mho'b family feis weekend:

April 2008

Dear Parents and Dancers:

The Mullane Healy O’Brien Academy is proud to continue the tradition of hosting the Family Feis Weekend. The Family Feis Weekend is more then just an Irish dance competition – it is an enjoyable weekend of dance, music, fun, games, and awards for everyone. There is something for everyone at the Family Feis Weekend.

The RiverCenter in Davenport, IA will once again host our Feis weekend. The RiverCenter is connected to the host hotel, the Radisson, and directly across the street from the famous River City Casino. 

For our newest parents, a Feis is a dance competition where the dancer performs the steps that they have learned throughout the year. The dancer performs against other dancers in their age group and dance level.

What separates this Feis from other dance competitions is that all dancers that participate at the School Feis are recognized and awarded medals/trophies for their accomplishments. Each dancer entered will receive medals and ribbons – and our beginner and tot dancers will also receive certificates in a special award presentation by the teaching staff. In addition to the medals and ribbons, the top dancer in each category will receive a High Point Marble Trophy Award.

The Family Feis Weekend is more than dancing. It is about friendship, fellowship and doing your best. 

We strongly encourage ALL dancers from all the studios to participate in the Family Fun Feis Weekend. From our tots and beginners through to our World Champion medalist dancers, and whether you take lessons in Elmhurst, Edison Park, Gaelic Park, Orland Park, or the Quad Cities – there is something for everyone at the Family Feis. If you have any question, please let a teacher know.

We look forward to seeing you at this great event,

Teaching Staff of Mullane Healy O’Brien Irish Dance Academy

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The philosophy of the School Feis is for each dancer to enjoy, have fun, and perform to the best of their ability.

To recognize the dancer’s talents - medals will be given out to all dancers in the reel, jig, and hornpipe. Medals will also be given out to the top 50% of the competition in the treble jig, slip jig, set dance and in figure dancing competitions. All dancers winning first place will receive a trophy.

Crystal awards will be presented to all Championship dancers.  Awards will be posted and dancers can collect their medals / trophies after each competition.

In addition to these awards, there will be a special award’s presentation for all Tot and Beginner dancers

- NEW - the “1st Annual Mullane Healy O’Brien Promising Dancer Award” will be presented to the most promising boy and girl dancer selected by the panel of adjudicators.

- NEW - All Preliminary and Open Championship dancers are eligible to compete in the Championship dance off in which the top boy and girl will receive a $200 United States Savings Bond toward their education. Dancers will perform a hard shoe step down the line.

In solo competitions, dancers will perform two steps of each dance - two dancers at a time. 

NEW this year for our Tots and Beginner category will be a Tir na Nog workshop that will help our younger dancers prepare for Feis competitions. The teaching staff will assist these dancers with their steps and prepare them before they take the stage. All Beginners and Tots will be awarded medals in all of their dances.

Oireachtas qualified dancers will compete in the Championship level.

The Parent / Child exhibition will be held at the After Feis party. The exhibition is open to all parents and their dancers and all entrants will receive an award.

This year, at the end of the day, we will have a treble reel competition for any Novice, Open or Championship dancer interested. Dancers are encouraged to create a new step or use one that they have learned in class.

All dancers and parents must have fun.

Golf Outing Information to follow shortly.