As a direct result of sending out our promotional pack to various organisations
last year, we were contacted by Rodney Deitch & Associates, a firm of
parliamentary consultants.
On our behalf, they arranged a reception at the House of Commons on Monday
10th April 2000. This gave ISTD representatives the opportunity to meet
with MPs in an informal setting over lunch and to discuss some of the
issues facing the dance world in the new millennium.
Llin Golding MP, hosted the reception, which was attended by MPs of all
political parties, together with civil servants and representatives of
other interested groups. All those to whom we spoke were keen to do what
they could to promote an awareness of dance at governmental level and
within their constituencies.
One of the guests was Hazel Blears, MP for Salford, who has accepted a
place on the ISTD's Council. Hazel has enormous energy, with a particular
interest in what dance can offer for young people. Also present was Rt
Hon Gerald Kaufman MP, who has recently accepted a position on the ISTD's
Grand Council. We are pleased to welcome both to the ISTD and we look
forward to working with them in the future.
Other MPs attending the reception included Marion Roe, Rt Hon Robert
MacLennan, Lembit Opik and Fiona MacTaggart. Representatives from the
House of Lords were Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE, Baroness David and
Rt Hon Baroness Blatch. The ISTD was represented by Michael Browne, Robert
Grover, Professor Chris Bannerman, Cathy Browne, Jon Singleton, and Matthew
Portal (Edexcel consultant). Other guests included Ruth Gledhill (The
Times), Peter Kyle (Director of Shakespeare's Globe), Abigail Anding (Arts
Council) and Chris Scott-Barrett (British Council).
In addition to the reception in April, some formal meetings have been
held at Headquarters and at the House of Commons with MPs and civil servants
and a further meeting is to be held with Alan Howarth, the Minister for
the Arts, at the House of Commons in July. It is hoped that this will
be attended by both a DFEE and a QCA representative.
By making this kind of contact, the ISTD is helping to raise the profile
of dance generally, ensuring that specific dance issues are discussed
at governmental level and, hopefully, enabling a high standard of teaching
to be promoted and maintained.
