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Full information on the World Irish Dance Association and their Grade Exams, as well as registration and payment, are found on the WIDA website: https://www.irish.dance/grade-examinations Contact Mrs. McAvoy with any questions about the exams or registration process. Remember to register by May 23rd for the exams, taking place at BSOTD studio on June 23rd! AFTER your register, fill out the Sign Up form to let us know that you are participating.
Grade 1 Solo Steps: Beginner Reel, Beginner Light Jig
Each dancer will perform 32 bars of the Beginner Reel and Beginner Light Jig. The first two videos below demonstrate the Beginner Reel, first slowly from the back then full speed from the front. (NOTE: This is our school's ADVANCED Beginner level reel).
For the Beginner Light Jig, pick TWO full jig steps to perform the right and left foot. You may pick any of our school's 8 jig steps. (Jig steps all start with jump, kick, hop back 2 3 4). Practice performing the two you have chosen on the right and left foot without stopping in between. Remember to bow when you are finished.
Grade 1 Ceili Portion: The Walls of Limerick
All Beginners at Bethlehem Irish Dance have learned and performed this ceili dance! Here is a video of other dancers performing the Walls of Limerick. (Yes, the video says Grade 5, this is a different school, different grade system!) Make sure you know the positions (ALWAYS Gentlemen on the right and ladies on the left) and who goes first and what foot to be on. (For example, note that the ladies cross on the left foot, the gentlemen on the right, always facing the opposite lady or gentleman as they pass). When performing the ceili dance, watch your hand catches and arm position, and make sure to have nice posture and dance up on your toes with nice threes and sevens the whole time.
Grade 1 Oral Exam Portion: Capitals and Counting to 10
For the oral portion of the Grade 1 Exam, each dancer will be individually asked to answer three simple questions, which are listed below along with the answers to study. For the counting in Irish, here is a video to help you as well (or ask an Experienced Beginner, they have learned this already!)
1. Name the capital of the Republic of Ireland: Dublin
2. Name the capital of Northern Ireland: Belfast
3. Count from one to ten in Irish:
a haon (a hayn)
a do (ah doh)
a tri (ah tree)
a ceathair (ah kah-her)
a cuig (ah ku-wig)
a se (ah shay)
a seacht (ah shokht)
a hocht (ah hukht)
a naoi (ah nee)
a deich (ah jeh)
You will NOT be asked to write these, just to recite them. The pronunciation is in parentheses, as well as demonstrated on the video.
Grade 2 Solo Steps: Beginner Single Jig and Beginner Slip Jig
Each dancer will perform 32 bars of the Beginner Single Jig and the Beginner Slip Jig, demonstrated in the videos. Stay up on your toes, point your feet, pull all the way up above the knee in front and kick all the way up in back.
I am narrating each of these videos, but if it's too fast to follow, you can slow them down with the widget in the top right corner.
Grade 2 Ceili Portion: The Fairy Reel
Dancers Intermediate and above should be familiar with this 6 hand Ceili dance, Fairy Reel, HOWEVER, we have never done the full version that you'll be tested on. There are two sections of the dance that most of you never learned. Please see the video and the instructions below, and know that we will practice this together on June 12th.
Setup: 2 ladies on either side of a gentleman in the middle across from the same. Dance proceeds as described below. Please note, "Promenade" means skip 2-3's.
1. Advance and retire twice: Each line takes hands and advances with promenade step toward the other line (2b) and retires back to place (2b). Repeat and on the second retire everyone takes hands to form a circle.
2. Ring right: All sevens to the right finishing with two short threes. Sevens to the left and break back into two lines while dancing two short threes.
3. Advance and retire twice: Each line takes hands and advances with promenade step toward the other line (2b) and retires back to place (2b). Repeat and on the second retire everyone takes hands to form a circle.
4. Ring left: All sevens to the left finishing with two short threes. Sevens to the right and while dancing two short threes the gent should turn to face the partner on his right while the lady on the right turns left to face the gent.
5. Slip sides: Partners facing each other take right hands and sevens to the gents' left, finishing with two short threes. They now sevens to the gents right and during the threes release hands and the gent turns to face the other lady.
This movement is repeated starting with sevens to the gents' right.
6. Gents link arms: Gents promenade toward each other, link right arms and dance clockwise for 4b. Switch arms and dance back, end facing their right-hand partner.
7. Turn the ladies: Gents take right hands with his right partner and dance around her clockwise with promenade step. Give left hands to the lady on the left and promenade around her counter-clockwise. Give right hands to the lady on the right and dance around her clockwise one more time. End back in the center with both lines facing each other.
8. Diamonds and Squares: The ladies dance a square all the way around the set using sevens and threes. Start by changing places with the other lady in the line (lady going to the right goes behind) with sevens and dance two short threes. On the second three the lady turns 90 degrees to face the position they just left. Ladies going right turn to the left, ladies going left turn to the right. The ladies continue dancing sevens and threes, moving all around the set until they are back home.
While the ladies are dancing the square, the gents also sevens and threes except they dance a diamond with the points at the middle position between the ladies. While continuing to face 'forward' the gents sevens to the right while moving slightly forward so they end between the ladies and face to face with the lady from the right-hand end of the opposite line. Dance two short threes turning counter-clockwise to form a new line. Gents continue dancing sevens and threes this way until they reach their home position.
Each line takes hands while dancing the last two threes.
9. Arches: Gents raise right hands and guide the left-hand lady underneath the arch and follow her under while the right-hand lady dances around on the outside. Continue with the gent raising his left hand and guiding the right-hand lady under while the left-hand lady dances around on the outside. Guide the left-hand lady under one more time while the right-hand lady dances in place.
Everyone (including the gent) should be dancing promenade step throughout.
10. Advance, retire and pass through: While holding hands, each line advances and retires, drops hands and advances through the opposite line.
Grade 2 Oral Portion: Facts and Irish Vocabulary
For the oral portion of the Grade 2 Exam, each dancer will be individually asked to answer five simple questions, which are listed below along with the answers to study. For the words in Irish, here is a video to help you as well.
1. Who is the patron saint of Ireland? St. Patrick
2. Name the female saint whose feast day is celebrated on February 1st. St. Brigid
3. What is the official emblem of Ireland? The Harp
Say the following words in Irish:
"Welcome" -- Failte (Fall-cha)
"Well done/good" -- Maith thu (mah hoo)
Grade 3 Solo Steps: Beginner Treble Jig, Beginner Hornpipe, St. Patrick's Day
Each dancer will perform 32 bars of the Beginner Treble Jig, the Beginner Hornpipe, and the full step and set of St. Patrick's Day, demonstrated in the videos.
Work on clean-sounding trebles, stay right on the beat, keep your heels up off the ground and stay crossed over and turned out.
Pull your cuts up high and kick up all the way in back.
There is an extra hornpipe video on the playlist showing just the leadaround more slowly from behind if you need it.
The St. Patrick's Day video contains both the full dance slow from behind with me saying the steps and the full dance full speed from the front, with a little of me muttering to myself between takes (enjoy!).
Grade 3 Ceili Portion: The Bonfire Dance and The Harvest Time Jig
Some dancers will recognize the Bonfire dance, as we have performed at least parts of it before, and the Advanced Beginner recital dance was based on it this year. Here is a description of the part of the dance to help you understand the video:
This is a round dance for at least six couples (preferably more!). It was traditionally danced around the Bonfire on St. John´s Eve.
All stand in a ring, ladies on the right of their partners.
1. Advance and retire: While all holding hands slowly advance for four bars, then retire for four bars.
2. Rings Right: While holding hands everyone sevens to the right, dance two short threes. Sevens back to the left and end with two short threes.
3. Advance and retire: While all holding hands gradually advance four times and then retire four times, lead with left foot.
4. Rings Left: While holding hands everyone sevens to the left, dance two short threes. Sevens back to the right and end with two short threes. While dancing the final threes, turn to face your partner.
5. Sidestep in and out: Everyone sidestep to their own right and back to place without dancing threes.
6. Link right arms: Link right arms with your partner, promenade clockwise halfway. Switch arms and promenade counter-clockwise back to place.4
7. Sidestep in and out: Everyone sidestep to their own left and back to place without dancing threes.
8. Link left arms: Link left arms with your partner, promenade counter-clockwise halfway. Switch arms and promenade clockwise back to place.
9. Ladies Rose: (While the ladies are dancing the gents should stand in place with their left hand on their hip and right toe pointed slightly forward.) Ladies slowly advance with promenade step for 4 beats. Take hands on the last three, sidestep counter-clockwise (right foot) and dance two threes while turning right to face out toward the gents.
Take hands and sidestep clockwise (right foot again), finishing with two short threes.
Ladies advance outward and take right hands with their partner and both turn clockwise to finish in their original positions (4 beats).
10.Gents Rose: Repeat above with gents on their left foot.
11. Swing and change partners: Partners take crossed hands and swing slowly for 4 bars to change places so that the lady is on the left of her gent. Partners now bow to each other (1b), gents turn clockwise and ladies counter-clockwise to face a new partner (1b). Bow to their new partner, face in and everyone take hands to repeat the dance from the beginning.
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We have never done the Harvest Time Jig, but it is not very difficult at all. I chose the video link here because each part of the dance is written on the screen as it happens. Obviously your style should be more performative than these dancers.
Grade 3 Oral Portion: Irish geography and Irish greetings
The candidate will be required to know the following:
How many counties in the Republic of Ireland? 26 counties
Name any six counties. (Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare,Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo,Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow)
How many counties in Northern Ireland? 6 counties
Name any two counties. (Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone)
Name the four provinces in Ireland: Leinster, Munster, Ulster, Connaught
The candidate will be required to say the following in Irish:
Hello - Dia Dhuit (Jia which)
Goodbye - Slán
Please - le do thoil (le doh heel)
Thank you – Go raibh maith agat (gu ru mah agat)