Our people

Anna is a Fellow, Examiner and Past President of the Association. She started her dancing career at an early age and for the first few years centred around Ballet and Stage. A deep love of Latin American and Ballroom then developed as she followed in her parents’ footsteps. Anna's roots with the Association go back to childhood days. Her father, Henry Goodall, was a founder member in the Midlands many years before the merger which created IDTA, as we know it today.

A very successful Latin American career then followed. She won many championships and was a member of the British team. She retired from the competition floor to concentrate on her school to which Anna devoted many years as a full time professional. Her studio in the West Midlands catered for many forms of dance. Anna's personal involvement included the full range of teaching from first-time beginners, all grades of medallists and competitors plus professional coaching in Ballroom, Latin American and Freestyle.

She has travelled extensively, coaching, adjudicating and lecturing at home and abroad. Anna has had many years of experience of committee work including Board of Directors since 1996 having been President for three terms of office and she has been Chairman of the IDTA Freestyle Faculty many times. During her first term as Chairman she produced the book and video entitled Freestyle Dance which has been adopted by the Association to cover this form of dance. More recently Anna has written the follow-up book Advanced Freestyle which has been widely acclaimed.

Anna also has experience of being a member of the Finance & General Purposes Committee, Overseas Development Committee and London Meeting & Congress Arrangements Committee. In 1996 and 2003 she was the proud recipient of a Carl Alan Award after being nominated by IDTA. She was also the joint recipient of the Millennium Lifetime Award for Outstanding Achievement and Continued Excellence in Freestyle Dance. Anna holds a degree in Dance Teaching and has a post graduate diploma in Medical Microbiology. She believes strongly in the future of the International Dance Teachers Association by listening to the needs of its members and embracing innovation in order to keep ahead in the ever evolving world of dance.

George was first elected to the Executive Council in 1978 and has served continually since on what has now become the Board of Directors. He controls, with his wife, Pat, the running of the Thompson Dance Centre in Maghull, near Liverpool, together with full and part time staff numbering, between ten and twelve people. Over the last 40 or so years they have trained many thousands of medallists and professionals through the school.

George started his business career by training and dealing in the London Stock Exchange and later moved north to become northern agent for the sale of the merchandise of three large manufacturing companies, during which time George and Pat had a distinguished competitive career, winning the British Open, World, European and many other major amateur and professional titles. When they eventually retired from competing George gave up all his business connections to concentrate on the dancing profession.

Involved as he is with a great deal of international work, during his Presidency in 1997/98 he established the Publicity Committee to promote IDTA at home and abroad. In July 2002 George was appointed Financial Director and chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee. He is also a delegate to the British Dance Council and World Dance Council. Having originally qualified only with the IDTA, he is a devout worker for the future success of the Association and considers loyalty and reliability to the service of members a number one priority for all Directors.

Lynn started dancing at the age of nine with her brother Keith Clifton. Later she won the British and European Latin Championships with her partner Alan Armsby and was a member of the British Team.  She is proud to be the auntie of Strictly Come Dancing stars Kevin and Joanne Clifton.

Following a successful period of teaching in the competitive scene, Lynn and Alan spent many years performing and teaching on cruise ships.  This work extended Lynn’s knowledge of other forms of dance and she became a successful choreographer on board some of the world’s finest cruise ships. 

Lynn opened her own school in the UK  in 1990,  and this is still successfully operating today. She became an IDTA examiner over 20 years ago and has had the pleasure and the privilege of examining in the UK and overseas. Lynn is a successful and respected teacher both in the UK and abroad and has successfully trained social dancers, competitors and many professionals in a variety of dance genres.

In 2010 after gaining a Masters Degree in Leadership and Management, Lynn began teaching full time at Buckinghamshire New University.   This involved developing and leading a unique BA in Dance and Performance which also produces many IDTA professionals.

Lynn left the University in July 2016 and was appointed to the IDTA Board of Directors in the same month.  She is passionate about dance at all levels, works extensively to promote the IDTA and support its members, and considers fairness and professionalism to be at the heart of her values.

Former Director and President of the IDTA. Honorary President of the British Dance Council 2009 - Present. President of the Council and Chairman of the Board of Directors 2004 - 2009. Vice-President, World Dance & Dance Sport Council 1999 - 2003. World, European and British Amateur Champion. British Team Captain 1979 -1991.

Philip started dancing at the age of eight and competed in Juvenile, Junior, Amateur and Professional Competitions in Ballroom and Latin.

On becoming professional, he found that he enjoyed the teaching side of dancing and has been a member of the IDTA for over 40 years. Philip and his wife Christine have run a successful dance centre in Southampton for 39 years. The school’s base is Medallist pupils, covering many dance styles and offering social events and dance holidays.

Philip has been teaching local groups of adults with learning disabilities and has taken them onto the Medal test system. He is now involved with a study by Southampton University on the benefits of Ballroom Dancing for Parkinson’s disease sufferers.

Philip also works with many professionals, training them for teaching qualifications, and has trained teachers to Fellowship and Examiner level. His love of technique enabled Philip to fulfill his lifelong ambition to become an IDTA examiner in 1992.

Philip has been a member of the South East Area Committee for many years and is a past Chairman. He has been a member of the IDTA Board of Directors for many years and was President in 2005-2006 and 2012-2013, a role which he enjoyed immensely. Philip and his wife travelled the length of the country to meet with as many members of the IDTA areas as possible, and has enjoyed his connection with both the Ballroom and Theatre Branches.

Colin took his first professional dance qualification in 1967. The Association was then known as the 'International Dance Masters Association'.

Since his appointment as an Examiner in the Ballroom branches, he has travelled to many parts of the UK, working in many different IDTA dance schools. Examination work has allowed him to meet many IDTA teachers in their own dance schools, which helps him to understand the challenges they are facing. He has also travelled the world for the Association, lecturing, judging and examining.

Colin was elected to the Board of Directors in 1999 and served as President from 2008-2009, he takes great pride in being an active member of the Board. He has gained a great deal of knowledge from serving on many of the various sub-committees and faculties; including the British Dance Council, the London Meeting & Congress Arrangements Committee, the Finance & General Purposes Committee and various others.

With his wife Jacqui and two daughters, Cara and Kerri-Anne, he manages two very different types of dance schools. One catering exclusively for social dancers and those who wish to take Medals. The other, original school now caters mainly for advanced dancers, and those who wish to compete and to perfect their dance skills.