CUMANN RINCE NÁISIÚNTA (CRN)
"Voyage of Irish Dance" is the first Irish dance school in Australia trained conform the CRN syllabus
CRN was established in 1982 in Dublin, Ireland. Its promotion and encouragement in the art of Irish Dancing while protecting their tradition, contributed to the growing numbers of registered teachers (ODCRN) worldwide.
CRN's competitions successfully operate with an Open Platform, where any dancer, from any teacher, from any part of the world or any organisation can compete.
CRN believes in honesty, justice and fairness. CRN's motto is: "Do not do to others what you would not like done to you."
CRN's founder Ita Cadwell used the following phrasing: "The honest road is the right and just road to take, but it is also a very hard and difficult road to take."
Grades
CRN has got different grades in solo dancing for both softshoes and hardshoes.
Grading from beginner to advanced:
- Bun Grád - Beginners Level
This beginners level has got 4 softshoe dances:
Reel, Slip Jig, Single Jig and Light Jig. - Ullmhúchán - Advanced Beginners Level
- Mean Grád - Intermediate Level
Both levels consist of 3 softshoe dances and 2 hardshoe dances: Reel, Slip Jig, Single Jig, Treble Jig and Hornpipe.
- Ard Grád - Open Level
- Craobh Grád - Championship Level
Both levels consist of 3 softshoe dances and 2 hardshoe dances:
Reel, Slip Jig, Single Jig, Treble Jig and Hornpipe.
Every dance also got different levels of difficulty adjusted to several age groups: under 9, under 11, under 13, under 16, under 18, under 21 and over 21.
Set Dances
Another part of solo dancing are the set dances. This group of dances is danced on hardshoes. There are traditional and contemporary set dances, both in different rythms.
Traditional set dances are dances to a specific set piece of music which have a specific set of dance steps. These steps haven't changed through the many years following
CRN has got the following Traditional et dances:
St. Patrick's Day, Humours of Bandon, Garden of Daisies, Job of Journeywork, White Blanket and Blackbird.
Contemporary set dances are dances to a specific set piece of music, but without a specific set of dance steps. Dance teachers choreograph their own set of dance steps.
To name a few:
Blackthorn Stick, Hurling Boys, Kilkenny Races, Blue Eyed Rascal, King of the Fairies and Planxty Davis.
Céilí Dances
Céilí dances are group dances using softshoes. There are different sorts of céilí dances (progressive, long progressive, long, square and round dances) which are danced in different rythms.
Céilí dances are social dances. By using only a few basic steps (e.g. threes, sidestep, rising step) everyone can join in and enjoy the fun.
To name a few:
The Walls of Limerick (progressive dance), Waves of Tory (long progressive dance), Glencar Reel (long dance), Humours of Bandon (square dance), 16-Hand Reel (round dance).
How to get your teachers certificate (ODCRN)?
To receive your teacher's certificate (ODCRN) you will have to follow two separate trainingcourses, need to have a minimum of 40 hours teaching practice and need to pass the examination which consists of two seperate exams:
Part One- Interview
- Solo teaching and dancing in Bun Grád, Ullmhúchan, Mean Grád and Tradional set dances
- Céilí teaching in progressive, long progressive, long and square dances
- Written examination in Céilí dances
- Written examination in music
- Oral Irish (is not necessary for non-nationals).
Part Two
- Interview
- Solo teaching and dancing in Ard Grád, under 9, under 11, under 13, under 16, under 18, under 21, over 21 and 15 contemporary set dances
- Céilí teaching in round dances
- Written examination in Céilí dances
- Written examination in music
- Oral Irish (is not necessary for non-nationals).
Check CRN's website for more information.
