Upon first entering the Irish dancing world, you hear a lot of terms and phrases thrown around that you're totally clueless about! Some are less important than others but the MOST IMPORTANT one you hear about is An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha. The most familiar role An Coimisiún ("the Commission") plays is the certification of dancing instructors.

To become a "certified" Irish dance instructor (that is, one whose students may compete in feiseanna) one must pass a grueling exam that tests your knowledge of the dances, your ability to perform them, how well you can handle students, among other things. There are three different certificates that "candidates" earn through three different tests, which will be talked about further on in the page. First, general information about the Irish Dancing Commission.

What is An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha?

Literally translated, it means "the Commision of Irish Dance"; in everyday English it's, "the Irish Dancing Commission."

What does it do?

"It was An Coimisiún which first established a standard for teachers, and later for adjudicators, of Irish dancing, published a handbook of Céilí dances, and established Oireachtas an Rince, as it was then known, as a separate event. So much of the things we take for granted nowadays, like the international dimension of Irish Dancing, with nine Regional Councils overseeing a vibrant Irish dancing scene in Ireland and Britain and organisations such as the I.D.T.A.N.A. in North America, A.I.D.A. in Australia and I.D.T.A.N.Z. in New Zealand working on our behalf, only came about with the dedication of the voluntary workers who established An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, and continued to work tirelessly for the ideal in which they believed. Even as we write this, the influence of An Coimisiún is spreading to continental Europe, and in the past year we have registered twenty associate Irish Dancing teachers in South Africa" (An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha).

TMRF

Certified to teach Ceili dances!

"The TMRF is a certificate awarded by An Coimisiún to candidates who have shown a competence in teaching céilí dances as described in Ár Rince Foirne - the official guide to Céilí dances" (par. 2).

TO EARN THE TMRF YOU WILL BE TESTED ON THE FOLLOWING:
(a) Written examination in dances in ‘Ár Rince Foirne’;
(b) Practical test in the teaching of Céilí dancing;
(c) Oral Irish test (for those intending to teach in Ireland).

TCRG

If your dance teacher has one of these, then you can compete! (If not, you're outta luck!)

"The TCRG certificate is awarded to candidates who have show a competence in teaching the ceilí dances as described in Ár Rince Foirne and have also shown a competence in teaching solo dancers" (par. 4).

TO EARN THE TCRG YOU WILL BE TESTED ON THE FOLLOWING:
(a) Practical test in stepdancing;
(b) Written examination in dances in ‘Ár Rince Foirne’
(c) Written examination in dance music;
(d) Practical test in teaching of step-dancing;
(e) Practical test in teaching of Céilí dancing;
(f) Oral Irish test (for those intending to teach in Ireland).

ADCRG

Those people behind the desk at competitions making notes about your dancing! Your teacher may also hold one of these!

"The ADCRG certificate is awarded to candidates who have show a competence in adjudicating at official competitions, held under the auspices of An Coimisiún" (par. 6).

TO EARN THE ADCRG YOU WILL BE TESTED ON THE FOLLOWING:
I have no information on this exam at this time