From The Desk Of The President

President Ed Follis wants to teach you jamokes a thing or two:

What is a Feis?

Most people who come to Irish Fest are familiar with Riverdance and love to watch the dancers from the O’Riada Academy of Irish Dance perform at Irish Fest. But how many know what a Feis is, and how do you pronounce Feis?

Well, a Feis is an Irish Step Dance competition where competitors compete in specific dance steps against other dancers with similar levels of expertise. This is not a performance, it truly is a competition. Competitors are members of Irish Dance schools that have prepared them for their competition. Oh, and the pronunciation of Feis is actually Fesh.

If you like Irish Step Dancing, you might wonder where you would have an opportunity to see a Feis. If you’re at Irish Fest, you’re in luck because the O’Riada Academy of Irish Dance hosts a Feis with over 600 competitors from around the country at the Westin Crown Center on the Saturday of Irish Fest. Competition begins Saturday morning at 8:30 in the ballrooms of the Westin Crown Center and the Feis runs until late in the afternoon. There is no charge for those who would like to watch the Feis. If you have ever wondered why we don’t have Irish Step Dancers on the Saturday of Irish Fest, it is because so many of the dancers are competing at the Feis.

My daughter danced in her first Feis three years ago at the Kansas City Feis during Irish Fest weekend. For me, it was the first time I’d had the opportunity to watch this type of a dance competition. I was so impressed with the opportunity it provided these young competitors. It allowed the dancers the chance to gain self confidence and to compete in front of large numbers of people in a competitive situation.

If you like Irish Step Dancing, check out the Feis on Saturday. If you have a daughter or son interested in Irish Step Dancing, make sure they have a chance to see what you work towards when you take Irish Step Dance lessons. Lastly, thanks to the O’Riada Academy of Irish Dance for hosting an outstanding Feis during Irish Fest weekend that is a perfect complement to the Irish Fest.

Ed Follis, President Kansas City Irish Fest

Be sure to see the O'Riada Dancers perform at Irish Fest too, Friday night at 7:30 on the State Street Stage and again on Sunday 12:30. And see Ed Follis dance at 11:01 PM on Sunday night after we close.