Feis (pronounced “fesh,” meaning festival) is an Irish dancing competition.  Feiseanna (plural) were traditionally cultural gatherings hosting events and competitions in music, dancing, singing and other aspects of Irish culture.

In Irish dance there are different levels of competition: beginner, advanced beginner, novice, open/prizewinner, preliminary championship, and championship.  Dancers advance levels by gaining medals in different dances.  The dances include jig, Hop jig (single jig), treble jig (hard jig), slip jig, hornpipe, traditional set, reel, nontraditional set and treble reel (tipping reel). In a feis a variety of soft and hard shoe dances are performed and individually judged.

Beginner to Prizewinner dances include:

• Soft shoe Dances: Reel, Light Jig, Single Jig, and Slip Jig
• Hard shoe Dances: Treble Jig, Hornpipe, Traditional Set
• Trophy Dances: Beginner and Advanced Beginner perform a soft shoe reel Novice and Prizewinner perform a hard shoe Treble Jig