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| Difficulty and Performance Levels |
§ 1 General
- Division into difficulty and performance levels is for solo dances only. Group dances are not divided into performance levels.
- The classification of the difficulty levels of solo steps is oriented towards technical, structural and rhythmical criteria. Is at least one of these three criteria met without meeting a criterion of a higher level the step is classified as belonging to the according level. Another criterion is the dynamics of floor movements, which does not, however, qualify by itself for a difficulty level. A step is the better within its difficulty level, the more criteria are met.
§ 2 Specification
- For basic dances there are the following criteria:
- Technique: As motions only the following may be contained: passes, singles (steps, stamps), taps (taps, flops, beats, digs, brushes) and simple jumps (hops, leaps, assembles, sissonnes) with kick, cut, cast, raise, lift and bend as preparation for the jump or in partial combinations with singles and taps or simultaneously with raise, lift, cast and cut as push, dash, wash, lash, snap, toss, swash and slash, furthermore switches and points as single jumps within a partial combination with or without a preparation of the jump, as well as single heel drums, toe-to-heel-hits, shuffles and, for heavy dancing only, trebles. Motions must not be done in toe stand.
- Dynamics: As locomotions only the following may be contained: simple straight movements in DS-US as well as SL-SR direction and circular movements as well as slow step turns, though orientation towards DS is the rule.
- Structure: The combinations may consist of simple regular compositions of partial combinations only, though in light dances steps and in heavy dances additionally brushes and shuffles should dominate. Repetition of combinations or at least partial combinations within a step is the rule.
- Rhythm: The motions generally follow the intermediate rhythm and in the treble jig and the hornpipe the basic rhythm respectively. The only exceptions are motions like single drums and treble consisting of several single moves as well as combinations like grind in the light jig, as well as filling motions in all types of jig technically imperatively requiring basic rhythm and in the treble jig and the hornpipe subrhythm respectively.
- For primary dances there are the following criteria:
- Technique: As motions the following may be contained additionally: rocks, drops, clicks, hits, drags, springs, yanks, whisks, flacks, flicks, switch catches, front slices, turns up to 90° (pivot, pirouette, spiral), simple and binary twists with the exception of shake and stir, slow twizzles, single drums and, for heavy dancing only, slow double drums. Jumps may occur in combinations as double jumps as well, just as switch-point, also as switch-back, because here for technical reasons the step backwards is more a leap. Motions must not be done in toe stand.
- Dynamics: As locomotions the following may be contained additionally: diagonal straight movements as well as fast step turns, though orientation towards DS is preferred.
- Structure: The combinations consist of simple regular compositions of partial combinations with less steps, brushes and shuffles as well as occasionally of more complexly built combinations. Repetitions of combinations or at least partial combinations within a step are used only occasionally.
- Rhythm: The motions follow mainly the intermediate rhythm in the light dances and up to the half the basic rhythm in the treble reel and the sling and up to the half the subrhythm in the treble jig and the hornpipe respectively.
- For main dances there are the following criteria:
- Technique: As motions the following may be contained additionally: swizzles, quivers, stirs, shakes, swirls, wraps, butterflies, dragonflies, lightning bolts, fans, rear slices, bird jumps, pincers, pincer switches, any turns, ternary twists (twizzle, crosskey) as well as all allowed jumps with simultaneous heel catches and cuts and, for heavy dancing only, riffs, scuffles, clicks in out and fast double drums. Jumps may occur in combinations as triple and multiple jumps as well. Single steps only may be done in toe stand.
- Dynamics: Any locomotions may be used causing several changes of orientation.
- Structure: Instead of simple regular compositions of partial combinations the combinations mostly consist of more complexly built combinations. Repetitions of combinations or at least partial combinations within a step are scarcely used.
- Rhythm: The motions change at choice between intermediate rhythm and basic rhythm and in the treble jig and the hornpipe between basic rhythm and subrhythm respectively. In the treble reel and the sling the basic rhythm and in the treble jig and the hornpipe the subrhythm respectively dominates, though there may be further occasional rhythm doubling.
- For open dances there are the following criteria:
- Technique: The technical minimum criteria correspond to those for main dances. However, also any other motion may be used, especially toe steps, toe stamps, glides, bells, kung fu jumps, flies, craneflies, hoverflies, bird hops, bell slices, double slices, scissors, flea hops, flea jumps, bicycle hops, bicycle jumps, bunny hops, bunny jumps as well as all allowed jumps with simultaneous heel catches and cuts and, for heavy dancing only, rallies and triple drums. All motions may be done in toe stand.
- Dynamics: Any locomotions may be used covering the whole stage area.
- Structure: The structural minimum criteria correspond to those for main dances. However, also any other structure covering several bars and levelling bar limits may be used.
- Rhythm: The rhythmical minimum criteria correspond to those for main dances. However, also more rhythm doubling may be used.
§ 3 Qualification
- The qualification to participate in a contest in a certain performance level is obtained in a qualifying standard contest or in a graduation exam.
- A standard contest in a dance can only be qualifying if a minimum of five participants took part.
- The qualification is not effective before the next dance competition, i.e. not for contests within the same dancing competition.
- For standard contests in a dance there are the following rules of qualification:
- All dancers, which have not yet qualified in this dance for a higher level, start in basic level.
- Dancers, which belong to the best 20% (rounded) in a basic level contest, qualify in this dance for primary level.
- Dancers, which belong to the best 15% (rounded) in a primary level contest, qualify in this dance for main level.
- Dancers, which belong to the best 10% (rounded) in a main level contest, qualify in this dance for open level.
- The qualification in a dance is only valid, if in addition to a sufficient placing the respective adjudicator acknowledges the dancing performance of the candidates explicitly as qualifying.
- For performance levels obtained in competitions of other organisations the following conversion table is to be used:
| Organisation |
Basic
Level |
Primary
Level |
Main
Level |
Open
Level |
| CLRG |
Beginner |
Primary |
Intermediate |
Open |
| IDTANA |
Beginner,
Advanced Beginner |
Novice |
Prizewinner |
Open |
| WIDA |
Beginner |
Primary |
Intermediate |
Open |
| CRDM |
A |
B |
NPW |
Open |
| CRN |
Beginner,
Preparatory |
Middle |
Principal |
Championship |
| AAIDT |
Beginner,
Advanced Beginner |
Novice |
Prizewinner |
Open |
Performance levels of all other organisations concerned with traditional Irish dancing will be converted by the secretariat of IDN on request.
- A passed graduation exam is accepted as qualification for the dances in the performance levels included therein.
- Graduation exams of IDN only are accepted as qualifying. Graduation exams of other organisations are not qualifying.
- Trophy and championship contests in solo dancing are not qualifying.
- For participation in trophy and championship contests in solo dancing there are the following rules of qualification:
- All dancers, which are not yet qualified in at least one light dance as well as one heavy dance for a higher performance level, will start in basic level.
- Dancers, which are qualified in at least one light dance as well as one heavy dance at least for primary level, but are not allowed to start in main level yet, start in primary level.
- Dancers, which are qualified in at least one light dance as well as one heavy dance at least for main level, but are not allowed to start in open level yet, start in main level.
- Dancers, which are qualified in at least one light dance as well as one heavy dance for open level, start in open level.
- For trophy and championship contests in solo dancing additional rules of qualification may be prescribed. In this case the ongoing standard contests serve as preliminary rounds.
- For trophy and championship contests in solo dancing and contests in group dancing at dance championships additional rules of qualification may be prescribed. In this case certain previous dance competitions or dance championships are prescribed as preliminary rounds.
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| Principles |
| De-Commercialisation |
| The centre of attention is the dance, not the business with it! |
| Freedom of access |
| IDN competitions are open to all, independent of school and organisation membership. |
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| Freedom of choice |
| IDN group heads allow their dancers free choice of teacher and renounce transfer rules. |
| Freedom of usage |
| IDN choreographies are allowed to be used freely, in so far as the purpose is not predominantly financial gain. Dance is free! |
| Authenticity |
| The IDN view on dancing is based on the entire Irish dancing tradition. Modern mixing with other dance forms is regarded as legitimate; however it is strictly distinguished from traditional Irish dance. |
| Scientific rigour |
| The IDN standards for dance, examinations and competitions are based on historical facts and scientific analysis. |
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