Cheryl's Van Eire Photos: Saturday

Eloise and Samantha

Leila: 2nd in U-10 Prelim

U-16 Prelim: Catharine (4th) and Mary (2nd)
18+ Prelim: Alexey (3rd)

Esme: 1st in U-18 Prelim. Welcome to Open!

U-12 Open: Kyla (4th) and Sarah (2nd)

U-14 Open: Camryn (2nd) and Jessie (1st)

U-16 Open: Tomas (4th) and Olivia (5th)

U-18 Open: Mackenzie (2nd), Catalina (7th) and Mikaela (8th)
18+ Open: Stephanie (5th). Missing from photo: Jessica (5th)

U-12 Treble Reel: Sarah (2nd), Kyla (3rd) and Katelyn (5th)

U-14 Treble Reel:
Jessie (1st), Kassidy (3rd), Camryn (2nd) and Thea (4th)

U-16 Treble Reel: Olivia (2nd) and Tomas (3rd)
16+ Treble Reel: Catalina (1st)

U-12 Hornpipe Trophy:
Leila (4th), Kyla (2nd) and Katelyn (5th)

U-15 Hornpipe Trophy: Kassidy (2nd) and Thea (5th)

Catalina with her 2 trophies

Leila, Camryn and Kassidy

Mackenzie, Stephanie, Mary, Catalina,
Mikaela, Esme and Catharine

Many thanks to Cheryl for submitting these photos, which were taken at the Van Eire Feis last weekend (Saturday February 22). Click HERE to go to Cheryl's website.

EBIDS AGM is This Sunday March 2!

A few random moments in 2013!



Please join us on

Sunday March 2 from 3:00-4:00PM 

at the NPIDA Studio

105 Bowser St, North Vancouver

 

for the Annual General Meeting of EBIDS, the Eire Born Irish Dance Society! All NPIDA families are EBIDS members; invitations to the AGM were e-mailed on February 17. If you haven't already replied, please click the link in that e-mail and RSVP "Yes" or "No".

Remember, the AGM is not just for parents of "Championship" dancers; ALL NPIDA parents are encouraged to attend!

Agenda items include:

 

- Presentation of the 2013 AGM Minutes

- 2013 Year End Financial Statements and Treasurers Report

- 2014 Board Nomination Slate

- 2014 Proposed Budget

- Annual reports from the EBIDS Chair and Nora

- Plans for the upcoming year 

- Q & A with the EBIDS board and NPIDA artistic staff

We hope to see you on Sunday!

Most Promising Dancer, and Grade Exams

Zoe with her Most Promising Dancer trophy

Congratulations to Zoe C who was named "Most Promising Dancer" at the Van Eire Feis yesterday! Thank you to Cheryl for these photos.

Nora has also submitted the following note:
NPIDA had 22 dancers doing Grade Exams yesterday at the Van Eire Feis! Our dancers ranged in age from 6 to 23 and took up to 3 levels of Grade Exams with great success!  Congratulations to our dancers that dove into the grades for the 1^st time!

Special thanks goes out to our volunteer parents and dancers that helped make the Van Eire Feis and Grade Exams a success this year!

Van Eire Feis Results: Sunday *UPDATED

Sisters Malia and Leila at Van Eire today

Congratulations to all of the dancers who competed at the Van Eire Feis today! Below are the NPIDA Pre-Beginner to Prizewinner Trophy dance results.

NPIDA dancers won 44 trophies today; combined with 31 trophies yesterday for our Championship dancers, and 1 vocal competition trophy, that's a whopping 76 trophies this weekend at the Van Eire Feis; congratulations everyone! Thank you to Nora for this photo.

Update: Nora has confirmed that Yuka H has advanced from Prizewinner to Preliminary Championships based on her feis results today. Congratulations Yuka!

PRE-BEGINNER (1ST FEIS) REEL TROPHY
U-8
Saoirse L: 4th
Willow T: 5th

U-10
Poppy T: 1st!
Ally T: 5th

BEGINNER REEL TROPHY
U-7
Zoe C: 2nd
Leia A: 3rd
Malia K: 4th

U-8
Hannah B: 3rd
Lindsay A: 4th
Nadia B: 6th

U-9
Justine F: 1st!
Lucy F: 5th

U-11
Lauren F: 2nd

BEGINNER LIGHT JIG TROPHY
U-10
Zoe C: 3rd
Hannah B: 4th
Rachel R: 6th
Lindsay A: 7th
Lucy F: 8th
Justine F: 10th

NOVICE/PRIZEWINNER TREBLE JIG TROPHY
U-9
Kairavee M: 5th
Avery F: 6th

U-10
Claire A: 5th

U-11
Emmet P: 7th

U-12
Yuka H: 1st!
Lauren G: 4th
Gemma C: 8th

15+
Rowan S: 4th

NOVICE/PRIZEWINNER TREBLE REEL
U-10
Claire A: 2nd
Avery F: 4th

U-12
Amalie W: 5th
Lauren G: 7th

U-14
Reese F: 3rd

NOVICE/PRIZEWINNER REEL TROPHY
U-10
Holly R: 1st!
Esther Xu: 3rd
Emily Liu: 4th
Avery F: 5th

U-12
Yuka H: 2nd
Emmet P: 3rd
Adreanna C: 8th
Amalie W: 8th
Lauren G: 10th

U-14
Aki H: 1st!
Reese F: 2nd

14+
Rowan S: 1st!

VOCAL COMPETITION
11 and UNDER
Pixie K: 3rd

Van Eire Feis Results: Saturday *Photos Updated Again on Sunday (Esme)

Congratulations Leila! 2nd in U-10 Prelim,
and 4th in the U-12 Prelim/Open Hornpipe Trophy

(Left): Congratulations Katelyn!
5th in the U-12 Prelim/Open Treble Reel,
and 5th in the U-12 Prelim/Open Hornpipe Trophy
(Middle, with Rebecca R, and Right): Katelyn's first feis: Van Eire 2011

 

U-14 Open competitors Thea and Kassidy
Thea: 4th in the U-14 Treble Reel; 5th in the U-15 Hornpipe Trophy
Kassidy: 3rd in the U-14 Treble Reel; 2nd in the U-15 Hornpipe Trophy

 

Kassidy and mom Danielle
Today was Kassidy's first time competing since
transferring to NPIDA. Congratulations Kassidy!

Esme: 1st in U-18 Prelim!
Welcome to Open Championships!

Irene also submitted this photo of Esme
at her first NPIDA Ceili, age 6

Congratulations to all dancers who competed at the Van Eire Feis today! Below are the NPIDA Prelim and Open Championship results. Thank you to Nora, Nicole, Danielle and Irene for submitting the above photos. CONGRATULATIONS TO ESME, OUR NEWEST OPEN DANCER!

PRELIMINARY CHAMPIONSHIPS
U-10
Leila K: 4th in Soft Shoe, 2nd in Hard Shoe, 2nd overall
Sage L: 2nd in Soft Shoe, 3rd in Hard Shoe, 2nd in Set Dance
Samantha S: 1st in Soft Shoe, 4th in Hard Shoe, 4th in Set Dance

U-12
Eloise C: 5th in Soft Shoe

U-16
Mary M: 3rd in Hard Shoe, 1st in Set Dance, 2nd overall
Catharine A: 4th in Soft Shoe, 2nd in Set Dance, 4th overall 
Tegan P: 3rd in Soft Shoe

U-18
Esme M: 1st in Soft Shoe, 1st in Hard Shoe, 1st in Set Dance, 1st overall! Congratulations and welcome to Open Championships!

18+
Alexey K: 3rd in Soft Shoe, 3rd in Hard Shoe, 3rd in Set Dance, 3rd overall

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
U-12
Sarah A: 2nd in Hard Shoe, 2nd in Set Dance, 2nd overall
Kyla F: 2nd in Soft Shoe, 4th in Hard Shoe, 4th in Set dance, 4th overall

U-14
Jessie H: 2nd in Soft Shoe, 1st in Hard Shoe, 1st in Set Dance, 1st overall!
Camryn C: 1st in Soft Shoe, 3rd in Hard Shoe, 2nd overall

U-16
Tomas M: 5th in Hard Shoe, 4th overall
Olivia A: 3rd in Soft Shoe, 1st in Hard Shoe, 5th overall
Sophie C: 2nd in Soft Shoe, 5th in Hard Shoe

U-18
Mackenzie C: 2nd in Soft Shoe, 6th in Hard Shoe, 1st in Set Dance, 2nd overall
Catalina G: 7th overall
Mikaela P: 8th overall

18+
Stephanie M: 4th in Set Dance, 5th overall
Jessica H: 5th overall

PRELIM/OPEN TREBLE REEL
U-12
Sarah A: 2nd
Kyla F: 3rd
Katelyn D: 5th

U-14
Jessie H: 1st!
Camryn C: 2nd
Kassidy P: 3rd
Thea M: 4th

U-16
Olivia A: 2nd
Tomas M: 3rd

16+
Catalina G: 1st!

PRELIM/OPEN HORNPIPE TROPHY
U-12
Kyla F: 2nd
Leila K: 4th
Katelyn D: 5th

U-15
Kassidy P: 2nd
Thea M: 5th

A Few Reminders!

5 years ago at the Van Eire Feis (2009)
Michael, Courtney, Hanna, Catalina, Mackenzie,
Caitlin and Shannon

3 years ago at the Van Eire Feis (2011)
Sisters Caitlin and Macaela; sisters Mackenzie and Camryn

Here are a few reminders about upcoming important dates and events for NPIDA dancers and parents!

1. The Van Eire Feis is this weekend! The schedule is now posted HERE on the feisworx website. Good luck to all dancers competing at Van Eire, especially our 69 NPIDA dancers!

2. All NPIDA families were sent an e-mail on February 17 regarding the upcoming EBIDS AGM, which will be held at the NPIDA studio in North Vancouver on Sunday March 2 from 3-4PM. Have you replied to your AGM Evite yet? We hope to see you at the AGM!

3. The deadline for submitting your references for the 2014 PMAE (Pat McAndless Award for Excellence) has now passed. For all dancers who applied: your completed online applications are due on Friday March 7.

4. Tomorrow (Friday February 21) is the deadline for registering via feisworx for the Pacific NorthWest Championships Feis in Seattle, which will take place March 8-9.

5. Next Monday (February 24) is the start of the new NPIDA procedures for all makeup and drop-in classes. Please refer to the e-mail from Carrie that was sent to all families on February 18!

6. March 1 is the deadline for the NPIDA "Refer A Friend" contest! The grand prize is a luxury weekend trip to Whistler. Please refer to Carrie's e-mail of January 15 for full details, or click HERE.

Important PMAE Application Reminder!

Pat

EBIDS would like to remind everyone of the following important information and updates regarding the 2014 Pat McAndless Award  For Excellence:

Dear Dancers and Families:

A final reminder for applying for the Patrick McAndless Award for Excellence. We have heard that some dancers have not started their application process. Reference Letter requests are due to Nora/Courtney ASAP. They do not want to receive requests at the last minute. The deadline has been extended again - so if you are planning to apply - do it today!!! Nora was gracious enough to keep reference requests open until Wednesday of this week (February 19th).

All you have to do is click on the link (to get started, go to the PMAE page on the EBIDS website and click on the green "APPLY NOW" link). Register your information and then input your reference names, emails and phone numbers. You are asked for 3 references. 

In response to a series of questions about the application - the following FAQ's will be added to the list on the EBIDS website. Please review as we have been responding to enquiries and feel that we have a current list. We have set up a FAQ page on the EBIDS website to help you with the application that we will keep updated.

Recently though, we have had a number of questions specifically about the award and how the selection process works, the answers to which we include below (and will add to the FAQ on the website). Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any questions that you don't see answered!

1) Who evaluates the applications?
Applications are evaluated, according to merit, by a special PMAE committee. This committee considers each application without names or identifying details. It is made up of individuals from the community, chosen for their experience, neutrality and ability to evaluate applications based on the Award's focus on community service, education and Irish Dance. Familiarity with Irish Dance, without having an applicant in the competition, is an asset.

In 2013, for example, the committee was chosen from a selection of: community leaders, teachers, volunteer leaders and parents of ineligible NPIDA children. Members were carefully chosen to ensure that they had no ties to specific teachers or students. Avoiding conflict of interest is of utmost importance when committee members are chosen. Our intent is to have the evaluation committee be comprised of a few returning members and a few new members each year. This ensures fresh sets of eyes every year for the application process. 

Each PMAE committee member will sign an agreement that ensures that their participation is confidential until winners are announced and that the information contained in the applications is kept confidential.

2) How can I be assured that information in the application will be kept confidential?
We do our best to keep your application material confidential and to ensure it is evaluated anonymously. Your application will be considered by the PMAE committee along with the references submitted on your behalf.
-the committee will consider each application by number only, with your identification information removed
-your references have been asked to avoid using any material that would identify you to the committee

Access to your application material will be strictly limited outside of the committee:
-you will not have access to your reference letters
-access to the full applications will (if at all) only be made for administrative purposes (e.g. identifying the winners, fixing technical issues, etc.)
-no teachers, EBIDS board members or other students will have access to your application-all applications will be deleted at the end of the competition.

We hope that these precautions will ensure that the competition will be fair and allow you to be candid in your submissions but you should use your own judgement as to the personal details you disclose (and above is subject to all relevant privacy and disclosure laws).

3) How is the Eire Born Irish Dance Society Board of Directors involved?
The EBIDS Board is involved to solicit community leaders to take part in the evaluations. Names come forward to the entire board and the board approves the nomination list. Two board members are the liaison with the committee. They do not attend meetings (except the first one for 1/2 hour to "meet 'n greet" and answer any questions). Their role is to keep the process sound and to flag any potential issues around applications that do not meet the criteria or incomplete applications.

The EBIDS Board of Director liaisons (last year it was Christina M, Chair and Kelly S) do not see any applications at all nor do they hear from the committee on the decisions or any deliberations about the decisions. They know the number of applications. In 2013, once the awards were decided, the board chair received the list of winners a few days before the announcement in order to prepare the winning packages and cheques.

4) Practise Hours
In the application you are asked for how many hours you practise outside of your Irish dance classes. This is hours per week.
 
5) Volunteer Hours
The committee is interested in the last two years of community service. And your hours is your total hours NOT hours per week. Please know that volunteer experience is not measured in hours but in value - this is just an indicator for the committee to help guide their decision making.

Thanks and happy writing - the final deadline for applications is March 7th at midnight.
- Christina M.

Mackenzie's Orlando Results (*Updated)

Congratulations Mackenzie for your 3 2nds today in Orlando!
We are so proud of you!

 

Mackenzie competed in several NAFC events today. The overall "Belt" result will have only one winner which will be announced later today. In the individual competitions, Nora has texted to advise the following results for Mackenzie:

- 2nd in the U-18 Reel "Step down the line"
- 2nd in U-18 Treble Jig
- 2nd in 17+ Traditional Set

Thank you to Nora for texting these updates from Orlando and big congratulations to Mackenzie !

Earlier today Nora e-mailed the following update:
"After I attended the TCRG and ADCRG symposium early this morning it was all about the hair & make-up for Mackenzie! It's time to rock the NAFC Championship stage in 2 hours after a warm-up! Best of luck to you Mackenzie!"

Fun at Orlando Disney World

Nora and Mackenzie at Hogsmead, Disney World

Left: At Disney World Islands of Adventure
Right: At the Spiderman Ride

Surfer girls having fun at Islands of Adventure

Mackenzie having her first fun psychic reading

Thanks to Nora for sending these photos and the following update last night from Orlando:

"After a practice this morning Mackenzie and I got to escape to have some fun at Disney World's Islands of Adventure!! Mackenzie's favourite ride of the day was The Hulk and I have to agree with her on that! Now it's sleep time before we enjoy an amazing day tomorrow as Mackenzie competes against the best of the best in North America! Wishing her the best of luck tomorrow!!"

Nora's Friday Update from Orlando

Mackenzie practising in Orlando today

Many thanks to Nora who sent this photo and update from Orlando Florida, where she is presently attending the NAFC "Belt" Championships with Mackenzie C:

"After arriving last night in Orlando at 6pm, we welcomed the sunshine and warmer weather! Mackenzie and I are practicing now at the hotel before her big feis day tomorrow! She has 25 dancers in her championship category and 4-6 in her separate Traditional Set, Reel and Treble Jig competitions. Mackenzie would like to say a huge thank you to her friends and family for giving her all the extra support and encouragement this week! She is so grateful and overwhelmed with the outpouring of support she's received without expecting anything!"

For those of you who are interested in reading more about the NAFC Belt competitions, please click HERE for a direct link to the NAFC website. (Specific details about the Belt rules can be read in the link titled "Click here for updated Syllabus").

Good Luck in Orlando Mackenzie!

NPIDA sends our best wishes to Mackenzie C who is presently en route with Nora to attend the NAFC Belt competition in Orlando this weekend! Mackenzie says "I am really excited to be a part of this coveted event. To qualify you need to have placed 1st in an Open Championship competition at an NAFC Feis within one calendar year of the event. Only one winner is announced, and no other marks are distributed".

Mackenzie sent these two photos and noted "After a 3:00AM start we are in Denver waiting for our flight to Florida". Thanks Mackenzie; good luck and have fun !

 

Winter Ceili: Cheryl's Action Photos

Younger dancers

Jessica and Olivia

Mikaela and Kassidy

Leila

Tomas

Jayne, Jessie and Camryn

Jayne, Jessie and Camryn

Sage and Morgan

Catharine and Emma

Mackenzie

Halle, Emma and Mhairi

Kassidy and Raven

Left: Jadyn and Jessica
Right: Cara and Emma

Championship dancers

Steps by Jadyn and Jayne

Steps by Emma and Mackenzie

Finale

Many thanks to Cheryl for submitting these photos taken at Winter Ceili last Saturday night in Richmond.