Dancers Certificate and Diploma Examinations

AN COIMISIÚN LE RINCÍ GAELACHA.
An tÚdaras Scrúdaíthe-Examination Authority
Scrúdaíthe Teastais agus Dioplomaí Rinceoirí.
         
               
Grade Examinations Scheme:
In all there are 12 grades plus a preliminary grade. Different places are specified for each grade and are listed hereunder. Each grade must be passed before a dancer may attempt the next grade. A certificate is awarded for each grade passed. A dancer who passes all twelve grades receives “The Diploma of the Irish Dancing Commission”. Grade examinations are unlike competitions in that each dancer is individually examined and also receives the detailed written assessment already mentioned. There is no cost to teachers organising examinations; items such as examiners’ fee’s, hall charges, administrative expenses, etc, are met from the examination fees paid by the dancers. A current schedule of fees is attached. The examinations are intended and equally suitable for both dancers who compete regularly and for the very many who are not competition orientated. A system of Credits towards the TCRG and ADCRG will be awarded as follows, thereby exempting the candidate from re taking the Solo Dancing section of each exam.
TCRG - 70% or over needed on Grades 6 – 12 inclusive.
ADCRG - 80% or higher needed on Grades 6 – 12 inclusive.
In recent years, many prospective teachers in Europe have begun to take the Grade exams as a means of obtaining Credits towards their TCRG and ADCRG exams:
 
Rules & Regulations:
  1. Only basic steps may be danced in Grades 1, 2, 3 and in the preliminary Grade.
  2. The number of bars of music to be danced for all reels, jigs and hornpipes is 40.
  3. Set-dances in Grades 4, 5 & 6 must be performed in the traditional style and manner.
  4. From Grade 7 upwards only non-traditional sets can be danced. Once performed a set-dance cannot be repeated in a higher grade.
  5. The same set-dance must not be performed in more than one of the Grades from 7 to 12 inclusive.
  6. 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.
  7. Candidates must know (orally & practically) all céilí dances from the book “Ár Rincí Foirne” specified for Grades 5 – 12 inclusive.
  8. Dance costumes should not be worn at what are examinations, not competitions.
  9. Grade 9 may not be taken under 16 years of age, and Grade 10 under 17 years.
  10. Candidates must be in their 19th year to sit Grade 11 and in their 20th year to sit Grade 12
 
For Grades 11 and 12 new application forms must be completed and approved by the Examination Authority .  Each of these two Grades must be taken by a different Examiner and that Examiner must be an Examiner from the Panel of Examiners .
 
Australian teachers interested in arranging Grade Examinations for their pupils should contact an Australian Examiner who will then seek appointment from the Údarás Scrúdaithe (Examination Authority) of An Coimisiún.

The following examiners may be contacted re Dancers’ Grade Examinations  -:

Jan Berne ADCRG  (NSW)

Catherine Cosgriff ADCRG (VIC)

Janice Currie-Henderson ADCRG (NSW)

Carmel Doyle ADCRG (SA)

Christine Portbury ADCRG (QLD)

Maureen Whelan ADCRG (NSW)

Eoghan Quinn ADCRG (WA)

                
                    DANCERS GRADE  EXAMINATION SYLLABUS
 
           Grades and Required Dances (Céilí Dances Underlined)
 
Grade       Dances
 
Prelim       Easy Reel or Easy Light Double Jig
 
    1.         Basic Reel & Light Double Jig
 
    2.         Basic Slip Jig & Single Jig
 
    3.         Primary Reel & Basic Heavy Jig
 
    4.         Primary Slip Jig & “St. Patrick’s Day”
 
    5.         Advanced Reel, Basic Hornpipe & Walls of Limerick
   
    6.         Advanced Slip Jig, “The Blackbird” & Siege of Ennis
   
    7.         Advanced Heavy Jig “Garden of Daisies” & The Four-Hand Reel
 
    8.         Advanced Hornpipe, “Job of Journeywork” & Humours of Bandon
   
    9.         Two set-dances, one in 6/8 time & the other in 2/4 or 4/4 time
                 (Which are not traditional Dances) & High Cauled Cap.
 
   10.        Two set-dances, one in 6/8 & the other in 2/4 or 4/4 time
                (which are not traditional dances) & Eight-Hand Jig.
 
   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 5 submitted
                by the candidate (different from those in Grade 10) & Céilí dances
                The Eight-Hand Reel & Harvest Time Jig.
 
   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 & 11) and the Céili Dances
                The Morris Reel & The Sixteen-Hand Reel.

Fees for Grade Exams

Preliminary       $16.00

Grades 1 - 3      $24.00

Grades 4 - 6      $35.00

Grades 7 - 10    $48.00

Grades 11 - 12   $96.00

For information on Dancers Grade Exams, please contact the co-ordinator Catherine Cosgriff ADCRG at dancersgradeexams@aidainc.com