Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance
Posted by: sequencedancemag on: February 3, 2009
ISTD began on 25th July 1904 under the presidency of Robert Morris Crompton, the first meeting being held in the Cecil Hotel in Covent Garden.
In 1945, Victor Silvestor, a name that those of us of a certain age affection ally knew as Mr. Slow, Slow Quick, Quick Slow, because of his teaching classes on television, became chair of ISTD and later took on the mantle of honorary President.
Victor Silvester was a man of many achievements, he had a world famous orchestra recording on the old Pye label for radio and television: Our first World Champion of Modern Ballroom and it was he who introduced dancers to the Natural or Right Turn.
We have several of the books Victor Silvester wrote, our favourite being Victor Silvester Modern Ballroom Dancing History and Practice. First published in 1974 by Barrie and Jenkins, London, my copy came from the library a couple of years ago after being withdrawn. The section mainly for beginners, gives some excellent teaching tips.
You might also like to read his Biography. Go to www.answers.com for that and much more information.
I had never been into this ISTD website before and am really impressed with its modern layout and content.
The ISTD are one of the few Associations who have teacher training in Sequence Dancing. If you would like to become a Sequence Dance teacher the ISTD have teachers are right across the country. Details are on the website.
The Imperial Society of Teachers is currently based in London at 22 -26 Paul Street London EC2A 4QE.
For those of you who are interested in the social history of dance and the arts, the ISTD have a public library of over 4,000 volumes , managed at the time of writing by Molly Web. Their are dictionaries and encyclopedias to books on myths and legends.
I would be interested in the section on costumes, and I look forward to calling in the next time I am in London.
If you want to visit you must pre book. The telephone No is +44(0)2073771577 and open from 10.30 -3.30.
If you want to read more visit the website on and click into history then library. I found it full of interesting information and very readable.
http://www.istd.org/about/history.html
Good Luck for your Inventive day on the 15th February at Whitwick.
1 Response to "Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance"
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sequencedancemag
1 | sequencedancemag
February 4, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I am pleased you seem to approve of our blog.
As a dance teacher I am aware that although there is information out there about the dancing community, dancers and sequence dancers especially, have had little reason to ask the who where why what when questions.
We ran sequence dances for many years and 3 years ago I decided to see if a new generation of dancers would enjoy this style of dancing also. Most of those who come are young professional couples who have no backgroud in dancing but curious to know where they can access information, buy shoes and cd’s etc.
Having highlighted some of the competitions last year, I am now being asked how these days are run and what can guests expect if they go along.
I wonder would you consider letting us have your plan for the day, who will be running the music, who will be judging ( this would be most welcome as we hope to do a feature on judges later in the year), who will be dancing and if possible the names of their entries and the music they are choosing to dance to.
Perhaps someone might conclude this years events with a report on the day.
Starting times and entry charges would also be welcome.
Finally, I note you are considering making your own blog and that is great news. I use WordPress which gives me a free site, and the choice of about 40 different styles and colours for my front page. You can upload pictures, music, script etc etc It is as easy as sitting down and typing, there is tons of forums and free help, and it is all free. Go to http://www.wordpress.com
Thank you for your time and I hope we can spread the news of all that is happening at your event for you. Please include anyone selling clothes, records etc.
Mo Flanighan for sequencedancemag. contact us on http://www.dance.script@fsmail.net marking subject box sequencedancemag