61st Annual General Meeting - Acting Chairman's Report

The 61st Annual Meeting of the ISTD was held at ISTD2 on Thursday 6th July 2006

Madam President, Members of Council and members of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, may I welcome you to the 61st Annual General Meeting.

Our Chairman of Council – Mr. Robert Grover, resigned from this position recently and I therefore stand before you today as Acting Chairman of the Society, whilst elections for the new Chair of Council take place this summer.

Unhappily over the last year several of our Members have passed away, to honour those members may I ask you to stand for a moment’s silence

Thank you

These premises - ISTD2, were officially opened last September by our President Mrs Peggy Spencer MBE. We were pleased to have our Past President Dame Beryl Grey DBE also in attendance, both ladies adding their grace and charm to the occasion.

ISTD2 has been put to good very use, numerous young children have taken their first dance examination here, and a great number of students have taken the higher-level examinations, in their professional development. I am sure the atmosphere of these studios enhanced their performance.

ISTD2 has also been the venue for Committee Meetings, and for Tutors and Teachers Courses on Units of the FDI and the CDE qualifications.

Elaine Mayson staged an exhibition of her photographic work, of dancers from prestigious Dance Companies - Student productions and our Centenary Gala. And at present there is an exhibition by Brenda Naylor showing her very talented drawings of a wide range of dance styles as well as drawings from various ISTD events.

I am pleased to report that examinations taken in the UK and Internationally have continued to increase substantially.

The progress made in passed years to gain government recognition for qualifications for our teachers has continued to be consolidated.

An encouraging number of Teachers have now gained their CDE having completed the necessary modules stated following the results of their APL application.

In June Mr Michael Browne our Chief Executive for 17 years retired, we appreciate his dedicated work for the Society and we wish him well. Jon Singleton has been appointed as our new Chief Executive. He brings with him a very sound knowledge of the Society and has already proved himself worthy of this very important position.

Before ending this report I would like to thank all of the Heads of our Departments, The Chairs of all of our Faculties and the Committees, Examiners and all of our Members. Without all of their dedication the Society would not have shown the development it has.

Thank you.

Mrs Patricia Prime
Acting Chairman