International Dance Teachers Association

infobox Organization
name = International Dance Teachers Association


image_border =
size = 275px
caption =


msize =
mcaption =
abbreviation = IDTA
motto = "Always one step ahead"
formation = Founded: 1903
Incorporated: 1967
extinction =
type =
status =
purpose = Dance training organisation and examination board
headquarters = International House
76 Bennett Road
Brighton
BN2 5JL
United Kingdom flagicon|UK

location =
region_served = UK and Worldwide
membership =
language =
leader_title = Chief Exec.
leader_name = Keith Holmes
main_organ = Board of Directors
parent_organization =
affiliations = • British Dance Council
• Council for Dance Education & Training
• Central Council for Physical Recreation
• Theatre Dance Council International
num_staff =
num_volunteers =
budget =
website =
remarks =

The International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) is a prominent dance examination board based in Brighton, East Sussex in the United Kingdom. It is potentially the world's largest dance teaching organisation, with over 7000 teachers operating in 55 countries worldwide.

The IDTA is a member of the British Dance Council, Council for Dance Education and Training, Central Council of Physical Recreation and Theatre Dance Council International and also works in partnership with the Royal Academy of Dance.

History

The International Dance Teachers Association originates from 1903, with the formation of the Manchester and Salford Association of Teachers of Dancing. This later became known as the Empire Society in 1938. In 1920, another group of teachers in Birmingham formed the Midland Dance Teachers' Association, which later grew to cover a wide area and merged with the Empire Society in 1961 to form the Dance Teachers' Association.

At the same time, in the early 1900s, a number of other small dance organisations we formed. Four of these organisations were the English Association of Dancing Masters, Premier Association of Teachers of Dancing, Universal Association of Teachers of Dancing, and Yorkshire Association of Dancing Masters. These four organisations merged in 1930 to form the International Dancing Masters' Association.

In 1967, the Dance Teachers' Association and the International Dancing Masters Association were merged to form today's International Dance Teachers Association. The IDTA celebrated its centenery in 2003.

Activities

The IDTA exists primarily as a dance training and examination board.

For students, the IDTA provides training opportunities with qualified dance teachers worldwide, both in private and mainstream dance education. Training is available in a wide range of dance disciplines, with examinations leading to a range of awards and certificates for successful candidates, including vocational examinations for students who wish to pursue a career in professional dance. Examinations and awards are available for a variety of ages and abilities.

The IDTA also awards dance teaching qualifications and has a certification programme for dance students and professionals who wish to gain a recognised dance teaching qualification. There are three levels of qualification that certify teachers to enter candidates for IDTA examinations, they are "Associate", "Licentiate" and "Fellowship". Fellowship is the highest level of qualification within the IDTA and teachers who have reached this level may apply to become examiners of the IDTA.

Beyond dance training and examinations, the IDTA is also one of the World's foremost organisations in the field of competitive dancing and in this role, organises numerous competitions, dance festivals and championships both in the UK and internationally and is influential in the regulation and adjudication of such competitions. In the UK in particular, the IDTA organises the competitions for the much sought after titles of "Miss Dance of Great Britain" and "Dance Master UK", and also the "IDTA Theatre Dance Championships". Entrants for these prestigious competitions compete in heats at dance festivals nationwide throughout the year, for a place in the annual National finals in Blackpool.

The IDTA is also responsible for the presentation of the annual Carl Alan Awards. Little known outside of the dance industry, the Carl Alan Award is a highly regarded honour within the dance community, as is awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to dance. Awards are given in a variety of categories, with recipients including, performers, teachers, choreographers and also for special services and a lifetime achievement award.

IDTA issues the monthly "Dance International Magazine", which is distributed free of charge to all fully paid members of the organisation and includes important news for the month ahead. This includes information about any changes to the IDTA examination system, dates of meetings and seminars, general news and other vital information that teachers need.

Dance styles

The IDTA is divided into two specific branches, 'Theatre Dance' and 'Ballroom Dance'. Each of these two sectors covers a range of dance styles, each with its own technical committee that oversee the standards and development of the discipline. The IDTA offers the following dance subjects:

Theatre branch

* Ballet
* Freestyle
* Modern Jazz
* Musical Theatre
* Tap
* Theatre Craft

Ballroom branch

* Ballroom - Foxtrot, Quickstep, Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz
* Freestyle
* Latin - Argentine Tango, Cha Cha, Jive, Mambo, Merengue, Paso Doble, Rumba, Salsa, Samba
* Musical Theatre
* Sequence

Teaching Qualifications

In both theatre and ballroom branches, the IDTA has three levels of qualification that certify a teacher to enter candidates for IDTA examinations.

Associations

From the 1st October 2006, the IDTA began a new association with the London based Royal Academy of Dance. A press release issued to members of each organisation stated that "the two organisations would embark on a process of working together for the future of dance and to the mutual benefit of their members in both teacher education and training and examinations".

As a result of this association, registered teachers of the IDTA theatre dance branch are admitted as teacher members of the RAD and vice versa, teachers of the RAD are admitted to membership of the theatre branch of the IDTA. Whilst the new association is not a merger, it is intended that it will develop co-operation between the two organisations and mutual recognition of the training and qualifications that they both provide. It is also expected that in the future, both the IDTA and RAD will begin to work together, providing new training and development opportunities for members and students of both organisations.

tructure

*President - Colin Donaldson
*President Elect - Richard Hopkins
*Immediate Past President - Anna Jones
*Chief Executive - Keith Holmes
*Finance Director - Gaorge Coad
*Honorary Director - Leonard Armstrong
*Directors - The President, President Elect, Immediate Past President and Financial Director. Also Dereck Brown, Frances Clayton, Philip Diment, Bobbie Drakeford, Yvonne Goût, Lynda King, John Knight, Patricia Lupino Thompson, Dawn Parker, Michael Sandham, Barbara Sharples, Judith Silvester, Derek Tonks, Jane Tumelty, Phil Winston.

Patrons

*HRH Shaikha Mai Al Khalifa of Bahrain
*Lord and Lady Fearn of Southport
*Lionel Blair
*Dame Yve Buckland
*Donnie Burns, MBE
*Darcey Bussell, CBE
*Karen Hilton, MBE & Marcus Hilton, MBE
*Stanley Ho, OBE

Notable people

Ballroom branch

* Guy Howard - Former dancer and teacher of Ballroom Dance and author of "Technique of Ballroom Dancing"
* Walter Laird - Former dancer and teacher of Latin American Dance and author of "Technique of Latin American Dancing"
* Len Goodman - Former Ballroom Dance Champion, now a teacher, examiner and adjudicator. Goodman is head judge on the BBC1 series Strictly Come Dancing

Theatre branch

* Deborah Bull - Former Principal dancer with The Royal Ballet. Studied IDTA prior to joining the Royal Ballet School
* Kevin O'Hare - Studied IDTA and at the Royal Ballet School. Danced with Birmingham Royal Ballet and The Royal Ballet and is now Company Manager for the Royal Ballet
* Michael O'Hare - Studied IDTA and at the Royal Ballet School. Danced with Birmingham Royal Ballet and The Royal Ballet and is now Ballet Master for Birmingham Royal Ballet
* Frances Clayton - Senior examiner and director of the IDTA. Founder and Principal of the "Midlands Academy of Dance & Drama", one of the UKs leading performing arts colleges
* Patricia Lupino-Thompson - Senior examiner and theatre council member of the IDTA. Is most noted for being a living descendent of the famous Lupino family.

Honorary members

* Arlene Phillips was admitted as an honorary member of the IDTA in 2006, in recognition of her work in the field of dance. Phillips is credited with the creation of 70s dance troup Hot Gossip, and is the renowned choreographer of award winning West End and Broadway musicals including The Sound Of Music (2006), Starlight Express, Grease, Saturday Night Fever and We Will Rock You. She is most famous today as a judge for television talent shows, such as Strictly Come Dancing, Strictly Dance Fever and DanceX for the BBC.
* Ken Dodd was admitted as an honorary member of the IDTA in recognition of his contribution to the entertainments industry. Dodd is a well known British comedian, most famous for traditional music hall style entertainment, although he has also appeared in drama and is also a songwriter.
* Rosemarie Ford is a well known British television personality from the 1990's, particularly recognised as Bruce Forsythe's co-presenter of The Generation Game. Rosemarie Poundford, to give her her full name, trained as a dancer with an IDTA teacher from a young age and in 1978, won the prestigious title of "Miss Dance of Great Britain". In 1998, she performed the role of 'Bombalurina' for the official film production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Cats".

References

*"Dance International Magazine", March-April 2008

External links

* [http://www.idta.co.uk IDTA Official Website]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/missdanceofgreatbritain/ Miss Dance of Great Britain]