Keep a copy of the entry form as it has the address of the competition and what dances your child has entered. The timings for each age group will be announced at the studio ( or a notice on the wall) two or three days before the competition. Little beginners are most likely to be on Sunday morning but this can change.
For your first competition you may not have an Irish Dancing Dress but beginners don’t have to have one straight away. A party dress or a tartan skirt and white blouse will do, you might like to add a soft shawl caught at the shoulder and opposite waist. Later on you may wish to hire a dress from the Studio for an annual fee or buy a used dress. You may have seen very elaborate dresses on other girls. They are are not allowed to be worn by beginners. Only simple dresses can be used in Beginners. When your daughter gets into Primary grades she can buy a dress. Used dresses have a good resale value and buyers can be found when your child outgrows it. Try looking at www.dance-again.com there are hundreds of dresses there. ( Print off images to show the teacher the dress you're interested in). A new site from the US is www.irishdancingexchange.com
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Intermediate -Open Level Dress |
A Party Dress for a Beginners' Comp | |
Don't forget the knickers ... Knickers which match the underskirt colour are worn when dancing. Many mothers make smocks for the children to wear over the dress as they may be wearing it for a few hours. Food is almost always on sale at competitions and the smocks cut down on dry-cleaning bills.
Boys wear good dark trousers, not too loose, so as not to
disguise the leg movements, and with a bit of stretch to them for
ease of movement. White or coloured long sleeve collared shirt,
with a bit of fullness.
Tie/bowtie - check with your teacher (some have a preference for
one or the other, or prefer no tie). Maybe a vest with celtic
motif - to stand out from the crowd. Some boys wear celtic belts
(like cummerbunds) instead of vests. The boys have an advantage
in smaller local comps in that they are unusual enough to be
noticed anyway. You will also see some boys in kilts and blazers.
Boys' Shoes - soft shoes like boys jazz shoes - lace up, with small heel. Later in higher grades, boys wear soft shoes with a heel that they can click together like hard shoe dancing.
Second hand dresses range in price from $200 to $1000 depending on age and condition. You can make your own if you're talented and there is a Simplicity Pattern 9131. (But please don't use the mega-shamrock design as per the cover) Take a look at the Irish Dancing Dress Pattern. It is not readily available, but can be tracked down on E-bay. Or you can send away for a pattern from Irish Threads they now have an Australian distributor - Fabrique so you can get your pattern in a couple of days..
Please Note: It is illegal and unforgiveable to copy someone else's dress. Even if your daughter says she wants a dress just like the one she saw on the web, explain to her that it is not allowed. There are many talented designers around, for a reasonable price you can have an original. Especially in the higher grades, a knock off will be noticed and your daughter may suffer because of it.
Materials to use are gabardine for beginners and Velvet/Gabardine or Thai silk or lame for the Open Grade Dancers. The dresses use very thick stiffening to get that traditional look. And the embroidery designs can be purchased from America from the Irish Dancers' Catalogue. You might be able to find some local talent to help you with the designs, but the embroidery is done before the dress is assembled. Always seek the advice of your teacher before you make costly investments. If you are too chicken to make your own.. try a professional. But be prepared to join a long queue, give as much lead time as you can. Irish Dancing Dress Makers in Australia
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A Beginner will only be using soft shoes at first (girls- black slippers with criss cross laces. Boys - suede soled pumps), so this makes it a little easier. Later your child will learn more difficult Jigs which use Hard shoes (sometimes called jig shoes)You must write your name and phone number in your shoes as they are often lost. The little bobble socks are available from the Irish Shop in Pitt Street Sydney for about $7 a pair |  |
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Except for those lucky girls with naturally curly hair, the hair is curled with curlers or rags etc. The Hair is done `half up half down’ with a matching scrunchie or ribbon around the top pony tail. There is also a trend to having the hair up. This is often used when your daughter's hair is too short to curl tightly and ends up with a woolly ball for a hair do. The hair can be scraped up to a bun but left curly, not combed. Often this style is worn with a small tiara. But check with your teacher before you rush out and buy a tiara for a beginner. Also there is a rule that says you can't wear prizes (sashes, medals or tiaras) so check that your head gear isn't going to upset anyone. |
| The hair is set with setting mousse so that the curls will hold for 3 hours of dancing. Any mousse will do if it mentions "strong hold" on the label. If your daughter has fine hair use small rollers, thick hair use the larger rollers. Curling papers can be bought by the box from hairdressers and these will help protect the hair while it’s curled. If your daughter can't sleep in rollers, try "Softspikes" available by mail order from California. You can order by E-Mail but pay by cheque Softspikes! |  |
Wigs
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Beginners cannot wear wigs. However when
your child progresses you will be happy not to curl hair any more. With
the advent of very good wigs, dancers above beginners purchase wigs. The
old-fashioned wigs looked nylon-y and fake, but the new breed can look very
real. They cost about $120 or so and come in a full ringlet version or a
split curl. They need to be looked after and packed away properly after
every use. Spraying them with wig conditioner helps too and also having
them recurled when they get too fuzzy. The wigs must be attached properly so they don't come off with all that energetic dancing. If you want hints on how to attach the wig securely there is a description how here. |
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Most often the hair is dressed after you arrive at the competition venue. If
the hair is curled, a hair slumber net can hold curls between dances. The hair
can be left in the ringlets or teased out into a fluffy mass. When you hire
or buy a dress they come with matching embroidered head bands or crowns.
For the mothers of boys...wash it, dry it brush it and thank your lucky stars.
Makeup
It is a rule that no girl under 12 who dances in Beginner or Primary grades is to wear makeup or fake tan. Please don't test this rule. The day you think you can put a little blush and lippy on your 7 year old will be the day someone decides to make an example of your darling and not let her dance.
