What are grade exams?
The grade exams are an opportunity to dance in front of an examiner and not only be graded, but also receive valuable written feedback.
Dancers are graded on their timing & rhythm, carriage, execution and general effect. The exams are open to dances of all ages and abilities. You do not have to be a competitive dancer to participate, and costumes are not worn. A certificate is awarded for each grade successfully completed. When a dancer completes all 12 grades they achieve “The Diploma of the Irish Dancing Commission”. From 1st January 2018, TCRG (teachers’ examination) candidates will need to have completed all 12 grade exams to be eligible to apply. So any young aspiring teachers would be encouraged to get started. Working your way through the 12 grade exams will take time.
Dancers are graded on their timing & rhythm, carriage, execution and general effect. The exams are open to dances of all ages and abilities. You do not have to be a competitive dancer to participate, and costumes are not worn. A certificate is awarded for each grade successfully completed. When a dancer completes all 12 grades they achieve “The Diploma of the Irish Dancing Commission”. From 1st January 2018, TCRG (teachers’ examination) candidates will need to have completed all 12 grade exams to be eligible to apply. So any young aspiring teachers would be encouraged to get started. Working your way through the 12 grade exams will take time.
Rules and regulations
- Only basic steps may be danced in Grades 1, 2, 3 and in the preliminary Grade.
- The number of bars of music to be danced for all reels, jigs and hornpipes is 40.
- Set-dances in Grades 4, 5 & 6 must be performed in the traditional style and manner.
- From Grade 7 upwards only non-traditional sets can be danced. Once performed a set-dance cannot be repeated in a higher grade.
- The same set-dance must not be performed in more than one of the Grades from 7 to 12 inclusive.
- A dancer must take all grades in order, beginning with Grade 1, the preliminary Grade being optional. However, any number of consecutive grades may be taken on the same occasion.
- Candidates must know (orally & practically) all céilí dances from the book “Ár Rincí Foirne” specified for Grades 5 – 12 inclusive.
- Dance costumes should not be worn at what are examinations, not competitions.
- Grade 9 may not be taken under 16 years of age, and Grade 10 under 17 years.
- A special application form will apply for Grades 11 and 12.
- Candidates must be in their 19th year to sit Grade 11 and in their 20th year to sit Grade 12.
Dances
Grade 1 : Basic Reel (122-124) and Light Double Jig (116)
Grade 2 : Basic Slip Jig (124) and Single Jig (124)
Grade 3 : Primary Reel (116-118) and Basic Heavy Jig (96)
Grade 4 : Primary Slip-Jig (120) and "St Patrick's Day" (94)
Grade 5 : Advanced Reel (113), Basic Hornpipe (144) and Walls of Limerick theory
Grade 6 : Advanced Slip-Jig (113), "The Blackbird" (144) and Siege of Ennis theory
Grade 7 : Advanced Heavy Jig (73), "Garden of Daisies" (138) and The Four-Hand Reel theory
Grade 8 : Advanced Hornpipe, "Job of Journey work" and Humours of Bandon theory
Grade 9 : Two set-dances, one in 6/8 time and the other in 2/4 or 4/4 time (which are not traditional dances) and The High Cauled Cap theory
Grade 10 : Two set-dances, one in 6/8 time and the other in 2/4 or 4/4 time (which are not traditional dances) and The Eight-Hand Jig theory
Grade 11 : Reel, Slip Jig, Heavy Jig, "The Blackbird", "St Patrick's Day" plus two modern set-dances selected by the examiner from a list of five submitted by the candidate (different from those in Grade 10) and the ceili dances; The Eight-Hand Reel theory and the Harvest-time Jig theory
Grade 12 : Light Double Jig, Single Jig, Hornpipe, "Job of Journeywork", "Garden of Daisies", plus two modern set-dances selected by the examiner from a list of five submitted by the candidate (different from those in Grades 10 and 11) and the ceili dances the Morris Reel theory and The Sixteen-Hand Reel theory
Grade 2 : Basic Slip Jig (124) and Single Jig (124)
Grade 3 : Primary Reel (116-118) and Basic Heavy Jig (96)
Grade 4 : Primary Slip-Jig (120) and "St Patrick's Day" (94)
Grade 5 : Advanced Reel (113), Basic Hornpipe (144) and Walls of Limerick theory
Grade 6 : Advanced Slip-Jig (113), "The Blackbird" (144) and Siege of Ennis theory
Grade 7 : Advanced Heavy Jig (73), "Garden of Daisies" (138) and The Four-Hand Reel theory
Grade 8 : Advanced Hornpipe, "Job of Journey work" and Humours of Bandon theory
Grade 9 : Two set-dances, one in 6/8 time and the other in 2/4 or 4/4 time (which are not traditional dances) and The High Cauled Cap theory
Grade 10 : Two set-dances, one in 6/8 time and the other in 2/4 or 4/4 time (which are not traditional dances) and The Eight-Hand Jig theory
Grade 11 : Reel, Slip Jig, Heavy Jig, "The Blackbird", "St Patrick's Day" plus two modern set-dances selected by the examiner from a list of five submitted by the candidate (different from those in Grade 10) and the ceili dances; The Eight-Hand Reel theory and the Harvest-time Jig theory
Grade 12 : Light Double Jig, Single Jig, Hornpipe, "Job of Journeywork", "Garden of Daisies", plus two modern set-dances selected by the examiner from a list of five submitted by the candidate (different from those in Grades 10 and 11) and the ceili dances the Morris Reel theory and The Sixteen-Hand Reel theory