Dancers who choose to compete in feiseanna will need to dress in appropriate attire.

Boys should wear black dress pants with belt, black knee-high socks, and a dress shirt with a red tie (white shirt for beginners, black shirt for other levels). Male champion-level dancers should wear a solo costume that Maureen has approved.

The Teelin guidelines for female dancers are listed below. (Do you have a dress that you've outgrown? Try posting it for sale on the Dresses for Sale page!)

TEELIN SCHOOL DRESS - more information available at this link...
The Teelin School Dress may be worn by any Teelin dancers competing in feiseanna through the Prizewinner Grade level, and for Figure Teams.

Both the Teelin School Dress and the Alternate School Dress are to be worn with natural hair held neatly off the face with the embroidered headband. Please do NOT wear a wig or hair piece with the school costume.

TEELIN ALTERNATE SCHOOL DRESS - more information available at this link...
The Alternate School Dress is a slightly less formal dress than the School Dress, and is often worn by Teelin dancers in the Beginner, Advanced Beginner or Novice Grade levels. This dress is also a more flattering style for many adult body-types, therefore it is the recommended costume for Teelin dancers competing in Adult level competitions.

Beginner dancers who are new to competitions may choose to wear a black skirt and a white blouse (Peter Pan collar). Please talk to your instructor, or send an email with any questions.

Important: The skirt length of all Irish dance dresses should be at least 3 inches (preferably 4 inches) above the top of the knee cap. If too long, it looks sloppy while dancing.

SOLO DRESSES
Teelin dancers must have ALL dances in Prizewinner Grade before they are permitted to wear a solo dress in competition. (This is a SCHOOL POLICY, not a general competition policy.) Also, any purchase of a solo dress must be discussed with and approved by Maureen. Please do not purchase a dress before showing it (or at least a picture of it) to Maureen.

new Dancers who compete in a solo dress are encouraged to wear natural hair, not wigs. Teelin does not yet have a "no wig" policy, but this will be in our future! Please do not purchase a new wig without talking to Maureen or Molly.

There are many second-hand solo dresses on the market, and it is worth exploring what's available before committing to the sizeable expense of purchasing a new solo dress. Irish dance solo dresses are works of art... and priced as such. Shop the solo dresses for sale at feiseanna. Also, here are a few links to sites listing second-hand solo dresses:

Dance Again Pre-Loved Irish Dance Dresses
Feisanne's Pre-Loved Dresses
The Irish Dance Exchange
(Of course, don't forget to check the Teelin Dresses for Sale page to see if anyone within our own school has listed a solo dress for sale!)

If you are considering having a new solo dress made, please talk to Maureen and to other Teelin parents with experience for dressmaker recommendations.