Grade Exams

Grade Exams take place annually within our school. They begin at Grade 1 (Preliminary Grade for some younger dancers before Grade 1) up to Grade 12.
All grades must be completed in order to take the Dancing Teachers exam.
It is a great experience for Children to take part in, to learn to practice for the grades, dance in front of an examiner and receive a certificate that they will always hold on to.
Our next Exams will take place in February, Dates TBC.
Please see below for the dances required for each grade.

Grade 1

Dances for Grade 1

1) Easy Reel (+ Preliminary no Irish needed)

2) Light Jig

Dancers must also be able to answer the simple questions 'As Gaeilge' as in the video below.

Grade 3

Dances for Grade 3

1) Tús Reel

2) Heavy Jig

Dancers must also be able to answer the simple questions 'As Gaeilge' as in the video below.

Grade 5

Dances for Grade 5

1) Open Reel

2) Easy Hornpipe

3) Walls of Limerick

Dancers must also be able to dance the 'Walls of Limerick' and answer questions about the movements and know the names of the movements 'As Gaeilge'

Grade 7

Dances for Grade 7

1) Open Heavy Jig

2) Garden of Daises

3) 4 Hand Reel

Dancers must also be able to dance the '4 Hand Reel' and answer questions about the movements and know the names of the movements 'As Gaeilge'

Grade 9

Dances for Grade 9

1) Set Dance in Hornpipe Time

2) Set Dance in Jig Time

3) High Cauled Cap

Dancers must also be able to dance the 'High Cauled Cap' and answer questions about the movements and know the names of the movements 'As Gaeilge'

Grade 11

Dances for Grade 11

1) Open Reel

2) Open Slip Jig

3) Open Heavy Jig

4) King of the Fairies

5) 2 Modern Set Dances chosen by the examiner from a list of 5 Set Dances (different from those in Grade 9, 10,11)

6) 8 Hand Reel

7) Harvest Time Jig

Dancers must also be able to dance the two Ceilí's and answer questions about the movements and know the names of the movements 'As Gaeilge'

Grade 2

Dances for Grade 2

1) Slip Jig

2) Single Jig

Dancers must also be able to answer the simple questions 'As Gaeilge' as in the video below.

Grade 4

Dances for Grade 4

1) Tús Slip Jig

2) St. Patrick's Day

Dancers must also be able to answer the simple questions 'As Gaeilge' as in the video below.

Grade 6

Dances for Grade 6

1) Open Slip Jig

2) The Blackbird

3) Siege of Ennis

Dancers must also be able to dance the 'Siege of Ennis' and answer questions about the movements and know the names of the movements 'As Gaeilge'

Grade 8

Dances for Grade 8

1) Open Hornpipe

2) Job of Journeywork

3) Humours of Bandon

Dancers must also be able to dance the 'Humours of Bandon' and answer questions about the movements and know the names of the movements 'As Gaeilge'

Grade 10

Dances for Grade 10

1) Set Dance in Hornpipe Time

2) Set Dance in Jig Time

**Both different to those danced in Gade 9**

3) 8 Hand Jig

Dancers must also be able to dance the 8 Hand Jig' and answer questions about the movements and know the names of the movements 'As Gaeilge'

Grade 12

Dances for Grade 12

1) Light Jig

2) Single Jig

3) Open Hornpipe

4) 3 Sea Captains

5) Jockey to the Fair

6) 2 Modern Set Dances chosen by the examiner from a list of 5 Set Dances (different from those in Grade 9, 10,11)

7) Morris Reel

8) Sixteen Hand Reel

Dancers must also be able to dance the two Ceilí's and answer questions about the movements and know the names of the movements 'As Gaeilge'