Irish Dance Organizations

I hear that there are different types of ID organizations-NAIDF, WIDA, An Comisiun, An Comhdhail, CRN. The major two being An Comisiun and CRN?

What is the the difference? Are some of them grouped together?

I dance for An Comisiun. I know that An Comisiun does more competitions, and there is more of a focus on how you look, and I think that CRN does less competions and is more traditional, with lower dancing standards? And there are different Worlds Competitions?

Could someond please clarify how they are different?

Tags: An, CLRG, CRN, Comhdhail, Comisiun, NAIDF, WIDA, association, federation, organizations

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Thomas Beck on April 9, 2012 at 7:45pm

No An Comisiun and An Comhdail are the two biggest. The main difference is the style, standard and size. An Com is the biggest organisation and has the widest span. An Com has the first ever world championship of irish dance

Second to An Com is An Comhdail its schools are limited to Ireland and The United Kingdom I think also at some of their competitiond you have to speak in Gaelic correct me if im wrong, An Com was the original body of irish dance but then people began saying that it had developed too much and become to modern so An Comhdail was formed. An Comhdail have had an all ireland championship but have recently got a World championship as well.

FDTA is a smaller organisation in wear you wear more traditional dresses which are velvet and have celtic embroidery FDTA are in Northern Ireland and have 1 school in England. FDTA dancers take part in WIDA and CRDM open feis for example WIDA Worlds despite this they still consider their Ulster Championship more prestigous.

CRN are another group that have a more traditional approach in which they are not allowed to have high kicks and toe stands. CRN have their own World Championship

WIDA is a fairly New organisation it has alot of dance schools in Europe compared to other federations. Some An Com teachers leave An Com because of Politics. WIDA is supposed to be very friendly but often get alot of hate from other federations because they post alot of their world championship POCs online people often feel a bit jealous that their world champions and feel that if they competed in their competitions they would win.

So rember you go to An Com to be the very best, An Comhdail to be really irish, FDTA & CRN for traditional style and WIDA for the relaxed atmosphere. Just go to a school which suits you best :D

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sarah Kierans on April 10, 2012 at 10:19am

An Comhdhail you don't have to speak Gaelic (Irish) at competitions, how would you expect scoil rince israel, from Israel, for example to come here to speak Irish.. thats a silly rumour whoever came up with that one.. good low down on the Irish Dance world however! :)