Message from the Chief Executive

Another year has gone by very quickly and it is hard to believe that the time has come again to write this message to all our members.

During 2002 there have been many exciting developments once again, which have enabled the ISTD to solidify its position in the modern world whilst retaining the strengths that have been developed in the past. As we approach our centenary in 2004, we at the ISTD become increasingly aware of our heritage and the debt that we owe to those pioneering dancers and teachers who founded many of our current Faculties.

To illustrate this, during the year, we saw the launch of a biography of Zelia Raye, who founded the Modern Theatre Faculty. Now the Modern Theatre Faculty has become so large that it has been divided in 2002 into two Faculties - one to concentrate on Modern Theatre and the other on Tap. We are sure Zelia Raye would have been proud to see that both these dance styles are still thriving in the 21st century.

January 2002 saw the completion of the first phase of our QCA accreditation, with all the General Grades and Vocational Grades for the Theatre Faculties finding a place on the National Qualifications Framework. The Dance Sport Faculties, whilst retaining their existing medal structure, have started work on new graded examinations, with a view to launching these during 2003.

Much effort is now being concentrated across the Faculties on revisions to the teaching qualifications in order that these too may receive not only QCA accreditation, but also validation by Middlesex University. We feel sure that teachers will appreciate the need for alterations to be made to these examinations to protect the dance teaching profession for the future, but we recognise the concerns that are always going to be felt about change of any kind. We would like to reassure teachers that we all have your interests at heart and we are very mindful of the need to make the transition to a new system as smooth as possible.

In order to cope with the increasing workload involved in developing these qualifications, and to identify other possible areas for development, the ISTD has established a new department, Education and Training, and a Head of Department started work on 9th December.

2002 also saw the launch of the UNICEF project, involving dance in the secondary Citizenship curriculum. A hugely successful gala was held at Sadler's Wells in July to launch this project and the resource pack can be obtained from UNICEF. Our thanks go to everybody who was involved in making this a success and the ISTD is proud to be connected with such a well-recognised and worthwhile organisation as UNICEF.

We also feel proud that during 2002, Dame Beryl Grey accepted a special position of Life President of the ISTD and a reception was held in her honour on 11th July. Mr William Irvine MBE, President, spoke of Dame BerylÕs enormous contribution to the ISTDÕs growth and presented her with a gift on our behalf. Dame Beryl paid tribute to those other worthy people who had helped her along the way.

I am sure members will forgive me if I express the ISTD's sense of achievement over the past few years, particularly with regard to gaining government recognition. However, there is no way in which we feel complacent because there is considerable work still to be done to maintain our position as well as to develop it for the future.

None of this could be done without the continuing support of you, the members, or without the sterling work carried out by all our Faculty committees, organisers and examiners under the guidance of our Council.

I would like to extend my personal thanks to all the staff at Headquarters and, in particular, the management team - John Drinkwater, Cathy Browne, Jon Singleton, Cynthia Pease and, our most recent additions to the team, Claire Skelton and Matthew Wilkinson.

We all hope that we can continue to carry you with us on what is proving to be quite an exciting and eventful journey and I look forward to writing this message again in our centenary year, 2004. Wishing you all a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Michael J Browne FFA FFBA FCES FIAB FRSA FinstD
Chief Executive