Effective from 1st January 2017
Entry Requirements
The examination is open to all persons 21 years of age or over on the date the examination is being held. The candidate must be acceptable to Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa and be recommended by a registered adjudicator or teacher of Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa. The candidate must be suitably qualified to take the examination. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates who miss the closing date will have to wait until the next round of examinations to re-apply.
Competency & Suitability
Candidates must supply with their application form a recommendation from any registered adjudicator or teacher of Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa testifying they know the candidate and that they can perform the necessary dances required for the undertaking of the examination. Candidates must also supply with their application form evidence that they have successfully taken and passed all of the required Grade Exams as set out by Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa.
Dates of Examination
The examination will be held in Ireland. The dates will be set out by the Examination Authority and will be announced at the AGM. Once a date has been set for the examination it will not be changed to accommodate anybody.
Application & Fees
Application forms and fees are to be sent to the Examination Authority. All applications are to be received by the closing date. (The closing date will be 2 months prior to the examination being held). Applications received after the closing date will be refused. Candidates should ensure that their application form is fully completed and signed by both himself or herself and a registered adjudicator or teacher of Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa before submission. Certificates from grading exams must accompany the application form. Fees can be paid by cheque, money order or bank draft. All fees are to be paid in Euro and made out to Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa. Candidate’s names and address must be written on the back of the cheque. The full fee for the examination must be paid when the application form is being submitted.
Withdrawals and Forfeiture of Fees
Candidates who fail to attend an examination will forfeit their fee. Failure to attend an examination may result in a candidate being disqualified from taking an examination for a period of 2 years.
Sections of Examination
The examination will consist of 5 sections, as detailed below:
- Practical Test in Step Dancing
- Practical Test in Teaching Step Dancing
- Practical Test in Teaching Céilí Dancing
- Written Céilí Paper
- Written Music Paper
Repeat Examinations
Candidates who fail to reach the 70% pass mark in any section must repeat that section. If a candidate fails to reach the pass mark again they will be required to retake the full examination.
Candidates who fail to reach 50% in any section must retake the full examination. Six months (6 months) must elapse before a candidate can retake any section of the examination to allow ample time to prepare properly.
The full examination must be completed within 2 years. If a candidate has not completed any part of the examination within 2 years they will be required to retake the full examination.
Regulations
Applications must be accompanied by:
- A passport sized photograph
- A photocopy of either candidates birth cert or passport
- Recommendation from a registered adjudicator or teacher of Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa
- Evidence that candidates have taken and passed all of the required grading exams as set out by Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa
Candidates take the examination at their own risk. Candidates who are pregnant or suffer from a serious illness must indicate so in the medical section of the application form. Where a candidate is pregnant or suffers from a serious illness, a medical cert will have to be provided on the day of the examination, stating that the candidate is physically fit to take the examination. All medical certificates must be signed and stamped by a doctor and dated no longer than 1 week prior to the examination being held. Failure to disclose pregnancy or a serious illness may, if it later comes to light, result in a candidate being disqualified from taking any examinations set out by Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa in the future.
With regard to the written music and céilí papers:
Candidates are not permitted to have on or near their desks papers, notebooks or books other than those supplied by the Examination Authority.
Contact between candidates is not permitted once the examination has begun. Any rough work, diagrams or cancelled answers must be handed up to the examiners. Candidates may not leave the room. If a candidate needs to use the restrooms they must first seek permission from the examiners on duty.
Examination supervisors may immediately disqualify any candidate guilty of breaking the rules.
All information submitted on the application form is treated with strict confidentiality. Applications must be on the official application form. Any applications not on the official application form will not be considered.
Results
The pass mark is 70%. Candidates who fail to reach the 70% pass mark in any section must repeat that section. If the candidate fails to reach the pass mark again they will be required to retake the full examination. Candidates who fail to reach 50% in any section must retake the full examination. If a candidate has failed any section of the examination they will receive a letter from the Examination Authority setting out the reasons they have failed to pass a section.
The decision of the Examination Authority is final.
Qualifying Mark:
70% – Pass Mark
80% – Honours
90% – 1st Class Honours
Examination sections in Detail
- Practical Test in Step Dancing
Candidates are required to perform all or part of the following dances in each grade: Reel, Light Jig, Slip Jig, Single (Hop) Jig, Treble Jig and Hornpipe. Candidates must also be able to dance the following traditional set dances: St. Patrick’s Day, Blackbird, Job of Journeywork, Garden of Daisies, 3 Sea Captains, King of the Fairies & Jockey to the Fair. Candidates must be able to perform 5 modern set dances which must be nominated in advance by the candidate. The requirement for the set dances are: 2 set dances in 6/8 (Jig) timing, 2 set dances in 2/4 or 4/4 (Hornpipe) timing and 1 set dance in either 6/8 or 2/4 4/4 timing (candidates choice).
- Practical Test in Teaching Step Dancing
Candidates must be able to teach all or part of the following dances in each grade: Reel, Light Jig, Slip Jig, Single (Hop) Jig, Treble Jig and Hornpipe. Candidates must also be able to teach the following traditional set dances: St. Patrick’s Day, Blackbird, Job of Journeywork, Garden of Daisies, 3 Sea Captains, King of the Fairies & Jockey to the Fair. Candidates must be able to teach basic steps such as rocks, clicks, crosskeys etc. candidates must show that they can deal with young children as well as beginner and open dancers. They must be able to identify and correct faults.
- Practical Test in Teaching Céilí Dancing
Candidates must be able to teach all or parts of céilí dances from the book Ár Rincí Céilí. Candidates must be able to control a group of children and give clear instructions. Candidates will be judged on knowledge of dances and movements. Their voice should be clear and audible. They should be able to correct mistakes and guide dancers through movements.
- Written Céilí Paper
The paper will be set in English. Questions will be set on céilí dances taken from the book Ár Rince Céilí. The marks for each question may vary. The time for the céilí paper is 2 hours.
- Written Music Paper
Set dance tunes from the official list will be played. Candidates must be able to identify the tune by name. They must state the timing of the tune and the amount of the bars in the lead and set
Marks will be allocated as follows:
Name of tune 2 marks
Timing 1 mark
Bars in lead and set 2 marks