IDTA 역사와 활동
INTERNATIONAL DANCE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
  source: www.idta.co.uk/about.html (IDTA)

The International Dance Teachers Association is a modern, progressive and forward thinking Association. It provides a wide range of examination services that have been established over time and meet the needs of both the public, the professional performer and teaching aspects. The IDTA is a Government accredited QCA body. The Association continues to work with the various Government agencies and representative bodies, in order to keep abreast of current trends and indeed, influence the progress of dance.

The Association is formed from a series of mergers taking from associations first formed in 1903, we will celebrate our centenary in 2003. With over 6,000 members throughout the world, qualified in all forms of Ballroom and Theatre subjects, it is a well-established international force.

Administration uses the most modern computerised techniques and systems in order to produce the quickest and most efficient examination service. It is continually being updated to improve the interaction between schools, colleges and it's head office in Brighton. Future developments will ensure that overseas services will be taking advantages of these systems.



As can be seen from other points on the website, the Association provides a wide diversity of training, tuition, seminars, support programmes and other activities dealing with issues from Rosettes to Fellowship and into education from mainstream schools to 'A' level.

2. History

In 1903 a group of teachers in Manchester area formed an association, the Manchester and Salford Association of Teachers of Dancing. The prime mover was James Finnigan - the arranger of the dance the Military Two Step - and it is interesting to note that James' great-granddaughter, Julie Laird, is currently a prominent member of the IDTA. With time the 'and Salford' was dropped from the name of the Association and then in 1938 the name was changed to the Empire Society.

In the first decade of the century other small associations were established and four such 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. In 1930 these four bodies amalgamated to form the International Dancing Masters' Association. This body grew in strength and stature until in 1955 it was felt necessary to become a company limited by guarantee.

Meanwhile Birmingham area teachers joined together in 1920 to create the Midland Dance Teachers' Association. This body grew beyond its original area base and changed its name in 1958 to the Dance Teachers' Association. Shortly after in 1961 it merged with the Empire Society retaining the name Dance Teachers' Association.

In 1967 the IDMA and DTA merged becoming the international Dance Teachers' Association - retaining the Limited by Guarantee status of the IDMA. This merger created one of the largest dance teacher organisations in the world. Indisputably it had the largest membership of ballroom dance teachers.

The IDTA takes a prominent part in the various bodies coordinating dance activities in Great Britain and the world. It is a member of the British Dance Council, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, the Council for Dance Education and Training, and the Stage Dance Council International.

The IDTA conducts examinations qualifying teachers of dancing and entry to the Association is by examination only. They are based on detailed knowledge of the dance techniques involved and on the ability to teach the various dance forms to a wide range of prospective students. The examinations are viva voce based and depend upon a competent range of qualified examiners. The IDTA was the first dance teachers' Association to institute rigorous examinations for prospective examiners. Even to-day, in the case of some dance teacher organisations, examiners are appointed purely by election or even by patronage.

The Association covers a wide range of dance disciplines which divide broadly into two categories those of theatre dance and those of ballroom dance although there are, of course, substantial overlaps. Professional examinations exist for: Ballet, Tap Dancing, Ballroom Dance, Latin Dance, Freestyle, Modern Jazz, Classical Sequence Dancing, Theatre Craft, Dance Exercise, Gymnastic Dance and Rock 'n' Roll. Tests for amateurs exist for all branches and the syllabi.

The management of the Association is in the hands of a Board of Directors elected annually by secret ballot at the annual conference. The standing committee structures support equally the various sections of the profession with eight technical committees, two development committees, two conference committees plus Finance and the Theatre Council. The latter is democratically elected from the theatre branch members of the Association. The members of each committee are elected from those members with particular expertise, e.g., technical committees are elected by the examiners, from the examiners.



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