We are proud to represent the Drake School in Irish dance competitions (called a feis prounced "fesh") as well as having fun in the pubs around the Atlanta and Athens area!

We compete in solo step dancing (light jig, slip jig, single jig, treble jig and traditional sets) as well as in figure dancing, also know as céilí dances.

We have all levels from beginners to Prize Winners.

RECENT FEIS RESULTS



Peach State Feis, May 20, 2006

Novice Reel
1st: Beth
2nd: Maggie
3rd: Linda

Novice Light Jig
3rd: Susan
4th: Linda

Novice Slip Jig
2nd: Linda
3rd: Maggie

Novice Treble Jig
1st: Beth
2nd: Linda

Prizewinner Reel
2nd: Cris

Prizewinner Slip Jig
2nd: Faith

Prizewinner Traditional Set
2nd: Linda
3rd: Faith

Four Hand Céilí Competitions
Humours of Bandon: Linda-Beth-Cris-Susan Team: 1st place
Maggie-Robanne-Bill-Dianna Team: 2nd place

Eight Hand Céilí Competition
The Cross Reel; The Drake Team-1st place

Feis na Tara, February 24, 2006

Beth: Single Jig (Novice/Prizewinner) 2nd place; Light Jig (Novice/Prizewinner) 3rd place; Hornpipe (Beginner/Advanced Beginner) 2nd place
Cris: Reel (Novice/Prizewinner); 2nd place; Light Jig (Novice/Prizewinner) 2nd place; Slip Jig (Novice/Prizewinner); 4th place
Susan: Treble Jig (Novice/Prizewinner) 3rd place; Reel (Novice/Prizewinner) 3rd place
Bill-Dianna-Maggie-Barbara 4 Hand Reel: 1st Place
Faith-Susan-Beth-Cris 4 Hand Reel: 2nd Place
Trip to the Cottage (8 Hand): 1st Place

Feis ATL, November 19, 2005

Susan: 3rd place in Treble Jig;
Cris: 3rd place in Slip Jig, 4th place in Light Jig, 5th place in Reel

Linda broke her foot at this feis, so send blessings to Linda!

Charlotte Feis, October 22, 2005
Susan: 1st place, treble jig (Advanced Beginner);
Cris: 2nd in the Light Jig (Advanced Beginner) and 3rd in Reel (Advanced Beginner);
Beth: 2nd place, light jig; 3rd place, slip jig; 3rd place, treble jig (Novice).
Faith: 2nd place, Traditional Set, (Prizewinner)



About Irish Dance Shoes

Irish dance is done in two different types of shoes. One pair of light shoes know as gillies are made of leather and are intricately laced. The gillees women wear do not have hard heels, but the gents do have heels. Gillies are worn for reels, slip jigs, light jigs, single jigs and céilí dances. The better known hard shoes are also made of leather but have fiber glass tips and heels. These are the shoes used for treble reels, double/treble jigs and traditional sets.



Breakdown of Dances

The LIGHT JIG is a dance done in 6/8 timing. The adults dance two steps (a lead around and a step, each typically done on the right and the left foot each).

The SLIP JIG is a dance done in 9/8 timing and is mostly competed by females. It's the longest of the dances and is considered to be the most difficult (and tiring) of the the light shoe dances.

The SINGLE JIG is a jig danced in light shoes to music in 6/8 timing.

The REEL is danced to 4/4 time in light shoes.

The HORNPIPE is danced in hard shoes to music in 4/4 time. Traditionally, sailors learned this but the Navy no longer teaches it.

TREBLE JIGS are done in hard shoes to music in jig time (6/8).

TREBLE REELS are the fancy dances! This is the fun dance that ends every feis. It's a chance for the dancer to show off some of their own choreography. It's danced to speedy reels (4/4 timing) in hard shoes. This is the dance made famous by Riverdance.

TRADITIONAL SETS are traditional dances that have been done in the same way or similar way for decades. They are danced to a tune of the same name (for example the dance St. Patrick's Day is danced to the tune "St. Patrick's Day") and are always done in hard shoes. The dances usually consist of a step done on the right and then left foot and are followed by a "set," or a part of the dance that fits to a part of the music with an unusual number of measures.

CEILI DANCES are the group dances. Some ceili dances are The Four Hand Reel, The Rakes of Mallow, The Humours of Bandon, The Duke Reel and The Glencar Reel.