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The British Association is a Registered Friendly Society
No 11 SA (5) and is represented on the British Dance Council- The
Central Council of Physical Recreation - The Scottish Official Board
of Highland Dancing and The Stage Dance Council International.
The British Association is represented in the United Kingdom,
Malta, Canada, America, Australia, South Africa, Spain, France,
Italy, Holland, Germany, Belarus, Latvia, Korea and many other
countries.
In 1892 the British Association Of Teachers of Dancing was
founded and became the first Dancing Association to encourage
the professionals of the day to organise themselves into a society
to improve and develop the art of dancing, in many forms. The
Association may have started a little before 1892, but November
the 30th 1892, is the first recorded date that can be established
beyond doubt.
There were twenty four Founder Members in 1892 and from
this
small beginning the Association has grown to about three and a
half thousand members in 1999. In 1896 the Society became a
Friendly Society and has remained the only Dancing Society to
be so registered since that time.
The aims of the B.A.T.D. are clearly stated in Rule 3, to
promote the art of dancing pursuant to the special authority of
the 10th June 1979 given to section 7(F) of the Friendly Societies
Act of 1974. Also to assist members of the Association in times
of distress.
As a matter of interest, within a few years of the foundation
of the B.A.T.D. the Manchester Ship Canal opened, the first motor
cars appeared on the roads, with a maximum speed of fourteen miles
per hour, the first flat gramophone record became available, The
London Underground started, the Boar War began and 'Wireless' was
all the rage.
The general configuration
of the Society is as follows,
the President, Vice Presidents, Trustees Treasurer and
Executive Council Members are all elected by the
membership at conference, also elected are various
other committees. The nominees for these positions
are selected by the Districts of the Association. At the
present time there are eight Districts or Areas in
Scotland and England, eight in Canada and America,
one in Malta and one in Belarus.
It is at District level that members are able to take
advantage of the system and seek higher office,
beginning with District positions and then, if they so
desire, Executive positions. So it must be understood
that District Meetings are a very important part of the function of the
B.A.T.D. Propositions for change of Rules or Bye Laws also come from District
recommendation.
 
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