To our Scholarship Applicants:

On behalf of the Executive Board of the IDTANA and the registered Irish dance teachers and adjudicators across North America, the IDTANA is pleased to announce that the Scholarship Program has been increased from the $10,000 to $20,000 for 2008.  

The IDTANA is committed to recognizing the efforts and achievements of our dancers, not only on the stage but in the classroom as well, and we hope to be able to continue offering scholarships at this level long into the future.

We look forward to announcing the 2008 recipients in the near future.

 Michael Mullane ADCRG, President and Russell Beaton ADCRG, Scholarship Coordinator

     IDTANA  History

The Irish Dancing Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA) was born in March, 1964 when Mae Butler, Fedelmia Davis, Kevin McKenna, Peter Smith, Cyril McNiff and Anna O’Sullivan met at the Irish Institute in New York City.  They came together with the goal of assuring teacher and adjudicator competency, as well as standardizing the ever growing number of feisanna throughout North America.  The surviving founders of the IDTANA: Anna O'Sullivan, Peter Smith, and Fidelmia Davis are still active members and were recently voted lifetime positions on the IDTANA Executive Board.

       Since that small humble beginning, and through the efforts of many dedicated Irish Dance Teachers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, the IDTANA has grown now to nearly 650 members - with over 100 members in Canada, 550 members in the United States, and one member in Mexico.  The IDTANA consists of seven regional branches: Mid Atlantic, Mid America, Western US, Eastern Canada, Western Canada, New England and Southern US.  

      The IDTANA operates in tandem with An Coimisiun le Rince Gaelacha in Dublin, Ireland.   All members of the IDTANA must be registered and certified as a TMRF, TCRG or ADCRG by An Coimisiun.   Additionally, North America currently has 23 voting members of An Coimisiun le Rince Gaelacha, which includes the 7 Regional Directors along with two elected members of each Region, the IDTANA Executive Board, and the elected North American Vice Presidents of An Coimisiun.

     The emphasis of the IDTANA is to promote Irish Dance throughout North America.  Through continued cooperation with the North American Feis Commission, each region regulates Feiseanna in their area with a standardized syllabus of competitions and rules.  

       Annually, the IDTANA sponsors the North American Irish Dance Championships during the first week of July.  The "Nationals", as they have become known as, is recognized as North America's  secondary qualifying event for the annual World Championships held each year around Easter and sponsored by An Coimisiun le Rince Gaelacha.  The primary qualifying event for dancers to qualify for the World Championships is their Regional Oireachtasi held in November and December each year.

     QUALIFICATIONS FOR NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Qualifications for the 2008 North American Irish Dance Championships:

The qualification for the North American Championships will consist of four opportunities:

1. All Open Championship level dancers at registered Feisanna. 

2. All under 8 and under 9 year old dancers will be entered at the discretion of their teachers.  

3. The top 10 dancers plus 25% of the competition (that danced) at their Regional World qualifying Oireachtas in each age category, subject to their being recalled at their Regional qualifying Oireachtas.

4. All dancers recalled at the 2007 North American Irish Dance Championships.

The 2008 North American Irish Dance Championships will be hosted by the New England Region at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN from July 2-6, 2008.  Reservations for teachers has already begun, please refer to your recent newsletter for details.  Reservations for dancers can be made by calling the hotel at 866-972-6779.   A day schedule of competitions is available here.

Click on the logo for additional information regarding the Championships.

NAFC / IDTANA RULE REGARDING PHOTOGRAPHY  - Effective Immediately

 

The following rule is to clarify the Photography Rule as written in the Tri-Party Agreement between the NAFC, An Coimisiun le Rince Gaelacha, and the IDTANA:

 

In consideration of safety and in fairness to dancers performing at a Feis, photography of any kind which has the capability of capturing a dancer's image while in motion is strictly forbidden.

 

A Feis may elect to allow in motion photography for publicity purposes, but the pictures are considered the sole property of the Feis and solely for Feis use only; they are not to be used for personal gain through commercial use or sale, and under no circumstances can they be published on any website or other areas, without the express written permission of the persons involved.

 

Additionally, a professional photographer may be formally contracted by a Feis to capture non-motion photographs, such as portrait photography, awards ceremonies, etc. and/or in motion photography provided it is taken at a vendor station or suitable location: 

 

(a) away from the dancing stages and, 

(b) requested by a consenting parent, guardian, or dancer (over the age of 18).

 REGION BY REGION GUIDE TO GRADE ADVANCEMENT FOR REGISTERED NAFC FEISEANNA 

An Coimisun le Rince Gaelacha offers Examinations throughout the world for those wishing to be certified as a TCRG, ADCRG, or TMRF.  Please find below the applications and fees for the exams:

• TCRG

• TMRF

• ADCRG

• EXAM FEES

   visitors since 9/17/2007

Copyright idtana.org 2008. All Rights Reserved.

We appreciate the use of the artwork of Cari Buziak: http://www.aon-celtic.com