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costume rules

The official CLRG costume rules, issued september 2010.

This is the official new costume rule statement, issued by CLRG in september 2010.
As we have witnessed some heated discussions amongst dancers about these new rules, we have added some comments/explanations below. And a bit of advice: sit down, and read the rules through, calmly and all of it. And try not to make up more rules by reading between the lines..... wink

Again, if you have a teacher available, it's better to ask him/ her for explanations.

An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha

Costume Rules as of 1st September 2010.

Following a review of the costume rules at its Annual General Meeting, held in May 2010, An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha wishes to update and inform its registered members worldwide of the current rules. It is important that teachers, adjudicators, parents and dressmakers are aware of, and work within, the updated regulations. They are outlined hereunder, with the effective date written alongside.

  1. Skirt length: All costumes, both for solo and team dancers, must be no shorter than mid-thigh, in the back of the leg. Already in place.     ( comment )

  2. Necklines must be at collarbone level or above. This does not preclude the use of alternative fabrics, e.g. lace, as an inset. Already in place.

  3. Costumes must consist of full front, side and back sections. Cut away styles, without a full skirt backing, are not acceptable. Effective 1st January 2011.

  4. Appropriate underwear, covering the midriff, must be worn. Where tights are worn, they must be of a denier of not less than 70. Effective immediately.

  5. Dance Drama costumes must be in keeping with the theme of the story portrayed.
    Effective immediately.

  6. Competitors in all age groups, up to but excluding Meangrad (Intermediate in Ireland and in the United Kingdom, Novice in North America), may only wear traditional class-costumes or long/short sleeved blouses/polo tops and skirts/tunics which conform to the regular costume length rules as above. Low-cut tops and short, tight skirts are not permitted. Effective 1st January 2011.     ( comment )

  7. All forms of dance school identification, be it by sign, shape, colour-piece, logo, or symbol be banned from all solo costumes worn by any competitor in any competition.
    Effective from 1st January 2011.

  8. Sleeves on Solo Costumes must start at the shoulder line and end at the cuff.
    Already in place.

  9. The following rule was deleted from the Rule Book
    Materials must be of an equivalent weight to that used in the more traditional costumes, i.e. dress-velvet, trevira, gabardine, wool-mix, etc.

It is important to note that An Coimisiun has never issued guidelines to adjudicators to penalise competitors by deducting marks, etc. for breaches of the costume regulations.

Monitoring: Currently, members of the Costume Committee are assigned to specific geographical areas and they are monitoring and noting breaches of the rules. Details are available from the Commission Office. It is hoped to develop and incorporate a "check-box" system into the adjudication sheets used at feiseanna, to indicate non-compliance with these rules. In this way, the relevant teacher will be notified and asked to comply. More details will follow in due course.

Your co-operation in this, as in all matters, is always appreciated.

Sean MacDonnchadha,
Cathaoirleach an Choimisiuin le Rinci Gaelacha.
Mean Fomhair/September 2010

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Comments:

rule 1:

measuring minimum skirt length

 
Surprisingly, there seems to be some confusion about how to measure this skirt length.
It is, however, pretty easy.

Start measuring (at the back) from the top of the thigh (A) (where your bum stops - and we will not believe anyone who says that he/she doesn't know where his/her bum stops and the thigh starts! grin ), down to the crease of the bent knee (B).
Divide this length (X) by two.
Measure out this half length (Y), again from the top of the thigh, and voilà, your skirt/dress shouldn't be any shorter than down to that point (C).

Easy. cool

 

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rule 6:

Wild speculations about this one.
But rest assured.
This rule means exactly what it says, i.e. in beginners/bun ghrad and primary/tús ghrad competitions, dancers have to wear a school costume or a simple skirt and blouse, and solodresses are not allowed.

This does NOT mean that a solodress is obligatory in intermediate/ meán ghrad
(or open/ard ghrad, for that matter)!!

As a matter of fact, there is no rule at all that makes a solodress obligatory in any level.

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