CSTD replies

You are here: DanceSport > CSTD replies

CSTD replies to commentary...

Following is the reply of CSTD to the article we ran earlier questioning CSTD's credentials. CSTD president Leslie P. Newman submitted this in the Dance Addict's Forum. Let the reader decide.

DanceSport The Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing
Suite 2, 8 Shelley Street, Richmond, Victoria 3121 Australia
Telephone: +613 9428 2983 Fax: +613 9428 5022

August 18th, 1999

DANCESPORT POLITICS - AUSTRALIAN OR OTHERS HAVE NO PLACE IN THE PHILIPPINES
By: Leslie P. Newman, O.A.M., F.A.M.I.
President, C.S.T.D.

It was fascinating to read 'Dance Addict's Guide' and the comments headed "A PEEK INTO DANCESPORT POLITICS," and in particular the misinformation about this Society.

SO...... LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS!!!.

WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG AND WHY IS THERE A "SPIN" ON EVEN WHAT'S RIGHT?

So what is the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (C.S.T.D.)?

Fact 1: A democratically constituted dance society established in Australia 66 years ago offering examinations in various dance disciplines including ballroom (or Dancesport if you prefer that label) throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific Region.

Fact 2: One of eight professional dance societies in Australia who are the 'member bodies' of the Australian Dancing Board which was established in 1964.

Fact 3: The Australian Dancing Board is the Australian member of the World Dance & Dance Sport Council (W.D.& D.S.C.) which is the controlling body for the world of professional Dancesport.

Fact 4: There are 16 dance societies in Australia 'recognized' by the Australian Dancing Board some of which operate on a state only basis.

Fact 5: The C.S.T.D. conducts a range of activities in Australia outside of it's examining role. These include Dancesport Championships and festivals, workshops and other member service activities.

Fact 6: The C.S.T.D., after advising Ms. Becky Garcia of the Dance Sport Council of the Philippines during a discussion in Manila last November (1998) of our planned response to the enquiries for ballroom exams in the Philippines, has provided teacher training and examinations in the Philippines. We are also responding to similar requests from other countries in the region.

Fact 7: No dance society can be a member of the W.D. & D.S.C. countries are members. The same situation would seem to exist with the I.D.S.F.

Fact 8: The I.D.S.F. (International DanceSport Federation) developed from the former International Council of Amateur Dancers. The W.D. & D.S.C. and the I.D.S.F. have a long standing 'Joint Agreement' and a joint committee to address matters of mutual concern between amateurs and professionals.

Fact 9: At international level dance politics are part of the world scene as individual factions and people push their own agenda. In microcosm this is reflected in Australia and perhaps in other countries.

Fact 10: The C.S.T.D. is in the Asia Pacific Region for the long haul. Our commitment to the region is an ongoing one. Our stated objective in our Constitution is "to encourage the art of dance."

What's wrong 1: The C.S.T.D. has "probably less than 10 'ballroom members'". RUBBISH!!!

Over a period of 66 years the number of professional dance exams at Teacher Diploma (Member) level in the various ballroom syllabi may well exceed that of other Societies AND no informed professional could question the 'quality' of the examination.

What's wrong 2: The C.S.T.D. has no "intention...to set up a foreign controlled dance teaching examination system (or) to mimic the methods used by the English dance teaching Societies."
      What we will do is to provide access to countries in the region to an international examination system in the dance disciplines in which we offer our syllabi.

What's wrong 3: If the C.S.T.D. "does not have any Australian Government recognition" (whatever that means). What are various C.S.T.D. syllabi recognized by State Governments in Australia? Why are we invited to sit on the "Reference Group" for an Australian Government funded programme to establish Interim National Competency Standards applicable to all forms of dance to lead national teaching standards for recognition by the Australian National Training Authority?
     Why was the President, Les Newman, OAM honored in 1996 under the Australian Order of Australia Honours system with the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for "service to ballroom dancing?"

What's wrong 4: If "the C.S.T.D has no status internationally", how did it become established in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Brunei, India, the Philippines and other countries and why are we being invited into other countries in the region?

AND NOW..... SOME QUESTIONS

Question 1: Who is the un-named "source in Australia" who provided the misinformation about C.S.T.D and more importantly what was his/her objective?

Question 2: Why is there a "spin" on what's right in the "PEEK INTO DANCESPORT POLITICS?"

Question 3: (and an answer) Who is Les Newman?
     President, Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (since 1976)
     Director, Australian Dancing Board (since 1977 and this is current)
     Appointed Australian Dancing Board Delegate to the World Dance & Dancesport Council in 1988 and has represented Australian Dancing Board at W.D.&D.S.C. meetings in that capacity most years since then and is eligible for re-appointment in 2000 should he choose to make himself available.
     Elected Chairman, Australian Dancing Board in 1988 and served for three years.
     Series Consultant to the television series "THAT'S DANCING" during its three year run on national television in Australia on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television network (1989 to 1991).

AND IN CONCLUSION

In many countries it seems the ballroom dance scene is ridden with politics - the Philippines does not need this problem and the C.S.T.D is proud to stand on it's record of sixty six years of service to dance.

Les Newman, OAM
President