Atlantic Canadian Irish Dance Championships

Feis weekend information

The fourth annual Atlantic Canadian Irish Dance Championships will take place April 26 & 27, 2025. CLRG grade exams will also be held on April 25, 2025. The ACIDC will be held in the heart of downtown Halifax and will consist of two, full-syllabus feiseanna at the spectacular Westin Nova Scotian. The ACIDC are run in partnership with Rising Tide Irish Dance Academy.

Special for 2025, the ACIDC have been designated as a 2025 Destination Feis by Irish Dancing Magazine!

Saturday 2025 feis photos: Album 1, Album 2 
Sunday 2025 feis photos: to follow

SCHEDULE AND ONLINE PROGRAM

Both feis days will begin at 8:30 a.m. Doors open at 7 a.m.

2025 Saturday schedule
2025 Sunday schedule

For more details about the 2025 ACIDC, download the online program.

REGISTRATION & MERCHANDISE

Download the syllabus for full details or go to iFeis.net to view your registration. Pre-sales for feis merchandise have closed but limited inventory will be available for purchase at the feis.

Key dates

• Early bird contest deadline: February 23, 2025
• Late fees apply: March 22, 2025
• Last day to register: April 11, 2025

Important notes

• The syllabus has information for two feiseanna. You must register for each feis separately on iFeis. Each day is its own, independent feis with some slight differences in competitions offered between the two days.
• For 2025, all competitions (with the exception of the youngest and oldest age groups) are listed in the syllabus as single age groups. The feis committee will endeavor to ensure that all competitions have at least five competitors to allow for level advancement. Therefore, competitions will be combined as needed following regional rules and pending permission from IDTAC—ER. Where possible, efforts will be made to combine competitions in a way that diversifies groups of competitors across both feis days.

GRADE EXAMS

Grade exams P-12 will be held during the daytime on Friday, April 25, 2025 at Rising Tide Irish Dance Academy’s studio (note this is not the feis venue). For questions related to grade exams, contact Maggie Chapman.

Applications for all grade exam levels are now closed as we have reached maximum capacity. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list for P–10, please email Maggie Chapman with the following information:

• Dancer’s name
• Dancer’s school
• Desired grade levels to complete
• Date of birth
• Email and telephone contact information

The grade examiner for 2025 is Marie Moore, SDCRG, New Jersey.

SOCIAL EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS

Adult dancer social
ACIDC has a tradition of hosting a social for adult dancers and friends on Friday night. All adult dancers and their guests are invited to meet-up at the Seaport Social, located in the lobby of the Westin Nova Scotian on Friday, April 25. A reservation has been made for 6:30pm under the name Becky Chapman.

Good luck messages
Send a dancer you know a little bit of extra luck with a special message to them on social media and on ACIDC’s good luck display board at the feis. Messages are due by EOD April 24.

• Standard Package, $25: includes Good Luck Message on social media
• Premium Package, $30: includes same as Standard Package plus Whale Print Card at ACIDC

Retro trophy drive
In 2025 we’re going to be hosting a retro/vintage themed treble reel competition and we’d love your help. We’re seeking old trophies (Irish dance or otherwise) to use for our throwback-style competition. If you have unwanted trophies that are taking up space, we’d be happy to take them off your hands.

Trophy donations can be brought to Rising Tide’s studio or email us at acidchamps@gmail.com to make arrangements. Thanks for being totally rad.

Venue & Accommodation

The Atlantic Canadian Irish Dance Championships will be held at the historic and prestigious, The Westin Nova Scotian. Part of the Marriott family of hotels, the Westin is located in the heart of downtown Halifax with popular amenities located just outside the front door. Along with the convenience of staying at the feis venue, guests will enjoy the newly renovated event space at the hotel, offering the perfect layout for a championship weekend.

The Westin has offered an event rate of $169/night. To book in the block, you can book online or call 902-421-1000 and ask for the ACIDC FEIS rate. The final day to book in the block is March 25, 2025 or sooner if rooms sell out. Please note that attendees are not required to stay in the block to attend the event.

Please be aware that outside food and beverage are not allowed on the competition level of the venue. But not to worry, we will ensure food and beverage options are available for purchase onsite for attendees. The Westin is also located in the heart of downtown Halifax and there are many food amenities within close range if guests prefer to eat offsite.

Adjudicators & musicians

Adjudicators

Musicians

VENDORS

Feis Glam (preferred vendor)
Sandra’s Irish Dance Shop
F Bombs and Fairytales
MLR Creations
The Pearl
Dina’s Treats
Linda Angus

If you are interested in vending at our feiseanna please review our vendor package or contact us at acidchamps@gmail.com.

Volunteer with us

One of the critical elements of running feiseanna is volunteers. Thank you for contributing your time to make this event happen for the dancers and musicians competing.

Sign-up to volunteer

Most volunteer slots are for either the morning, or the afternoon. Dancing will begin each day at 8:30 a.m., with doors opening at 7, and we are estimating lunch around noon. But, as is always the case with feiseanna, exact times will fluctuate slightly. If you’re unable to stay for the full morning or afternoon, please sign up for the “put me where you need me” slots and we’ll use whatever time you’re able to offer.

Sponsors and donors

Running feiseanna requires the support of many and it simply cannot be done alone. Thank you to the following sponsors and donors for contributing to the success of our 2025 event, and to the dancing journeys of so many. Want to learn more about how you can support local dancers and our feiseanna? Visit our supporters page at risingtideacademy.ca/feis.

Thank you to our 2025 sponsors of all levels:

• Ruth Smith
• O’Regan Family
• Chapman Family
• Brightwood Golf & Country Club
• Feistographer
• Sarah Fancy
• Lisa O’Driscoll

Additional support for the 2025 ACIDC came from donors of funds and items from trophies to kettles, more than 100 volunteers, fundraising families and friends, and some great vendors and community partners. Thank you to those who went above and beyond to share their expertise, resources and time to make our feiseanna successful! Special shout-out to the families of Rising Tide for your contributions and pride in this event.

Contact us

Email: acidchamps@gmail.com
Email for volunteers: acidcvolunteers@gmail.com

Website: www.risingtideacademy.ca/acidc
Supporter website: www.risingtideacademy.ca/feis

Facebook: www.facebook.com/acidcfeis
Instagram: www.instagram.com/acidcfeis