Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance -> Class Information

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Classes are held each year from September to June. Summer workshops are held from June to August.

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These categories are based on the material that a dancer should have mastered by the end of the year (June 2008). Students are placed in a category based on knowledge of this material and at teacher’s discretion. Classes on the Class Schedule page are denoted by color -- each class focuses on different material, which is described below. Our schedule is color coded to make it easy for you to figure out which classes you might attend if you need to make up a class throughout the year. However, please check with your instructor before attending a new class.

RED	Beginner level dancer. (Please note that some students in this category this year will be asked to stay at this level for next year.)
BLUE	In soft shoe, knows or is working on beginner: Reel: lead around, side step, and steps 1, 2, 3 Jig: lead around, side step, and steps 1, 2, 3, 4 and feis step Slip Jig: lead around, side step, and steps 1, 2 Is ready to move on to hard shoe, or is already learning beginner hard shoe material. (Please note that some students in this category this year will be asked to stay at this level for next year.)
GREEN	Knows all material listed in above, and is working on the hard shoe dances: Treble Jig (practice step, beginner steps 1, 2) St. Patrick’s Day Traditional Hornpipe (practice step, lead out, first step, second, and last steps) Is ready to move on to advanced reel and advanced slip jig (Please note that some students in this category this year will be asked to stay at this level for next year.)
GOLD	Knows all material above, and is working on Advanced Reel (advanced lead around and side step, cut back, jump push, and hop toe cut) Advanced Slip Jig (lead around, side step, jump twist, & and one hop) Treble Jig (advanced TJ: click back, jump 1-2-3 cut 1-2 toe, and Bang/bang 1-2-3 and rock/rock/rock) Hornpipe - traditional and slow (slow hornpipe steps are rally & toe & toe, and jump and rally hop back tip down up front slice) (Please note that some students in this category this year will be asked to stay at this level for next year.)
PURPLE	Knows all material above, and is working on Reel steps: (Lift, point, cut hop back, and one and over 2-3, and jump switch cut up) Slip Jig steps: (jump back butterfly, hop/hop 1-2 and over 2-3, big lead around) Treble Jig steps: (jump step front slice & bang/bang 1-2-3) Hornpipe steps: (cut bang & bang/bang and jump/jump, and 1-2-3 up and up and bang and bang/bang) Set pieces: (Orange Rogue & Madame Bonaparte) (Please note that some students in this category this year will be asked to stay at this level for next year.)
ORANGE	Championship Level: Knows above material, AND has been awarded two first place awards in each of the competitive dance categories in a NAFC sanctioned feis at the prizewinner level. At the Open Championship level, dancers MUST have been awarded first place in two Preliminary Championship categories in a NAFC sanctioned feis. Championship level classes are divided by assigned dances (Reel, Slip Jig, Treble Jig, Hornpip) and by hardshoe level. All class assignments are at the teacher's discretion.
TEAL	Adult Classes: All adult classes are divided by level and class assignments are at the teacher's discretion. Additional information on adult class levels is forthcoming for the 2009-2010 class year.

NOTE: The Culkin School keeps a feis record in order to track students’ placing history. Each dancer is responsible for passing a copy of his/her judges’ score sheets for each dance competed in a given feis to Sean. A first place will not be considered legitimate unless the score sheets have been added to the feis record book.

Culkin School Emergency Closure Policy: We follow the Montgomery County and Baltimore School systems. If school or after-school activities are cancelled due to weather or other emergencies, no classes will be held. If schools open 1-2 hours late, regular dance classes will be held. If schools dismiss early, please check the answering machine at 301-593-9600 or the Culkin Yahoo! Group for the latest word.