An Irish team dance in which a group performs a choreographed sequence of figures together, judged on timing, formation, unity and the clarity of the pattern.
A figure dance is a team item in Irish dancing. A group of dancers moves together through a planned series of figures: lines that weave, circles that turn, couples that cross and re-form. The pattern is the performance, so what the panel watches is the geometry of the whole team as much as the footwork of any one dancer.
A round runs like any team item. The team is called to the stage, takes its opening formation and dances the whole sequence from the first bar to the last, changing shape on the beat. Because the pattern is choreographed rather than a fixed traditional set, teams are marked on how clearly the figures read, how cleanly they connect and how well the group dances as one.
On this template Figure Dance is a Team item open to boys and girls together, with an entry for every age group from Under 6 to Under 19 plus Senior. Each adjudicator marks out of 100, and the template sets a ten-minute ceiling on the item. One score belongs to the whole team.
Organisers include it beside the ceili dance because it rewards teaching and choreography as well as individual skill, gives dance schools a showcase for group work and keeps team entries lively across the programme.
Where Figure Dance is run
Figure dances are run at Irish dancing competitions called feiseanna and at Irish cultural festivals and dance-school showcases, usually alongside the solo jigs, reels and set dances and the ceili team item. On this template it is offered for every age band from Under 6 to Senior, one of two team items in the syllabus.
- Ireland
- Irish dance communities worldwide
Key facts
- Team item, boys and girls together on this template
- Entries for Under 6 to Under 19, plus a Senior group
- Choreographed sequence of figures performed as a group
- Marked out of 100 by each adjudicator; one score for the whole team
- The template sets a ten-minute ceiling on the item
- Teams enter the age group that matches their dancers
On eTalenter, Figure Dance is filed under On Stage and typically scored with Marks. It appears in 1 ready-made event templates — each one can adjust its time limit, age-group assignment and scoring setup independently.
Across the templates that use it, Figure Dance is most often entered as an Team competition, typically scored out of 100, commonly time-limited to around 10 minutes where a limit is set.
What judges look at in Figure Dance
What a Figure Dance panel is actually weighing up, and where the marks are usually won or lost:
- Timing: every dancer changes figure on the beat and the whole team holds one tempo from the first bar to the last.
- Clarity of pattern: each figure reads clearly from the front, with lines straight, circles round and crossings arriving in the right place.
- Unity and uniformity: matching steps, arm positions and carriage so the group looks like one dance.
- Transitions: moving from one figure to the next without gaps, collisions or dancers waiting to be told where to go.
- Technique and style: lifted posture, turned-out feet and crisp, even footwork across the team rather than on one standout dancer.
- Presentation and finish: confident, cheerful performance and a together finish on the last beat.
Treat these as the judging focus, not a fixed rubric: publish your own weighted criteria for Figure Dance under Scoring Setup, or start from the full folk dance judging criteria guide.
How to prepare for Figure Dance
How entrants and their teachers usually get Figure Dance right on the day:
- Draw the sequence on paper first so every dancer can see where they travel in each figure.
- Walk the pattern without music, then add the music only when everyone knows their next position.
- Count phrases aloud together so the team shares one pulse for every change of shape.
- Mark starting spots and key turning points on the floor, then practise until nobody needs them.
- Film a run-through from the front; spacing errors are easier to see than to feel.
- Keep the choreography within the team’s ability, because a simple pattern danced cleanly outscores an ambitious one that falls apart.
- Plan cover for absences and check shoes, costume and entry details well before the day.
Ready-made event templates that include Figure Dance
Open any template to preview it in eTalenter and install it as a live, editable event.
| Template | Category | Score label | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feis – Irish Dancing (CLRG) | On Stage | Marks | 15 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Figure Dance judged individually or as a team?
Across eTalenter’s templates it’s most often run as an Team entry, though an organiser can set either participation type when assigning the item to an age group.
Is a figure dance the same as a ceili dance?
No. They are separate team items on this template, each with its own entry. The ceili dance is the traditional figure dance in a set formation, while the figure dance is judged as a group performing a pattern of figures; check the organiser’s rules for how the item is run.
Is a figure dance judged individually or as a team?
As a team. The panel gives one mark out of 100 for the whole group, so the weakest dancer affects everyone’s result.
How long is a figure dance round?
This template sets a ten-minute ceiling on the item as a whole. The organiser decides how long each team dances, which usually follows the length of the music.
Can boys and girls dance in the same team?
Yes. On this template the item is open to both, and teams enter the age group that matches their dancers.
Want the full judging picture? Read the full folk dance judging criteria guide, or browse every on stage competition item.
Try Figure Dance in eTalenter
See every ready-made template that runs Figure Dance, and install one as a live event — age groups, rules and scoring included.
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