A Note From The Editor - Scottish Dance Teachers' Alliance
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A Note From The Editor
It’s another bumper issue of the Alliance News, proving (if proof were
needed!) that the SDTA are busy, busy, busy! I hope that you will enjoy
reading about this year’s triumphs and some of next year’s big events.
The SDTA will celebrate its 85th birthday in 2019! Why not come and
celebrate at our President’s Burns Celebration? Please see the advert
on page 5 for details on how to purchase your tickets.
Our Attitude Dance competition used to be a Cheer/Pom comp but it
has grown and developed into an event which encompasses a variety
of dance styles and genres. See the article on page 19 to find out
more!
Interested in entering your students for the Ballet and Theatre
Branch’s Dance Challenge? Details are on page 14.
Are you a big fan of Strictly? Turn to page 17 to find out what happened
when one of our Ballroom branch members went on a Strictly cruise
and danced for Craig Revel Horwood!
See page 31 for information on the Highland branch’s exciting new
Choreography Challenge for pupils of SDTA members.
Stroll down Memory Lane with Jack Reavely on page 33 and learn the
fascinating story of SDTA founder and Ballroom legend Alex S. Warren
OBE.
Not sure what GDPR means? Looking for a safeguarding course?
Check out pages 6 and 7 for important information for all dance
teachers.
If you have any dance news that you would like to share via the
Alliance News or our social media platforms, please e-mail or post
your submissions to us for consideration. Please mark all submissions
“F.A.O. The SDTA News Editor”.
Finally, I would like to point out that reading the Alliance News is best
done with a cup of tea and a choccy biccie…or a mince pie. Just
saying.
With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year,
The Ed
2
Index
General
A Message from our President Page 4
President’s Burns Celebration 2019 Page 5
Important Information for Teachers Pages 6 & 7
SDTA Highland Scholarships 2019 Page 8
World Cabaret Heat Page 9
Memory Lane, by Jack Reavely Pages 34 - 38
In Loving Memory Page 38
SDTA Diary 2019 Inside Back Cover
Ballet & Theatre Branch
News from the Ballet & Theatre Branch Page 10 & 11
Stage Festival 2018 Pages 12 & 13
Some Upcoming Events Page 14
Ballet and Theatre Scholarships 2019 Page 15
Ballroom Branch
Ballroom Branch Report Page 16
So, You Think You Can’t Dance? Page 16
Strictly Come Cruising! Page 17
Baton & Cheer Branch
News From The Baton & Cheer Branch Page 18
Attitude Dance Page 19
Highland Branch
2018 Premierships Results Page 20 & 21
North American Conference & Scholarships 2018 Pages 22 & 23
European Scholarships & Day of Dance 2018 Pages 24 & 25
News From the Highland Branch Pages 26 - 29
Some Upcoming Events Page 30 & 31
Important Information for Highland Teachers Page 32 & 33
SDTA Extraordinary General Meeting
Sunday, 3rd March, 2019
SDTA Studios
101 Park Road
2.00pm
Please ensure that your subscriptions are fully paid up
for entry to meeting.
3
A Message From Our President
Fellow members,
First of all, I hope you all have a healthy, happy and
restful Christmas and holiday season. It is a privilege
and a pleasure to bring this Christmas message to
you. Since becoming President again in 2017 there
have been many highlights, and it seems that not
a week goes by in which the Alliance is not either
involved in events or driving forward events in the
dance world. It’s wonderful to see the branches
growing and strengthening their positions in their
genres of dance.
Of course, none of this work and the success we are seeing in the
Alliance can be achieved without the many volunteers we rely on
throughout the world. However, there is only so much goodwill to go
around, so you are all welcome to put your names forward to help at
our events, and we will make the best use of your talents to support
the Alliance. So, at this point, my thanks to the many volunteers in all
our branches who give up their time to make events a success for all
of us.
I also have to say a very big thank you to all the branch committee
members, branch convenors and branch examiners. Your dedication
to the Alliance is appreciated and does not go unnoticed. Of course,
the Alliance could not operate without our amazing office staff. A
very big thank you from me and from the Executive Council to Jayne,
Gillian,Nicola and Laura for the outstanding work you carry out. The
feedback received continues to be nothing but praise.
Well, Christmas is here again. Relax and have a safe and enjoyable
time, whatever you may be doing. I wish you all, and your families, a
very merry Christmas and a successful 2019!
With best wishes,
Gregor Bowman
4
‘Here’s Tae Us!
Wha’s Like Us?’
Come and celebrate
85 years of the SDTA
at our President’s
Burns Celebration
2019!
Saturday, 26th January, 2019
Alona Hotel, Motherwell
Tickets: £38
* Adults aged 16 years and over
5
Important Information For Teachers
Safeguarding
The SDTA Executive Council would like to remind all members of the
importance of safeguarding the children and vulnerable adults in our
care. For teachers, this means ensuring you have the PVG Scheme
Membership/Police Checks in the first instance. Safeguarding training
and a Child Protection Policy will also enable you to follow the correct
procedures if any child/vulnerable adult protection issues arise and
will allow parents/carers to do the same. You can familiarise yourself
with the SDTA Child Protection Policy by downloading it from our
website.
All SDTA teachers should complete a Safeguarding/Child Protection
course. You can access the NSPCC online courses at:
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/training/our-elearning-courses
If at any time you have any concerns or questions relating to child
protection or safeguarding, please contact the SDTA Child Protection
Liaison Officer - CPO@sdta.co.uk
All emails will be treated in confidence.
Music Licence
PPL has joined forces with PRS for Music to make it easier for customers
to obtain a single music licence for the playing and performance of
music in public. If you play or perform music in your business or
organisation in the UK, you will usually need The Music Licence. It will
cover you with one licence and one invoice for the use of virtually all
commercially released music available. Please go to pplprs.co.uk for
details.
6
GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulations became law in May 2018. If
you run your own business, you should ensure that you are processing
and storing information in accordance with GDPR. For further
information on GDPR and your responsibilities, you can contact the
Information Commissioner’s Office on 0303 123 1113 or visit their
website, www.ico.org.uk
The SDTA privacy policy was updated in May 2018 and is available
on our website. It describes how the SDTA manage your personal
information in accordance with GDPR and your rights. The SDTA is
committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Our privacy
notice will be updated from time to time, so members and customers
may wish to periodically review our privacy notice to ensure you are
happy with any changes.
SDTA Examination Estimate Forms
Teachers are respectfully reminded that they must submit an
examination estimate form when booking an examination session.
These forms have been specially designed to allow the SDTA office
staff to process your paperwork in the quickest way possible and
to relay necessary information to the examiner. Many teachers are
e-mailing their estimates in the form of a letter, missing out necessary
information, e.g. examination venue, start time or the standard of
Group Performance awards. The office staff then have to get in touch
with the teacher again to obtain the missing information, causing a
delay in the processing of the examination paperwork and the ordering
of any Group Performance awards.
Estimate forms for each branch are available on the SDTA website
and are made available at branch meetings. Thank you for your co-
operation.
7
North American SDTA Conference
and James L McKenzie & Elspeth
Strathern Scholarships 2019
Seattle, Washington
Scholarships October 2019
Dates to be confirmed
Conference October 2019
Dates to be confirmed
UK & Europe Highland
Scholarships and Day of Dance
2019
Alona Hotel
Motherwell
Scholarships-Saturday 9th November
Day of Dance-Sunday 10th November
8
The Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance
will host a
World Cabaret Performer Heat
Saturday, February 16th, 2019
in Denny Civic Theatre, Dumbarton
CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES:
FRIDAY DECEMBER 14th, 2018
See the SDTA website for details
and to download an entry form.
All enquiries and entries to:
Mrs J Sutherland-Archer
Lochlorien
Borrowfield
Cardross
G82 5NL
9
Ballet & Theatre
News from the B&T Branch
A great time was had by all who attended SDTA
Ballet Ambassador Scott McKenzie’s classes at
our studios in August. Scott is having an extremely
busy year with the Vienna State Opera Ballet,
where he has been promoted to Demi Soloist.
Many congratulations, Scott, and thank you for
your inspiring classes!
War of the Worlds star Adam Garcia took time out of
his busy schedule to visit the SDTA studios this summer.
Many thanks to Adam for a fantastic day of tap!
Jazzartuk are super-excited about
the pantomime season! Oh, yes, they
are! They are providing performers
for the junior ensembles in the SECC’s
Cinderella and Aladdin in Motherwell
Theatre. Graduates can be seen
in professional pantos throughout
the UK, including Glasgow, Dundee,
Dunfermline and New Lanark.
Congratulations to Ellie Wood and Olivia
Moulsdale (pictured with SDTA Vice President
Betty Sutherland) for their success at the
National TDCI Scholarships in August! Ellie,
of the McKechnie School of Dance, won the
Senior Tap title. Olivia, from the Linda Lowry
School, triumphed in the Junior Ballet section.
Congratulations also to Katie Horne, Carmen
Judge and Millie Wright for their outstanding
performances. The SDTA are so proud of all
our representatives.
10
Ballet & Theatre
SDTA Member Daniel Donaldson Todd was our
lecturer for Time To Shine, our fun and informative
Modern/Jazz Technique and Musicality &
Performance classes at Jazzart Studios in
November. The dancers had an absolutely fantastic
day of dance and found the Q&A session extremely
helpful. Thank you, Daniel. Our dancers found your
workshops and your Q&A session informative and
inspiring.
SDTA Ballet & Theatre examiner
Nadine McKenzie Judge was
shortlisted for the Carl Alan Teacher’s
Award this year. Congratulations to
Nadine and to her student, Millie
Wright, who was shortlisted for the
Carl Alan Young Performer award.
Nadine, Gregor Bowman & Millie
SDTA member Ruth Lindsay continues to represent the SDTA in
Ibiza, teaching at the island’s Passion Dance School. The school
wish to thank the SDTA for their support in giving their students the
opportunity to take part in SDTA dance examinations.
11Ballet & Theatre
Stage Festival & Championships
Many thanks and congratulations to Jan Sutherland for the best SDTA
Stage Festival and Championships yet!
Every day our wonderful competitors gave dynamic and captivating
performances in various genres, including Tap, Ballet, Character,
Song & Dance, Greek and Acrobatic Dance. The week of dance
culminated with the Central Scotland Championships, the results of
which are shown opposite. Congratulations to the winners and thank
you to all who took part – your hard work and dedication are truly
commendable.
Jan would like to thank the staff of Denny Civic Theatre for their help
throughout the week, and she would also like to thank the volunteers
who help to make this popular event possible. A special mention must
go to Annette Biglie and Alex Robson, who helped with the entries
and were a great support to Jan all week. Many thanks to the rest
of Jan’s amazing team, including Jill Douglas, Betty Sutherland, Irene
Miller, Amanda Robson, Sherrie Carnegie, Diane Stewart, Pauline
O’Halloran, Jayne Ewing, Andrew
Cowan, Margaret Cowan, Sheena
McDonald, Karen Baird, Liza Stitt, Ross
Dickson and Dawn Stuart.
Thank you to our music operators,
Hayley, Zoe, Amy and Ellis. Thanks also
to the SDTA office for their help and
support, and our distinguished panel
of judges – Helen Harris, Antony Johns
and Sheila Ward (pictured L to R) – for
their professionalism, efficiency and
positive energy.
12Ballet & Theatre
SDTA Central Scotland
Championship Winners 2018
Baby
Baby Cabaret Frankie Rose Black N. Tough
Baby Non-Cabaret Lacey Wilburt McKechnie
Juvenile
Tap Niamh Marsland DDA
Ballet Eva Shand N. Tough
Modern Ellis Oliver McKechnie
Song & Dance Olivia Lusk JAD
Junior
Tap Eve O’Brien HSD
Ballet Eve O’Brien HSD
Modern Carmen Judge McKechnie
Song & Dance Carmen Judge McKechnie
Senior
Tap Isla McAlpine JAD
Ballet Amelia Allan Young
Modern Millie Wright McKechnie
Song & Dance Isla McAlpine JAD
Jean Wood Memorial Trophy Winner
Carmen Judge McKechnie
13Ballet & Theatre
Some Upcoming Events
Ballet & Theatre Meetings and Lectures – Sunday, 3rd February 2019
at the SDTA Studios, 101 Park Road, G4 9JE
Details are still to be finalised but we can confirm that Wendy
Lawrence will lecture on Acrobatic Dance technique. If you wish to
attend the Acro lecture and require a syllabus, please contact the
SDTA office at least a week in advance of the lecture date to order
and pay for your syllabus. Please check our website and facebook
page regularly for updates on our February meetings and lectures.
Ballet & Theatre General Examinations
Sunday, 24th February, 2019
at the SDTA Studios, 101 Park Road, G4 9JE
Closing date for entries: Friday, 25th January, 2019
Sunday, 2nd June, 2019
at the SDTA Studios, 101 Park Road, G4 9JE
Closing date for entries: Friday, 3rd May, 2019
Dance Challenge
Sunday, 12th May, 2019
at the SDTA Studios, 101 Park Road, G4 9JE
Please attend branch meetings
and check our website and Facebook page regularly
for updates on this event.
Some feedback from our teachers:
“It gave us the opportunity to showcase our
costumes and choreography
and gave the girls some happy memories and photographs –
it added another dimension to our dancing year.”
“Thank you to the adjudicator for her constructive comments
and for relaxing and reassuring everyone.”
14Ballet & Theatre
Ballet & Theatre Scholarships 2019
The SDTA Ballet and Theatre Branch Scholarships in Ballet, Modern and Tap
will take place on Sunday, 28th April, 2019.
The winners will represent the Alliance at the Theatre Dance Council
International National Scholarships in Ballet, Modern and Tap on Friday, 2nd
August, 2019 in Fleetwood, Blackpool.
The Junior Scholarship age group is 10-13 years and the Senior Scholarship
age group is 14–17 years. Candidates must be within these age groups on
the date of the SDTA Scholarship.
The Scholarship Day consists of a masterclass and prepared solo dance
in costume. Senior Ballet nominees should be prepared for a pointework
section in their class.
We are inviting all teachers to nominate pupils who have achieved either:
• Highly Commended in any SDTA Medal Test in the Ballet and Theatre
Branch
or
• 80 marks or above in any SDTA Grade or Major Examination in the Ballet
and Theatre Branch.
• Examiners may also wish to nominate pupils
These results must have been achieved between April 1st 2018 and 31st
March 2019, and candidates must be eligible in their age group.
Entry forms are available on the SDTA website.
The closing date for nominations is Monday, 8th April, 2019.
The SDTA Scholarships will take place in the SDTA Studios, 101 Park Road,
Glasgow, G4 9JE. Registration will be at 9.30am, the masterclasses will
commence at 10.00am, and the winners and runners up will be announced
at approximately 4.00pm.
Please note that all candidates must guarantee that they are available to
represent the SDTA at the TDCI Scholarships and understand that all travel
and accommodation costs are the sole responsibility of the candidate/
legal guardian.
15Ballroom Branch Report
Ballroom
The first branch meeting in 2019 will take place at the SDTA studios on
Sunday, 3rd March, immediately following the close of the Extraordinary
General Meeting. Any proposed change of rule must be discussed at this
meeting, in order to finalise any rule change propositions to be submitted to
the SDTA office for inclusion in the A.G.M. agenda, along with the election
of the Branch Committee (who require to be endorsed by the Executive
Council at least three months prior to the A.G.M. on 8th September, 2019).
The East Coast meeting will take place at 11am on Sunday 28th April at
Dalgety Bay Community Centre, Fife, KY11 9UZ. The East Coast members
requested lectures on Foxtrot and Cha Cha Cha, which will be provided by
Andrew Cowan. The date for a further meeting in May /June, if deemed
necessary, will be decided at the April meeting.
Members are reminded that the appropriate set solo basic routine danced
to music as leader and follower must be included at every Professional
Ballroom and Latin examination level.
Margaret Cowan, SDTA Vice President and Ballroom Branch Convenor
So, You Think You Can’t Dance?
If someone has sensory, mobility or even memory impairments, can they
join a dance class? The answer is ‘Yes, they can.’ Then the practical element
kicks in and you think: How do I teach that?
I had experience of people who danced with disabilities but I wanted to find
out how I could adapt dances and include more people, so I embarked on
the Para Dance UK Inclusive Dance Training course. After completing online
learning, including a final assessment, I visited Watford for three days of
practical work.
The practical days included use of wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
Using them really made me aware of how much more time the dancer
would need to complete the moves; that you really can’t go sideways in a
wheelchair or with a mobility aid; and that not all wheelchairs are the same.
I learned how to dance in a chair and a brilliant hand dance to a tango. The
course ended with a practical assessment that included choreographing and
teaching a dance. The Inclusive Dance Training has helped me with my own
classes and in my work with a local dementia group. Watford is a bit of a
distance but I believe they are trying to set up a course in Scotland, which I
will definitely look out for.
Sherrie Carnegie
16Ballroom
Strictly Come Cruising!
In May, the Ballroom branch’s Graham McKellar boarded the P&O ship
Ventura with his wife Carol Ann, bound for the Mediterranean. The
cruise took in Spain, France, Italy – and a Strictly competition!
Strictly Come Dancing stars AJ Pritchard, Chloe Hewitt, Giovanni
Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Dianne Buswell, and Neil and Katya Jones
put the guests through their paces in a series of classes encompassing
Jive, Salsa and the Cha Cha Cha. Graham and Carol Ann were thrilled
to be selected to go through to the stage show. They were supplied
with music and a CD player and were left to choreograph and practise
their own Foxtrot routine.
On show night, the sea was a bit rocky,
as the ship was sailing through the Bay of
Biscay at that point, but that didn’t faze
Graham and Carol Ann. They danced a
beautifully-balanced American Smooth-
style Foxtrot to the Nat King Cole classic
Walking My Baby Back Home, in front of
an appreciative audience and judges Craig
Revel Horwood, Giovanni Pernice and
the ship’s Captain. They were awarded a
perfect ten by Giovanni and the Captain
but, true to form, Mr Revel Horwood
appeared to have lost his “10” paddle,
awarding them a highly respectable 9!
The final decision was in the hands of the audience, and the victorious
McKellars were presented with the glitterball trophy by Mr Revel
Horwood. Congratulations, Graham and Carol Ann!
17Baton & Cheer
Baton & Cheer Branch News
Acrobatic Dance Technique Lecture
Teachers found the last
Acro technique lecture so
helpful and informative
that they have requested
another lecture. As some
of the requests came from
Ballet and Theatre branch
members and some of our
branch members are also
Ballet and Theatre branch members, our fabulous lecturer, Wendy
Lawrence, will give an Acro technique lecture at the Ballet and
Theatre Teacher’s Day on Sunday, February 3rd, 2019 at the SDTA
studios. If you wish to attend and require an Acro syllabus, please
contact the SDTA office at least a week in advance of the lecture date
to order and pay for your syllabus.
To Teachers From All Branches
Looking for some fun warm-up ideas
for your nursery/P1/P2 classes? Why
not try our Dance Stars Pom syllabus?
If your dancers have any gaps on
their Dance Stars shield, you can
even enter them for Dance Stars Pom
examinations! All SDTA examiners
are qualified to examine Dance Stars
Pom, so it’s easy to incorporate these
tests into your examination day. You can obtain the full Dance Stars
Pom syllabus from the SDTA website, free of charge.
18Baton & Cheer
Come and be part of the amazing ATTITUDE Dance Competition at
Ravenscraig Sports Arena, Motherwell
on 17th March 2019!
The ATTITUDE Dance Competition is a fantastic event, enjoyed by
dancers of all ages and loved by spectators. With its fun, friendly,
exciting and positive atmosphere, along with a competitive spirit, it
has become a favourite fixture in our dance calendars. All dancers
will receive a medal and all teams will receive a trophy reflecting their
ranked position. The competition will also have a prize for the coach
of the team with the highest overall score.
The 2019 competition will have three sections: Hip Hop, Open
Choreography and Pom.
We are delighted to be able to offer extremely good prices for both
dancers and spectators.
To obtain the discount, early bird entries must be in by 27th January
2019. The prices are as follows: -
Dancers entering any ONE section-
Pom Dance OR Hip Hop OR Open £18 (£13 early bird entry)
Dancers entering any TWO sections
(in any combination) £28 (£22 early bird entry)
Dancers entering ALL THREE sections £33 (£26 early bird entry)
Spectators £8 (£6 early bird entry)
Entry forms are available on the SDTA website
19Highland
SDTA HIGHLAND PREMIERSHIPS 2018
The 2018 SDTA Highland Premierships took place in Ravenscraig
Sports Facility in Motherwell on Saturday, 3rd November. We wish
to congratulate Gillian Chapman and the Highland branch committee
on another fantastic event. Thank you for all your hard work. The
dancers had a wonderful day. Many thanks also to our adjudicators
and our pipers.
Congratulations to the winners and to all who took part. The winners
are shown below.
Beginners Under 8 Years Rachel Carruthers
Beginners 8 Years & Over Lily Rae
Novice Under 9 Years Lucy McMaster
Novice 9 Years & Over Paulina Smith
Intermediate 10 Years & Under Hannah Buxel
Intermediate 11 Years & Over Hollie Shumway
Broadswords 13 Years & Under Sarah Hendry School
Broadswords 15 Years & Under Sarah Hendry School
Broadswords Adult Sarah Hendry School
Premiership 7 years & under 11 Eilidh Gammons
Premiership 10 years & Under 12 Morven Terrance
Premiership 12 years & Under 14 years Charlotte Simpson
Premiership 14 years & Under 16 years Robyn McMillan
Premiership 16 years & Under 18 years Cameron Walker
Premiership Adult Rachael Walker
Premiership Over all Premiership Winner Eilidh Gammons/Robyn McMillan
Rachael Walker
Special Event 7 years & under 11 Eilidh Gammons
Special Event 11 Years Amelia Barton
Special Event 12 years & Under 14 years Charlotte Simpson
Special Event 14 years & Under 16 years Robyn McMillan
Special Event 16 years & Under 18 years Cameron Walker
Special Event Adult Chloe McClean
Photos shown opposite: Top – Overall Winners; Centre – 18 Years & Over
International Premiership Winners; Bottom – Broadswords Winners
2021
HighlandHighland
NORTH AMERICAN CONFERENCE
& SCHOLARSHIPS 2018
The team behind this year’s North American Conference and
Scholarships weekend McMaster-minded a truly dance-tastic event!
A huge thank you to:
Paulina McMaster, Dana Gamache, Sandra Bald Jones and Chelsea
Verbeek for organising this amazing weekend.
Ann Milne, Rebecca McKinnon, Pat McMaster and Wendy Wilson for
all your help and support.
Our fantastic lecturers – Gregor Bowman, Gillian Brough, Allana
Brown, Laura Donlan, Catherine MacLeod, Aileen Robertson,
Jacqueline Smith, Ashley Stowkowy and Rebecca Thow.
Our expert panel of judges – Allana Brown, Gillian Dunn, Heather
Jolley, Fiona Lee and Aileen Robertson.
Congratulations to the winners of our JL McKenzie and Elspeth
Strathern Scholarships and to all of the incredible nominees who took
part.
A great evening was had by all at the banquet, and the awards were
presented by members of our brilliant Highland examiners panel.
Terrific events like this just whet your appetite for more of the same,
so we are all looking forward to next year’s event in Seattle! Until
then, keep it reel!
22Highland
(From L to R) Jacqueline Smith, Samantha Barrow, Callie Boan
and Bill Troock
North American Scholarships 2018
Junior Scholarship Winner Calllie Boan
(Bill Troock/Kelly Abrahart)
Junior Scholarship, 2nd Place Megan Smith
(Shelley Grant Rovers)
Junior Scholarship, 3rd Place Kyla McGill
(Christina Thomas)
Senior Scholarship Winner Samantha Barrow
(Jacqueline Smith)
Senior Scholarship, 2nd Place Jordan Masales
(Pat McMaster & Paulina McMaster)
Senior Scholarship, 3rd Place Seanna Novak
(Bain, Troock, Weaver)
23Highland
EUROPEAN HIGHLAND
SCHOLARSHIPS & DAY OF DANCE
2018
A huge SDTA thank you to organiser Jill Douglas for yet another
fantastic European Highland Scholarships and Day of Dance.
The events took place at our beloved Alona hotel, whose welcoming
staff once again helped to create a terrific atmosphere of competitive
fun and SDTA magic! The standard of dancing was exceptionally high,
so many congratulations to our winners and their teachers (picture
and results shown opposite).
Thank you to our Scholarship judges (Miss Mandy Campbell, Miss
Linda Nixon and Miss Myra Miller) and to Miss Christine Lacey MBE,
our masterclass lecturer.
A great time was had by all on the Day of Dance. Thank you to our
wonderful lecturers: Miss Karen Baird, Mr Gregor Bowman, Miss
Eilidh McMillan and Miss Aileen Robertson.
The banquet was fantastic fun, as always. Special mention has to go
to the world-famous cabaret act Pas de Abba. Any similarity between
these ladies and highly respected Highland branch members (such as
Irene Miller and Julie Morris) are purely coincidental. We can confirm
to our readers that the outrageously flamboyant Abba medley had
absolutely nothing to do with the Alliance or any of its members, and
we are distancing ourselves from it most emphatically. We have been
assured that the member of the act who jumped into the splits at
the end of the routine was definitely not Margaret Livingston, SDTA
Highland examiner, even though the resemblance and the splits were
startling.
In conclusion, the UK Scholarships weekend, like a fine wine, is getting
better and better with every passing year. No pressure, Jill!
24Highland
European Scholarships 2018
Junior Scholarship Winner Niamh Donnelly
(Gillian Chapman)
Junior Scholarship, 2nd Place Leah McIlwrath
(Michelle Johnston)
Junior Scholarship, 3rd Place Edith Cui
(Allana Brown)
Senior Scholarship Winner Robyn McMillan
(Lynne Hamilton)
Senior Scholarships, 2nd Place Caitlin Findlay
(Lauren Meehan)
Senior Scholarships, 3rd Place Charlotte Simpson
(Karen Baird)
Junior Choreography Winner Isla Montgomery
(Aileen Robertson)
Senior Choreography Winner Charlotte Simpson
(Karen Baird)
25Highland
News from the Highland Branch
The SDTA were delighted to sponsor the
ScotDance Canada Championship Series’
Judges’ and Teachers’ reception. SDTA
examiners Sandra Bald Jones and Lynne
Hamilton greeted everyone on arrival,
being their gracious and friendly selves.
Our decorations looked fantastic and the
reception was very well attended. Thank
you to all who helped to organise the
reception and to all attendees.
Many thanks to Highland Ambassador Ellis Hayes for
returning to the SDTA studios this summer to conduct
some classes for us. The dancers found the classes to
be educational, inspirational…and a lot of hard work!
Once again SDTA highland examiner and REMT
Dance Director Aileen Robertson and her
dancers delighted audiences at the Royal
Edinburgh Military Tattoo. A bus-load of SDTA
members travelled through to Edinburgh
to watch this truly incredible show. Thank
you to Mrs Sutherland and Laura Morris for
organising this trip. There are rumours about
who sang loudest on the bus but we couldn’t
possibly comment…
Congratulations to the OBHD(SA) for their
wonderful highland dance conference. Thank
you for the warm welcome shown to our Vice
President Mrs Betty Sutherland, who enjoyed
meeting up with old friends and new faces.
Betty is pictured with Miss Dorothy Young.
26Highland
Many congratulations to Pat McMaster
(left) and Sandra Bald Jones (below),
who received certificates from ScotDance
Canada, celebrating 50 years of teaching.
We can only
conclude that
Mrs McMaster
and Mrs Jones
must have
joined the SDTA
when they were
5 years old.
Highland branch
members are therefore reminded that
the minimum age for Highland Associate
applicants is 16 years!
Ontario’s Katharine Robinson
and her dancers made a visit
to Scotland this summer,
and they danced at Holyrood
Palace! Katharine received a
commemorative plate from the
Equerry of Holyrood Palace. What
a wonderful way to celebrate her
50th year with the SDTA!
We had exciting news from Canada in September about Highland
examiner Sandra Bald Jones. The SDTA’s Mrs Jones was inducted into
the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction! We were delighted to see such a
loyal, hardworking and dedicated SDTA member being honoured in
this way.
27Highland
Canadian dance school Stave Falls Scottish Dancers closed in June, on
the retirement of director and SDTA Life Member Cheryle Macdonald.
The above photograph shows Cheryle on stage with her dancers at
a dance recital in 1962. The school’s final recital was a wonderful
celebration of Cheryle and the school, and included a performance
from Cheryle’s granddaughter, Shelby, entitled ‘A Dance for Gran’.
Over a period of almost 60 years, Cheryle touched many lives,
passing on her expertise and love of Highland dancing to hundreds of
students. Cheryle’s commitment to her dancers, to Highland dancing
and to the Alliance has been greatly appreciated. Congratulations,
Cheryle, on all that you have achieved.
Congratulations to the winners of the
2018 SOBHD Oscars. The winners
(shown from left to right) were: Olivia
Waddell (Juvenile), Michelle Gordon
(Senior) and Candice Walker (Adult).
28Highland
DINGWALL WORKSHOP
Our annual Dingwall workshop will take place
DINGWALL WORKSHOP
on Sunday, 24th February, 2019
Our annual Dingwall workshop will take place
at Dingwall Academy, IV15 9LT
on Sunday, 24th February, 2019
The lectures will be conducted by Betty Sutherland and Lisa Ferrie.
at Dingwall
Fee for Dancers: £15 Fee Academy, IV15 9LT
for Non-SDTA Teachers: £20
The lectures
SDTAwill be conducted
teachers by Betty
can attend Sutherland
the event and Lisa Ferrie.
free of charge
Fee for Dancers:
Application £15are available
forms Fee for Non-SDTA Teachers:
on the SDTA £20
website.
SDTAPlease contact
teachers can Michelle
attend the Schofield forof
event free details:
charge
shelldance@hotmail.co.uk
Application forms are available on the SDTA website.
SDTA(ON) Highland
Please contact Dance
Michelle Festival
Schofield for details:
Congratulations to all who competed at the SDTA
shelldance@hotmail.co.uk
choreography festival, competitions and workshops in Lock City.
Congratulations also to organiser Catherine MacLeod
on creating such an inspiring and lively event.
Many thanks to our adjudicator Ann Landry.
SDTA(ON)event
The next SDTA(ON) Highland Dance
will take placeFestival
in Milton, Ontario
Congratulations to allFebruary
on Sunday, who competed at the SDTA
3 , 2019
rd
at Bishop
choreography Reding
festival, Secondaryand
competitions School, L9T 6H7
workshops in Lock City.
Please contact Jacqueline
Congratulations also toSmith for details:
organiser jsdance@bell.net
Catherine MacLeod
on creating such anNATIONAL
inspiring andDANCES DVD!
lively event.
Many thanks ThetoSDTA are proud to
our adjudicator announce
Ann Landry. the release
of our Scottish National Dances DVD, a
The next SDTA(ON)companion
event will take place
to our in Milton,
Scottish Ontario
National Dances
book. The DVD rdgives demonstrations of:
on Sunday, February 3 , 2019
Scottish Lilt, Barracks Johnnie, The Dusty
Miller,Secondary
at Bishop Reding Scotch Measure,
School, L9THighland
6H7 Laddie,
Flora MacDonald’s Fancy, Blue Bonnets, The
Please contact Jacqueline
Earl ofSmith
Errol,for details:
The Villagejsdance@bell.net
Maid, A Tribute to
JL McKenzie and Hebridean Laddie. DVDs
can be ordered from the SDTA office and are
priced at £20 plus postage and packaging.
29Highland
Some Upcoming Events
Highland Branch Meeting & Lectures
Sunday, 27th January, 2019
at the Alona Hotel, Motherwell
More details to follow.
Please stay tuned to the SDTA website and facebook page.
Central Scotland Championships & Highland Festival
Saturday, 9th March, 2019
at the Lagoon Centre, Paisley
Entry forms are available on the SDTA website.
Highland General Examinations
Sunday, 10th March, 2019
at the SDTA Studios, 101 Park Road, G4 9JE
Closing date for entries: Friday, 8th February, 2019
Sunday, 9th June, 2019
at the SDTA Studios, 101 Park Road, G4 9JE
Closing date for entries: Friday, 10th May, 2019
30Highland
The Highland Branch are delighted to
introduce a new event to their calendar
for pupils of SDTA members.
Our Highland Choreography Challenge
will take place on Saturday, 26th January,
2019 in the Alona Hotel in Motherwell.
This new event is open to highland
dancers of all levels to compete in any
or all of the following: four step Tribute
to JL McKenzie, Solo/Duet Choreography (Scottish/Celtic theme),
Solo/Duet Choreography (open theme) and six step Cakewalk (open
theme).
A Highland Adjudicator will award the overall places, and a second
judge will award prizes for choreography, artistry and interpretation.
After the event there will be the opportunity to indulge in more
dancing, with our President’s Burns Celebration! See page 5 to find
out how to purchase a ticket for the Celebration.
Entry forms for the Challenge are available from the SDTA website
or can be emailed to you by requesting one from Lauren Meehan at
lauren.meehan@hotmail.co.uk
Highland Branch Meeting
Glasgow May 2019 Branch Meeting
(Date and time to be confirmed)
At this meeting, we will be discussing SDTA and SOBHD
nominations and propositions.
Please check the SDTA website and facebook page regularly for updates.
Meeting and Lectures
Saturday, 18th May, 2019
Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Dundee
10.30am to 1.30pm
Highland Branch Meeting
Friday, 23rd August, 2019
at the SDTA Studios, 101 Park Road, G4 9JE
6pm for 6.30pm
31Highland
A MESSAGE FROM THE HIGHLAND EXAMINERS
Scottish National Medal Tests
The current year’s Premiership Steps
will be accepted instead of syllabus steps,
as long as the syllabus steps can be demonstrated.
The demonstration does not need to be danced to music,
and it will be at the Examiner’s discretion whether
the whole step or part of the step should be demonstrated.
Please note that only the 2018 edition of the SDTA’s Scottish
National dances textbook can be used for SDTA Scottish
National examinations.
ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO 2019
Applications for the Tattoo Dance Company 2019
are now available from the SDTA website.
CODE OF ETHICS
Dancers are requested to observe the SOBHD Code of Ethics.
In particular, dancers are reminded to dress appropriately and
modestly at all times. Teachers should ensure that
this information is communicated to all pupils
and adhered to at all events.
The 2019 Teachers’ Code of Ethics
must be signed and received in the SOBHD office
prior to 2019 dancer registration cards being issued.
32Highland
2019 CHAMPIONSHIP/PREMIERSHIP STEPS
Any member who wishes to have a copy of the 2019 Championship
and/or Premiership Steps, with the SOBHD Technical committee ob-
servations, can access them from the downloads area of the SOBHD
website – www.SOBHD.net
NATIONAL DANCES DVD!
The SDTA are proud to announce the
release of our Scottish National Dances
DVD, a companion to our Scottish
National Dances book. The DVD gives
demonstrations of: Scottish Lilt, Barracks
Johnnie, The Dusty Miller, Scotch Measure,
Highland Laddie, Flora MacDonald’s
Fancy, Blue Bonnets, The Earl of Errol, The
Village Maid, A Tribute to JL McKenzie and
Hebridean Laddie. DVDs can be ordered
from the SDTA office and are priced at £20
plus postage and packaging
33Memory Lane – Alex S. Warren OBE
By Jack Reavely
Alex Warren had a background simply steeped in
dance, and it was the same with his family. They
co-owned a very famous ballroom in the centre
of Glasgow called the Albert, and their quest was
to ensure good behaviour and fabulous dancing,
both of which aims were accomplished. Because
of the terrific interest they had in dance, there was
also incorporated into the premises a downstairs
dance studio, where many thousands over the
years took their first steps into being dancers of
capability.
Alex was a fearsome fellow at times, which in fact
hid a very benign gentleman, who cloaked his personal feelings in
the transmission of extreme academic interest. Alex was in a very
elevated position in Glasgow, having been awarded the great honour
of OBE in the Queen’s announcement of selected persons. In addition
to that great honour, he was also a Justice of the Peace in Glasgow.
He also had the task of Deputy Lieutenant, which meant that when
royalty visited Glasgow he was at the forefront of preparations. On
one great occasion within the Locarno Ballroom in Sauchiehall Street,
the World 10 Dance Championship was held and Princess Margaret
was in attendance. Our Alex was in the entrance hall of the beautiful
ballroom, resplendently decorated for the occasion, and he greeted
the Princess and introduced her to some of the dancing attenders
who were there, including Bill and Bobbie Irvine, who later received
the MBE in the Honours List. Bill was invited by the Princess to
take to the floor with her, and it was terrific to see him, using his
highly-honed leading skills to ensure he made her feel comfortable
and without strain. It was a great evening, with a sumptuous dinner
thrown in too. Great days indeed.
34At the Albert there were very many competitions held, and those
couples from Edinburgh usually booked a private bus to transport them
to Glasgow for the events. Competitions and championships galore;
always with a top-class demonstration, and the demonstrators always
judged too, in addition to one other judge from Scotland. Sometimes
in major events there were five adjudicators. Alex would be seen
at these events waiting impatiently at the entrance door, and when
the bus from Edinburgh arrived, he made everyone scurry hurriedly
to the changing rooms by saying, “Come on now, you Edinburgh lot
– get ready instantly! You have five minutes before the first round
commences!” The hurry-scurry downstairs which followed was
mindboggling, with men already wearing tail trousers, shirts, collars
and bow ties by anticipating Alex’s fond welcome. The ballroom had
a balcony at one end, and in this balcony, refreshments were served
and alleviated thirst and hunger. I so remember the very first time
my wife Anne and I did well at a major championship there. I laid out
half a crown (12½ pence) for an ice cream knickerbocker glory. We
shared it with a spoon each, as a celebration of our success. As we
got to know Alex very well, it was simply astounding when we delved
into his background in dance, and the reason for his fervour became
obvious. You see, he was a fanatical dancer and also a competitor
who was so good, that he reached the grand finals of the Blackpool
Major Championships in the Empress Ballroom and his name is fixed
within the history of dance as simply an ultra-icon of dance.
Alex was such an important part of the world of dance that he was
invited by the Blackpool Festival organisers to be employed by them
as compere and leader of dances within the famed Ballroom. It was
a chance too good to turn down, and Alex travelled to Blackpool. His
very strong physique, coupled to a commanding voice, made him not
only a wondrous commentator for the dancers but also endeared
himself to all because of his great expertise in showing new dances,
and his skills were augmented indeed by the time he spent there.
During that time, he teamed up with his wife Nellie, who was also a
dancer of supreme keenness. It is like a bug which resists all attempts
of kill-offs, and lives on and on, forever and a day.
Eventually, of course, Alex returned to Glasgow to continue running
the Ballroom, and his brother John and sister Anne were always there
assisting, because of their keen interest.
35Alex eventually became the most prestigious man in dance, because
he was appointed as Chairman of Judges and compere at the
Blackpool Dance Festival, which was then, and still is, world-famed,
and attracts entries from all over the world. As a compere, Alex could
halt over conversational hubbub in the ballroom by merely saying,
“Ladies…ladies and gentlemen.” His voice carried the confidence
and authoritative aspects so necessary for this task of such enormity.
Under his guidance, the Festival grew and grew, and he had a
marvellous relationship with Madam Ida Ilett, who for many years,
during his tenure, was the organiser of the Festival, and she relied on
Alex for advice and backup, which he supplied impeccably.
As years went by, Alex let it be known that he was not all enamoured
with the display of Quicksteps when he returned to dance after the
Second World War. At that time another gentleman was chairman
and compere, but Alex was judging the entire festival almost every
year and he made his views known forcibly. In professional events
he saw lots of talent, but he reckoned that it was moving away from
the manner of ballroom dance that had allowed the British style
to remain at the top level. He thought a theatrical approach had
encroached and was diluting the dances. Famed Josephine Bradley,
whom Alex christened “The Queen of Ballroom”, said that couples
from outside the UK would be able to beat the British couples if they
adopted the theatricalities, and these were, in her expert opinion,
simply not acceptable. Alex reckoned that the quickstep in 1946
could be made to look as if it was a combination of the polka, the
highland fling and an Apache dance. He simply deplored it and said
so more than forcibly, as was his honesty of thought.
Alex then said that he would simply not mark couples who did not
meet the criteria of the protection of elegance and suave dance
performance which had made the British couples so very eminent,
worldwide. He said he would never mark couples if they produced
freakish actions which crossed the line of decorum. As a punching
comment straight from the lip, he said that it was up to the judges to
lay down the law. Couples would then quickly come to terms with the
realisation that their fondly imagined but unacceptable items would
be losing them marks, so a stop was made within the realisation
that dance was meant to be artistic and not sportive. Alex said that
the standard would improve considerably if couples adhered to his
36requirements. Don’t you find yourself warming to this great man of
dance? Fearless, coupled to an expert in dance, and simply unafraid
to bring his fierce, protective attitude to the attention of others.
In today’s environment of dance, the very same criticism is levelled
at competitors but, at high world-class level, the creation of classic
dance still depends on the acquisition of function below the centre of
gravity, while the mechanics of dance, so very wisely created by our
great Pioneers such as Josephine Bradley, depend on an understanding
of how to blend disguised athleticism with an understanding of how
to ensure that the final result is that human structures convey the
sheer and utter beauty of dance, which is free of ugly distortion.
With his wife Nellie, Alex had danced most successfully in
Championships in London, and all over the UK, including the World
Championships too. Most unfortunately, Nellie became ill, and Alex
had to find another lady to dance with. Only a week prior to the
finals, he met Celia Bristow, a young lady known as a superb exponent.
Alex reckoned she was the very best lady dancer he had ever seen or
danced with. He won with her the very first Scottish Open Professional
Championships, and in the fabulous Star Championships in London
they flew into 4th place, which was a feat of sheer magnificence. For
some years, after his placing at the Star, Alex became very frustrated,
as he couldn’t make further inroads but kept repeating 4th place.
Alex then danced with some different ladies and also at the British
Open in Blackpool, where he came 3rd in 1930 and then with Betty
McGregor in 1931 and 1932. He was one of the first dancers to travel
all over the UK, demonstrating first with Betty McGregor and then
with Adele Roscoe. He got fed up with all the travelling, and it was
back to Glasgow for him, to once again concentrate on the Albert
along with his brother John.
It was inevitable that his great talents were recognised, and he
became Chairman of the Official Board of Ballroom Dancing, as well
as Chairman and Compere at Blackpool, and he supported dance
by running the events in the Albert Ballroom. He didn’t like events
that felt as if they were foregone conclusions, as they, for him, killed
enthusiasm.
Make no mistake: the dance world has been very lucky over the
years, because Alex, and those like him, gave their talents and,
37through their own ferocious fervour, encouraged everyone who loved
dance. Thank you so much, Alex S. Warren OBE JP DL (posthumously,
unfortunately).
Jack Reavely
In the next issue, learn more about Alex Warren – and the creation
of the SDTA!
In Loving Memory
With great regret but fond memories, the
Alliance said goodbye to
the following members in 2018:
Loree Martin Vellner (Highland Branch)
Joan Murray (Highland Branch)
Isobel St. John (Highland Branch)
Iain MacDonald, (Highland Branch)
38SDTA Diary 2019 – So Far!
January
26th Highland Choreography Challenge Motherwell
26th President’s Burns Celebration Motherwell
27th Various Lectures & Meetings Motherwell
February
3rd Ballet & Theatre Lectures and Meetings 101 Park Rd
3rd SDTA (ON) Highland Dance Festival Ontario
16th World Cabaret Performer Heat Dumbarton
24th Ballet and Theatre General Examinations 101 Park Rd
24th Dingwall Workshop Dingwall
March
3rd SDTA Extraordinary General Meeting 101 Park Rd
3rd Ballroom Branch Meeting 101 Park Rd
9th Central Scotland Championships Paisley
10th Highland General Examinations 101 Park Rd
17th Attitude Dance Competition Ravenscraig
April
28th Ballroom Branch Meeting Dalgety Bay
28th Ballet & Theatre Scholarships 101 Park Rd
May
TBC Glasgow Highland Branch Meeting 101 Park Rd
12th Ballet & Theatre Dance Challenge 101 Park Rd
18th East Coast Highland Branch Meeting Dundee
June
2nd Ballet and Theatre General Examinations 101 Park Rd
9th Highland General Examinations 101 Park Rd
August
23rd Highland Branch Meeting 101 Park Rd
September
8th SDTA Annual General Meeting 101 Park Rd
8th Ballroom Branch Meeting 101 Park Rd
October
6th Ballet & Theatre Lectures and Meetings 101 Park Rd
TBC NA Scholarships & Conference Seattle
11th – 19th Stage Festival and Championships Dumbarton
TBC Highland Branch Meeting 101 Park Rd
November
2nd SDTA Premierships and Highland Festival Ravenscraig
2nd Ballroom Branch Meeting & Dinner 101 Park Rd
9 & 10 UK & European Highland Scholarships and Day of Dance
th th
Motherwell
December
1st Ballet & Theatre General Examinations 101 Park Rd
8th
Highland General Examinations 101 Park Rd
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