored to your child. You will measure your child and submit the measurements electronically. It is easy! Details on Measuring & Ordering below!

Pricing HERE

Headband: $43 (updated 2023)

COSTUME OPTIONS

Girls have 3 options:

  1. Beginner Skirt Costume (Skirt, Cape, Embroidered Leotard & Headband);

    • NOTE: we have a Leotard FIT KIT at the studio. Please try on the leotards to find your size.

  2. School Dress Costume; or

  3. All Black PRE-Costume (Read about it HERE.)

Boys costume:

• Burke Connolly Vest (ORDERED THROUGH THE DRESSMAKER)

• Hot Lime Green Tie MENS; BOYS OR Hot Lime Green Bow Tie:  MENS; BOYS; AND

• Black Dress Pants, Black Dress Shirt & Black Dress Socks

Pricing From Dressmaker is HERE

Headband: $43 (updated 2023)

HOW TO ORDER & MEASURE

Use these Links to order. The links contain the list of measurements you need & helpful photos!

Pricing From Dressmaker is HERE

Need some help with measuring your child?  We're here to help!

  1. Measure your child at home  before coming to class & write down measurements

  2. Bring your measurements & a fabric tape measure to class.

  3. Your child should wear fitted  Tank & Shorts to class for measurements.  Do not wear leggings or bulky clothing.


Parents, due to time constraints, please MEASURE your child at home and take necessary pictures.  We will VERIFY measurements in class.

Our School Dresses & Headband

Our School Dresses & Headband

Our Boy’s Vest Costume with a bow tie!

Our Boy’s Vest Costume with a bow tie!

PRE- Costumes!

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It’s important to NOTE: Buying a costume is NOT required, unless you are a member of our Senior Ceili Class (Levels 4 & above)!

PRE-Costume Options!

In between costume order dates, or not quite ready to buy?  Grab the following items and you'll be all set:
GIRLS

  1. Basic Black Skirt:  Any opaque black skirt that hits  3-4" above the knee will do!

  2. Black, Long-sleeved Turtleneck Leotard: Available at Dance Fashions on Roswell Road (or on their website HERE)

  3. Poodle Socks & Soft shoes (Blog Post HERE)

BOYS

  1. Long sleeved, Black Dress shirt

  2. Black, Flat Front Dress Pants (no pleats!)

  3. Black Dress Socks

  4. Hot Lime Green Tie MENS; BOYS OR Hot Lime Green Bow Tie:  MENS; BOYS

The Beginner - Novice "FEIS LOOK"

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COSTUMES

Girls have 3 options:

  1. Burke Connolly Beginner Skirt Costume (Skirt, Shawl & Embroidered long-sleeved Leotard);

  2. Burke Connolly Dress Costume; or

  3. ALL BLACK (The PRE-Costume) - Black long-sleeved Leotard & Black Opaque Skirt that hits 3-4” above the knees.

Poodle Socks- champion ankle length only!! No tall socks :) Click HERE to order. Use Code BURKECONNOLLY for 10% off!

Boys also have several options:

• Main Costume: Black Dress Pants (flat front), Black Dress Shirt & Black Dress Socks

• Hot Lime Green Tie MENS; BOYS OR Hot Lime Green Bow Tie:  MENS; BOYS

• Burke Connolly Vest (Optional Add-on for beginners)

**WHEN NOT PERFORMING, ALL DANCERS SHOULD WEAR BURKE CONNOLLY SPIRITWEAR!**

HAIR

Girls’ hair should be curled. You can curl hair naturally or purchase a wig.

NATURAL CURLS: Curl hair using sponge rollers or pin curls. HOW TO VIDEO on curling Hair with sponge rollers.

  • Start with DRY hair

  • Use SMALL sections of hair (The smaller the section of hair, the tighter the curl!)

  • Use Mousse (they don’t in the video. That will not hold!)

  • Do not twist the hair before rolling into the curler. That’s a different look.

  • Sleep in curlers overnight.

  • Take all curlers out the following morning.

    • DO NOT brush the curls out.  They should be tight.

  • Put hair in half pony tail, creating volume at front of head

  • Separate each curl into 3 smaller curls

  • Spray with aerosol hairspray

WIGS: Please talk with your teacher about which wig is preferred, as styles change.

HAIR ACCESSORIES: Burke Connolly Headband.  Headbands are handmade by our dressmaker Prime Dress Designs. These orders are placed every January & September.

  • Note: Bows are permitted on beginner dancers ages 6 and under ONLY.

Boys hair should be Clean and Neat and remain out of the eyes while dancing.

MAKE-UP

Beginner & Advanced Beginners:

• NO make-up is permitted on Beginners under the age of 12.

• Light make-up, consisting of light blush, lipstick or lip gloss, and neutral basic eye make-up (no crazy colors like blue!) may be worn on Beginners ages 12 & Over.

What is a FEIS?

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What is a FEIS?

 You might have heard this strange word around the studio by now.  Other than performances, a FEIS is something our students LOVE to do!  

First, a wee bit O'history..

“FEIS”  (pronounced FESH)  is a Gaelic word that means festival. Many years ago in Ireland, the local towns would hold a Feis where the community would gather--Many entered contests to show their baking, music, dance and art skills.  

We keep these traditions alive today!  At a feis, registrants can compete in a variety of Irish cultural activities. In addition to the dancing competitions, we encourage our dancers and their families to enter the other competitions available: music, baking, singing and art!  Even our parents have entered (and won!) baking competition! Yum! 

Onstage action!

Onstage action!

What happens at a Feis?

At a Feis, competitors are split into age-groups such as U9 & U10-- meaning "under 9" and "under 10".  This is based on the Child's age on January 1st of the current year.

Dancers are then split into levels based on their ability and success at previous feiseanna (plural of feis).  

The levels are:  Beginner; Advanced Beginner; Novice; Prizewinner; Preliminary Championship; and Open Championship!  Dancer's move through the levels by fulfilling certain criteria. Each Year, the State of Georgia has Several Competitions:

January-  King O'Sullivan Winter Feis, in Atlanta
February -  Feis Na Tara, in Atlanta
May- Peach State Feis, in Atlanta
November- Feis ATL & HOTlanta  in Atlanta

Finally, Click and Read :

"What to Expect the Day of the Feis" and "The Beginner Feis Look"

Some of our beginners practicing together at their very first feis!

Some of our beginners practicing together at their very first feis!

Don't forget to Practice!

The best way to ensure a fun and exciting feis is to help your dancer feel prepared!  

In class, we use visualization and roll playing techniques to make sure your dancer knows what to expect when they get on stage.  

At home, you can help, too!  Practicing at home will help ensure that they feel confident about their steps, which is key to creating a healthy relationship with the stage--whether it is at a feis or a performance!

Remember, a week between classes feels like a CENTURY to a child!  So, we've put together VIDEOS of each dance and skill your child is learning in class!  

They are all available on our private Students Only Page. From our Homepage, simply scroll to the bottom, click the "Students Only" button and insert the secret password!

 Kids can practice at home with Ms. Emma! :)

Feis Levels Explained

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Which FEIS LEVEL Should My Child Dance In? (Specific Dance Registration suggestions found BELOW RULES)

Keep track of your Dancer's scores and placements from the past year's feiseanna. Once you have those, compare them to the rules below!  Remember- Each dance can be in a different level so dancers can be in MULTIPLE Levels at one time!

Grade (level) Definitions & Rules:

Beginner: A beginner is a competitor who has not taken a full year of Irish Dance lessons, thereby giving beginners a full year with such status. A Beginner must move into the Advanced Beginner category for the next year.

Advanced Beginner: An Advanced Beginner who wins 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place will advance to the Novice category in that particular dance.

Novice: A Novice dancer who wins a 1st place in a dance will advance to the Open (Prizewinner) category in that particular dance. In addition, if there are twenty or more dancers, a dancer who wins 1st place or 2nd place in a dance will advance to the Open/Prizewinner category in that particular dance. (Dec. 2012)

Open (Prizewinner): A competitor who does not qualify as a Beginner, Advanced Beginner or Novice. (see “Novice” for Prizewinner qualifications).

NOTE: The status of the dancer does NOT change unless there are five or more dancers in a competition.

Competitors have the option to remain in the same category for the remainder of the Feis year (until the following January 1st).

After entries have been closed, in any competition where five or more boys are entered, the feis committee will run a separate competition for these boys.

A feis committee may only combine two consecutive calendar year age groups (within that grade only) when fewer than five (5) competitors are entered in either age group, with the exception of the oldest age group listed.

Championship Level Definitions & Rules:

A) Preliminary Championships are open to those who, at any NAFC recognized Feis, have:

1. Placed 1st in both an Open (Prizewinner) light and heavy shoe competition; and

2. Never won 1st, 2nd or 3rd in Open Championship.

B) A dancer who wins two (2) first place preliminary championship awards in one calendar year will move on to Open Championship the following year (as of Jan 1); if the second first-place win does not occur in the same feis year as the first win, as soon as the second win is achieved, in any age category, the dancer must move up to open championship level immediately. Only in the case of a back-to-back Feiseanna (successive days) the first-place win in the first Feis will not change the dancer’s status for the second Feis.

C) A dancer in a preliminary championship is required to perform a light shoe dance (reel or slip jig for ladies and reel only for men) and a hard shoe dance. A Feis can opt to offer either (a) a set dance) or (b) a jig/hornpipe or (c) both a set dance and jig/hornpipe

D) Boys and Girls will be combined in preliminary championships –Please note the separation policy involving five or more boys

E) Preliminary Championship competitions must be offered separately in the syllabus for the minimum required age groups, yet the feis committee may combine an age group with the next higher age groups if there are fewer than 5 competitors entered in the lower age group. A feis committee is not permitted to combine dancers from one preliminary championship age group with any age group which is more than one age group higher than the age group in which the dancers are entered.

NOTE: Placing in a Regional or National Oireachtas does NOT change the status of a competitor. If after competing for two full feis years at the Open Championship level, a dancer has not placed first, second or third, he/she may opt to return to Preliminary Championship status.

WHAT DANCES SHOULD I REGISTER FOR??

Confirm with your teacher and/or your dancer if you are unsure, but generally, dancers should register for the following:

Beginner

  • Reel

  • Light Jig

Advanced Beginner

  • Reel

  • Light Jig

  • Single Jig

  • Slip Jig

  • Treble Jig (traditional Speed) HARD SHOE DANCE

  • Hornpipe (traditional Speed) HARD SHOE DANCE

Novice

  • Reel

  • Light Jig

  • Single Jig

  • Slip Jig

  • Traditional Set (St. Patrick’s Day) HARD SHOE DANCE

  • Treble Jig (SLOW) HARD SHOE DANCE

  • Hornpipe (SLOW) HARD SHOE DANCE

Prizewinner

  • Reel

  • NOTE: Light Jig is typically NOT offered at this level

  • NOTE: Single Jig is typically NOT offered at this level

  • Slip Jig

  • Traditional Set (“St. Patrick’s Day “or “Job of Journeywork”) HARD SHOE DANCE

  • Treble Jig (SLOW) HARD SHOE DANCE

  • Hornpipe (SLOW) HARD SHOE DANCE

  • Any “Specials” you would like - IF YOU WANT TO DANCE A TREBLE REEL, YOU MUST HAVE IT APPROVED BY EMMA, ERIN ,OR CHRISTINE :)

Preliminary Champion

  • Preliminary Championship competition consists of two rounds: Soft Shoe & Hard Shoe

  • Dancers should register separately for their traditional set (or if U11 or older NON-Traditional set)

  • Any “Specials” you would like

Irish Dance Music Speeds

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When dancers practice at home it is important that they use music that is the correct speed. When we perform or compete the musicians use a metronome to ensure they are playing at an appropriate speed for dancers. Below we list the different levels Burke Connolly dancers are in and the dances and speed of music they will need for practicing. Happy practicing! 

Visit our Spotify page for easy access to our Burke Connolly practice playlist: CLICK HERE

Level 1 (Beginner)

  • Reel: 122

  • Light Jig: 115

Level 2 (Beginner 2)

  • Reel: 122

  • Light Jig: 115

  • Slip Jig (Beginner/Novice): 122

Level 3 (Advanced Beginner)

  • Reel: 122

  • Light Jig: 155

  • Slip Jig (Beginner - Novice): 122

  • Fast/Traditional Hornpipe: 138

  • Fast/Traditional Treble Jig: 92

  • Traditional Set - St.Patrick's Day: 94

Level 4 (Novice - Prizewinner)

  • Reel: 113

  • Slip Jig: 113

  • Treble Jig: 73

  • Hornpipe: 113

  • St.Patrick's Day: 94

  • Job of Journey Work: 138

Level 5 & 6 (Championships)

  • Reel: 113

  • Slip Jig: 113

  • Treble Jig: 73

  • Hornpipe: 113

  • Traditional Set - St.Patrick's Day: 94

  • Traditional Set - Three Sea Captains: 96

  • Traditional Set - King of the Ferries: 130

  • Non-Traditional Set - Three Sea Captains: 71 (School Specific)

  • Non-Traditional Set - Blackthorn Stick: 69 (School Specific)

  • Non-Traditional Set - The Piper: 110 (School Specific)

  • Non-Traditional Set - Kilkenny Races: 110 (School Specific)

 

WHAT TO BRING & WEAR TO CLASS

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WATER. We dance non-stop the entire class.  Please ensure you have plenty of water :)  No sport drinks or glass bottles.

DANCE SHOES.  Beginner dancers need "Soft Shoes" for class.  Advanced dancers need soft shoes and hard shoes.  See the links below to order your soft shoes :)

WHITE SOCKS. "Poodle Socks" (info below) are the traditional Irish Dance Socks that our ladies wear at class. Men can wear white sport socks to class.  Link for poodle socks are below.  At competitions and performances, Ladies wear opaque black tights, and men wear black dress socks.

FITNESS TOPS & BOTTOMS. We need to be able to see the dancer's knees & posture.  Dancers are encouraged to wear their Burke Connolly T-shirt & black shorts or fitted leggings to class. 
                                            
HAIR should be tied back and away from the face.        

 

Also check out: What's in My Irish Dance Bag? A Guide for New Irish Dancers!