Press Statement - by Bryan Allen

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9 th November 2010

Statement by the President

I stand here today proud to be the President the British Dance Council, an Organisation representing all of the dance interests of Great Britain .

In the area of competition dancing there can now be no doubt in anyone's mind that we have a war on our hands.

Briefly, the IDSF have issued a worldwide ban on all competitions not held under IDSF rules, this includes both competitors and adjudicators taking part and would include all competitions granted by and run under the rules of the British Dance Council, so the promoters of all our competitions are affected by this ban.

This war is not with our Corporate Member Body EADA but with the IDSF.

It is no surprise to those who have been involved with international affairs for many years that the aim of the IDSF is the complete control of all competitions in every Country of the World for the IDSF to dominate every Country.

Some might have failed to recognise this situation but now I say to them you have to participate like it or not. You take sides by in-action as much as by action.

As we consider the whole IDSF situation today I want to ask you to focus your minds on this one aspect. Who controls dancing in Great Britain ?

If you are prepared to pass control of competitions organised here in the United Kingdom or indeed any aspect of dancing as is presently under the umbrella of this Council to the IDS, then you are prepared to see the end of the British Dance Council and its 81 years of dedicated work.

Please allow me to remind you of my words in my Annual Report delivered at the March meeting. I said to you then

"On both the international and domestic fronts let me state clearly that I will not stand aside when attacks are made either upon the Corporate Member bodies of the BDC or upon their individual members. I will defend resolutely the Institutions of the dancing World within the boarders of the United Kingdom against those who would directly or indirectly try to interfere or damage what has been built up since 1929

The BDC is in a situation where outside Organisations are seriously undermining the freedom of competitors to enter our Open to the World competitions and championships."

I am delighted that David Corfield and EADA have been so cooperative in trying to find a solution but we are at a time when everyone has a choice to make and that includes EADA and the other National Amateur Organisations who are Corporate Members of this Council.

Total support for the British Dance Council and its competitions is paramount at this difficult time.

So ladies and gentlemen please focus your minds on the big issue. Do you want Great Britain to remain independent?

Do you want Great Britain to continue to be the place where we welcome all dancers?

Are you prepared to accept that difficulties must be dealt with and brave decisions supported?

If you are not, then your position within this Council is untenable

If you are not then there is every possibility that this Council cannot survive.

We are in a war, a war for survival, you fight or you die

I am fighting!!!!!

BRYAN ALLEN

President

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