Atlantic Canadian Irish Dance Championships
April 26 & 27, 2025 | Halifax, Nova Scotia
Work is underway to host the fourth annual Atlantic Canadian Irish Dance Championships at the Westin Nova Scotian on April 26 & 27, 2025. We are so excited to offer this unique and high-calibre opportunity for dancers to compete.
Very few feiseanna are held in Atlantic Canada compared to the rest of the Irish dancing world. Not many years ago there was only one opportunity in all of the Atlantic provinces every four years. Fast forward and two feiseanna started being offered in one year. With the addition of ACIDC in 2022, the number of events in the area doubled. A new set of feiseanna, East Coast Feis, also began in 2024, adding even more opportunities. This is an incredible leap forward, but still leaves Atlantic Canada far behind the rest of the country and Irish dance world. In order to offer local dancers similar training and opportunities, more events must be hosted.
This year, we’re aiming to raise up to $30,000 to help provide this exciting event to Irish dancers in our region, and across North America. This two-day event should attract upwards of 250 dancers but our costs remain high. We have several fundraising events planned throughout the year to help with our goal, and we hope it is an event you will consider supporting too.
How you can support
ACIDC has four tiers of opportunity & recognition for supporters: High Tide, Spring Tide, Rising Tide and Good Luck.
We also have a a general donation option. Donate any amount you want with our flex donation (just change the quantity to the dollar value you want to contribute, up to 99). Or advertise in our online program with a business card sized ad for $100.
Review the sponsor types below and reach out to us or click the corresponding DONATE NOW button. Browse our Drop Anchor supporter package to learn more about our sponsorship opportunities.
- Opportunity to display materials if desired April 26 & 27, 2025
- Your organization/name featured on our website and a link to your organization’s website
- Individual acknowledgement on our Instagram and Facebook accounts
- Individual acknowledgement announced at two (2) podium award ceremonies
- Business card size ad in digital program book (deadline April 13, 2025)
- Poster size of your company logo at two stages (deadline for posters March 30, 2025)
- Your organization/name featured on our website and a link to your organization’s website
- Group acknowledgement on our Instagram and Facebook accounts
- Your support acknowledged in our digital program (deadline April 13, 2025)
- Poster size of your organization’s logo or name at one stage (deadline for posters March 30, 2025)
- Your organization/name featured on our website and a link to your organization’s website
- Group acknowledgement on our Instagram and Facebook accounts
- Your support acknowledged in our digital program (deadline April 13, 2025)
- Greetings and good luck messages shared on social media and at the feis (deadline April 24, 2025). Complete the form to share your message.
What is a feis?
A feis (Irish dance competition) is the primary way Irish dancers advance and measure progress. Feiseanna offer competitions in six, core levels. Dancers compete according to their level but also their age and individual dance. Irish dance feiseanna are judged by a qualified adjudicator and accompanied by live music. Dancers attending feiseanna are provided with written feedback and earn placements to advance levels based on their performance.
Who attends feiseanna?
The majority of dancers who will attend ACIDC will be from neighbouring areas but dancers come from all around to compete in feiseanna. Typically, a feis in Nova Scotia will see 200+ dancers from 20+ schools from all areas of Canada and the United States. Traveling and seeing new places is a big part of competition in Irish dance. As well, exposing dancers to new competitors helps develop a dancer’s skill and experience.
Why host a feis?
Feiseanna are a necessary component of Irish dance. However, until recently, very few feiseanna were held in Nova Scotia. Not many years ago there was only one opportunity in the province every four years. Opportunities have since increased but Atlantic Canada remains far behind the rest of the country and Irish dance world. In order to offer local dancers similar training and opportunities, more events must be hosted.
Feis Format
The ACIDC will represent two feiseanna, one held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 and the other on a Sunday, April 27, 2025 at the Westin Nova Scotian.
Both feiseanna will be held in the same venue and promoted under the same umbrella name of ACIDC. This will encourage more competitors to enter as they will double their opportunities to for placements and advancements. From an organizational standpoint, the objective will be to double revenue over a single day event while only slightly increasing costs.
To make the weekend even more valuable for dancers, dance exams are being organized for Friday, April 25, 2025 to provide dancers with an additional chance to further their dance education all in one place.
Feis Committee
- Laura Hopper, chair
- Alexa Zarins
- Becky Chapman
- Anita Galliott
- Colleen McKenzie
- Geoff Fifield
- James Foley, treasurer
- Maddi McKay
- Maggie Chapman
- Molly MacEachern
- Shauna Foran
- Shelley MacDonald