Annual Irish Dance Competition
Charlotte will host its thirteenth annual open competition or "feis" for Irish dancers and Celtic entertainers on June 4, 2011 at the Blake Hotel. The event is organized by Charlotte's Walsh Kelley School of Irish Dancing. We expect over 600 competitors from schools throughout the US to attend.
Called Feile Rince Charlotte in Irish or "Charlotte Dance Festival," the event celebrates Celtic nations and their traditions. Dancers, musicians and singers of all ages participate in the two-day event. Music will be judged on Friday, June 3 and dancers compete on Saturday, June 4.
Vocalists and musicians perform traditional folk songs from any Celtic nation. Dancers must be registered with an instructor certified by the Irish Dancing Teacher's Association of North America and An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, Dublin, Ireland.
ADJUDICATORS:
Christina Kilcoyne, PA
Iris Gray Sharnick, PA
Maura Gray, CT
Rita O'Shea, MA
Liam Harney, MA
Karyn Oster, NY
Ellen Riordan, NJ
Kathleen Keady, NY
MUSICIANS:
Mark Arrington
Tessa Thistlethwaite
Kelly Winter
Patrick Bush
REGISTRATION:
Registration can be done online at efeis.com.
STAGE SCHEDULE:
The 2011 Feile Rince Charlotte stage schedule can be downloaded here.
FEIS T-SHIRTS:
A designer was commissioned to create the Feile Rince Charlotte event design. The shirts are available by pre-order only during the registration process. The design, which will be on black shirts, is featured to the right. Available in youth and large.
VENUE and ACCOMODATION:
Feile Rince Charlotte will be held in the spacious ballrooms at the Blake Hotel in uptown Charlotte. Accommodations are available at the special feis rate of $91 by referring to Feile Rince Charlotte when calling the Blake at 704.372.4100. The rate is available up until May 15, 2011. Information and directions to the hotel can be found at http://www.blakehotelnc.com.