BATD - Who's Who

Who's Who - Page 2

This area of the site will introduce the members of the Executive Council of the B.A.T.D. to you, please make sure you check out the first page.

Executive Council

	Mrs Audrey Bainbridge Audrey has been a member of the BATD for 31 years. She started dancing at the age of 5 years in Highland and Country Dancing and took up Ballroom Latin and Old Time at the age of 10. Audrey is an Examiner of the BATD and has been a Vice President of the Association for 3 years. She is District Secretary of the BATD’s Western District and is the BATD’s delegate to the British Dance Council’s Sequence Advisory Committee.

	Miss Christine Aitken Christine has been dancing since the age of 2 1/2years, winning the Scottish Championship at Cowal in 1957. She is the Principal of the Christine E. Aitken Academy of Dance in Paisley & Johnstone and have been teaching for 38years, Chairman of the Association's Highland Committee and member of the Stage and Ballet Committee. She has been for many years a delegate of the Association on the SOBHD and also their Technical Committee. She is also Vice Chairman of the Scottish District (West). Christine is an Examiner with the B.A.T.D. and also S.O.B.H.D. Adjudicator.

	Miss Margaret Smith Margaret is a Past President of the Association and currently a member of the Executive Council, Stage and Ballet Committee and Rules Committee. She previously held the office of Scottish West Chairman (for several years) and has been on district committees organising various competitions and events. Margaret is a Fellow and Examiner and has a successful Dance School on the south side of Glasgow. She teaches a wide range of subjects including Tap, Modern Dance, Jazz, Acro/Gymnastic, Ballet, Highland, Majorette, Freestyle/Hip Hop, Rock & Roll and Country and Western.

	Miss Helen Ford Helen trained at the Sadie Simpson School of Dancing in Glasgow and later performed professionally in several stage shows in the Kings and Pavilion Theatres. She is also a licentiate of the London College of Music in Speech & Drama. Helen has held several offices within the Association and was president from 1991-95. She is also an examiner in the Theatre Branches.

	Miss Christine Lacey Christine is a fellow and Examiner of the BATD, a member of the Executive Council, a member of the Stage and Ballet Committee and Secretary of the Highland Committee. She is also a BATD technical delegate to the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, District Treasurer for Scottish District West and an International Adjudicator on the S.O.B.H.D. Among Christine's "highland" credits are six times World Highland Dancing Champion.

	Mrs Pat Mennell Pat is a Fellow, Examiner and Life Member and has been a member for 36 years. She was appointed to be Examiner to the Association in 1995. She is also a Member of the Associations Ballroom Commitee (Modern Ballroom) for the past 8 years.

	Mr Derek Cragg Derek joined the BATD in 1974 and is now a Life Member of the Association. He has been Secretary, Chairman, and Vice Chairman and is currently a Committee Member of the BATD London District. His responsibilities on the Executive Council include coordinating the BATD Annual Conferences and looking after the interests of the BATD on the Council for Dance Education and Training. Derek holds degrees in Physics & Mathematics and is retired scientific project engineer.

	Mr John Comrie John with his wife Charlotte started dancing as an amateur being trained by Harry & Helene Rollins. He danced successfully both home and abroad in many major Championships and was a Scottish Internationalist in the Ballroom and Latin Field. He ran a very successful and privately owned dance studio in Airdrie where many couples were taught from raw beginners to Championship status. He was also one of the first promoters of Freestyle Competitions and in 2001 was awarded the prestigious Carl Alan Promoters Award. He is a Fellow/Examiner and Life Member of the BATD and has been Vice Chairman and for many years has been and still is the Chairman of Scottish District West.

	Elma Whyte Elma is a Life Member, Fellow and Examiner of the B.A.T.D. and is a Member of the Stage & Ballet Committee. Elma started dancing at the age of 2 and a half years and in 1966 she opened her own dance school and now runs her own highly successful private dance studio with many of her pupils teaching and performing throughout the world. For several years now Elma and her pupils regularly apear on Cbeebies TV programme. Her studio has been proud to recieve for several consecutive years now a certificate of excellence from the Stage Dance Council International. Elma is delighted to be a member of the B.A.T.D. Executive Council.