VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE (25.06.2026):
Following the recent CLRG meeting, we were informed on Thursday, June 24th, the following:
It was agreed that from 1st September 2026, the Grade Examination Syllabus would be amended to offer Preliminary to Grade 10 only. This means that the grade 11 and 12 exams we had planned as part of our grade exam event can no longer be offered. Should you require more information about this, please contact the CLRG Office.
Please note, the removal of grades 11 and 12 from the grade examination syllabus is the first part of several updates that will be happening to the grade exam syllabus in the coming months.
We kindly ask candidates already previously registered and confirmed with our event for grades 11 and 12 to check their emails for this update.
- Registrations for grades Preliminary through 10 will be open between September 1st and October 8th 2026 via Feismaster.
The exam schedule will be published after registration closure! Please be at the venue ready to dance at least 30 min in advance.
Bucharest Grade Exams Schedule 2026
Available after registration closes
The Grade Examinations will be held on the Sunday, November 8th, 2026 at our new studio on Strada Maior Atanase Ionescu nr. 4 – 8, first floor (Google Maps).
This year’s examiner is MONA NÍ RODAIGH-UÍ LIONNÁIN, SDCRG, ULSTER, IRELAND.
The examinations will be held in our studio on the first floor (red door).
Available on the same floor: reception, changing and warm up area and workshop room.
The reception area will be stocked with water, tea and coffee, some light snacks and there will be friendly staff to guide you through a relaxed exam experience. You can find detailed information about the venue on the Venues page.
Exam Fees (payable in EUR or equivalent in Romanian Leu (RON): 1 EUR = 5 RON):
Grade | Exam fee |
|---|---|
Preliminary Grade | € 13 |
Grades 1 – 3 | € 18.5 |
Grades 4 – 6 | € 28 |
Grades 7 – 10 | € 37.5 |
Exam payments and registration deadline:
Bank Account:
Account name: Asociatia Steysha School of Irish Dance
IBAN: RO69 INGB 0000 9999 1588 5165
BIC/SWIFT: INGBROBU
Bank: ING Bank Romania
Currency: EURO
One payment per school-only.
• Please include the following details on each payment: “School Name + Bucharest Grade Exams”
Closing date for entries & payments:
Thursday, October 8th 2026.
GRADE EXAMINATION RULES & REGULATIONS
- Only Basic Steps may be danced in the Preliminary grade and Grades 1, 2 & 3.
- The number of bars of music to be danced to for all Reels, Single or Hop Jigs, Light Jigs, Slip Jigs, Heavy Jigs and Hornpipes is 40.
- St. Patrick’s Day, Blackbird, Garden of Daisies, Job of Journeywork, King of the Fairies, Three Sea Captains, and Jockey to the Fair must be performed in a traditional style and manner.
- The same set dance must not be performed in more than one of the Grades 9 and 10.
- A dancer must take all grades in order, beginning with Grade 1 (the Preliminary grade is optional). However, a candidate may only attempt a maximum of 3 consecutive Grades at any one sitting.
- Candidates must be able to adequately demonstrate practical and theoretical knowledge of all ceili dances as per “Ár Rincí Ceili”, as specified in the syllabus for Grades 5 – 10 inclusive. Dancers will not be asked to teach these dances.
- Dance costumes should not be worn.
- All candidates must provide previous reports before proceeding to higher grades. Please bring to the exam.
- A special application form and certificate/diploma will apply for Grades 11and 12.
- NEW CLARIFICATION (29 JUNE 2026): All 10 grade examinations must be completed for a candidate to be eligible to apply to take the T.C.R.G. examination.
- A three-month period must elapse before the next grade is attempted.
- Two different examiners must be used through Grades 1-6 and four different examiners must be used through Grades 1-10.
- A dancer would be permitted to retake any grade for a better score upon submission of a specific written request to the Udarás Scrúdaithe, with the understanding that the second result would replace the earlier one and that the dancer would be required to pay the usual fee for the grade being taken.
REQUIRED DANCES
Grades Preliminary through 10
*Note that candidates living in Ireland will also have to pass an Oral Irish Language section for grades 1 through 6.
Grade | Dances |
Preliminary | Easy Reel (122 – 124) or Light Jig (116) |
1 | Easy Reel (122 – 124) Light Jig (116) |
2 | Basic Slip Jig (121) Basic Single Jig (124) |
3 | Primary Reel (116) Basic Heavy/Treble Jig (89) |
4 | Primary Slip Jig (118) St. Patrick’s Day (94) |
5 | Advanced Reel (Intermediate/Open) (113) Basic Hornpipe (142) “The Walls of Limerick” |
6 | Advanced Slip Jig (Intermediate/ Open) (113) The Blackbird (144) “The Siege of Ennis” |
7 | Advanced Heavy Jig (Intermediate/Open) (73) Garden of Daisies (138) “Four Hand Reel” |
8 | Advanced Hornpipe (Intermediate/Open) (113) Job of Journeywork (138) “Humours of Bandon” |
9 | Two modern set dances, one in 6/8 time and the other in 2/4 or 4/4 time and the “High Cauled Cap” |
10 | Two modern set dances, one in 6/8 time and the other in 2/4 or 4/4 time (different from those in Grade 9) and the “Eight Hand Jig” |