We are against the mandatory requirement that all female Irish dancers over 18 (adults) must wear tights during Feiseanna!
The official rule as handed down from CLRG is as stated: "Female adult dancers participating in competitions entitled 'adult competition' and/or 'adult grade competition' (both solo and team) are required to wear tights of a denier not less than 70.(Colour and denier of tights clarified September 2015.)" Source: https://www.clrg.ie/images/downloads/CLRG_Presenta...
However, due to the varying degrees of interpretation of this new rule this was listed during the Prague Feis 2015: "Black tights are to be worn in all grades from beginners to Intermediate for adult competitions over 18. Ceili dancing for adults - black tights are to be worn. Open championships do not have to wear black tights"
Our main arguments are:
- This rule strongly discriminates against age, gender, dance level, and the ability to make sensible decisions at adult age. Everyone should be able to make a sensible choice between poodle socks, tan-coloured tights, and black tights to cater for their own comfort and adequate appearance on stage.
- Many dancers invested into expensive solo costumes, and some into hard shoes with white trimming at the top. Their overall look does not work with black tights.
- Tights will create unnecessary warmth, and both hard and soft shoes will fit poorly when moulded to feet in poodle socks. This impairs the quality of dancing at competitions.
- Turned out and crossed feet as well as overall technique are much more difficult to see when wearing black tights, especially since many stages have black floors and black backgrounds. In mixed age groups, adjudicators are able to identify dancers aged 18 and over. This may unintentionally impair the dancers’ results.
- Dancers competing in grades are required to wear tights, but are allowed to wear poodle socks when moving into or dancing at open championship level. This is illogical: dancers will still dance with the same legs in open. The quality of legs does not necessarily depend on age.
If you wish to support us, we do request that you leave your first and last names when you sign in for the petition. This is to ensure that duplicate entries are not recorded. You may still remain anonymous if you so wish. Thanks! :)
Updates
July 28, 2020
I checked the total this morning and had to look twice because I never imagined this many people would feel the same way about our dance costumes. It is truly humbling to see that so many of you care enough to add your name to this. Please know that this momentum belongs entirely to the community and not to me.
Reached 1,000 supporters
July 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
I am truly overwhelmed by the momentum behind this request. It is completely down to your passion for individual choice that so many people are talking about this issue now.
Reached 100 supporters
June 6, 2015
June 5, 2015
I am honestly stunned to see so many of you joining this call for freedom in our dance attire. We are just a few signatures away from one hundred which feels surreal for a cause I started on a whim. If you can help get us across this threshold today then the weight of our request will be impossible for them to ignore.
175 Comments
Very silly rule, totally support the petition. Besides of unnecessary leg warmth created and costume integrity issues, hard shoes can not fit the same way with tights and socks (I experience that myself), what REALLY affects the performance.
As an older dancer (39) I prefer dancing in poodle socks as they look much better on stage than the black tights which hide ones legs and muscles. My skirt is just maintained at an appropriate length for poodle socks.
As a competitive adult dancer, I can confirm that I have been overheated and felt unstable as my feet slid in my shoes while performing at feis in all levels up to and including Open. I’ve been hoping this rule would be rescinded in that basis alone. I feel that tights are more dangerous than understood by some.
Every dancer, regardless of age, should work with their TCRG to create the best "look" for themselves. Bun wig or long wig, how dark to tan the legs, approval of solo dress design...socks vs tights should be no different.
Older dancers already face a lot of discrimination, with no older &over categories, the separate "adult category" with no championship levels, and only trad sets and ceili dances at majors. Now we aren't allowed to wear socks?
What is the difference between a 25 year old in senior ladies 22&O and an adult champ? Nothing!
Let us choose what we want to wear! We want to feel our best when dancing, whether that means wearing tights or socks.
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We are against the mandatory requirement that all female Irish dancers over 18 (adults) must wear tights during Feiseanna!
The official rule as handed down from CLRG is as stated: "Female adult dancers participating in competitions entitled 'adult competition' and/or 'adult grade competition' (both solo and team) are required to wear tights of a denier not less than 70.(Colour and denier of tights clarified September 2015.)" Source: https://www.clrg.ie/images/downloads/CLRG_Presenta...
However, due to the varying degrees of interpretation of this new rule this was listed during the Prague Feis 2015: "Black tights are to be worn in all grades from beginners to Intermediate for adult competitions over 18. Ceili dancing for adults - black tights are to be worn. Open championships do not have to wear black tights"
Our main arguments are:
- This rule strongly discriminates against age, gender, dance level, and the ability to make sensible decisions at adult age. Everyone should be able to make a sensible choice between poodle socks, tan-coloured tights, and black tights to cater for their own comfort and adequate appearance on stage.
- Many dancers invested into expensive solo costumes, and some into hard shoes with white trimming at the top. Their overall look does not work with black tights.
- Tights will create unnecessary warmth, and both hard and soft shoes will fit poorly when moulded to feet in poodle socks. This impairs the quality of dancing at competitions.
- Turned out and crossed feet as well as overall technique are much more difficult to see when wearing black tights, especially since many stages have black floors and black backgrounds. In mixed age groups, adjudicators are able to identify dancers aged 18 and over. This may unintentionally impair the dancers’ results.
- Dancers competing in grades are required to wear tights, but are allowed to wear poodle socks when moving into or dancing at open championship level. This is illogical: dancers will still dance with the same legs in open. The quality of legs does not necessarily depend on age.
If you wish to support us, we do request that you leave your first and last names when you sign in for the petition. This is to ensure that duplicate entries are not recorded. You may still remain anonymous if you so wish. Thanks! :)
Updates
July 28, 2020
I checked the total this morning and had to look twice because I never imagined this many people would feel the same way about our dance costumes. It is truly humbling to see that so many of you care enough to add your name to this. Please know that this momentum belongs entirely to the community and not to me.
Reached 1,000 supporters
July 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
I am truly overwhelmed by the momentum behind this request. It is completely down to your passion for individual choice that so many people are talking about this issue now.
Reached 100 supporters
June 6, 2015
June 5, 2015
I am honestly stunned to see so many of you joining this call for freedom in our dance attire. We are just a few signatures away from one hundred which feels surreal for a cause I started on a whim. If you can help get us across this threshold today then the weight of our request will be impossible for them to ignore.
175 Comments
i think this is outrageous! Dancers should have the choice of tights or socks!!!!!! Telling those older to wear black tights implies there legs are not suitable to show - this can make people body conscience and can have a serious effect on their image.
Very silly rule, totally support the petition. Besides of unnecessary leg warmth created and costume integrity issues, hard shoes can not fit the same way with tights and socks (I experience that myself), what REALLY affects the performance.
As an older dancer (39) I prefer dancing in poodle socks as they look much better on stage than the black tights which hide ones legs and muscles. My skirt is just maintained at an appropriate length for poodle socks.
As a competitive adult dancer, I can confirm that I have been overheated and felt unstable as my feet slid in my shoes while performing at feis in all levels up to and including Open. I’ve been hoping this rule would be rescinded in that basis alone. I feel that tights are more dangerous than understood by some.
Every dancer, regardless of age, should work with their TCRG to create the best "look" for themselves. Bun wig or long wig, how dark to tan the legs, approval of solo dress design...socks vs tights should be no different.
Older dancers already face a lot of discrimination, with no older &over categories, the separate "adult category" with no championship levels, and only trad sets and ceili dances at majors. Now we aren't allowed to wear socks?
What is the difference between a 25 year old in senior ladies 22&O and an adult champ? Nothing!
Let us choose what we want to wear! We want to feel our best when dancing, whether that means wearing tights or socks.
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i think this is outrageous! Dancers should have the choice of tights or socks!!!!!! Telling those older to wear black tights implies there legs are not suitable to show - this can make people body conscience and can have a serious effect on their image.