30 years of IDO World Tap dance Championships
Beverly Wood / Johannesburg - South Africa President IDO-South Africa (SABOD) | IDO-Judge | Teacher | Choreographer | Team Captain
MY IDO JOURNEY SINCE 1991. My wonderful IDO journey began in 1996 when I first travelled to the IDO events with my very dear friend, whom you all knew and loved so much, the late Gloria Fish. Since then, I have always been so warmly welcomed by all those close to the IDO and I’ve been humbled to have been able to meet such amazing people from all over the world!
In 1992, Dayle Farrell was accompanied by Gloria Fish to the IDO World Championships, held at the Hamburg Conference centre. Dayle was the first of my pupils to enter the World Tap Champs and ended up being the only female in the final, achieving 7th place. That was the first of many wonderful excursions to the IDO World Championships with Sharon another beloved friend of mine. Gloria took our first dancers over in 1996 to compete – Jacque Verquil (Gloria’s daughter) Angela Collins in 1996 and Dayle Farrell in 1992 at the Hamburg Conference centre were amongst the first dancers to attend IDO Tap World Championships Since then, I have personally attended and sent students from my dance school to compete. Every trip has been a unique adventure. Many beautiful venues are entrenched in my memory; the Riesa Town Hall and now the Sachsen Arena, the amazing Portoroz outdoor arena, the very beautiful venue in Hamburg, to name but a few. A really special memory was the Tap Champs where my “Golden Girls” performed and achieved first place, after I had taken them over from Gloria. It was a highlight in the lives of all those lovely ladies and they still speak about it today as if though it took place yesterday. A “golden opportunity” for South Africa’s “golden girls”. Having this opportunity to compete in international arena has given many dancers a chance to travel and we have certainly seen the growth in our dancers competing at this level. My awards that have been given to me from IDO have truly been such a wonderful blessing. Thank you for these. I hope in the future I could become more involved in IDO. On a more personal note, Michael, I appreciate so many things about you and Christa…. The way you welcomed me into the IDO family when South Africa was so small and insignificant. You always made our teams from SA feel so “wanted” at the World Champs and each member of the team so important as a “South African” …. other fond memories are the different places you have arranged for your officials to see what all Riesa is all about….. I love how you have introduced the tap master classes at the Riesa events as well at the Tap Battle competition, it is all things that bring our youth together. You will never know what a positive influence you have had on so many South African teachers, choreographers, dancers, and families. You were part of a whole IDO team, who have also been so amazing over th e years; I thank you for the way in which you always encouraged them to take care of us…it never went unnoticed. Through you I met so many interesting and influential people from around the world. These experiences would never have come my way ordinarily and I will be forever grateful to you for enriching my career as a humble dance teacher, IDO judge, serving on the appeal committee of IDO, my proud moment of being nominated for the Honorary Board to being the President and examiner of the South African Body of Dance down here at the foot of Africa. Most of all I like to think of us as great “friends”. I will certainly cherish our friendship forever and I look forward to the day that I can host you and all your IDO members once again at Sun City in South Africa!!
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