An Com is trying to pass a new rule for 2009: 18+ must wear tights

How do you feel about this? I like the looks of tights, but I also like Poodle socks. I hardly ever actually wear tights with my solo dress unless it's for a very cold parade.

I'd hate to have tights on for an outdoor feis in the summer! It's not like you can just throw them on before the competition, tights take time to put on...Plus the heat would be unbearable.

Not every solo dress matches black tights.

Shoes fit differently with tights than with poodle socks.

This just seems like a silly idea.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Morrigana on April 27, 2008 at 11:16pm: I agree that there are worse things going on in the world then making adults wear tights in competition but I still think it is unfair. I think its discrimination to force one age group to do something and not another and I dont see what the problem is with leaving it the way it is-everyone wear what they dance best in. And with respect to buying new shoes, maybe it is different where you are from but where I am from dance shoes are extremely expensive ($300-500 or more Canadian dollars). I dont think it is fair to make adults buy an extra pair of shoes and spend yet another large sum of money on Irish dance when that money could be spent better elsewhere (like buying food for your family etc). Also, even if money wasnt and issue its not like you can just buy another pair of shoes and put them on an dance in them. Shoes take weeks, if not months to break in in order to be comfortable enough to wear without wrecking your feet. It would take a lot of work to break them in.. and yes even though it is possible to do this, it is a large waste of time and not to mention pain to go through for a rule which has really no grounds for being enforced aside from "looking more lady-like" (which in itself doesn't make sense-dont little girls wear tights with dresses in western cultural attire?).

I just want to let you know that I am not saying all this to attack you as I feel every opinion should be respected. I didnt feel this passionately about this at all at first but the more I think about it, the more unfair it seems. I am just saying that on principle, I think this rule is wrong, and I personally want to do something about it. There is not much in this world that I, a lonely student/irish dancer from Canada, can change but I do think this is one thing I can. If enough people protest this rule, it can be changed, and that would be great because a discrimination would be stopped. To me, discrimination, no matter how big or small, has to stop. If we don't, then we are saying it is ok and then how long will it be before age-ist discrimination gets worse, like not letting adults compete in feiseanna at all, for example. I know this is a stretch from just having to wear tights, but I have seen this sort of thing happen before and it only takes one card to fall and the institution to become unstable and eventually collapse. We have to do our best keep the card standing and uphold the fair spirit of competition, and not have adjudicators judge us based on our age (which they will easily be able to do with the tights rule) but judge us souly on our dancing ability.

(again.. I hope you dont think I'm being mean by replying to your comment, I just wanted to have a chance to justify my stance. Everyone should just get to wear whatever they want and feel they will dance their best in, including your choice to wear tights if you wish.) Best of luck in future feiseanna tights or no tights!

~Morgs; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patricia on April 28, 2008 at 8:38am: No - I don`t think it`s mean or something else.

As mentioned, I don`t like the rule either. I also don`t want, that something worse happens (like stopping adult competitions) - but I think, that "give and take" works.

I once had to experiance, that adj. and musician was smiling, when I entered the stage in a midnight blue velvet solo dress, wig and poodles (no sparkle, just a classy, elegant dress with celtic embroidery; just look at my avatar - I was in my end 20ies). I really didn`t feel comfortable afterwards. It was mean, but it happend.

If we wear tights (as I think many adj. prefer "the look"), I think, that they take us more seriously. I`m totally with you, that tights shouldn`t effect judging or anything else. But if it helps to create a better understanding, why adults start to dance and that they want to get as much attention as kids - why not? I want to be treated as an Irishdancer - not as a crazy old female doing kids sports.

In my opinion, there are many other topics, which should be discussed - not the "to poodle or not to poodle" question. How about starting to get older age groups in competitions? Than everyone in your category would wear the same! Here in Mainland Europe, we are lucky enough to have those age groups (35 and over or sometimes even 45 and over) and you dance to the same dance speeds as children do (not like adult comps and the &over comps). This would be/is fair treatment!

regarding shoes: I know, how it feels (currently my feets are coverd with open blisters due to new heavy shoes). I don´t want people to by new shoes right now. I just think, that you can buy a smaller pair, whenever you have to buy a new pair anyway. In the meantime, you could wear short black socks under the tights. This helps a lot.

Trish; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Morrigana on April 28, 2008 at 10:03pm: I definitely see your side of things and I agree that adults should be taken more seriously with respect to Irish Dance. In Canada it is very much a "kid" thing and I wish it was geared more towards everyone. I think the reason why I feel stronger about not enforcing this rule is because I do not want to be labelled an adult and be overlooked by adjs. I am short and have somewhat of a baby face so when I am all dressed up during a competition the adjs. do not know my age especially since there is basically the "under 12" and "over 12" catagories and not much age seperation aside from that here. To the adjs. I could be anywhere from 12 to 20s in age, they do not know. The fact that they do not know my age will make their opinion less biased as to who the best dancer is. I would like to keep the annonimity during competitions and once the rule is inforced, I would be labelled as "adult" which I feel will affect the adjs decisions towards me negatively.

Aside from the expense and the extra effort, I would not have a problem with wearing tights if adults were respected more in Irish dance. The reality of it here in Canada is they are not. They are constantly overlooked by judges and schools and many dancers are encouraged to "retire" at age 21. I was surprised to find that internationally there are catagories that go up to age 35, it gave me a sense of hope that one day, the North American Feis Commission would adapt the same regulations and support and encourage adults in competitive Irish dance. I agree that we should fight to have adults gain more respect in Irish dance and that should be the main focus. But, in the mean time, for me here in Canada, it would hinder my chances of getting placed in competitions if I were forced to wear tights, which is why I do not support the rule. Until all Irish dancers are treated with the same respect, which is reflected in the catagories you mentioned, I have no choice but to conform to the system and dress and act accordingly. I have to do whatever it takes to place if I ever want to move up in competition.

Adults need to be respected more in dance: I defintely agree with you there 100%.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aine The Dragon on April 29, 2008 at 11:52pm: The problem is, this tights thing has essentially categorized people who were once just considered Irish Dancers, as "adults" instead. Here in the states, we have age groups going up to a make of 21 & over, though often in local competitions the highest is 19&over, or 17&over, or 15 & over dpending on the level and # of competitors. In these groups, there is no distinction between the younger dancers and older dancers, and no distiction to separate the andovers from the other age groups. Its just another age group like the rest, same dances, same costumes, same poodle socks. The "adult" category is separate, and not really considered an age group, its like a special and sometimes remedial(in the attitude of the judges/organizers, not the ability of dancers) competition group.

Now we have certain age groups who are allowed to wear socks or tights (anyone under 17) and certain other age groups are only allowed to wear black tights (over 17) which were previously associated with the "adult" categories. I dont mind that judges think older dancers should wear tights, and in fact, if it were a suggestion, or if a judge commented that tights would look more mature/dignified, I would not be offended. What irritates me is that is is required, where before we had choices.

Ideally, we would be moving towards more fair treatment to older dancers, but this tights thing is a big backslide in that department. Its not that its such a bad thing to have to wear tights, its because the tights have been previously associated with adult dancers (those in the adult category, who are treated so poorly) and with older "andover" dancers who were less fit and a bit self-conscious about their thighs. Basically, its like we are all being given that same label, and the fear is that we will be treated more and more like the "adults".; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by maria on April 29, 2008 at 11:21am: At my young age of 32, if I was still dancing I would be pleased to be wearing tights, I would feel a bit self conscious without them :) who wants to see my corned beef legs!!!! I certainly don't.

Maria x; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aine The Dragon on April 29, 2008 at 11:56pm: At my young age of 25, I think my legs are pretty nice looking. And I cant think of a single 17-19 year old dancer I know whose legs are not good looking.

The previous "rule" or lack of one, allowed anyone who wanted to to wear tights, so you would still be able to wear them. The problem is, everyone has to wear them now (well, everyone over 17) no matter how their legs look.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by sarah harvey on April 29, 2008 at 11:52am: horrible idea should be a choice i dont like tights should be a choice, would look odd with my dress and my legs gets hot and itchy i hope this rule doesnt come in! leave it as a choice people wear what they prefer; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by anton coyle on April 29, 2008 at 8:47pm: Hi it is quite obvious that alot of people are upset by this ruling Perhaps it would serve everyone concerned if this idea was put to ageneral vote by all the dncers.It is about the Commission got its act together if it were not for the dancers there would be no need for the Commission; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patricia on April 30, 2008 at 9:08am: The commission is a teachers commision - not a dancers commission. The teachers give themselves rules how to act with each other and how to run competitions etc. - and what their dancers shall wear at comps. I think, it might be quite difficult, to let all dancers vote - but as someone mentioned before, they`ve asked dancers for their opinion.

If adult dancers are not treated the way, they should - why don`t start to change that? It would be easy for local feiseanna to offer higher age groups. As a kind of resumee for myself, I think, that the "problem with tights" is in fact the fear of being treated as "oh - it`s just an adult".; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Luv2jig on May 13, 2008 at 12:42am: No matter what, you're going to see bloomers because we kick high...they should enforce dress length instead of making us wear tights...they just look depressing.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by adriana on May 19, 2008 at 10:00am: So. my TCRG thinks it is not a good idea to enforce the dancers to wear tights. Fortunately he does not stick to the rules, so in my school we are not planning to wear tights (or at least those who do not want to). I am going to wear socks even after Jan. 2009 and as long as I like it. I do not care about being disqulified for breaking the rules. Anyway if everyone who breaks the rules should be disqualified, I think half of the dancers would be out because of too short skirts, dresses,etc. As a 24years old person I feel independent enough to be able to decide what is modest and what is not.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Irena Kotikova a.k.a. The Rollergirl! on May 19, 2008 at 11:32am: It will be interesting to see what the adjudicators are going to do about it - if you and some other dancers stay in socks, how you place compared to everyone else in tights... As much as I dont like the rule I already bought new shoes that are smaller and fit better with tights and I plan to follow the rule. We will see... :-); ▶ Reply to This