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Colin Donaldson

Director 2021-2022

Fellow and Theatre Branch Examiner

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.

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Yvonne Goût

Director 2021-2022

Fellow and Theatre Branch Examiner

Yvonne is a Fellow and examiner of the Theatre Branch and is actively involved in many of the IDTA committees including the Ballet Faculty, Overseas Development Committee, Finance & General Purposes Committee, London Meeting and Congress Arrangements Committee and the Selection Committee for Dance Proms. She also continues to develop and build the South East Area.

One of the proudest memories of her career was when elected president for 2006-2007 and again in 2011-12. This gave her ample opportunity to travel throughout the country and meet many members. Yvonne pursued a professional career gaining a wide experience in performing arts. Teaching dance and theatre skills became her passion, opening her own school in north London. For many years she produced and directed Young Stars of Tomorrow in London (Dominion, Sadler's Wells, Royalty and Mermaid theatres), these shows being blessed through the attendance of well-known figures in our Royalty.

All in all, this kind of work on business elements, and the necessities involved were to help her in years to come. She now specialises in training professional dancers and teachers of who have become IDTA Examiners and also works as a professional coach in all Theatre genres.

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Vanessa Hooper

Director 2021-2022

Fellow and Theatre Branch Examiner

Vanessa trained at the Royal Ballet School and danced as a Principal with the Royal Ballet and Northern Ballet Companies and was a dancer, singer and actress in several musicals in London whilst teaching at Pineapple Dance Centre. She has choreographed and directed for the stage and television in London and Europe including Starlight Express with Arlene Phillips. After completing her IDTA Fellowship examinations she returned to teaching alongside her mother Vera Skelton and became an examiner for the IDTA. She has been on the Ballet Faculty for over twenty years and is currently chairman.

Through passion and knowledge Vanessa has trained dancers in the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, The Mariinsky Ballet & Matthew Bourne’s Company. Her pupils are performing in West End and touring musical productions and cruise ships and companies around the world. She has coached dancers for the Prix de Lausanne and has had winners at Adeline Genée, Molly Lake and Young Dancer of the Year. In 2016 Vanessa was awarded the Carl Alan Teachers’ Award.

“Dancing teaches special skills, makes extraordinary people and enhances life. It is my ambition to promote this and the reason I am standing for the IDTA Board of Directors.”

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Lynda King

Director 2021-2022

Fellow and Ballroom Branch Examiner

Lynda first entered a dance school at the age of ten and attended various classes in ballroom and theatre subjects; eight years later she took her first IDTA Associate examination. In 1991 she became an Examiner in the Ballroom Branch, giving her the opportunity to travel around the UK and overseas.

She first lectured at Congress in 1996 and has since lectured at many Area meetings. Throughout these engagements she has enjoyed meeting other dance teachers who are also working to promote dance to the general public. She has also enjoyed working, as co-author with Lyndon Wainwright, on various commercial projects including the most successful Let's Dance published by Harper Collins in 2005. Lynda's own book Let's Rock 'n' Roll was first published in 2006; this technique is used for professional examinations. Further technical publications for IDTA have since followed, including Street Dance Guide, IDTA’s first syllabus and printed publication.

She bought her dance school in 1987 and ran a very successful and busy medallist school in Essex, for more than 26 years, teaching children from the age of three through to adults of all ages and abilities. Still backed by a brilliant team of assistants, she always gets great satisfaction from teaching anyone to dance. Lynda, currently serving as a member of both the Freestyle Faculty and the Latin Faculty, enjoys the work that involves a strong commitment to the Association and its members. The opportunity to develop this involvement further came in 2005 when she was first elected to the Board of Directors. 

 

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Joanne Kirkland

Director 2021-2022

Fellow and Theatre Branch Examiner

Jo started dancing age 4, showing great aptitude for dance and progressing successfully through all her grades. During this period she also competed in high level competitions, achieving the status of British Ballet Champion in 1976. Jo went on to perform professionally in both theatre and television.

Starting her own very successful dance school 32 years ago, she decided that her ultimate goal was to become an IDTA examiner and adjudicator.
After professional coaching she was successful in becoming a Fellow in all 4 Theatre Genres and Freestyle, adding Street, Cheer, Dance exercise and Gymnastic Diplomas to her portfolio as well.

In 2002 Jo became an IDTA examiner, a role she has cherished for the last 15 years. She now examines at professional level and has had the opportunity to promote IDTA within the UK and also across the world. Over the last year she was honored to attend Australia, New Zealand and China promoting the IDTA.

Having been educated and mentored by the best, she believes she has a broad understanding of how young professionals feel pushing themselves to succeed in our industry. The development of IDTA Ballroom and Theatre worldwide is now one of Jo's keen interests.

Looking to the future and always listening to the members, she believes she has ideas, background and capability to provide security for the members professional and business careers in the years to come. Jo feels she is now in the position to dedicate herself to IDTA and its members worldwide.

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Dawn Parker

Director 2021-2022

Fellow and Ballroom Branch Examiner

Dawn started dancing at the age of seven, and was introduced into the Medal test system through the classical sequence branch. Subsequently she took Medals in several branches, entered and partnered in IDTA Medallist competitions, and in 1974 won Medallist of the Year in Classical and Modern Sequence under the guidance of Derek Tonks and Beryl Bates.

Her desire to teach was very strong and as a result she qualified at 17 in Classical Sequence and Ballroom. She continued studying for further qualifications in other branches at John Knight Dance Studios. By 28 years old Dawn had attained Fellowships in Ballroom, Latin and Sequence, and at 29 was appointed IDTA examiner. She has been a full-time dance teacher all her working life.

She has been a part of IDTA since the beginning in 1967 and firmly believes it will remain the biggest and best by keeping up with modern trends and styles, and encouraging all ages and abilities to get involved in the subject. She has, and still continues to, fully support the Medal test system and has entered thousands of pupils in Ballroom, Latin, Sequence, Freestyle, Rock 'n' Roll, Country and Western, Cheerleading, Dance Exercise and Club Dance style tests.

She has trained numerous professionals in all branches. Dawn has been a member of the Midlands Area Committee for 14 years and is currently Vice Chairman; she is also the current Chairman of the Freestyle Faculty and has previously held titles in 2002-2004 and 2009-2010.

In 2006 she was elected onto the Ballroom Faculty and has thoroughly enjoyed working with colleagues on the revision of our technique book. Her love of examining, lecturing and adjudicating at all levels has not deteriorated, and she still loves the buzz of visiting and revisiting venues to receive a warm reception from all our members. She has thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the Board since 2004, and has become even more aware of how hard her fellow directors work to maintain our standards.

It has been an honour and privilege for Dawn to play a part in the continuing development of the biggest and best dance teachers association in the world, and especially to represent the Association as President from 2010-2011 and again in 2018-2019 - a role she thoroughly enjoyed and took very seriously. She would like to thank everyone who had faith in her. Dawn is always approachable and ready to offer advice and encouragement.

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