Our patrons are an inspiring group of individuals who act as our ambassadors for the dance community and raise awareness of the work we do for the dance industry worldwide.
Shirley Ballas, originally from Wallasey, has been dancing since the age of seven. She is three time ‘British Open to the World’ Latin American Champion, 10-time US Latin American Champion, and multiple-times British National Champion. By 21, Shirley had won nearly every major title she competed in worldwide. She is the only person to have ever won the British Open to the World Latin American Championships in Blackpool with two different partners and reached the finals an impressive 17 times. Shirley still remains the youngest ever female to reach the ‘British Open to the World’ Dance Championship finals. Shirley is now one of the top Ballroom and Latin teachers and adjudicators in the world and is delighted and honoured to be head judge on the BBC’S Strictly Come Dancing.
As President of the ISTD, Shirley acts as a figurehead for the Society - attending events, making press and media appearances, and promoting and advocating for dance education and the Society across the world.
Shobana is an internationally acclaimed choreographer and founder of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance. Since 1989, she has created over 60 critically acclaimed works for diverse settings, from Palladian monasteries in Venice to contemporary fountains in London. Her choreography is celebrated for its intellectual depth and dynamic physicality, reflecting her perspective as a postcolonial global citizen.
Trained in Bharatanatyam, the classical dance of South India, Shobana also studied English Literature at the University of Sussex. Her works have toured globally and are featured in the UK’s National Curriculum for Dance. Notable collaborations include Rambert, Ballet Black, and Opera National du Rhin, with acclaimed pieces like Faultline, TooMortal, and Material Men.
Beyond choreography, Shobana has contributed to theatre, judged BBC Young Dancer, and held cultural production and leadership roles at Middlesex University and King’s College London. Her accolades include honorary doctorates, an Honorary Fellowship at Trinity Laban, and major awards such as a CBE in 2020.
As Vice President of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, Shobana continues to inspire and support the next generation of dance educators and artists.
Anthony is a renowned choreographer whose career spans theatre, film, television, and live performance. A graduate of the London School of Contemporary Dance, he began as both performer and choreographer with the school’s company.
Anthony’s theatre credits include global hits such as Tina The Musical(Outer Circle Critics Award, Tony Award nomination), Mamma Mia! (Dora Mavor Moore Award), Sister Act (Olivier Award nomination), Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat (Olivier Award nomination), and Candide (Olivier Award for Best Musical). In film, his work features in Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia!, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, and more.
On television, Anthony has served as Creative Director for The Olivier Awards and The Royal Variety Show. He has also choreographed concerts for iconic artists including Cher, Kate Bush, and Sarah Brightman.
A dedicated educator, Anthony has taught at the London Contemporary Dance School, The Royal Ballet School, and Rambert Dance Company. He is a patron of Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama, Urdang, and The Place.
Honoured with an MBE in 1999 and a CBE in 2018 for services to dance and choreography, Anthony also holds an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts. As Vice President of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, he continues to inspire the next generation of dance artists.
Christopher is a highly respected adjudicator and teacher of competitive dancing. Starting his competitive dance career at the age of 11, he has received numerous world championship awards including the World Professional Ballroom Championship title, which he received three consecutive times. Christopher previously served as the Chairman of the World Competitors’ Dancesport Corporation for several years, which subsequently developed into the World Dance Council Competitors’ Commission under his management. He joined the Modern Ballroom Faculty of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in 2009 and was elected the as Chairman of the Faculty in October 2015. He also proudly represents the Society on many of the Committees at the British Dance Council.
Linda is a senior arts director and educationalist with a wealth of experience in leadership roles, dance management and strategy and arts and cultural learning. In 2004, she formed Youth Dance England, which merged with other organisations to create One Dance UK, a groundbreaking new dance service organisation for the dance sector. She is currently a consultant and lecturer working with, amongst other organisations, the Royal Opera House and The Royal Ballet School. Linda was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Arts by De Montfort University and is an Honorary Life Member of the Foundation for Community Dance and National Dance Teachers Association and was awarded appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2010 for her services to the dance industry.
Oti is best known as a professional dancer on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing since 2015. As an 8-time South African Latin American Champion, she is regarded as one of the most successful South African dancers in the world. Currently a dance captain and mentor on series two of BBC One’s Saturday night dance and entertainment show, The Greatest Dancer - winning series one with her act - Ellie Fergusson, she regularly choreographs critically acclaimed musicals and is now a presenter on UK television.
Drew is fast becoming one of Britain’s most sought-after emerging directors and choreographers. He is the Artistic Director of The McOnie Company and a proud Associate Artist at The Old Vic theatre, London and the Nuffield Southampton Theatres. Drew won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography for In the Heights in 2016 and he was nominated for the same award in 2017 for the groundbreaking production of Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Amongst many, some of his theatre credits as a director/choreographer include King Kong, Strictly Ballroom and On the Town, which won the Olivier Award Nomination for Best Musical Revival 2018 - Regent’s Park.
Mark is the Founder and Artistic Director of Deaf Men Dancing. Mark was nominated as Best Choreographer in the Off-West End Awards and the Broadway World UK Awards for Ace of Clubs, Call Me Madam and Iolanthe and Live Theatre and British Theatre for Tommy. His training began at the Royal Ballet School London Studio Centre and he has since gone on to choreograph a wide array of productions in a variety of genres including the Paralympic Opening Ceremony, London 2012; The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, 101 Dalmatians, Noah, A Marvellous Year for Plums and The Meeting, amongst many others.
The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England, no. UA-20377677-1 and registered charity no. 250397.
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