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Centenary
Dinner Dance & Spring Congress
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On
Sunday 14th March the ISTD held the Centenary
Dinner Dance & Congresses at the Royal Lancaster
Hotel in London.
Date
for your diary
Next years Congresses and Dinner Dance
will be held on Sunday 13th March 2005 at the
Royal Lancaster Hotel, London. |
Don’t
forget you can order a copy of the Centenary Spring
Congress video from Dereck Brown Video Services Ltd
on 01733 332055.
•
Centenary Spring Congress
• Centenary Dinner Dance
Centenary
Spring Congress
Sunday 14th March 2004
Nine Kings Suite
Royal Lancaster Hotel
London
The first lecture was given by Pat Goode assisted by
Simon and Heidi Cruwys, 4 dances of 4 bars, what a remit,
however it was no problem for our lecturer.
The
variations were interesting and danceable, beautifully
shown by Heidi and Simon and taught with style and panache
by Pat Goode. Well
done indeed.
Cheeky
Class Cuties, who else but one of our most popular lecturers
Graham Oswick assisted by Yvonne Taylor-Hill. As usual,
two very good variations presented and taught in a very
lively fashion by Graham.
Social
Sequence by Lee Williams assisted by Louise Lidbury.
First was a Tango full of character and interest, then
a Samba, very pleasant to dance, a stylish demonstration
and carefully taught.
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| Simon
& Heidi Cruwys assisting Pat Goode’s lecture
‘Four by Four’ |
‘Cheeky
Class Cuties’, Graham Oswick assisted by Yvonne
Taylor-Hill |
‘Social
Sequence’,
Lee Williams assisted by Louise Lidbury |
The Cuban Son and the New York Salsa was the next lecture
given by Richard Marcel and assisted by Mary Deville.
This was a very interesting and informative lecture
explaining to us the two styles of Salsa dance, Cuban
and New York. Then we had a very brilliant and exciting
demonstration of Salsa by Janet Fuentes and Rafael del
Busto.
The
last lecture of the morning was presented by Anne Lingard
and Marion Lane using candidates to show the new Grade
1 exams in Ballroom and Latin. Very interesting for
the teachers who are intending to enter their students
for our new QCA accredited examinations, a step forward
into the future for our form of dance.
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| Salsa
demonstration by Janet Fuentes and Rafael del Busto |
'The
Cuban Son and the New York Salsa’, Richard
Marcel assisted by Mary Deville |
‘Grade
1 in Modern Ballroom & Latin American’,
Marion Lane assisted by a pupil from her school |
After
lunch, it was Versatile Variations given by Darren Bennett
and Lilia Kopylova. In the Rumba, a very up to date
variation, including many ideas that will be useful
in our teaching. The
Jive was smart and attractive with some good features
for our classes. Darren had a strong voice and a good
teaching style, this was a promising debut as a lecturer.
Next
we had a DFR Trilogy, first Country and Western with
Rachel Wadey showing a progressive Barn Dance, much
enjoyed by everybody. Next, Nigel Kirk taught a Line
Dance in the style of Saturday Night Fever with great
enthusiasm and vitality.
Finally
Pat Laine introduced some Rock ‘n’ Roll
shown by Nigel Kirk and Amanda Hughes. Well taught by
Pat and very useful for your Social Class.
Christopher
Hawkins and Hazel Newberry completed our lectures by
talking about building on basics. We all hung on every
word and thoroughly enjoyed listening to and watching
these great World Champions. All in all, a satisfying
and wonderful day.
Marion
Brown
Photographs: Ron Self
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| ‘Versatile
Variations’ Darren Bennett & Lilia Kopylova |
‘Building
on Basics in Waltz’, Christopher Hawkins &
Hazel Newberry |
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| ‘DFR
Trilogy’, DFR Committee |
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Centenary
Dinner Dance
Sunday
14th March 2004
Nine Kings Suite
Royal Lancaster Hotel
London
With
the Society celebrating its Centenary this year I think
everyone attending the Dinner Dance at the Royal Lancaster
Hotel was hoping for a memorable evening.
Judging
from the looks on the faces of the guests throughout
the evening, and the countless letters and messages
received since, they were not disappointed as the Society
celebrated its Centenary in style.
With
more than 500 guests in attendance there was a wonderful
atmosphere as representatives from both the Dance Sport
and Theatre Faculties turned out in force along with
numerous invited guests, members and their family and
friends. With a record crowd the decision to commence
the evening at a slightly earlier time proved to be
a prudent one as Robert Grover, Chairman of the ISTD
and the Vice Chairman Patricia Prime took the time to
greet every guest personally.
After
having had the opportunity to mingle with colleagues
and friends at the reception it was time for the Dinner
to commence in the Nine Kings Suite. It is a testament
to the management and the staff of the Royal Lancaster
Hotel that despite record numbers this year the high
standards in catering and service did not waiver and
a wonderful Dinner was served with the professionalism
that we have come to expect.
It
was now time for the Chairman, Robert Grover to officially
welcome the invited guests, members and friends. The
Honorary President of World Dance and Dance Sport Council,
Robin Short made the response on behalf of the guests.
With this being the Society’s Centenary year both
Robert Grover and Robin Short in their speeches reflected
on the Society’s achievements both in the past
and more recent times. Robert Grover also gave guests
an insight into his experiences of taking his first
ever examinations with the Society!
Anyone
who has attended an ISTD Dinner Dance will know that
the Society uses the occasion to recognise the contribution
and achievements of individuals within the organisation.
It was felt that in this very special year the Society
should pay tribute to those individuals who had help
shape the organisation we see today. With that in mind
it was decided to grant for the first time ever ISTD
Lifetime Achievement Awards to four very special people.
It
was an honour for all those present to see these Awards
presented by Robert Grover to Life President Dame Beryl
Grey DBE, President Bill Irvine MBE, Vice President
Miss Joyce Percy and Vice President Peggy Spencer MBE.
Both Bill Irvine and Peggy Spencer were able to accept
their Awards in person and gave wonderful acceptance
speeches. Unfortunately due to ill health Dame Beryl
Grey was unable to attend, as was Joyce Percy, who has
sadly since passed away. However, thanks to the speeches
given by Patricia Prime and June Rycroft the evening
did not pass without them both being remembered by all
present.
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| June
Rycroft receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award
on behalf of Joyce Percy from the ISTD Chairman,
Robert Grover |
Robert
Grover, Peggy Spencer MBE, recipient of the Lifetime
Achievement Award & Lorna Lee |
Patricia
Prime receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award on
behalf of Dame Beryl Grey DBE from the ISTD Chairman,
Robert Grover |
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Bill
Irvine MBE accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award
from Robert Grover & Anne Lingard |
Guest
speaker, Honourary President of World Dance and
Dance Sport Council, Robin Short |
Any
award ceremony is just as reliant upon the presenters
as the recipients so we were fortunate to have both
Anne Lingard and Lorna Lee introducing Bill Irvine and
Peggy Spencer respectively with very poignant speeches.
Ensuring the Ceremony ran smoothly was its host Vernon
Kemp.
The
evening also presented an opportunity for the President
of the USISTD Phillip Stephens to present an Award to
the Society on behalf of the USISTD in recognition of
its Centenary.
With
the Award Ceremony concluded the dance floor filled
as guests took the opportunity to dance to the excellent
music provided by Ross Mitchell, his Band and Singers.
With such a large number of guests it was no surprise
the floor was packed throughout the evening.
The
Society has always been successful in attracting world
class dancers to perform at the Dinner Dance. However,
bearing in mind the significance of the evening, this
year’s guests were treated to a cabaret by not
one set of World Champions but two! Not only Modern
Ballroom Champions, Christopher Hawkins and Hazel Newberry
but Latin American Champions, Bryan Watson and Carmen
as well. To say the audience lapped up this most amazing
Cabaret performance would be an understatement. An electric
atmosphere was created by a show that had everyone enthralled
thanks to the performances laid on by these excellent
dancers.
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| Latin
American Champions, Bryan Watson & Carmen |
Modern
Ballroom Champions, Christopher Hawkins & Hazel
Newberry.
Photograph: Ron Self |
It
is hard to imagine anyone being able to follow an evening
such as the one guests had been treated to so far but
of course the Society is lucky to have Nicky Miles,
not only to compere the Cabaret performance but host
the Raffle! Thanks to an army of volunteers selling
tickets throughout the day, the raffle raised £1,030
for the ISTD Benevolent Fund.
With
the Raffle over the dance floor once again filled with
eager dancers wishing to enjoy what was left of a memorable
evening. The ISTD Centenary Dinner Dance certainly lived
up to expectations. All of those involved in organising
the event can feel rightly proud.
Jon
Singleton
Head of Marketing and Publicity
Photographs: Elaine Mayson, unless otherwise stated
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