TCRG Exam

I am currently studying for my TCRG, which is an Irish Dance Teacher Certification Exam. I am taking it in June 2016 in Dublin, Ireland.

I have been studying since November of 2015 and am getting all different types of feelings about the exam approaching. The exam is costly- it's about $500 to take it so failing isn't an option lol. You also have to know a lot of information... more than one would think.

What you need to know:

1. 40 dance tunes and their timing and number of bars- the exam has a blind test where the examiner will play 19 of the 40 tunes and one has to name the write tune, give the number of bars in the dance, and the proper timing.

2. 30 ceili (team) dances- you are expected to know the music, timing, and movements (including the number of bars it takes to complete each movement and the entire dance). There are two parts for this part of the exam. There is a dancing portion where one has to dance a random ceili selected and there is also a written portion where the examiners ask whatever they want basically lol.

3. Solo dancing- you have to know 7 traditional set dances, 6 non traditional set dances as well as 2 hard shoe dances, and 2 soft shoe dances. The examiners will randomly select dances for you to dance and you must remember the dance, have proper timing, and proper dance technique. 

4. Teaching- the last section is the teaching portion. One will have to teach a randomly selected ceili dance and also steps chosen by the examiner.

My hopes are to pass the exam and to one day become a judge and travel the world! I am excited for what my new journey will bring and fingers crossed I pass lol.